These Fun, Affordable 21st-Century Cars Aren’t Classics…Yet
Every so often, I engage in a particularly futile and depressing ritual—I shop for cars that I’ve foolishly let go. They’re cars that could have been feasible 10 years ago, but not today. I’ve been priced out of the market for virtually all of them. And while the market might be settling down at the moment, there are few signs of an out-and-out retreat to pre-pandemic pricing. Among cars from the 1970s through the early 1990s, there are precious few bargains. But go a little bit newer, where there’s even some depreciation yet to be done, and the picture gets more enticing. I’m talking cars from the 2000s to 2010s that are getting older, but still aren’t considered any kind of “classic” or “collectible” yet. Here are some highlights.
Fiat 500 Abarth
The 500 Abarth is the closest thing to a real hot hatch that Fiat has ever offered in the U.S., a market that is sadly short on real hot hatches. There were more interesting varieties of the Punto and Ritmo, but those were Euro-only cars that frankly weren’t very good compared to competition from Renault, Peugeot, VW, and Ford. As for the 500 Abarth, although it first arrived here in the early 2010s, the 160-hp pocket rocket feels more like a 1990s hot hatch. It’s crude, the ride is choppy, and a 10 year-old Fiat probably wears more like a 20 year-old VW. But it’s loud, analog-feeling, and fun. Most importantly, it’s cheap. Around $8000 to $10,000 buys one with under 50,000 miles. That’s tons of fun per dollar in a package that offers an old school driving experience in something that’s new enough to have most contemporary features and conveniences.
MazdaSpeed3
Back in the days of the Zoom Zoom tagline, Mazda fielded the incredibly entertaining MazdaSpeed3. Offered from 2007-13, it’s a four-door hatch with 263 hp and 280 lb. ft. of torque. It’s exactly the kind of car enthusiasts and auto journalists beg manufacturers for, but rarely head to a dealership and actually buy. Everyone who tested a Speed3 back in the day found the car fun, especially those of us who were entertained by the torque-steer. Car and Driver wasn’t, comparing driving the car to a game of tug-of-war. But, affordability and perfection don’t often go hand-in-hand, so for $10,000 to $12,000 at current prices you could do far worse than the powerful and practical Speed3.
C5 Corvette
If hot hatches aren’t your jam, there’s always the bargain Corvette of the moment, the 1997-2004 C5. While some variants, most notably the Z06, sailed beyond true affordability in the last several years, a base manual C5 with somewhere between 75,000 and 100,000 miles can still be had in the $13,000 to $15,000 range. That’s a huge bargain for what was an utterly clean sheet design, one of the few in Corvette history, and more performance than almost anything in this price point. Interiors are standard 2000s GM, but livable. And the styling, over a quarter-century after it was introduced, is aging quite nicely.
2003-08 BMW Z4
The 2003-08 Z4 is a bit like the C5 Corvette in that it wasn’t universally loved when new, but is aging well. Available in 2.5- and 3.0-liter six-cylinder forms, the Z4 was larger and more practical than its predecessor, the Z3. Its odd surface detailing and Kamm-tail also look better now than they did 20 years ago. The Z4’s list of maladies is well-known at this point—the VANOS variable valve-timing system can give trouble (it’s often the solenoids), as can the cooling system. These are pricy repairs, but with nice cars available in the $9000 to $12,000 range, if you budget $2000-$3000 to sort things out, these can still be a compelling deal in semi-modern convertible German sports car.
2005-2014 Ford Mustang
You could argue that the 2005 Mustang was the first one to really look like a Mustang since maybe 1973. The brilliant Sid Ramnarace-designed S197 Mustang managed to look the part without being foolishly retro, a hard balance to achieve. Special editions, and certainly the Shelby versions of the S197 are not cheap, but a lightly optioned V-8 coupe or convertible is still one of the best cheap V-8 pony cars out there. Being a Mustang, there are always plenty on the market to choose from at any given time, and a decent manual transmission car can be had in the $12,000 to $14,000 range.
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The problem with this list is that although these may be desirable, there are simply too many produced of ALL of these to be a “classic” in the traditional sense. The Fiat 500 Abarth I have no idea production on, maybe that’s an exception, but I’d say the Fiat 124 Spider would be as good or better bet. There are tons of Z4’s convertibles although the Z4M is cool; the Z4 coupe is a different story I could see that being quite collectible. I don’t think they are as bad as some people say to keep running.
The C5 is probably the best bang for the buck, but there were like 240,000 of them and so many have low miles/are kept in good shape so I don’t think they’re going to be any more collectible than they are today anytime soon, although I’d bet on a C5 before a C6 as a classic/collector car despite the worse interior due to the (now outlawed) styling.
MazdaSpeed3 is cool but kind of ugly/unspecial, personally I’d go for a MazdaSpeed6 despite being slower. Neither are too common so they make sense on this list. I think Mustangs are just too common/generic, however a Saleen or any special variant has potential.
In the under $25k arena I’d say a V8 Audi S4 or S5, 05-06 Pontiac GTO or G8 GT/GXP, M-B SLK55 AMG, BMW E38 7-series, any V10 BMW in good shape, any early 2000’s Acura Type-S car with a 6-speed, etc. Especially anything with a manual trans because they are just so difficult to find in good shape and so few choices available in later years.
