Sports cars come in many forms, from high-horsepower supercars with 200-plus mph top speeds to smaller roadsters like the Honda S2000, Nissan 370Z, and Toyota MR2 Spyder. But the best sports cars appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts by providing a high performance driving experience, a reliable powertrain, attractive styling, and at least a touch of practicality. For maximum appeal, these traits should all come together at an affordable price tag. 

The affordability component limits exotic performance cars from brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren to wealthy buyers. To ensure a list of the best cars for the widest spectrum of sports car buyers, iSeeCars considered two-door, two seater and four-passenger coupes, convertibles and muscle cars from model years 1981 to 2009. Performance-oriented sedans and SUVS were not eligible. Readers curious about other most-loved models should check out the full Most-Loved Cars Study that ranks every major vehicle category.

The sports cars listed below are ranked by the percentage of original owners who kept them for at least 15 years. While the number of models sold can indicate a sports car’s popularity, there’s no better indication of “love” for a vehicle than long-term dedication from the first buyer. On average, only 2.7% of original sports car owners keep their cars for at least 15 years. The sports cars listed below range from 5% to 1.2%, offering an excellent view of how these popular sports cars rank in terms of long-term dedication. 

Because of the 15-year ownership requirement, sports cars introduced in recent years, such as the Nissan GT-R, Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GR Corolla, were at a disadvantage. Conversely, older sports cars with a longer history, like the Chevy Corvette, Jaguar E-Type, and Toyota Supra, had a better chance of ranking well. Below are the 12 most loved sports cars, ranked by the percentage of owners keeping them longer than 15 years.

Most-Loved Sports Cars - iSeeCars Study
Rank Model % 15-Year-Old+ Cars Kept By Original Owner Compared to Average
1 Mazda MX-5 Miata 5.0% 1.9x
2 Dodge Challenger 4.6% 1.7x
3 Audi TT (coupe) 4.0% 1.5x
4 Chevrolet Corvette (coupe) 3.2% 1.2x
5 Ford Mustang (coupe) 2.7% 1.0x
6 Chevrolet Corvette (convertible) 2.5% 0.9x
7 Ford Mustang (convertible) 2.4% 0.9x
8 BMW Z4 2.3% 0.8x
9 Audi TT (convertible) 2.0% 0.7x
10 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 1.8% 0.7x
11 Porsche 911 (convertible) 1.3% 0.5x
12 Porsche 911 (coupe) 1.2% 0.4x
Sports Car Average 2.7% –
The Mazda Miata’s first-place ranking reflects its ability to provide an exceptionally fun driving experience, as well as long-term durability, at an affordable price. The Miata is considered the best-selling sports car in the world, though Ford’s Mustang arguably surpasses it because of its long history and massive sales – over 1 million units – when it was first launched in the mid-1960s. But in the world of modern sports cars, the Miata is the top seller.

Speaking of Mustangs, the Ford Mustang joins the Dodge Challenger as two American muscle cars offering the thrill of a V-8 engine while inspiring long-term ownership from their original buyers. Other popular models like the Chevrolet Camaro, Mercedes-AMG products, Porsche 718 Boxster, Porsche 718 Cayman, and Volkswagen GTI also didn’t rank, though the iconic Porsche 911 did.

The Porsche 911 is the most diverse sports car in history, built in more variants than any other vehicle on this list. From the entry-level Carrera to the high-performance Turbo and race-car inspired GT3, to the open-top convertible and Targa body styles, this two-door six-cylinder offers something for everyone. Cold-weather buyers can opt for an all-wheel drive 911 with an automatic transmission, while traditional sports car fans can get a six-speed manual transmission with rear-wheel drive. 

But as a sports car fan, it doesn’t matter whether you want a turbocharged 911 or an affordable Miata. The best sports car is the one you can put in your garage.