Back in 1987, the Ferrari F40 changed the world when it became the first production car to hit 200 miles per hour. And today, 33 years later, most manufacturers still struggle to hit that milestone! But, if you have some money in the bank and a need for speed, then these are the cheapest cars that will smoke 200 miles per hour!
A top speed that high gives you a sense of pride, the same kind of pride you feel when you subscribe to Ideal on YouTube. And be ready ladies and gents, we have an honorable mention on here I don’t think you’re going to see coming.
2001 – 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG – Mach .26 Merc!
Now first up on this list is one of the many Autobahn natives, the wild SL55 AMG! This seriously seductive speed demon is one of the cheapest ways to hit 200. Developed in Germany to cruise the Autobahn at any speed but slow, this Merc, like other Autobahn boomers, was limited to 155 miles per hour due to a gentleman’s agreement. However, if you remove that pesky limiter, you can reach 208 miles per hour easy peasy.
And under that long hood is a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 that puts out 500 horses! That’s only 25 horses less than the V10 Audi R8! Oh baby, with a little tuning, you can be beating supercars. That is, on your way to the mechanic.
Yeah, the SL55 is pretty unreliable, and if something in that holy engine breaks, then good luck with that four-figure repair cost. Now, If you choose to brave the looming fear of breaking down, then you can easily find examples like a 2004 for just shy of $11,000. It’s littered with luxury, so this would be a great deal if it didn’t cost as much as a college tuition to keep on the road.
So, moving to the next German driving machine on this list…
2005 – 2010 BMW E60 M5 – Break My Wallet
The notoriously unreliable but so fantastic BMW E60 M5. It might sound like an excellent idea on paper, because not only do you get a luxury interior, you get the one, the only, 5-liter V10, baby! Let me say that again for the people in the back… a V10! In a sedan! With 500 horsepower! You should have no issue going 200 miles per hour with this Bavarian beast. You’ll be reinventing speed limit signs!
Now, my mother told me when things are too good to be true, they usually are. Sadly, this is no different. These engines are stupid unreliable. They’re exactly like your psycho ex-girlfriend if they have any deferred maintenance. Yeah, they reliably break down constantly, with things like rod bearings just giving up. Nearly every M5 has or will have this issue, not to mention the horrendous SMG transmission that lurches from gear to gear.
Yeah, the E60 M5 is a nightmare to own, but this is about the cars that can reach 200 miles per hour for the least amount of money. And, oh baby, this thing can rip into hyperspeed like nobody’s business. Just pray that your engine doesn’t blow.
If you choose to burn money and buy one, you can buy in for $9,000. Yes, this is potentially the cheapest car to get you to 200 miles per hour. But, if you want to touch 200 in style, then the obvious answer is the Bentley Continental GT Speed.
2003 – 2011 Bentley Continental GT Speed – The Speedy Winged B
You can look like a millionaire while you bodybag anyone else at the stoplight. In fact, check out this video on some other cheap cars that make you look rich. Now, this Bentley has some serious power. Under the hood, you got a twin-turbo W12, which is even crazier than the M5. Because, oh baby, you’re punching 600 horses! And 0 to 60 comes in at 4 seconds flat.
The GT Speed has a top speed of 202. Yes, 202! That the most powerful Bentley ever produced when it released. But, keep in mind, this being a Bentley means that repairs will not be cheap. But, you can use that to your advantage, because thanks to depreciation, I was able to find a Continental GT Speed for $35,000. If that’s a little too expensive for you, then for almost $10,000 less, you can get the Continental GT standard which hits 198 miles per hour.
Either one you choose, you not only have a revered winged B, you have a really powerful and luxurious car. Now, not to be outdone by our friends across the pond, those of us in the bald eagle nation love to cruise down some long open roads at ridiculous speeds. So, let’s take a look at some domestic speed demons, like the king of American speed, the Chevy Corvette!
2014 – 2019 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Z06 – America’s Affordable Supercar
The C7 Corvette Z06 is the cheapest, most reasonable, and dare I say, most civil 200 mile per hour monster that money can buy! With its sweet sounding 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that has a strong 650 horsepower, the Z06 will put you right up to the 200 mile per hour mark easily!
So, speed over to grab one before you blink! I found a 2016 C7 for $44,000! Now, I know that’s not cheap, but it is the cheapest Corvette you can get that hits 200. And if you want to save a ton of dough, you can easily find a C6 Z06 for about half the price of the C7. Yes, the top speed is 198 miles per hour, but with a tailwind, going downhill, you’ll hit 200+ no problem in this American muscle car!
We found a sweet yellow C6 Z06 for $24,000. Getting a sick ,reliable, American V8 legend for under $30,000 is a serious deal. Plus, thanks to its younger brother, the new C8 Corvette, these are only going to get cheaper and cheaper.
But hey, maybe a V8 isn’t enough for you. Maybe you want a couple extra cylinders? And why not keep it domestic? Well, the ZB2 Dodge Viper is a strictly speedy supercar!
2008 – 2010 Dodge Viper – Don’t Get Bit!
The Viper has the bite to match its hiss! Powering this raw American coupe is an 8.4-liter V10, which sounds like heaven when straight piped! And with that powerplant, the top speed of 206 miles per hour isn’t too far out of reach in this venomous car!
Now, if you want to go that top speed, then you need to get a hardtop Viper. And to save you some time, we found a ZB 2 Viper that will Hulk Smash 200 miles per hour for $53,000, which is stupid expensive. However, if you want to go topless and have a little less power, we found a convertible ZB2 Viper SRT-10 with a sweet orange paint job for $32,000. Just know, you ain’t going to hit 200 with the drop-top!
Now, real talk, we get tons of readers and viewers from all over the world. For our buddies across the pond, we got a deal for you. We know that you want to hit 200. Wait? Yes! 322 kilometers per hour! If you want to slay that Autobahn in your backyard, then the best way to do it is the Audi RS6 Avant 5.0.
Audi RS6 Avant – Please Come To The U.S. Soon
I’m so mad that they didn’t sell the Audi RS6 Avant in the USA. It had a twin-turbo V10 that made just under 600 horsepower! In a wagon! And that engine is paired with one of the best all-wheel drive systems of all time. Now I’m even more mad that they didn’t sell it in the USA. Darn it!
This still is an amazing car that will easily crush that 200 mile per hour mark. In Germany, I found this RS6 for just under €25,000, which is like $27,000. So, you get a high octane twin-turbo V10 luxury wagon for less than the used Viper. Why???
And now, the honorable mention, the fastest way to 200 miles per hour is probably not what you’re thinking, because the answer’s on two wheels. The Ducati Panigale R.
2012 – 2014 Ducati Panigale R – Two-Wheeled Speed Demon
This bike was designed to be light and nimble for the racetrack, and be good enough to take on the open road too. Plus, it looks so damn cool! Here at Ideal we’re much more into cars than motorcycles, but we always want to try new things. Check out our video that we did on Keanu Reeves motorcycle company!
Let’s get down to the specs. Coming from a 1,198CC four-cylinder engine, this little bike can get up to 202 miles per hour. Now, imagine going that fast on a motorcycle with nothing to really protect you from a crash. You’d better hold on tight.
If you live life on the edge and choose to get this crazy race bike, we found a Ducati Panigale for $18,000. This is a very fast way to go 200 miles per hour, and an even faster way to go six feet under.
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