The advent of the 21st century brought with it many changes to how things were done in the car industry, especially when it comes to sports cars. Pop-up headlights became a dying breed, and sports cars became simpler and more refined from the inside out. Interiors were now basic but comfortable and all the signs of false mufflers and air scoops began to disappear.
Many cars eschewed turbocharging and superchargers for naturally aspirated engines, and the driving stick was back in a big way. The 2000s were all about the pleasure of driving, and safety was not as big a concern as it is now, so driver aids were also yet to be added to cars in the plethora they are now. This is what made many of them so exciting and memorable.
On that note, here go the coolest sports cars of the 2000s, ranked in the order of the good to the very best. Do you have one of these in your garage?
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10 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO: The Second Coming
So yes, the second generation of the Pontiac GTO was nothing like the first but that was not a bad thing. While the design was not as snazzy as the classic, this two-door coupé first came with a 5.7-liter V8 and jet 350 horsepower, with 365 lb-ft torque.
The very next year, the engine became a 6.0-liter V8 with 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft torque making this car a sleeper, punch-drunk with power. It was the perfect muscle-sports car blend, but its simple looks kept sales low.
Related: 10 Sickest Pontiacs No One Bought
9 Porsche Boxster: No More Bull’s Eye
When the Boxster was launched, the “fried-egg” headlights did not win it any rave reviews, so by 2005, the next generation of the Boxster dropped them. It came with two engine options in its first year, a 237-horsepower 2.7-liter flat-six and 276-horsepower 3.2-liter flat-six. The top speeds were a respectable 160 mph and 167 mph for both.
You could also opt between a manual or an automatic transmission, which made driving the Porsche Boxster a wonderful thing, indeed. The early manuals are also fairly affordable on the classic car market today.
Related: Ranking Porsche's Greatest Sports Cars (1 That's Worthless)
8 Dodge Viper: Third Gen Demonic
The Dodge Viper was a car unlike any other in America or the world. With a V10 engine under the hood and a very sleek, chew-up-the-road kind of a determined design, the Viper set benchmarks in its first and second generations.
Then came the 2003-introduced third-generation with the edgiest Viper yet. Sleek but sharp, with an 8.0-liter V10 that now made 500 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque, it was lighter than its predecessors but also a bit larger. The Viper SRT10 of 2005 added to the power and appeal of this stunning sports car.
7 Honda S2000: The Sunniest Roadster
The Honda S2000 was an amazing roadster, so much so that Honda has never been able to live up to its perfection with any sports car ever since its eventual demise. The slightly more than 2.0-liter, inline-four engine made 240 horses in 2004 in the AP2 model, with 162 lb-ft of torque.
Driving this car just about made your day, and its value on the used car bazaar just keeps on rising, as the inflation rate. It was beautifully styled with tasteful interiors and basically made any bad day turn just a bit sunnier.
Related: Here Are The Greatest Driver-Focused Sports Cars Under $15,000
6 Mazda Miata NB: Tried, Tested, Trusted
Much like the MR2, the Mazda also dropped the pop-up headlights, or is it vice versa? Pop-up headlights not only proved to be hazardous for pedestrians, but they also did nothing for aerodynamics, especially in the Miata.
The car was small and light, and so was the engine, the four-pots not making more than 143 horsepower on this side of the Pacific. The looks became sportier in 2001 to make the Miata a little more upmarket, and the interiors became nicer as well.
5 Ferrari 360: Edges Out, Curves In
Till the time the 1999-introduced 360 brought all the curves back in, Ferrari was doing a lot of edges and pop-up headlights with the 355/ Now. it also slashed the costs a bit to make it relatively more affordable. Manual transmissions made it a fun car to drive, and ultimately, a Ferrari is a Ferrari, no?
Power went up to 394 horses and torque also climbed a little to 268 lb-ft. With more torque in the lower revs, the Ferrari became a sports car with a near muscular feel and for that, it has our respect and undying love.
