RE: Brilliant value '00s legends | Six of the Best

RE: Brilliant value '00s legends | Six of the Best

Saturday 30th November

Brilliant value '00s legends | Six of the Best

Face it - we've lived through the fast car heyday. Here's what you should be buying from the noughties' peak


Renaultsport Clio Trophy, 2005, 90k, £13,250

While it’s easy to reminisce about the late 20th century as an automotive high point, there’s no escaping the fact that even the youngest cars of the '90s are now 25 years old. That means putting up with the associated faff that comes with keeping something fast on the road before we even get into the fact that they might not be as fast (or as good) as you remember. This is why the '00s are now (and have been for a little while) the period so many are looking to for their modern classic fix. Old enough to feel raw, young enough to be used, there are some really special cars still available for not totally silly money. As far as hot hatches go, there are a bunch - but you needn't look past the Clio Trophy, complete with its tarmac rally car attitude and timeless good looks. This one has been with its current owner for a decade, and its magical Sachs dampers have been refurbished. One for the ages. Fact

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Audi R8 V8, 2008, 45k, £35,925

For Renault to produce a world-beating Clio in 2005 was a nice development, though far from an unexpected one. Great pocket rockets are as French a delicacy as moules marinère. For Audi to make a genuinely brilliant supercar just a couple of years later, however, was the best kind of shock. Everything that characterised a fast Audi up to that point was antithetical to the mid-engined, low-slung experience: its S and RS cars, by and large, were overly firm, grip obsessed and powered by torque-heavy turbos. The R8 changed all that, with a beautiful chassis, engaging atmospheric powertrain and the kind of star quality a saloon or estate could never possess. From nowhere, Audi had a car to rival the 911, and the R8 continued to evolve and improve over more than a decade. Early cars still look superb value: this V8 manual has covered less than 4k a year, and comes with a full service history, for just £35,000. A 21st-century great.

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BMW M3 (E46), 2003, 89k, PH Auction

Probably nothing more needs to be said about the E46 M3. For many, the definitive version of the most famous M car, it was fast, handsome, a dream to drive, and powered by one of BMW’s greatest straight-sixes. Back when AMG and Audi equivalents weren’t much cop - the B7 RS4 debuted in 2005, the W204 C63 in 2008 - the E46 was the sports coupe to have in the early '00s. It was everyday usable but everyday exciting as well, like all the best M cars. Having enjoyed (or should that be endured?) their time as bargain BMWs - £6k would have bought one in 2013 - the E46’s stock has risen as subsequent generations haven’t quite captured the imagination in the same way. This one is being auctioned on PH next weekend, having been with its current (and only third) owner since 2010. There can’t be many manual coupes left this good… 

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Aston Martin DB9, 2005, 9k, £40,495

Two decades on from the DB9’s launch, its star still shines very bright indeed. For one thing, there will never be a day that it doesn’t look absolutely fantastic, and with V12s now restricted to extraordinarily pricey Aston Martins - and manuals to the super silly stuff - getting both for the price of a Golf GTI looks mighty tempting. A manual V12 really is incomparably brilliant, with so much power, torque and sound at your beck and call. The 5.9-litre Aston unit was (and is) well-loved, here with 450hp. Any concerns about shift quality seem fairly immaterial when presented with such an engine and such a shape for £40k. This one, amazingly, has covered fewer than 10,000 miles since 2005, and is said to boast an extensive Aston history. Maybe the colour scheme is a tad sombre - don’t be surprised if that becomes rather less of a priority when rev-matching your V12.

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Vauxhall Monaro, 2004, 49k, £19,995

Nothing makes the early '00s seem longer ago than the current plight of Vauxhall. At the start of the decade, it was dominating BTCC and churning out all manner of mad GSI and VXR flagships. Not all were brilliant, sure, but they were fun - an attribute conspicuously absent from the line-up. And nothing encapsulated the wild and remarkably freewheeling attitude at the time like the Monaro; nobody was banging down Vauxhall’s door for a Corvette-engined muscle car, but the impact on arrival was undeniable. Nothing else offered so much for so relatively little. The Monaro became such a hit that Vauxhall continued with its student exchange programme by bringing over VXR8s as well, meaning well over a decade of Antipodean awesomeness. Halcyon times indeed. Good ‘Ros are now becoming collectible, and this one has been with one keeper since 2006, covering fewer than 50,000 miles. So it’s £20k. But what a fabulous way to splurge some of the inheritance.

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Porsche Cayman S Sport (987), 2008, 73k, £20,987

It’ll be 20 years of the Porsche Cayman next year, in case you don’t feel old enough already. Hard to imagine Porsche without it now, of course (thought we must) thanks to its combination of flat-six power, superb handling, compact dimensions… you know the deal. Not long after Porsche had stunned the purists with the Cayenne, the little mid-engined coupe demonstrated that Stuttgart sports cars remained alive and well. Caymans have sold well ever since, not least because nothing else has quite combined its array of talents so masterfully. As one car for road trips, shopping trips, track days and commuting, it’s still hugely persuasive - even if a used Porsche will still cost a pretty penny to run. This particular Carrara White example is notable as a Sport, a 700-unit special edition based on the S that came at the end of 987.1 production. Take it out of the garage in 20 years time and there's virtually no chance that it won't seem revelatory. 

