There’s a radio station up in my neck of the woods that has the call sign “WZLX” and specializes in classic rock. Recently they expanded their “classic rock” catalog to include Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and other bands from the early to mid-nineties, which is a rude awakening for a guy like myself who grew up listening to those bands and hasn’t yet acknowledged that he’s turning thirty this year, which for a long time I considered the first step to being an old man.
Anyway, the fact that the majority of the music that I listen to is now over two decades old made me realize that the cars of the ‘90s are ALSO getting pretty old and creaky, with the youngest vehicles of that decade (‘99) old enough to enter high school as they’re going on fifteen years of age. This got me researching the collectability of the performance vehicles of that decade and sure enough Syclones/Typhoons, Impala SS’, early Mustang Cobras, and other “It” cars and trucks are finally starting to get some respect at the auction block.
While the boat hasn’t yet sailed on picking up a performance car from the ‘90s for a decent price, they’re definitely getting more expensive and I’m in the mood for a newer car, so let’s fast forward a decade and find some potential collectibles from the ‘00s (On a side note, is there an official ruling yet as to what this decade is called? The “Zeros?, The “Aughts”? The “Two Thousands”? These are the kinds of things that I think of when I’m writing this stuff…).
Before you go off and make your list, two ground rules:
– The vehicle had to be manufactured between ‘00 and ‘09 (Duh)
– The vehicle had to have an MSRP of around $40,000 at most
Since I know you’re wondering about that last one, I’m drawing a line in the sand at $40k as I’m looking for “reasonably” affordable cars that the everyday guy could hope to save up for and purchase either brand new or after a year or two. There were a good number of ultra-high performance vehicles from that time period that cost serious money when new (I’m looking at you, Nissan GTR and Corvette Z06), and to be honest if those cars aren’t instant collectables, the manufacturer did something wrong. Part of the appeal of the vehicles of the muscle car era is that for the most part they were attainable for the Everyman who was making an honest wage, so I’m looking for their modern counterparts.
I’ll start by throwing the ‘03-04 Ford Mustang Cobra and ‘04 Subaru Impreza WRX STi out there.
After the fiasco that was the ‘01 Cobra not making its advertised horsepower numbers, Ford came back with a vengeance and released the overbuilt “Terminator” Cobras (There’s a great book on them called “Iron fist, Lead foot”; worth the read). With the “death” of the F-body in ’02, the Cobra was the ultimate pony car at the time.
Meanwhile, the ’04 STi was the first STi to hit America soil and proved that not every four banger four door sedan should be sneered at by the V8 crowd. It was also the most hardcore of the STis of that era with a radio delete among other weight-saving options. Guess Subaru had to offset that giant Boy Racer wing somehow.
Those are two of my picks, so now your turn: Which affordable vehicles from the ‘00s will be future collectables?
how about anything SRT8 and some R/T models like challengers, chargers, even a funky Magnum wagon?
Yeah, beat me to it, I was gonna say Charger/Magnum.
350Z/370Z is another that comes to mind.
Yeah …. isn’t it more than just a bit uncomfortable when the music you heard / bought new … is now considered ‘ Classic ‘ ? Seeing as how I’ve been there now going on the last three decades … I’ve got zero sympathy for ya Davey boy .. like the rest of us …. yer gettin ….. old 😉
As to my list … gonna have to stretch the price boundary just a tad and start with any year base model C6 .. which is IMO the best looking Vette since the C2 … is all the Vette needed on the road … and is begging for collector status .
Much as I dislike Chrysler products .. gonna have to stick in the Magnum SRT wagon as well . The last bit of automotive insanity from a company rapidly becoming a venue for rebadged FIAT’s
Ford Mustang GT … in reality all the Mustang one really needs … pick a year … any year
2000 Mazda Miata … its small .. its Japanese .. but its a gem … and this was just before the car started really gaining girth and weight
Easily the 2004-6 GTO. Many people bashed them because they looking boring or nothing like the “old” GTO’s. What a crock of s***! Its a 2000’s car not 1960’s!
