Gas Is $1.70 a Litre — Here Are the Sports Cars Worth Driving Anyway

Gas price is over $1.70 per litre in Greater Toronto Area

I still remember just a few weeks ago when gas was sitting around $1.20 a litre here in the Toronto area.

Then the Iran conflict escalated, and prices jumped to $1.40–$1.50 almost overnight. I remember going to fill up my family CT200h hybrid — one of the most fuel efficient cars on the road — and even that felt painful. I drove past my usual Costco gas station and the lineup extended well outside the entrance. Completely jammed. I skipped it, drove to another station nearby, and it was nearly as bad.

Now we're above $1.70 a litre. Wild.

That got me thinking — if gas prices force my hand and I need a more fuel efficient sports car instead of my Nissan 370Z, what would I actually want to drive? A few non-negotiables immediately came to mind:

First, it has to be a 4-cylinder. Anything V6 and above drinks gas faster than I drink Diet Coke 😂. Second — and this is absolutely non-negotiable — manual transmission. That's fundamental. If it's not a manual, I'm not calling it a sports car. Third, I'm comfortable going used and even old school, as long as the car is reliable or cheap enough to maintain. The whole point is cost savings — I don't want maintenance bills eating up what I'm saving at the pump.

With those criteria in mind, here are three cars I'd seriously consider.

Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ — The Most Obvious Current Choice

My brother owns a GR86 and it's genuinely a great car to drive.

2.4L four-cylinder, 228 horsepower, six-speed manual with one of the slickest shifter actions available in a modern car. A lot of enthusiasts complain about the lack of power — and I understand the argument on paper. But every time I've driven my brother's GR86, I've absolutely punched it on the highway through a couple of redlines and upshifts, or pulled past other sports cars with significantly more horsepower. Nobody keeps up. The reality is most people want to say they have a powerful car and never actually use it. The GR86's 228 horsepower is more than enough for genuinely spirited driving.

Where the GR86 really shines isn't straight-line speed anyway. Its light weight and chassis tuning make it exceptional through corners. Push too hard on corner exit and you can feel the rear start to step out — but it's progressive and easy to catch and correct. That's not something I can always say about my 370Z, which is the base model and lacks a limited-slip differential.

The shifter alone is worth mentioning separately. Short throw, precise, with a mechanical feel that reminds me of the old Honda shifters I grew up with. That tactile quality matters more than most people realize.

Acura Integra Type S — The One I'd Love to Drive But Can't Easily Find

Acura Integra Type S

When Acura brought the Integra back to North America — with the A-Spec trim offering a manual transmission — most enthusiasts were pleased but not exactly excited. The reason is simple: everyone knows the Civic Type R exists, producing over 100 more horsepower with sharper handling, so naturally people expected Acura to eventually deliver something equivalent for the Integra.

They did. The Integra Type S arrived with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 320 horsepower. And unlike the Civic Type R — which was deliberately designed to look aggressive and track-focused — the Integra Type S has a more refined, sleek presence. At my age, pulling up in a Civic Type R might raise some eyebrows. The Integra Type S lets you have the performance without the visual drama 😂.

I haven't driven one yet. The frustrating reality is that supply is so limited that many dealerships are classifying them as used vehicles the moment they arrive — which legally allows them to sell well above MSRP. It's a shady practice and genuinely annoying. I understand supply and demand as a business reality. I just hope Acura ramps up production so this car eventually finds its way back to a fair price. Until then, it stays on the wishlist.

1993–1996 Honda Prelude Si VTEC — The Used Choice, If You Can Find One

1993-1996 Honda Prelude SRV

I owned a 1997 Honda Prelude and loved every minute of it. More mature feeling than the Civic or Integra, with that VTEC scream on tap and a 2.2L four-cylinder producing around 200 horsepower. It had a grown-up character that set it apart from other Hondas of the era.

But the generation before it — the 1993 to 1996 fourth-generation Prelude — is the one that really captivates me now. Despite being over 30 years old, it still looks genuinely sleek. The proportions have aged remarkably well.

The challenge with any Honda from that era is rust. I don't remember seeing many 90s Hondas in the 2000s that hadn't developed significant rust spots — or worse, actual holes — in the rear wheel wells. I dealt with it myself on my '92 Civic and had to take it to a body shop. Apparently the combination of how the sheet metal was formed and a plastic trim strip in the rear wheel well that trapped moisture created the perfect conditions for rust to take hold. It was a known issue across the lineup.

Finding a clean fourth-generation Prelude now is genuinely difficult. I check online listings occasionally just to see what's out there — and they almost never appear. When one does surface, the asking price is often higher than what the car cost new. The combination of rarity, nostalgia and the vintage Honda premium has made them surprisingly expensive. But I'll keep looking — especially with gas where it is right now.

So — Is Gas Making You Reconsider Your Car?

The obvious answer for most people is EV or hybrid. Practical, efficient, sensible.

But let's be honest — an EV isn't really a sports car, is it? The instant torque is impressive, but it's not the same experience. Not even close.

If a sports car is still in your heart despite the gas prices — what are you driving or considering? Drop it in the comments below.