Let's meet up in the year 2000 | Six of the Best
The 21st century is 25 years old - and its earliest cars look better than ever
Porsche 911 Carrera (996), 2000, 76k, PH Auctions
Apologies, Pulp fans - the full lyric wouldn’t fit in the headline. But it felt like the perfect hook for celebrating turn-of-the-century classics, particularly with Disco 2000 celebrating 30 years this week (and still being a great song). It’s easy to think of the millennium still being 20 years ago, but it really is a quarter of a century ago - close to 26, of course. While not every car here was launched in 2000, they all hail from that famous year, hopefully now with some classic car benefits when it comes to running them. All of them are wonderful driver’s cars, too (because that's how we roll), so it seems fitting to kick off with a 911. By 2000, the 996 was really cooking on gas, a GT3 and Turbo having arrived to much acclaim. That being said, the Carrera 2 was a great 300hp sports car, and still looks it to this day. This one has been owned by a father and son duo for more than 20 years, while BBS alloys and tan interior mean it’s not just another black 911. The auction kicks off tomorrow…
Lotus Elise Sport 160, 2000, 30k, £27,500
If we’re talking iconic sports cars of the '90s, the discussion is incomplete without mention of the Lotus Elise. The definitive sports car of the decade, to some extent the performance car of the era, it totally redefined what to expect from Lotus - and what £25,000 or so bought. It was so exotic, so innovative, so beautiful, a car that brought together all the expertise of its maker in one stunning package. Little wonder, then, that there was a queue around the block for them when new, and the very best S1 Elises remain highly prized indeed. All of them are great, of course, but those with spicier K Series in the middle are very special indeed. This Sport 160 is one of those; actually, the most potent roadgoing S1 offered at the time. Having been with its previous owner for more than a decade and now for sale with the dealer that sold it to them, it appears a superb example of an icon.
TVR Tuscan, 2000, 53k, £42,000
What a time this was for lightweight British sports cars. The turn of the century saw TVR in its pomp, with charming V8 roadsters and fizzy straight six sports cars romping their way around the highways and byways of Britain. Now, a quarter of a century later, some of those cars are heading across the Atlantic so that US enthusiasts can get a taste of a real sports car denied to them at the time. With that eligibility for some, the best ones are likely to be in demand; after all, if you crave a TVR, nothing else measures up. This Tuscan is being sold by Str8Six, the company helping TVR Garage get cars Stateside, and looks ideal for a customer on either side of the pond: not least because it’s just about to finish up a light recommissioning, with an engine rebuild and suspension overhaul. 2026 could be one heck of a summer.
BMW M5 (E39), 2000, 27k, £59,995
So here we are then, 25 years later: an E39 M5 costs what it did new. £59,995 would have been the RRP at the turn of the century, and that’s what this Carbon Black example now costs in 2025. Interestingly, too, that £60k figure adjusted for inflation is £115k today - and a new M5 is £114,000. These days you’ll get a lot more M5 for the money - more power, more weight, more tech - but nothing shows off how less can be more like an E39. By modern standards, it’s super simple and extremely subtle, yet still perfectly suited to going very far away very quickly indeed. Get a smarter screen in there and it would still make a lovely everyday car, such was the quality and cohesion of the third M5. Indeed it’s probably only that price that might put you off using an E39 for everything - it was, and remains, one of the great do-it-all supersaloons.
Ferrari 550 Maranello, 2000, 39k, £114,995
For a long time, and somewhat inexplicably, the 550 Maranello wasn’t worth very much money. By Ferrari standards, at least. Here was a car that resurrected the great 12-cylinder, front-engined Maranello super GT, which was adored by the media at the time of its launch and was exclusively offered with a manual gearbox, yet didn’t really seem to be on many radars. Perhaps the running costs were too scary, perhaps the mid-engined classics still seemed more exotic - who knows. But the days of £50k 550s are long gone, as its status as one of the modern greats becomes cemented. Because 800hp Ferraris, a bit like 700hp M5s, can seem a bit OTT; the best part of 500hp, the best part of 200mph, and an open-gate six-speed are more than enough. Especially in blue over tan, with lots of history from the selling specialist. Just lovely.
Subaru Impreza Turbo, 2000, 21k, £24,995
Another famous four-door saloon back to what it cost 25 years ago. By 2000, the original GC8 Impreza was on the brink of replacement, with the bug-eye car imminent, and it had some act to follow. Since its introduction to UK roads early in the '90s, the Impreza Turbo had made an enormous impact: compact dimensions, punchy turbo power and four-wheel drive security meant there was a new B-road hero to lust after. When hot hatches were still 150hp or so strong and sports cars much sketchier to drive, little could match a well-driven Impreza on a bumpy British road. Add in the Colin effect and the Impreza became a cult hero quicker than you could say Wales Rally GB. This one, incredibly, has had one owner since first registration on January 5th, 2000, covering less than a thousand miles a year since then. The world has changed quite a bit since then; the yearning for a good Impreza hasn’t altered at all…
Now 25 years have passed and the best I can manage is a 4-year-old BMW 530. Dreams suck.
I’m taking the Elise!
I never really liked the Elise platform, I thought it not very playful as when it did start to go it was a bigger to catch but pound for pound I reckon that s the one to go for.
996s are lovely at the price and everyone should own a 911 at some point but you need to buy very clever or be prepared for big bills for such a cheap entry price.
Left field and maybe not that one but I think for a young timer classic a good imported, rare version of the Impreza is a fantastic choice.
I d go four door RA or something similar, enjoy a few classic car shows and road rally s and watch the value grow to take care of the running costs
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14804224
Or perhaps;
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18298461
Dreams do suck but don't stop dreaming lad, believe and you will get there.
I'm still on my journey and it's happening.
Now 25 years have passed and the best I can manage is a 4-year-old BMW 530. Dreams suck.
What you really want from an impreza is 3doors and a stupidly ostentatious wing.
Like mine.
The M5 would make a great stable mate. Always thought they were the best M5.
What you really want from an impreza is 3doors and a stupidly ostentatious wing.
Like mine.
The M5 would make a great stable mate. Always thought they were the best M5.
What you really want from an impreza is 3doors and a stupidly ostentatious wing.
Like mine.
The M5 would make a great stable mate. Always thought they were the best M5.
(Fat fingers. Meant 2dr)
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