Do you like to fly under the radar when it comes to having a cool car? Do you love having amazing horsepower without announcing it to everyone? Then, you're in luck because today we'll look at the best sleeper cars in the market.
Unlike other car owners who love flaunting their wealth with flashy cars like orange McLarens, red Ferraris, or yellow Lamborghinis, you'll be able to remain unnoticed in these cars.
What is A Sleeper Car?
A sleeper car is a car that has an unassuming exterior but a high performance. So why are they called the best sleeper cars? Because they have an unassuming exterior such as indecent bodywork, oversized aerodynamic elements, garish paint, and more.
The exterior of this type of car resembles an economy car, but the performance doesn't.
What Are the Best Sleeper Cars?
1. 2017 Chevrolet SS
Starting us off is this sleeper car has over 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. This 2017 Chevrolet SS is a real performer despite its modest looks. Believe it or not, this 2017 Chevrolet SS can go toe to toe with the best sports cars. With a 415 lb-ft of torque, this car has gone toe to toe with the industry's lower-end supercars.
You will not be disappointed with this car with a 6.2-liter LS3 engine that was pulled from the bay of Chevrolet's C6. This engine and other cool features give this car great performance. In addition, this exclusively rear-wheel-drive car gives you tremendous power.
The GM-sourced Magnetic Ride Control Suspension and the Tremec’s six-speed manual transmission keep the power this car produces in check. It may not be the Volvo V70 R, but it has power beyond measure. The standard transmission of this car is a 6-speed automatic with TAPshift manual override.
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2. 2017 Volkswagen Golf R
Our second pick is this 2017 Volkswagen Golf R that is spacious and practical. This car has all-wheel-drive availability and impressive fuel economy. You won't have to dig too deep into your pocket, thanks to the affordable performance of this car. You can also get the electric option if you wish.
These best sleeper cars have amazing staying power. Although the Volkswagen Golf has instant recognition, most don't expect this car to have so much power and performance. These Golfs are loaded with excellent ergonomics, standard features, and sufficient and practical space. You'll be able to fit enough people and cargo in this car.
The turbocharged power gives this car enough prep to get things going. In addition, the all-electric e-Golf is a great economical option. The 2.0-liter TSI AWD engine can put out about 300 horsepower. This means that it can go from 0 to over a quarter-mile in less than 5 seconds. How cool is that?
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3. 2019 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T
This is a fantastic sleeper car, just like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Taurus Sho, Mercury Marauder, Lotus Carlton, and the Volvo V70 R. The best part about this car is that you don't have to spend so much money on this 2019 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T. Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you. This car runs a modern turbocharged VTEC 4-cylinder.
The engine of this impressive car is a detuned version of the Civic Type R’s 306-hp firebreather. Talk about some serious power. The interior of this car is also very comfy and feature-packed. You'll be pleasantly surprised by what you get out of this car.
The performance of this car is also very economical. Therefore, you'll get to enjoy the fruits of the powerful engine without worrying about breaking the bank. So, if you're looking for a car to use on your daily commute that is dependable and also doesn't scream from the rooftop, this 2019 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T is what you've been looking for.
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4. 2003 Mercury Marauder
The 2003 Mercury Marauder is dependable and powerful. Although it looks like it was meant for several decades earlier, this car is powerful and will not capture the attention of passerby. This car features medium-range seating, a rounded body, and dependable interiors.
Some of the cool features that you'll enjoy include a 4.6-liter DOHC V8 engine, 302-horsepower, and the ability to go from 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. Former owners of this car can attest to the fact that it is dependable and has great performance. In addition, you and your friends will love the thick leather interiors and other luxurious features.
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5. 2019 Ford Flex Limited EcoBoost
Our final pick is this car that can give the Ford Taurus Sho and the Volvo V70 R a run for their money. You'll notice that this car drives more like a car than a truck despite its size. You'll love that it comes with Curve Control technology and Torque Vectoring Control.
You'll also notice that cornering is a lot easier than you think with this car. Other insulations include better noise insulation, better braking, and a brake-pedal feel. There's also adaptive cruise control, inflatable second-row seat belts, and a convenient collision warning.