I had a 2004 w/6spd and damn it was a fun car to drive! I drag race it, autox it, and road raced it. Never let me down except for rotors/pads and a few sets of tires!
Gotta give a fourth to the Magnum, and the hand full of AWD Chargers in the same line up. That said I’m no Dodge guy and won’t be buying one, ever.
Gotta back the GTO as well. I’m blacklisted from a dealership in IL. because I test drove both a 5.7 and a 6.0 at two different times. I brought the 6.0 back needing new tires.
I’d also toss in the Mercury Marauder. Very underrated, but well set up.
The ’00 Cobra R and as stated above the Mercury Marauder
Challenger SRT and RT, Charger SRT and RT. Maybe the Magnum and 300 SRT. About any Mustang, and even the new Camaro.
I didn’t expect so many people to mention the Magnum. I thought I would be the first to name that one. Looks like I better hold onto my 05 Magnum R/T. And maybe go pick up that Red 04 GTO down the road at the Chevy dealership.
I was thinking of selling my 05 Magnum RT, sounds like I need to retire to the garage based on comments!
One thing that will help the Magnum is they were only made for about 3 or 4 years, and not many of them were RTs or SRTs. That and they’re the coolest looking station wagons ever made.
I don’t like wagons but I even bought a Magnum SRT in 05. I’d still be driving it most likely if it wasn’t for some drunk redneck in a jacked up pickup thinking he had to play Bigfoot.
02 Trans Am or Formula ‘Bird w/WS6 package. Very clean one with a 6-speed manual at a dealership down the road for less than $10K.
Agree on Magnum, Cobras, and Marauder.
I also think unmolested SRT4s (Neon, NOT Caliber) are going to start going up, too.
I hope so, I’m about to sell mine 🙂
94-96 Impalas are on my list and already commanding big bucks for a decent one, also the 1990 SS454 pickups are in the same boat neither was super fast by todays standards but man they looked good to me growing up.
2004-2006 GTOs, G8 GTs and GXPs, 2003-2004 Mustang Mach 1s are my choices.
I was scrolling and looking for somebody to say a G8. I sure do love mine.
I was surprised at how long it took for the G8 to come out! The fact that so little made it here and that the brand doesn’t exist anymore makes it a collectable.
Few would mess with my 04 STi but silly fools loved to try my Morgan +8 former road racer, RHD with an extremely healthy small block!
STi was the best car I ever owned but Ontario laws meant you had a target on your back so before I got caught having to break very hard to merge onto the 401 or interstates, I sold it.
Peter
as far as american cars go…
the dodge srt/rt cars have already been mentioned,
i think it will be the weirder low production stuff that sees the big money down the road.
caddy cts v wagon, pontiac g8 w/ manual trans of course
taurus SHO,
jeep GCSRT,
and hate to say it but horrible stuff like the remake t birds, wer those under 40k?
or the SS silverados
I think that the Cobalt SS and the Ford Lightnings should be mentioned also.
I am going to say, the 03-04 Mercury Marauder
my Lightning has to fit this list though technically not a car
02 Camaro SS/Z28 with NHRA or SLP package from GM. I had a z28 w/6spd, way fun car.
Ford Lighting trucks. Way cool for ford to come out with this. Even the ss silverado was nice.
First year of Z06 (I think 01..?)
For Sale: RARE 2002 Mustang GT 5 speed with ORIGINAL 4.6L engine. This Mustang has NOT been swapped to an LSX powerplant. Get this rare low mileage ford powered mustang TODAY for $3995
Don’t forget about the SLP & GMMG F-Bodies
Just this past week I went and picked up a Hemi Orange ’09 Challenger R/T w/6 speed for just driving and commuting. The price was right, it’s fun to drive and it kinda looks like a muscle car. The ’69 road Runner can now get a break which it has been getting annoying the past 3 or 4 years as every goof ball in the area wants to stop talk about the car and give their story. Now I can bang the gears and not get hassled at the gas station.
04-06 Ram SRT-10