Remember 26 years ago? If you’re over 33 or so, you should have pretty good memories of the world not ending when the ol’ odometer rolled over for those of us following the Gregorian calendar, which was literally invented by a Greg. And as a car person, you probably also have solid car memories of the 2000s era, as that first decade of the aughts had some real bangers. Some may have stayed with you as dream cars, or even dreams you’ve managed to make come true; others may have faded with time as mere kid stuff, or just no longer your thing.
I’m sure many of you, like me, thought the Subaru WRX STI (as depicted in the top pic) was one helluva machine, and I’d still love to hoon one even though I’d surely look like Grandpa grabbed the wrong keys. See also the Volkswagen Golf R32 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution for cars I dug then and still dig now, like so many of us do/did.
As for poster cars, put me down for a two-car garage with a Porsche Carrera GT in there, alongside a Ferrari Enzo. Supercars aren’t much of a thing for me, but these two classics still hit for being purposeful, cutting-edge machines of their era, and much classier than, say, a Murcielago.
But of course, we’re probably all thinking exactly the same thing when it comes to 2000s greatness, as Antti has neatly pinpointed:
My serious answer: the 2000-2007 Volvo P2 generation is one of the best real world cars that does most things well, especially in lifted XC70 wagon form. Comfortable, spacious, reliable, durable, in turbodiesel form even frugal. Great seats and really good stereos and a very sensibly laid out dashboard.
My unserious answer: PT Cruiser, for the exact same reasons
Everyone loves an XC70.
Your turn:
What 2000s Cars Are You Totally Into?
Top graphic image: Subaru
2002 Trans Am or Formula (probably my top choice since cloth seats hah) with WS6 package or a Firehawk. Also needs a T56 hah
Never been an enthusiast of foreign automobiles no matter what country. I am an enthusiast of American car fare up until mid 70s, but if you ask me about 2K cars, there is only ONE for me (and I own one) the Chevrolet Corvette C6. No other!????????
There was the final series of the R129 SLs – production ending in 2002. Not the best of the series, but better than every SL which has come after.
There were also the second gen (C215) Mercedes-Benz CL Class – Those were handsome coupes indeed. It’s a shame DB didn’t see fit to make a cabriolet version thereof – as the body style was particularly suited to it.
But an AMG CL55 did set a Cannonball Run record in 2013.
Then there was the first gen Bentley Azure – which was based on the Continental R, which itself was based on the Arnage.
2000 was also the final year of the beautiful 1st Gen Toyota Soarer/Lexus SC300/400 – which I loved ever since seeing one in the Toyota showroom in the Sony Building in Ginza at the start of production in the early 90s.
Then there were the Saab 9-5s.
And the first gen Audi TT roadsters – particularly those with the baseball glove interiors.
Hmm… So many options…
I’ll go “attainable”:
– Toyota MR2 Spyder
– Honda S2000
– Porsche Cayman
– My wife’s Mazdaspeed 3 (1st Gen)
– My Mazda Protege5
Outside of the obvious Corvette / 911 / Viper answers? GMT800s, specifically GMC, and more specifically 2500HD. I just think they look cool (whereas the GMT800 Silverado “facelift” looks like it got smacked in the face with the inside of a spade . . . GM’s worst ever facelift UNTIL the 6th gen Camaro facelift).
Edit to add: 3 series BMWs were pretty cool as well, plus the E39 5 series.
I miss the 2000 – 2003 Chevrolet S-10 pickups. They were honest little pickups with an MSRP of around $13K if you got the base model 2WD 4-cylinder, 5-speed version.
https://www.iihs.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=636/api/ratings/model-year-images/1882/
Adjusted for cumulative inflation of about 94.6% between 2000 and today, this is equivalent to roughly $25,570 today.
Imagine being able to go to a GM stealership these days and being able to hand over $26K and driving away in a basic brand new truck.
Also, the early 2000s Ranger, B-Series, Tacoma, Frontier, Hombre, and Sonoma compact pickups.
I was excited when they came out with the S197 Mustang in 05, I liked the retro look and bought one in 09 which I still have. Not as fast as the Coyote versions but still fun to drive.
Bit of a ’90s holdover, but the E39, obviously, since I’ve had four (and all of mine have been ’00s models, so they count!). They haven’t held up, but I wish I’d jumped one of the several times I considered a lightly-used B5/B5.5 Passat back in the oughts—that one was more than the sum of its parts, a basically ordinary mid-size sedan/wagon that managed to just look and feel special. Until everything in the interior started to peel, chip, or come unglued, but what are you going to do.
The P2 Volvos were a huge disappointment. They’ve never stopped looking great, but they’re otherwise not at all worth being nostalgic about. Sorry, kids.
Off the top of my head… E46 M3. Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky. Cadillac CTS-V, especially the wagon. Dodge Magnum. Lamborghini Gallardo. Alfa Romeo Brera.
I’ll list five:
-Honda Insight (1st gen)
-Lotus Elise
-Tesla Roadster
-Corvette C6
-Audi TT Coupe AWD (1st gen)
I own an Insight. I got one while they were still attainable. They may not be soon.
Insight prices are already nutty, IMO. A $3k manual Insight in my area has 350,000 miles, crunching gears, a torn seat, a weak battery, and paint that faded years ago. Insights with automatics can be had for the same price with half the miles and a way better body.
Turbo Baja, Volvo V70R, and a VehiCROSS were my early 2000s semi-attainable dream cars
350Z (username checks out)
Evo 8/9
TT Coupe
F430 (IMO the most beautiful Ferrari)
F430 (IMO the most beautiful
Ferraricar).Fixed
BMW clown shoe. Some others as well, but the clown shoe is still one of the most distinctive, weird and beautiful shapes in the world. Should have bought one when they were affordable.
Love the car. Hate the nickname.
I always had a soft spot for the Pontiac GTO/Holden Monaro
Ohhh I would love a imported Holden Commodore UTE
Clio V6, at least until it kills me – but at least I’ll die with a big fat grin on my face!
Not seen on the USA, but the SEAT Leon Cupra R. Available also in Project Gotham Racing 2 for Xbox.