What early to mid 2000's sports cars will age the best?

[ballmode]

Out of the following cars which will "age the best" as in the driving experience?

The term "they don't make them like they used to" would be used if you drove today.

Mustang
Camaro
Viper
Vette
Solstice/Sky
Ford GT
GTO
Elise

350Z
RX-8
S2000
EVO/STI
Miata
NSX (unfortunately this was made till 2005)

911
Boxster/Cayman
M3/M5/M Roadster/Coupes
Audi RS's
SL's

It's easy to compare older models to newer models ie Mustang/Vette/911/Camaro etc.

But for cars that may or may not ever come back like the EVO/S2000/RX-8 that this was the greatest thing ever when you drive it again but I'd like your thoughts...


Me personally the one that feels like it never can get outdated because when you drive it almost is a niche vehicle in itself is the Miata and 911.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No love for the Lotus Elise?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the majority of those listed should be chucked in a river. i'd keep the miata, s2000, porsches and bmw's. ford gt - wtf, that's a poster, not a car.

 

[indy2878]

No love for the Lotus Elise?

For me its the Lotus Exige. Elise ain't bad either though.

My picks are:

-Camaro (supercharged)
-Viper (supercharged)
-Corvette (w/turbo)

-Miata (w/turbo)
-STi (stock except for a Thule bike Rack on top! )
-EVO (great stock or modded . I will miss this car and am looking forward to the new Mitsubishi stuff coming out in the future.)

-911 GT2 (stock)
-Audi RS's (stock)

 

[JulesMaximus]

the majority of those listed should be chucked in a river. i'd keep the miata, s2000, porsches and bmw's. ford gt - wtf, that's a poster, not a car.

I would chuck the following into the river:

Corvette
Camaro
Mustang
Viper
Solstice/Sky
GTO
RX8
SLs
Evo
.
.
.
I might even toss the 350Z into the river.

Nor would I buy more than maybe one or two of these cars used.

 

[tweakmonkey]

First thoughts: Elise
S2000

NSX (because it's aluminum, mid engine and still looks great) but I think of it as a 90s car.

 

[vshah]

NSX, values have been steady or slowly rising for the past few years. Red, mid engined, drives like a dream even today.

 

[dbk]

Rx8 s2000

 

[slugg]

My first thought was the S2000. Nothing else really had a huge impact, IMO. The rest are "just cars."

 

[SSSnail]

What, no NSX?

 

[indy2878]

NSX is a decent track car especially if modified. I'm surprised Ferrari F355 wasn't mentioned....

 

[_Rick_]

Early 2k Focus RS "arm wrestler". Torque steery near death experiences out of every corner.
Or Clio V6. Grip, grip, snap-oversteer, death. They certainly don't make them like that anymore.

Both are great character cars from their generation.

Didn't the KTM X-Bow launch in the early 2000s? That's a real sportscar at least.

 

[thomsbrain]

Although I own an S2000, I think the car most likely to inspire the phrase "they don't make em like this anymore" would be the Viper. Though the real beasts were the 90's models.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

From best to worst cars that are still fun to drive and hold up well

Top tier
Honda S2000, NSX
911,Cayman
Miata
M3/M5/M Roadster/Coupes
Vette
Elise

Middle tier
Boxster
TT and RS's
G8/GTO
Mustang
G35 coupe

Poop sammich
CL's SL's
Viper
Solstice/Sky
350Z
RX-8
EVO/STI
Camaro

 

[halik]

e46 m3

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

obligatory MR2 plug.

but honestly, probably not. monkey's got it about right.

 

[Zenmervolt]

E39 M5

It just did everything right. Though I also think that the 540i with the Sport Package is an underrated car (poor thing was just overshadowed by the M5).

ZV

 

[vshah]

E39 M5

It just did everything right. Though I also think that the 540i with the Sport Package is an underrated car (poor thing was just overshadowed by the M5).

ZV

i saw one with 11k miles on it for sale the other day...great looking car.

 

[Kadarin]

I had an '05 GTO back in the day, and I wouldn't recommend it. The styling is dated (very), there's no trunk space, the shifter has a really long throw and comes with a crappy lockout feature that prevents making the 1-2 shift much of the time, the tires are too narrow for the car, so lots of wheelspin...

But with JBA headers (CA legal) coupled to a Corsa exhaust, it sounded amazing.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

E39 M5

It just did everything right. Though I also think that the 540i with the Sport Package is an underrated car (poor thing was just overshadowed by the M5).

ZV

I had a 540 sport for 6 months or so.

