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
Fih
Funnily enough I’ve been looking at cars from this era as a weekend toy. Most of my selections are technically from the late 90s but continued into the early 00s:
– Alfa Romeo GTV with the amazing-sounding Busso V6
– E46 BMW coupe with inline 6 and manual, ideally a 330ci. The “boring” option, though by all reports a great driving car with more usable back seats compared to the others I’ve been looking at
– Peugeot 406 Coupe. I always wanted one of these as my first car, but they were just out of budget back in 2008. I think they’re still one of the best-looking coupes ever made, though my understanding is they’re nothing particularly special to drive. I actually saw one parked in a side street yesterday in a trendy part of the city – they still look great today.
– MG TF or F – I love a little roadster and these are dirt cheap compared to an equivalent MX-5. A serious contender for me though I don’t have much nostalgia for them compared to the others. Also no back seats so I can’t take the little ones along with me.
These along with the Lotus Elan (an older car, from the early 90s) are my top budget contenders. The GTV is currently winning though I expect to be looking for a while to snag one in good condition
Honorable mention to the “new” Holden Monaro, which came out in the early 00s. These are probably the first “attainable” car I ever really wanted, and of course being Aussie-built there’s a bit of national pride there too. Unfortunately they’re already too expensive these days – everything shot up when Holden closed shop a few years ago. I can’t justify spending mid-5-figures on a car that has the same dash as my first car, a bog standard ’99 VT Commodore.
Well they all seem to be uncomfortable to drive with one arm out the window like my 1970 pickup, so I guess all of them.
Seriously, I’d like to find a car that has the simplicity and ergonomics of say a 1980s Volvo or Mercedes, but the safety of airbags and general structural integrity, and a modern drivetrain which is without doubt better, without all the feature cruft and general ugliness of modern cars. Who asked for headlights that look angry and squinty and grill designs that bring the word prolapse to mind( sorry) .
The Scion xB is perhaps the exception. A Lexus version of that would have been great.
Honda S2000,
Are various Miatas considered 2000s cars?
Volvo and Saab didn’t make it out of the 20th century intact but the C30 is kind of growing on me.
Generally cars just keep getting less emotionally engaging and more annoying. . I guess being annoyed and thinking what a disappointment most new cars are is an engagement of sorts. Maybe satisfying is the word I want.
Plenty of cars you can’t buy in the USA , even some from brands that sell here. GR Yaris for example, I have an itch for a Renault Avantime of Fiat Multipla. I know that’s like cross shopping an Espada and a 80s Volvo but I like them. Anyone know which would be easier to get serviced in New York or Connecticut? They are in the 25 year old zone. I might just drop in on the weird car servicing shops near my new home once I get moved in and ask.
Here’s an odd duck for you; I always like the Volvo C30 with its giant glass hatch. It was an updated P1800 Shooting Brake.
I always liked those too.
Those came with the 5 cylinder motor right?
That’s right.
Lexus SC 430. I was smitten the moment it appeared in Terminator 3 (and not because of Kristanna Loken). The previous MYs were also on my list. Sadly any remaining examples have probably been tuned and hooned to death.
Bangle Z8.
Isuzu Vehicross, in yellow (is that one too old?)
Honda S2000, duh.
Cadillac CTS-V. Still want one. Probably won’t ever own one. Sad face.
Continual on the hunt list:
02/03 S2000 in white over red or tan with glass rear window and the 9K redline. Lost whale.
RSX Type-S (Pre Facelift) love the head/tail light scalloped design that calls out the 3rd Gen Integra’s lights.
9-2X Aero – the ultimate GM employee pricing product (well maybe the Vibe GT), Japanese cosplaying as Swedes.
EP3 Si … Rallye shifter, green interior, the ‘torque puller’ of the Si family until the 9th series. Return to hatchback form of the OG.
Jaguar S-type/Lincoln LS 3.0 manual – because… well why not if you have a bit of Ford in your blood.
06-07 Accord EX-L V6 Manual. Peep that red V6 badge on the rear so you know it’s the real deal. Or……. the Hybrid badge from the same years because I’m faster and more economical. V6 performance for I4 prices.
My 20 yo 7th gen Accord because it still runs great and hasn’t asked much more than fluids, tires and a DIY headliner.
My only (minor) complaint is the fuel efficiency which was good 20 years ago but compared to a modern car it’s a bit thirsty.
For cars I HAVEN’T owned, well…
1st Gen Insight. Because it’s still a mileage king.
C5 Corvette, because of the amazing value.