4 Lamborghini Murcielago: The Quintessential 2000s Supercar
Whether it's wallpapers, music videos, or teenage boys' bedroom walls, there was no getting away from the Lamborghini Murcielago in the early 2000s. Along with its little brother Gallardo, it was the quintessential yellow supercar you'd see everywhere you go.
It's hard to say what made the Murcielago so cool, but the 6.2-liter (later upgraded to 6.5 liters) V12 producing 571 horsepower definitely didn't hurt. Then there was also its unique design that followed one single unbroken line from the tip of the nose all the way to the rear wing. It was nothing short of spectacular.
3 Saleen S7: European-Looking American Muscle
The Saleen S7 looks very exotic and you could imagine it being made in Modena instead of in the heartland of America. A track-focused sports car and frankly almost a hypercar, the Saleen S7 tapped into Detroit’s Ford for its engine.
The all-aluminum 5.7-liter V8 made 550 horses in the Saleen, and when a TT S7 model was launched, it made 750 horses with a twin-turbocharged 7.0-liter V8, claiming a top speed of 248 mph. Now, who says Americans cannot make a good sports car?
Related: 15 Facts About The Saleen S7 That Will Blow Your Mind
2 Chevrolet Corvette Z06/ZR1: Decimating Foreign Imports
The European cars were left biting the dust, red-faced with the effort, as they tried to catch up to the sheer brutal prowess of the Corvette ZR1 that came in 2009. They failed. The Corvette ZR1, with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, made 638 horsepower and 604 lb-ft of torque and bore testament to Chevy’s dedication to the ‘Vette.
Even the 2001-introduced Z06 dented the ego of most existing sports cars, with a 385-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 that made 405 horses the very next year. The ‘Vette is nearly the undisputed king of the 2000s.
1 Ford GT: Retro Done Right
We said the ‘Vette Z06/ZR1 was almost the king of the 2000s because the crown ultimately goes to the Ford GT. It captured the essence of the GT40, the one that decimated Le Mans and churned out a Matt Damon, Christian Bale hit. And added in supercharged V8 performance ahead of its time.
The Ford GT's 5.4-liter supercharged V8 made 550 horses and 500 lb-ft of torque, just enough power to thrill the hair off your head, but not more than what you could handle. It was a racetrack terror, one that made the competition leak oil and bow out. Still very much a stunner.
Sources: Motor1, CarBuzz
FAQs
What is the most reliable car from 2000s? ›
- Lexus IS300. The Lexus IS300 is among the best sports sedans used car buyers are on the lookout for, especially those who want the reliability of a Toyota vehicle in a fun-to-drive sports sedan – and at an affordable price. ...
- Honda S2000. ...
- Volkswagen R32. ...
- Toyota Land Cruiser.
Currently the 2023 MAZDA MX-5 Miata tops KBB's always up-to-date list of the best sports cars in America.
What are some badass cars? ›- Chevrolet Camaro.
- Plymouth AAR-Cuda.
- Dodge Charger.
- Ford Mustang Mach 1.
- Porsche 911 Carrera.
| Rank | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Toyota Camry | Toyota Camry |
| 2. | Honda Accord | Honda Accord |
| 3. | Ford Taurus | Ford Taurus |
| 4. | Honda Civic | Honda Civic |
The VW Golf is the best-selling car in the world in 2000 with no less than 1,143,044 units sold (including 690,400 in Europe). The Ford F-Series is #2 with 1,006,325 sales, including 876,716 in the US, ahead of the Opel Astra at 929,594 units and the Ford Focus with 926,284 sales.
What are the big three sports cars? ›The Big Three Muscle Car Offerings from Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge are locked in a battle for performance supremacy not seen since the Sixties-era Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger horsepower wars.
What is a true sports car? ›True sports cars are designed for performance at high speeds, and are always low to the ground. The key metric for a sports car will always be performance, particular its speed and its handling. High-output engines are the norm.
What is the fastest car ever? ›What is the fastest anyone has gone in a car? It's not a 'car' in a conventional sense, but the ThrustSSC is technically speaking the fastest car that's ever been built. The jet-powered vehicle was clocked at 763mph back in 1997, making it the first car to break the sound barrier.
