Sports car rentals for East Tennessee

Most rental markets don't have roads worth renting a sports car for. East Tennessee does. Tail of the Dragon (US-129) is 318 corners in 11 miles — the most technically demanding public road in the United States. The Cherohala Skyway runs 40 miles of high-altitude exposure from Tellico Plains to Robbinsville. The Foothills Parkway traces the southern edge of the Smokies with smooth pavement and no commercial traffic. These are roads that the right car transforms from a drive into a reason to come back.

Drive865 exists precisely because national chains at TYS don't rent sports cars. Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis have sedans and crossovers. We have the BRZ, Supra, MR2, WRX STI, and WRX GT — the cars people actually search for when they're planning a trip like this.

The BRZ is the default. Light, RWD, 6-speed manual, balanced chassis — the car that rewards the Dragon's technical demands the most. First-time Dragon drivers pick it because it tells you what it's doing. Experienced drivers pick it because it's the most satisfying tool for the road.

The Supra is the modern halo car. 382 hp, turbo inline-six, ZF 8-speed automatic. More car than the Dragon technically requires, but tremendous on a clear morning when you want the speed on the Cherohala's open sections. Most comfortable highway car in our sports lineup for the drive from TYS to the road.

The MR2 GTS is the time-machine. 1994, mid-engine, turbo 3S-GTE, 5-speed manual. No driver aids, pop-up headlights, 200 hp that feels like more because it's behind your head. The most memorable car in the fleet for a driver who grew up reading car magazines.

The WRX STI is the AWD option. Turbo boxer, 6-speed manual, Subaru's symmetric AWD system. Heavier than the RWD picks but the right call when the forecast turns wet — East Tennessee rain on a mountain road changes the calculation.

The WRX GT is the daily-driver sports car. More practical than the STI, still manual, still fun. If you want to also drive to Dollywood, haul a little gear, and not feel like you're piloting a race car in traffic — the GT is the answer.

The Dragon is a 1–2 hour drive from TYS depending on where exactly you're going. Most guests pick up in the morning, run the Dragon two or three times in each direction, and are back to Knoxville by dinner. Two-day rentals let you add the Cherohala or Foothills Parkway without rushing.

If you're flying in, book the sports car before you book the flight. The BRZ and MR2 in particular book out on peak Dragon weekends — May, June, September, October. The Supra is available more consistently because not everyone wants the automatic.

Pickup at TYS is via contactless lockbox in Economy Lot C. No rental counter, no line, no damage walk with a rep. The car is there when you land.