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
![](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-11-27-at-11.19.48-AM.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=401&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
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
![2010 mazdaspeed3](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2024/05/2012-MAZDASPEED3-12Hi-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=426&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
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
![C5 Corvette Front Country Road Action](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2020/07/C5-Corvette-Marietta-Ohio-Road-Trip-26.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=427&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
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
![2006 bmw z4 roadster front](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2024/05/P0026159.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=427&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=640)
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
![2005 mustang convertible skyline beach](https://hagerty-media-prod.imgix.net/2020/04/thomas-pony-car-evolution-11.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&ixlib=php-3.3.0)
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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I own a 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si….the fixed roof coupe, not the roadster. I feel the coupe is by far the better looking car that still turns heads 17 years after I bought it. The naturally aspirated N52 straight 6 is sublime that sounds great and has wonderful linear acceleration that is missing in all the peaky turbos. The engine is reliable and shared with the E46 and early E90 BMW’s so parts are reasonable and available.
How come you left out the MR2 – Even was on your cover a few years ago.
We live on the coast and are the second owner of a mint condition 02 Sebring convertible with the Daimler package. Always garaged and 60k miles on it. The lines on this car flow smoothly and handles winding roads like a go cart. It should be considered on a list like this.
The Lexus SC 430 is a Rolex watch on wheels. A 155 mph V8 retractable hardtop 2 seater grand touring car. Virtually built by hand in Japan, it cost nearly $70k back in the 2000s when new. A great automobile.
Three out of 5 ain’t bad. The Fiat is a nightmare to work on and the most unreliable of this group. You have to pull the motor to replace the alternator for crying out loud. On the Z4, multiple stories of catastrophic engine failure from friends. Fun while it lasted…
Notable for driving enjoyment and power is the Mustang, especially the 2011-2014 Coyote 5.0L V8. These include special models such as the California Special and others with a serious performance edge such as the Mustang GT Track Pack, up to the Boss 302. Affordability is still decent but on the higher end for the Shelby Mustangs with 500HP, 550HP or 662HP over this generation.
I think the key word on the title of this article is “affordable.” All the cars they listed are fairly mass produced, and not exclusive. There are plenty of unaffordable collectibles in the recent past – like the BMW z8, the Ford GT, several mid- to high end Mercedes and Porsches. For example a well sorted Boxter is a great car (as someone mentioned before). It’s fairly affordable. Even a Boxter S isn’t rare enough to be a collectible, though.
I have a 2014 Mustang GT Convertible with a 6 speed manual transmission. One unusual feature is a 20 gig hard drive that will ~ 3000 music title transferred from CDs!
I own a 1968 C10 long bed with a V8 and a 2009 C6 Z51 (read Base) manual. I’m good! My daily is 04 Cat Eye with 50K on it…….
I love the Z3 bmw…fun fun fun ….
No Fiat should ever be on this list. Ok…maybe the X/19…..but probably not.
I’m not so much a fan of the Z4 but I am very happy with my BMW Z3 Roadster. 1997 with the 2.8 motor and 5-speed manual is extremely engaging to drive, nimble, not a slug and damn good looking. Mechanical issues are not daunting when considering the low entry fee to ownership that leaves you with some extra cash for preventive maintenance.
Overall a good list. I didn’t think the Fiat or Mazda would appeal to many Hagerty readers, but are valid choices. The prices seem about right. You mentioned that high mileage (well, 100K isn’t really that high any more!) examples were in the price ranges you posted — certainly low mileage/use cars (30K or so) in much less worn condition would command a much higher price, as hyperv6 pointed out.
Let me know when cars newer than the 1960s start winning at car shows.
Z3 yes! All the way!!