Couple of major dealbreaker issues. First off is the recirc ball steering which is used on both. The e39 i6 got the good rack and pinion, but they couldn't engineer the rack in with the v8? If it's absolutely brand new then it's ok and backs up the //m feel. But at even 40k miles you can feel the slop. Sure, there's the old-school steering tightening screw, but it will loosen up in short order. A steering box is $1500+++.


A bigger issue to me is the major engine issues inherent in all v8 e39s.

540 has known vanos problems that were never fixed by BMW. The 'cheap' fix is $1500 in parts and a solid 20 hours of labor. The 'correct' fix is $4000 in parts and 20 hours of labor. If you don't DIY you're looking at $8k++ in parts+labor. Is it worth it on a 10 year old bimmer? Not for me. This is what caused me to sell mine.

Then the m5 has its carbon build up issues which require 20 hours++ of labor. An indy shop can clear them for $8k or so. Some people are able to force pressurized seafoam for a short fix just to sell it to someone who will see the SES light in a couple months.

It really swayed me from the brand, and I'm a long time BMW guy. I can wrap my mind around "normal" sports/luxury car costs. IE couple thousand here or there, or a transmission, or whatever. But these are blatantly obvious design flaws that never should have left the factory. The vanos problem in particular is infuriating to read about.

BMW knew those rubber seals deteriorate. They never fixed them. Even when aftermarket companies came out with good fixes they still used the old style rubber.

 

[halik]

I had a 540 sport for 6 months or so.

Couple of major dealbreaker issues. First off is the recirc ball steering which is used on both. The e39 i6 got the good rack and pinion, but they couldn't engineer the rack in with the v8? If it's absolutely brand new then it's ok and backs up the //m feel. But at even 40k miles you can feel the slop. Sure, there's the old-school steering tightening screw, but it will loosen up in short order. A steering box is $1500+++.


A bigger issue to me is the major engine issues inherent in all v8 e39s.

540 has known vanos problems that were never fixed by BMW. The 'cheap' fix is $1500 in parts and a solid 20 hours of labor. The 'correct' fix is $4000 in parts and 20 hours of labor. If you don't DIY you're looking at $8k++ in parts+labor. Is it worth it on a 10 year old bimmer? Not for me. This is what caused me to sell mine.

Then the m5 has its carbon build up issues which require 20 hours++ of labor. An indy shop can clear them for $8k or so. Some people are able to force pressurized seafoam for a short fix just to sell it to someone who will see the SES light in a couple months.

It really swayed me from the brand, and I'm a long time BMW guy. I can wrap my mind around "normal" sports/luxury car costs. IE couple thousand here or there, or a transmission, or whatever. But these are blatantly obvious design flaws that never should have left the factory. The vanos problem in particular is infuriating to read about.

BMW knew those rubber seals deteriorate. They never fixed them. Even when aftermarket companies came out with good fixes they still used the old style rubber.

Wow interesting, I thought the only issue of that gen is oil consumption.

 

[MongGrel]

I'm still driving the hell out of a 2006 Mazda 3, actually I've babied it a lot and it's decked out.

I usualy just drive back and forth to and from work so it works for me.

It's not fancy, but it works pretty nicely, they finally looked like they didn't make them joke looking cars lately.

I hated what they did to em a few years ago, but looks like they might be getting better again.

I wanted a Miata at the time and the wife nerfed that.

I don't know why many don't care for em as they seem pretty reliable cars.

*edit* actually I wanted a RX-8 at the time, but I'd seen from one my bosses sons at the time RX-7 held up probably glad I didn't.

 

[Viper GTS]

From best to worst cars that are still fun to drive and hold up well

Top tier
Honda S2000, NSX
911,Cayman
Miata
M3/M5/M Roadster/Coupes
Vette
Elise

Middle tier
Boxster
TT and RS's
G8/GTO
Mustang
G35 coupe

Poop sammich
CL's SL's
Viper
Solstice/Sky
350Z
RX-8
EVO/STI
Camaro

OK I'll bite. Why the Viper hate? Particularly with the Corvette ranked high (no glaring anti big motor in front bias).

Viper GTS

 

[indy2878]

OK I'll bite. Why the Viper hate? Particularly with the Corvette ranked high (no glaring anti big motor in front bias).

Viper GTS

I feel ya on this as well. A viper can take out one of my favorite sport bikes: Honda CBR 600RR on the straights and mountain twistys. I'm actually considering a Viper or one of the cars the OP listed once I'm done with my undergrad studies in school. I probably will have to purchase it used though... The list isn't comprehensive of course. Like where's the Nissan Skyline GTR? Mosler MT900? Pagani Zonda?
My 2 cents....

 

[hans007]

S2k and the Elise for sure.

They still look great and the s2000 for one is increasing in value.