You can connect the system to your smartphone to control features like navigation, climate controls, media, and more. Other interior features include a 6-speaker sound system, air conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel audio controls, a USB input, SecuriLock keyless entry, and more.
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What Do You Consider When Choosing A Sleeper Car?
1. Cost of Ownership
When getting the best sleeper cars, you should also consider how much it'll cost you to maintain them. The long-term cost of maintaining your car can shock you if you aren't prepared. You may end up spending more money than you did when you bought the car.
Some of the ownership costs you may come across include fuel, deprecation, insurance, and maintenance. Depreciation is the largest of these costs. This means that your car will lose value over time. The truth is that foreign cars often tend to hold their initial value better than domestic options.
You can think about this the next time you consider buying one of these best sleeper cars.
2. Quality
What is quality? The quality of your car means the durability and quality of the vehicle and its accessories. Although other features like how fast the car can reach a quarter-mile are important, you also need to consider the quality.
The higher the quality of the car, the fewer problems you'll experience. Remember how we mentioned the cost of ownership above? With a high-quality car, you won't experience issues like rattling noises, peeling off paint, wearing rubber seals, and more. With technology becoming what it is, most of the issues you're likely to encounter will a low-quality car are technology-related.
Features like adaptive cruise control, navigation, telematics systems, reverse parking assist, and more are the ones that are likely to fail. So ensure that you always go for the best cars.
3. Reliability
You want a car that you can rely on. You don't need to be on the side of the highway waiting for your car to be towed because it broke down. You also don't need to have to go in for constant repairs. That's why you have to choose a reliable car. We've selected only the best cars for you to don't have to deal with some of these things.
Although these cars are known for their performance, you also need to check that they will not let you down. Doing research can help you decide. We went ahead and did some of the research for you, and that's how we were able to compile this list of the best cars in the market.
4. Budget
Your budget affects the type of car you get. For example, our first pick is a lot more expensive than the other cars on our list. Your budget can also determine if you'll get a new car or a used one. Of course, if you can't finance the payment yourself, you can always go for a loan and then pay it back slowly.
Knowing how much you want to spend on a car will give you an idea of the kind of car you'll get. Factors like the quarter-mile speed and Tremec’s six-speed manual transmission we've seen in our first pick come secondary to your budget.
5. Purpose
Why do you need a car? Asking yourself this question before you settle on one of our choices above will allow you to make a smart decision. For example, do you want a car you can use to commute to work every day, or do you want one for your family outings?
Knowing why you want a car will allow you to choose one that best fits your purpose and gives you great speed per quarter-mile and superior performance.
6. Engine Size and Fuel Consumption
The engine size and the fuel consumption are factors to consider as you settle on the sleeper car you want. The fuel price is sometimes ridiculously high, and knowing your car's fuel consumption can help you save a lot.
Some of our options above, like our first three, have economical consumptions. This means that you won't have to spend a big penny on fuel.
7. Spare Parts
How available are your car's spare parts? This is something to consider as you choose the car you want. This is especially the case if you opt to go for second-hand cars. Ensure that getting your headlights replaced will not take months and leave you without a car to use.
The availability of the parts also influences how much the servicing will cost. This is part of the running costs we talked about.
8. Warranty
Does your car come with a warranty? Ensure that you know this, along with how long the warranty lasts and what it encompasses. We said that the cost of ownership could sometimes be higher than the price of the car itself.
Therefore, take time to read the fine print before settling on the vehicle that has struck your fancy, whether it is a Lotus Carlton or Grand Cherokee. Also, check whether your car is covered by a third-party warranty or not as you look at the price tag.
We advise that you always purchase a car with a warranty to save you from paying a pretty penny later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a sleeper car legal?
In most countries, yes. However, sleeper vehicles can be illegal for use in some countries after you've modified them heavily. This is because the level of performance that they have is very high compared to their original state.
2. Can a sports car be a sleeper?
As long as the car has a high performance and an unassuming exterior, it qualifies as a sleeper vehicle. You'll find that some motorists opt to disguise their vehicles as slow-moving cars until they get on the track, and everyone is left in awe.