Mustang Cobra, because it finally got an IRS.
Subaru Forrester XT, because it’s a fast turbo wagon.
Cadillac CTS because the styling grew on me and it’s RWD
BMW E30 and E46 because they look so nice inside and out.
Now I have had to check and I feel officially old. Anyway, on personal experience:
– Mini R53. A cute car that could get big car equipment (ours had Xenon headlamps, sat nav and full leather seats). A very serious driver’s car, with incredibly stiff suspension, hard clutch and steering (almost felt like it had no power steering). The engine sounded nice with the supercharger whine.
– BMW E81. Perhaps the best handling family hatchback ever made. On 16 inch wheels and standard suspension it felt almost telepatic. My first experience with rear wheel drive which got me hooked ever since. Also with the 143bhp diesel decently fast and super economical. A BMW from the era where you could sit in it blindfolded and you could recognise it was a BMW just be actioning the controls.
Meh, I owned an ’04 V70. A savagely disappointing car. Beyond German car running costs due to dealer lock-in without German car driving pleasure. Nice looking car, and definitely comfortable. Exciting as a nap in a dark room. If you are going to spend that much, just get a BMW.
The 2000s were a golden era for BMW, Audi, and VW. Unfortunately a low point for Mercedes due to DaimlerChrysler. My beloved e8x and e9x BMWs debuted in ’05, but the previous generation cars from the turn of the century are good too. I loved my ’02 Golf TDI. Saab was at thier peak at the turn of the century with the original 9-5, and the 2nd gen 9-3 in ’03 was a really good car overall, if let down by GM cost-cutting.
I guess the Americans and Japanese made cars, but I never paid much attention to them other than as rentals.
Another one I just remembered is the 2003ish + Subaru Forester XT. Even the base Forester was really fun to drive despite looking like an SUV. This one felt half way between a WRX and an STi when pushed because it doesn’t lean as much as you expect a taller WRX would, and just encouraged further stupidity.
I so loved a Toyota MRS on a test drive despite it being one of the ugliest cars in America at the time that I was convinced I was going to buy it until I put the top up and realized I don’t actually fit or can see my surroundings. I hated convertibles at the time but because it was a 30 second walk from the Nissan dealership I was at I figured I’d give it a try. I ended up with my 1nd of several (mostly older) Mazda’s.
Nostalgia pick: a 2002 Toyota Camry. My mom had one, and it was one of two cars that I spent a large portion of my childhood in. (The other is a 90s Camry that my dad had, that died when he got T-boned in an intersection over ten years ago. I learned how to drive in that car. I miss that thing.) Cars were like peak in the early 2000s: car radios, built-in CD players, didn’t have tracking software built in, I liked the shape, and it ran great with regular oil changes. And to be honest, I would still have it if I had the money to fix some alignment issues and replace a slowly leaking tire and a crumpled door that I smashed into another car trying to park it, but I didn’t have that kind of money and the city was going after us for having a non-functional car in the driveway, so we were forced to sell it.
The other 2000s car I was and am still fascinated by are early-gen Toyota Priuses. I always wanted one ever since I heard of them. I know people knocked on them for being ugly, but that was kind of the charm for me.
I bought my Mom a 40K mile ’01 Camry V6 when she moved to FL 7 years ago. Great car in an exceptionally smooth and dull sort of way. Shame Hurricane Ian drowned it, I am sure it would have been her last ever car at 2-3k per year.
But as I have said here many times, Toyotas are the cars I respect the most while desiring to own the least.
My son still drives his 2002 Camry.
Speaking of Volvos, the P1 chassis (S40, V50, C30) is deeply under appreciated.
Absolutely this. NA or Turbo 5-cylinders hooked up to manuals with some offering AWD (S/V only, C30s were FWD only) in a very compliant, confident chassis that could be rather playful. C/D has it quicker than the 325i and A4 3.0 Avant if that’s your thing. It’s quirky and unique.
The C30 was indeed an interesting car that was nice to drive.
Oops, I just mentioned the C30 before I read your post. I really thought I would be the only one. Good taste!
Yeah I’ve started thinking about a V50 as a hobby car in a couple years. Yeah it’s not a true Volvo, but it’s a handy size, looks good, is cheap to aquire, and doesn’t seem to complicated to do a little bit of self wrenching.
2004 Volkswagen Sedán Última Edición
*looks into garage and driveway* 3 of the 5 are 2000’s cars.
2000 VW MK4 Jetta 1.8T. My late Mom’s car that is now my son’s car. He loves it and it is so simple and nice to drive compared to modern bubble shaped crap.
