Celebrity Cars You Can Afford

Celebrities make a hobby of flaunting the newest, flashiest and most disgustingly expensive supercars.

Outside of car magazines, names like Maybach, Bentley and Lamborghini are seldom heard -- unless they're in a sentence with the words "Paris" and "Hilton." But that doesn't mean you can't own one of your favorite celeb's rides.

Check out our list of cars priced from $17-50K and driven by what are undoubtedly some of the more down-to-earth superstars.

Ford F-150

U.S. News Rank #4 in Full Size Pickup Trucks

MSRP: $17,900 - $40,205

The Ford F-150 is an American favorite. In fact, until the Honda Civic overtook it in May, it had been the top-selling vehicle in the United States since 2005. So it's no surprise that the hefty pickup's large fan base has a few celebs. These include Disney Channel kid-turned action hero Shia Labeouf, who was photographed with his F-150in early 2008. But the real surprise? The pics show him hand-washing the big truck.

Toyota Prius

U.S. News Rank #10 in Affordable Midsize Cars

MSRP: $21,100 - $23,370

The Toyota Prius is already one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the planet. Now it's  the "it" car for celebs who want to make a statement about the environment. Those driving the quirky-looking hatchback include early adopters Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz along with Mandy Moore, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston.

Dodge Charger

U.S. News Rank #5 in Affordable Large Cars

MSRP: $21,820 - $36,625

Dodge got plenty of media attention after its Charger throwback's auto show debut in 2005. But the most hypeto date centers around a buyer who insisted he get to drive the very first Charger -- rapper 50 Cent. According to several sources, Dodge was more than happy to oblige. The result is a limited production run of the 2008 "DUB Edition" Dodge Charger SXT, which features 20-inch chrome wheels and a 13-speaker sound system. While the rapper-inspired model starts at $30,235, you can get the conventional Charger -- minus the bling -- for thousands less.

Ford Escape Hybrid

U.S. News Rank #14 in Affordable Compact SUVs

MSRP: $21,880 - $27,445

The Ford Escape Hybrid isn't very glamorous, but that may change come November if Democratic presidential candidate (and Escape owner) Barack Obama wins the election. Last year, Obama swapped his gas-guzzling Chrysler 300C in favor of the gas-electric Escape, one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs on the market. The Escape Hybrid achieves 32 mpg combined, while the Chrysler nets only 18.

MINI Cooper Convertible

U.S. News Rank #8 in Affordable Small Cars and #3 in Affordable Four-Seat Convertibles

MSRP: $21,950 - $25,400

With its cheery bulldog face and nearly 50 years of history, the MINI Cooper has always had a place in popular culture. Now there's also a place for the cute car in Hollywood driveways. Though Jimmy Fallon and Goldie Hawn have each been spotted in MINIs, the Cooper is best known as a member of Britney Spears' fleet of accident-prone vehicles. In 2006, the pop star's MINI convertible gained notoriety when she was photographed driving with her young son's infant seat facing the wrong way.

Ford Mustang Convertible

U.S. News Rank #2 in Affordable Four-Seat Convertibles

MSRP: $24,475 - $32,245

Since its launch in 1964, the Ford Mustang has been an American icon -- and remains popular four decades later. One of the most recent stars to own this pony car is 2005 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. In a 2008 interview with CNN, she says: "I've never bought a car in my life. The car I have, a Ford Mustang convertible, is the one I won on Idol -- I guess I need to go buy a new car after all!" But Carrie may want to think twice about that. After all, she's in good company: Jay Leno, Charlie Sheen, Bob Seger and Eminem are just a few celebs who have sported classic versions of the famous muscle car.

Chrysler 300 Series

U.S. News Rank #2 in Affordable Large Cars

MSRP: $24,625 - $41,905

Superstar rides are one thing, but what do superheroes drive? Well, in real life, they're not exactly sporting Batmobiles. According to Motor Trend, TV's original Batman himself (Adam West) gets around in affordable style -- with a Chrysler 300C (he calls it a "mini Bentley, but for a third of the price"). In addition, actor Josh Duhamel has been spotted in a black 300C SRT-8, the high-performance trim of the powerful sedan.

Mercedes-Benz CLK Convertible

MSRP: $54,500 - $89,500

Though it's one of the priciest cars on our list, the Mercedes CLK Convertible is worth it for its sleek looks, smooth ride and comfortable interior. Actors Jude Law and "Mini-Me" Vern Troyer have both been spotted in the car, but again, its most infamous owner is...you guessed it...Britney Spears. The singer's white CLK was involved in several run-ins with the law last year when she illegally parked in a handicapped space and, on a separate occasion, ran over a police officer's foot.

Cadillac Escalade and Escalade EXT

U.S. News Rank #1 in Luxury Midsize SUVs and #3 in Sport Utility Trucks

MSRP: $54,890 - $60,990

Thanks to celebs wanting a dark place to hide from the paparazzi, one of the flashiest cars on the market isn't an exotic roadster -- it's the stylin' Cadillac Escalade. Petite tennis star Anna Kournikova gets around in a black Escalade EXT, which features a short truck bed for all those rackets and balls. L.A. Galaxy star David Beckham and wife Victoria (formerly Posh Spice) cart their brood in an Escalade. In fact, Beckham got a ticket for a minor offense while driving the SUV in April.