The average price for a mid-1980s Porsche 911 has skyrocketed to about $70,000. There’s no doubt that the 911 is a fantastic car, but air-cooled varieties are priced out of reach for many enthusiasts. On top of that, I’m sensing a bit of Porsche fatigue creeping into the marketplace. If you’ve been a bit put off by the prices of 1980’s Porsche 911s or just dare to be different, today’s post is for you. In this week’s Market Monday, I’m highlighting five 1980s alternatives to the Porsche 911 under $40,000.

There are countless vehicles that one might consider instead of a Porsche 911. In putting together this short list, I tried to focus on cars from the same era (1980s G-body Porsches) with similar overall performance and raison d’étre. Roughly speaking, I chose vehicles with comparable horsepower numbers, 0-60 mph sprint times and packaging that fits either sports car or grand touring car categorization.

The final criteria was price. You won’t find an F40 or an Aston Martin on this list as they far exceed the budget cap of $40,000. Why $40K? Well, it’s a little more than the average price of a new Toyota Camry, which is my personal benchmark for an affordable fun car. The list below reflects my choices, based on my personal preferences, penchant for variety and what I would truly consider for my own garage. Your mileage may vary!

Let’s start with the car with the three-pointed star. The Mercedes-Benz 560SEC tips the scales at 3,616 pounds, but it also boasts the highest displacement and horsepower numbers of all the cars on this list. With its portly size and lack of a manual transmission option, it needs the extra juice. The 5.6-liter V8 engine delivers 296 hp and motivates the car to 60mph in about 7 seconds, which is respectable but not exactly blistering. What the car lacks in acceleration, it provides in comfort and top speed, however.

The speedo needle of the 560SEC can reach a sustained 150mph and the interior is comfortable and luxurious. I’d categorize it firmly in the grand tourer bucket, but its rakish rear windscreen and pillar-less coupe design give it a sporting look that remains very attractive. Enthusiasts have started to recognize these cars for their many pluses and prices have risen. Miles and condition are the big drivers of value, but good cars can be had for around $30,000.

Car and Driver’s 1984 preview of the M635CSi suggested James Bond might find the car a good alternative to the Aston Martin, but also that it easily kept up with a Porsche 911 Carrera on the straights on the Hockenheim raceway. Compared to the elegance of the E30 or even the contemporary E28 5-series, the Paul Bracq-designed 6-series coupe always looked a little “dumpy” to me. When carried over to the coupe, the sloping rear decklid from the 5-series somehow amplified its droopiness.

There’s no denying its performance, though. The car delivered 256hp from its S38 engine, at least in the USA, where it was dubbed the M6. European examples received the M1-derived M88 engine which produced about 30 more horsepower. Acceleration was comparable between the two cars with 60mph sprints reached in about 6 seconds. Like the 911, the E24 6-series participated in motorsports and secured numerous victories, making it a worthy alternative to an air-cooled 80s Porsche. While the average price sits a little above our price cap, higher mileage examples can be found between $20,000 and $40,000.

I like to include at least one British make in any list when I can. 1980s Aston Martins are unfortunately priced out of inclusion, but there’s another vehicle driven by Commander Bond we can include. Of the four generations of Lotus Esprit, the X180 is the penultimate version built between 1988 and 1994. The best of these to own, in my opinion, is the Type 910S engine-powered Special Edition. The turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine produced 264hp and could propel the Esprit to a top speed of 163 mph.

In Lotus fashion, it’s the lightest car in this list at just 2,740 pounds and the only major negative would probably be cargo and occupant space. What it lacks in practicality it makes up with style, however. The car’s designer, Peter Stevens, would later go on to style the McLaren F1.

I know, I know. If you buy one of these you’ll also need a pair of cut-off jeans, white sneakers and tube socks. Knock the Corvette at your own peril — the car is potent and the second fastest car in this list with a lowest recorded 0-60 time of 5.6 seconds. In this writer’s opinion — no doubt influenced by my age — the C4 Corvette is not only an underrated gem of a car, it’s also the prettiest Corvette. The 80s were a period of European-inspired styling at General Motors and the C4-generation ‘Vette benefits from this.

As of 1987, the car’s V8 engine pumped out 240 horsepower thanks to roller hydraulic lifters, but if you really wanted a car that could shove, the Callaway twin-turbo factory option increased power to nearly 400hp. Its skidpad performance is excellent for the time, so don’t let dated opinions of the Corvette’s handling throw you off. The C4 Corvette is also the cheapest car in this list, with average prices of around $14,000 for good ones. Even Callaway cars can be found for just under the $40,000 price cap and would be my choice if funds allowed.

I strongly considered including the Maserati BiTurbo and its later variants in this position, but when the opportunity exists to choose a Ferrari over another car, one should probably choose the Ferrari. 308 and 328 models have appreciated beyond reasonable acquisition, leaving the Mondial as the most affordable option to get into a 1980s Ferrari.

The Mondial is actually the slowest of this group with a 0-60 time of around 7 seconds, but it’s arguably the most stylish. The car pumps out a respectable 266 horsepower from its 3.2-liter transverse-mounted V8. Crucially, the car features a gated manual transmission. While I considered the Mondial T with its longitudinal mid-mounted engine, those cars have appreciated significantly. A decent Ferrari Mondial 3.2 can still be had for just under $40,000 and prices have been fairly stable.

Conspicuously absent in this list are cars from Japan. If you’re shopping for a 911 alternative, I believe you should confine that search to cars from Europe, which will have a similar vibe. If JDM cars are your thing, have a look at the Datsun 280SX Turbo or the Nissan 300ZX for credible Porsche 911 alternatives.

One of the joys of owning a Porsche is the community of enthusiasts that arrange driving tours, concours events and other gatherings. Fortunately, every marque above has a robust club where owners can get together and share their passion for these special automobiles.

If you think I neglected to include a great option, please share it in the comments! Have a great week, everyone.

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisals, and auction services for buyers and sellers of collector European cars. If you’re interested in acquiring an overseas car, give us a call or drop a line!