What is the most popular sports car ever sold? ›DEARBORN, Mich., April 17, 2023 – Over the last 10 years combined, Ford Mustang® – which is celebrating its 59th birthday – is the world's best-selling sports car, according to Ford analysis of registration data from S&P Global Mobility*.
What is an exotic sports car? ›
A supercar – also called exotic car – is a loosely defined description of street-legal, high-performance sports cars. Since the 2010s, the term hypercar has come into use for the highest performing supercars.
What is the weirdest looking car? ›- Reliant Robin. I don't think there's any better, or worse, car to start with than the Reliant Robin. ...
- 1962 Peel P50. ...
- 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo. ...
- 1930 Scout Scarab. ...
- 1961 Amphicar. ...
- The Popemobile. ...
- 2013 Youabian Puma.
The Jaguar E-Type is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, designed by aerodynamicist, Malcolm Sayer. Sayer didn't set out to design the world's most beautiful car, the styling was merely a byproduct of the aerodynamicist's desire to go fast.
What is the most unpopular car? ›- 4.1 VAZ-2101/Lada Riva/Zhiguli (1970–2013)
- 4.2 AMC Gremlin (1970–78)
- 4.3 Chevrolet Vega (1971–77)
- 4.4 Ford Pinto (1971–80)
- 4.5 Morris Marina (1971–80)
- 4.6 Vauxhall HC Viva "Firenza" (Canada) (1971–73)
- 4.7 Lancia Beta (1972–84)
- 4.8 Reliant Robin/Rialto (1973–2002)
- Jaguar MK X. The Krays rather enjoyed their Jaguar ownership. ...
- Mercedes-Benz 200. If you sit down to watch any crime story during the Kray era, chances are a Mercedes-Benz 200 will make an appearance - and it certainly won't be driven by the good guy. ...
- Ford Cortina Mk.II.
- 1 2023 Bentley Continental GT.
- 2 2023 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate. ...
- 3 2023 Mercedes AMG S 63 E Performance. ...
- 4 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider. ...
- 5 2023 Bentley Flying Spur. ...
- 6 2023 Rolls-Royce Spectre. ...
- 7 2023 Porsche Panamera Turbo S Executive. ...
- 8 2023 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Haute Voiture. ...
The car known as 'Eleanor' – the modified Ford Mustang V8 that starred with Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie in the year 2000 remake of the Gone in 60 Seconds movie – has been unshackled from copyright restrictions that previously prevented people from building replicas of the car.
What is the most iconic car of all time? ›Ford Model T
It's impossible to formulate a list of the most iconic cars in history without starting off with the Model T. Henry Ford's creation went beyond transforming the nascent automotive industry: It also had an indelible effect on American society.
On January 29, 1886, Carl Benz applied for a patent for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine.” The patent – number 37435 – may be regarded as the birth certificate of the automobile. In July 1886 the newspapers reported on the first public outing of the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1.
What was 2000's car of the decade Top Gear? ›2000 - 2009 - Car of the Decade - Bugatti Veyron
*Though never officially declared as such, the race between it and the Veyron in Series 13, Episode 2 acknowledges the passing of a baton between the F1 and its newer French rival.
What was the car of the year in 2004? ›
The Toyota Prius hybrid has claimed the honor of 2004 Car of the Year from Motor Trend magazine.
What were popular cars in 2000? ›- Ford F-Series — 876,716. Ford F-150, Ford F-150 SVT, Ford F-250, Ford F-350. ...
- Chevrolet Silverado — 645,150. ...
- Ford Explorer — 445,157. ...
- Toyota Camry — 422,961. ...
- Honda Accord — 404,515. ...
- Ford Taurus — 382,035. ...
- Honda Civic — 324,528. ...
- Ford Focus — 286,166.
The Honda Accord was the best-selling car in America in 2001, according to a review of auto industry sales figures released today. With sales of 414,718, the Accord topped the second place Toyota Camry, which reported sales of 390,449 in 2001. The Ford Taurus finished in third place with 353,560.
