Fun Cars, Fine Print Included
A great weekend car doesn’t have to be practical, quiet, cheap to run, or especially reasonable. In fact, part of the fun is usually that it feels different from whatever you drive during the week. Still, there’s a line between “charming inconvenience” and “why did I do this to myself?” Here are 10 weekend cars that are worth the hassle and 10 that aren't.
1. Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of those weekend cars that keeps the hassle level refreshingly low. It’s light, fun to drive, cheerful, and not overly expensive. You get open-top fun without signing up for constant drama, which is exactly what a weekend car should offer.
2. Porsche Boxster
A Porsche Boxster gives you a mid-engine sports car experience without the full financial panic of some bigger-name exotics. It’s balanced, engaging, and comfortable enough that you can enjoy a long back-road drive without feeling punished.
3. Chevrolet Corvette C5
The C5 Corvette has aged into a weekend-car sweet spot for people who want speed without too much ceremony. It’s powerful, surprisingly usable, and supported by a huge parts and enthusiast community. You still have to accept some old-GM quirks, but the performance makes those little annoyances easier to forgive.
4. Ford Mustang GT
A Mustang GT is a classic weekend choice because it knows exactly what it’s supposed to be. It gives you V8 sound, easy cruising, and enough personality to make a quick errand feel more fun than it should. The fact that you don’t need to baby it makes it easier to actually enjoy.
5. Honda S2000
The Honda S2000 asks you to work a little, but it rewards you every time the engine comes alive. It’s sharp, rev-happy, and focused in a way that makes ordinary roads feel special. Prices aren’t as friendly as they used to be, but if you want a weekend car that feels genuinely memorable, this one still earns its reputation.
6. BMW Z4
The BMW Z4 brings enough style and driving fun to feel special without becoming a total project. It’s a proper roadster with a long hood, rear-wheel drive, and a cabin that makes sunny drives feel more deliberate. You’ll want to choose carefully and keep up with maintenance, but a good one can be a very satisfying weekend escape.
7. Toyota GR86
The Toyota GR86 proves a weekend car doesn’t need wild horsepower to be entertaining. It’s light, balanced, and playful. Because it’s modern and relatively straightforward, you can spend more time driving and less time wondering what that new noise means.
8. Dodge Challenger R/T
The Dodge Challenger R/T isn't delicate, subtle, or especially tidy, and that’s part of the appeal. It’s roomy, comfortable, and loud enough to make a weekend cruise feel like an occasion. You won’t mistake it for a lightweight corner-carver, but if you want relaxed muscle-car charm, it delivers.
9. Alfa Romeo 4C
The Alfa Romeo 4C is fussy, impractical, and not exactly relaxing in traffic, but it makes a strong case for itself as a weekend toy. It feels raw, dramatic, and unlike almost anything else in its price range. You wouldn’t want to rely on it every day, but that’s exactly why taking it out occasionally feels so special.
10. Caterham Seven
A Caterham Seven is barely a normal car, which is why it works so well as a weekend machine. It’s exposed, tiny, loud, and completely focused on driving rather than comfort. You’ll need the right weather, the right mood, and a little patience, but the experience is so pure that the inconvenience feels like part of the package.
Now that we've covered the weekend cars that are worth the hassle, let's talk about the ones that aren't for most people.
1. Maserati Coupe
A used Maserati Coupe can look very tempting when you see the badge, the shape, and the price. The trouble is that running one can get expensive quickly, especially when deferred maintenance starts showing up. It may feel glamorous for a while, but the ownership experience can become a lot less romantic.
2. Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJS has style for days, but charm alone doesn’t make a car easy to live with. Older examples can bring electrical issues, cooling worries, and parts hunting that turns casual ownership into a hobby of its own. You may adore the way it looks in the driveway, but keeping it happy can test your patience.
3. Ferrari Mondial
The Ferrari Mondial has become one of the more approachable ways into Ferrari ownership, at least on paper. Unfortunately, “affordable Ferrari” can still mean very expensive service, tricky parts, and a car that expects serious attention.
4. DeLorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 is famous, interesting, and guaranteed to start conversations wherever it goes. As a driving experience, though, it can feel underwhelming compared with the amount of attention and upkeep it demands. If you mainly want a car to enjoy from behind the wheel, the novelty may not be enough.
5. Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit looks exotic enough to make almost any garage feel cooler. That said, it can be cramped, complicated, and demanding in ways that make relaxed weekend drives harder than expected. It’s a fascinating car, but ownership can become more about managing quirks than enjoying the road.
6. Aston Martin DB7
The Aston Martin DB7 has elegance, presence, and the kind of badge that makes people look twice. The downside is that maintenance and repairs can feel very grown-up very quickly. Unless you’re prepared for luxury-car costs on an aging grand tourer, the dream can get expensive faster than you planned.
7. Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is thrilling, intimidating, and completely unapologetic, which sounds perfect for a weekend car until you actually have to live with it. It demands respect, attention, and a willingness to deal with a very raw driving experience. For some owners, that’s the whole point, but for many people, it’s more stress than fun.
8. Classic Mini
A classic Mini is adorable, clever, and full of personality, but it can also feel like a constant little project. Rust, old wiring, tiny dimensions, and frequent tinkering can turn ownership into more work than expected. It’s easy to love from the outside, but it asks for a patient owner who enjoys the maintenance almost as much as the driving.
9. Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 is packed with cool technology, which is both its appeal and its problem. All-wheel drive, turbocharging, four-wheel steering, and other clever systems can make repairs complicated when age catches up. It’s still an exciting car, but the complexity can make weekend ownership feel heavier than it should.
Falcon® Photography from France on Wikimedia
10. Cadillac Allanté
The Cadillac Allanté has an interesting backstory and a distinctive look, but it doesn’t always deliver enough fun to justify the trouble. Parts can be awkward, repairs can be oddly specific, and the driving experience may not feel as special as the styling suggests.