2005 C6 Corvette, white with red leather and manual transmission. My other son loves his Vette that he got when I totaled his 2007 Miata.
2006 NC1 Miata, 2.5 swapped. Turbo kit removed (!). Dad’s track day toy and short drive to work car.
Our others are a 2015 Silverado which has annoying computer stuff even just to swap out the stereo and a 2022 Civic Si which also has laggy and annoying electrical crap. My wife loves it and the 6spd manual makes it fun.
Older cars are better, even with their faults. We will own more.
The Honda S2000 of course!
But also the 1st gen Honda Insight, the 2nd gen Prius, 1st gen Ford Focus Wagon (I owned 2 of them in the past), 7th Gen Toyota Celica, first gen Honda Fit, Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, Toyota Yaris and last, but not least, the Chrysler PT Cruiser… but only with the manual.
Special mention of the Mazda Protege 5/Mazda 3 hatch… I was into them until they turned out to be rust buckets.
It may be historically a little out of place with the rest of the line style-wise, but I’ve always liked the 00s Celica for its lowslung racecar looks. It’s like a mini exotic.
Looks fast! Do you remember those commercials? 😛
Totally, though by that time, Toyota was offering that over the top body kit in repsonse to the Fast N Furious juggernaut (back when it was still about modded cheap cars). I remember thinking how ridiculous the spoiler looked.
B5 S4
Some of my top picks.
-GMT800 trucks, particularly the HD trucks (I’ve owned several over the last 25 years)
-Lexus GX (I still miss the one I had that was totalled)
-Bugeye and Blobeye WRX STi
-C6 ZR1
I could watch Jim Mero lap the C6 ZR1 around Nurburgring all day . . .
2001 Honda Insight. Manual transmission, aluminum bodied hybrid two seater with enclosed rear wheels. That sort of weirdness will likely not come again.
As a kid I fawned over the Subaru WRX and Lancer EVO, E39 5-Series, and Gran Turismo forbidden fruit (particularly the Skyline GTR). Those still have power over me, but weirder products that have accompanied my changing taste (I desperately want a burgundy Park Avenue) or cars that have proven their worth (family’s ‘06 MDX that got me through grad school at 260k miles) now are at the center of my heart
Sentra SE-R spec V
I was looking for this answer, thank you.
I miss my 2001 A6 Allroad with the 6 speed manual. That was a great car. Not trouble free, but still a great car. We bought it with 35k miles and sold it at 305k miles.
Dad had a contemporary Avant that made it to 290k, what a beautiful machine
Two obvious answers: E46 BMW M3, and Porsche 997 911. High points for both cars, both will long be desirable.
As mentioned elsewhere the 03-04 Marauders. Also the Retro Bird, Jelly Bean 150 and the SuperDuty. I’m not just talking I put my money where my mouth is and those are all in the fleet.
I grow fonder of that T-bird each year. There’s just something about a sharp V8 personal luxury convertible that appeals to me more and more – nothing to prove, just enjoying the cruise with some oldschool flair and torque.
I do love mine for exactly the reasons you noted.
The ‘bird is an odd pick, but I’ve seen one near me that is de-chromed a bit, and not a wild color and it looks very handsome. It’s just that its rare to see them not yellow or red, with blingy chrome wheels. This one is black, with graphite gray 18 spoke (or so) wheels.
Red is definitely by far the most popular color, yellow on the other hand is pretty rare since that was a one year only color. Mine is Merlot and I did pull the chrome wheels and was able to score some of the last NOS 20 spoke non-chrome wheels.
As far as it being an odd pick, yeah it gets a lot of crap from “enthusiasts” who don’t think it is fast enough but I like just for the reason’s that Jack listed above.
You’re my hero for going with the argent alloys. They’re beautiful, and, to my eyes, tone down the retro just the right amount. The overall shape does vintage just fine, but combined with the chrome wheels it’s almost too much for everyday driving. To have both sets like you do is living in the best possible world.
It’s funny because I like Chrome/high polish wheels on my other vehicles. Part of my problem on the T-bird is that I don’t really like the basic wheels they chose to chrome. The chrome takes them from meh to bad for me.
Ironically, if Ford had chromed the 20 spoke ones, that would have looked more retro than the 7 big blade ones it did.
Early 2000’s 2nd gen Dodge Dakota. Great looking small truck, 4.7 liter V8, 6 foot bed, single or extended cab, power or crank windows. Reliable except the headliner.
Oh, cars- 06 xB. I still have one of each.