What was the most popular car color in 2000? ›In a survey of dealerships in 14 U.S. markets, J.D. Power has ranked silver as the top color choice for 2000 model cars. Among the least popular colors are bronze, brown, purple and orange.
What is the most baller car? ›The Bugatti La Voiture Noire is one of the most expensive cars ever sold, with a price tag of $19 million. This car was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019 and is a tribute to the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic.
What cars are super sport? ›All SS models come with distinctive "SS" markings on their exterior. The SS package was first made available for the 1961 Impala. Some of the other models bearing the SS badge include the Camaro, Chevelle, El Camino, Impala, Monte Carlo, Nova and Chevrolet Pickup Trucks.
What are gambler cars? ›It's really whatever you want, nobody cares. We've never defined what a gambler car actually is, rules are for dweebs. The original Gambler (2022 Gambler 500) intent was around $500 but that was only to serve to set the tone and make sure everyone was in sh*tboxes.
What does GT stand for? ›The term GT is an acronym for “Grand Touring” vehicles, but it has always had a loose definition. It was a term derived in Italy and initially translated to a fast, comfortable coupe or roadster large enough to accommodate a driver and a passenger.
What is considered a muscle car? ›What is a muscle car? Muscle cars are known for their powerful engines and a broad, boxy shape. Think classics like the 1970 Dodge Challenger, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, and 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. They stood out with long, boxy hoods to contain larger-than-usual engines.
Does Toyota make a sports car? ›The quintessential Toyota sports car, the GR Supra, has stood the test of time for over 40 exciting years and shown itself to be a fan favorite.
Has any car hit 400 mph? ›
In 1960 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Mickey Thompson reached an unprecedented speed of 406.6 mph in a four-engine streamliner he called Challenger 1.
What is the fastest street legal car? ›1. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport — 304.7 MP. The top spot for the world's fastest supercar goes to Bugatti.
What are the top 3 most sold cars of all time? ›- Toyota Corolla (50 Million+ units sold by 2021) ...
- Ford F Series (43 Million+ units sold) ...
- Volkswagen Golf (35.5 Million+ units sold) ...
- Volkswagen Passat (30 Million+ units sold) ...
- Honda Civic (27 Million units sold)
Back in Europe, two vehicles that are among the most widely recognized as the first sports cars were under construction; the Prince Henry Vauxhall and the Austro-Daimler Prinz-Heinrich-Wagen.
What sports car is called beast? ›Currently up for auction at Cars & Classic in the U.K., "The Beast" is a one-off custom car with a 27-liter V-12 engine. Yes, twenty-seven. Not a typo. The Beast's owner, the late John Dodd, was legendary for his legal battles with Rolls-Royce.
What is a street freak car? ›Tony Humtimer: My take on the Street Freak is a badass car that mixes different build styles that don't really fit the mold of one build style. A Street Freak might be a '67 Camaro that's all jacked up with a gasser-style straight axle up front with some super wide tires out back sticking out past the fender openings …
What was the first muscle car? ›What Was the First Muscle Car? Going by the big-engine-in-a-smallish-car definition, it's generally accepted that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the first muscle car in American showrooms.
What car has only 7 in the world? ›Exclusivity. With only 7 units in existence, the Lykan HyperSport is one of the most exclusive cars on the planet.
What is the world's unbreakable car? ›1979-1985 4WD Toyota Hilux Pickup
Once voted the world's most indestructible vehicle, not sure why it is so low down on this list 300,000km is low mileage for this bad boy, won't let you down.
What is the number one fastest car in the world? The fastest production car in the world in terms of projected figures (before an official run has been made) is the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, with a calculated top speed target of over 310mph.
Which is the No 1 luxury car? ›
The top Luxury cars in India include Toyota Fortuner (Rs. 41.21 Lakh), Land Rover Defender (Rs. 93.55 Lakh) and Toyota Fortuner Legender (Rs.
What is the fastest exotic sports car? ›1. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport — 304.7 MP. The top spot for the world's fastest supercar goes to Bugatti. In 2019, pilot Andy Wallace railed a tweaked-version of the 1,600 hp, 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged Chiron Super Sport around the Ehra-Lessien track.