Mostly comes down to your definition of “classic” – I think collectible is different than classic. Most of these will be collectible one day or maybe are already to a degree, but if there’s always enough supply to meet market demand I don’t call that particularly collectible. If a specific model/variant has more than a few dozen examples for sale at any one time in decent shape (certainly more than 100-200), it’s going to be tough for that to become a modern classic with high production numbers. Over time it’s possible, but even to get to collectible status to me implies some degree of extra effort either in acquisition and/or ownership.
That said, nothing said above has any bearing on if it’s a COOL car.
Check out the 2005-2011 Mercedes Benz SLK models. They came 280, 350, & 55 AMG. I bought a 55AMG several years back, unbelievable performance , faster than the C6 corvette of the same year (05).
I think the Mazda & Fiat are actually better as cartoons from the movie “Cars”
They’re fun cars to drive. That’s all that counts. You don’t buy one hoping it increases in value. I have a C6 convertible, drive it, love it and have some fun at times. 😉
Audi TT Mk.1. Mazda RX7 Nissan ZR 360 & 370. Honda S2000. Dodge Stealth Twin turbo AWD
All very affordable, less so the S2000.
All visionary with their introduction
Absolutely right that between plastic and logic boards, cars and trucks post 2009 age like milk. And many of the manufacturers have stopped producing service parts for these vehicles after less-than 10 years out! Classics? Is that even possible for vehicles that are DOA with no means to repair?
2005-20056 Mini Cooper S
Cheap and fun with the added bonus of keeping you closly engaged with your tool box.
The younger people have already discovered the Honda fit and I would have to add it to the list. After all it’s a Honda.
My C5 convertable gives me have a big grin every time i go out in the Florida sunshine
what? no hemi challengers?
I agree. Especially the 2008 SRT. Only 7000 produced in total (6400 in US, 500 in Canada and 100 for Mexico). First edition, limited run and 6.1 litre Hemi power. SWEET RIDE!
I am wondering if anyone has an opinion about the 2012 Jaguar XKR convertible.
Thanks.
A 2012 eh! . . . A beast of an engine (what is it, 500 and something horsepower) and fabulous transmission, all aluminum body that is surprisingly stiff for a convertible. . . then there’s the supercharger whine. . .What’s not to like there! Love it!
I’ll trade you my 2005 XKR and a few dollars?
The Miata is likely the more fun and better look than the Speed 3. Do to it’s lightest weight modern sports car. They are going cheap cheap for what your’e getting. Just do your research and get the best years with the least issues or one that the major issue has already been modified and corrected. Fiats are a No-go and Mustangs are way too common, unless your’e just a die-hard Stang enthusiast.
I would have to throw in the first generation TT, especially a 225/6spd Quattro roadster. Blends a bit of every aspect of fun and can be driven in snow.
My wife and i were talking about this the other day. Cars are emotional, what makes the market is the nostalgic connection, what were the cars that you saw in the high school parking lot? What were the cars you saw in the movies you watched? What were the cars your friends picked you up in?
I strongly believe that those born in the 90’s and on aren’t going to have those emotional connections to cars. There will always be the poster cars, those that make up the collectors market. But for the most part, cars have gotten expensive, the number of high school kids that are drivers are decreasing, and other than category cars (mustangs, wranglers, maybe civics) all cars are starting to look the same.
You can tell what years i went to high school based on the cars in my garage. Walk your car shows this weekend, talk to the owners, for the most part, the cars they own, like or desire are the ones that they have a nostalgic emotional connection to.
How many cult following tv shows or movie had a Mazda3 in it? Or who is dreaming of getting a fiat500 because the cool kid in high school has one?
There will be a collectors market, and perhaps some of the cars on this list will make it into that market, but I’m afraid, the window of time that defines a classic car has been closed.
Buy the car that makes you feel something, enjoy that car and the all memories and dreams, it brings with it. That car to you will always be a classic.
+1
I’ve had four of the ’97-’06 Jaguar XK8 convertibles (a ’97, a ’99, an ’06 and my most recent, a 2001 with 72,000 miles on it, which cost me $10,000). These cars have a few well-documented mechanical problems and quirks (plastic timing chain tensioners, anyone?), but mine have been very reliable. The medium-mileage cars are very reasonably priced, and the higher-mileage ones are downright cheap – Jaguar prices still reflect the pre-Ford electrical and other problems of the 79’s and 80’s cars. And (I know, “beauty is in the eyes . . . .”) the body style is the prettiest thing anyone has built since the XK150. And, BTW, my wife has owned three Vanden Plas sedans – a ’97, a ’98 and a 2001. Same story – bought for bargain prices and about as reliable as a Crown Vic.
“”the body style is the prettiest thing anyone has built since the XK150.”” So-o-o true . . . in my eyes too. The car looks sweet even standing still. A future Classic to be sure!
My XK is an XKR in British Racing Green and Cashmere upholstery. Lovely to look at and lovely to drive!