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Author
Discussion

Driver Rider

Original Poster:

605 posts

205 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
It would be either the E46 or 987 for me.

DaveyBoyWonder

2,776 posts

182 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Not overly keen on the Monaro but any of the others, yes please. Cars seem to have gotten less interesting from the 00s onward for me so this is a great list!

Gad-Westy

15,136 posts

221 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Some nice cars here but I’m not sure I’m seeing the value element in these particular examples. I have a huge soft spot for the trophy in particular but it’s very hard to get past the notion that you’re paying 3-4x as much over an equivalent more regular 172 or 182. You’d have to really, really want the trophy to justify that. I think I’d probably just hunt out a 172 cup.



200Plus Club

11,244 posts

286 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Yea that's a good list of cars for once.
The R8 V8 manuals are a lovely car to own/drive, as are Caymans generally. The M3 would be fun, the odd men out for me would be the fwd hatch or the Monaro.
Quite deep pockets needed to run some of them successfully/practicably but fun to be had.

Whatever123

2,511 posts

29 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Theres something about the original R8 that appeals to me, an immaculate low mileage manual one sat there for an occasional usage, in my garage it could replace the Testarossa if it ever gets sold, that kinda usage… certainly have a soft spot for them over the V10 manuals as they are too close to a Gallardo/Hurracan, which i’d prefer over the V10.

911Spanker

1,921 posts

24 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Always thought the M3 was overrated.

Clio for me.

Bill

54,369 posts

263 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Gad-Westy said:
Some nice cars here but I’m not sure I’m seeing the value element in these particular examples. I have a huge soft spot for the trophy in particular but it’s very hard to get past the notion that you’re paying 3-4x as much over an equivalent more regular 172 or 182. You’d have to really, really want the trophy to justify that. I think I’d probably just hunt out a 172 cup.
This. I got all excited for a moment. cry I'm still not used to car prices these days.

griffsomething

266 posts

169 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
What a great bunch, all of those are hugely appealing.

Early 2000s was pretty great era. In just a two year period between 2002-2004 you could buy these brand new:

Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Bentley Continental GT
BMW M3 E46
BMW M5 E39
Ferrari 550
Ferrari Enzo
Lamborghini Murcielago
Lamborghini Gallardo
New MINI
Pagani Zonda
Porsche 911 997
Range Rover L322
VW Golf GTI mk5

All the best stuff!!

paradigital

981 posts

160 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
The article said said:
Audi up to that point was antithetical to the mid-engined, low-slung experience: its S and RS cars, by and large, were overly firm, grip obsessed and powered by torque-heavy turbos.
You know, except the very bloody engine that was in the R8, lifted straight out of an RS4.

Tickle

5,279 posts

212 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Clio or the 3 series. A great era for cars, especially early to mid 00's

spikyone

1,614 posts

108 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Gad-Westy said:
Some nice cars here but I’m not sure I’m seeing the value element in these particular examples. I have a huge soft spot for the trophy in particular but it’s very hard to get past the notion that you’re paying 3-4x as much over an equivalent more regular 172 or 182. You’d have to really, really want the trophy to justify that. I think I’d probably just hunt out a 172 cup.
Agree, £14k for a 20 year old hot hatch does not feel like value. Not disputing whether it's any good but the R8 has supercar looks for less than a current Golf sized hot hatch. One is definitely better value than the other.

At that money you're relying on old Renaults suddenly becoming the new old Fords, and I don't see the same level of brand affinity there.

A decent list though, it just needed a different name.

Castrol for a knave

5,322 posts

99 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
The R8 looks great value to buy and run

That DB9 is way overpriced. Once you start to drive it, you're wiping a huge amount of value off.

They are lovely but the darker colours do make them look dated.

Its Just Adz

15,093 posts

217 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Gad-Westy said:
Some nice cars here but I’m not sure I’m seeing the value element in these particular examples. I have a huge soft spot for the trophy in particular but it’s very hard to get past the notion that you’re paying 3-4x as much over an equivalent more regular 172 or 182. You’d have to really, really want the trophy to justify that. I think I’d probably just hunt out a 172 cup.
I've been looking at 197 prices recently and you're right, a really nice car can be bought for a lot less. Usually with decent coilovers fitted.

E46 for me oot of the list.

Robertb

2,127 posts

246 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
griffsomething said:
What a great bunch, all of those are hugely appealing.

Early 2000s was pretty great era. In just a two year period between 2002-2004 you could buy these brand new:

Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Bentley Continental GT
BMW M3 E46
BMW M5 E39
Ferrari 550
Ferrari Enzo
Lamborghini Murcielago
Lamborghini Gallardo
New MINI
Pagani Zonda
Porsche 911 997
Range Rover L322
VW Golf GTI mk5

All the best stuff!!
True… good times! Definitely my era. I’d be happy never owning anything from another decade. Something there for every occasion.

Very happy with my ‘04 996 C4S manual coupe, had it nearly 10 yrs.

howardhughes

1,121 posts

212 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
E46 for me, please.

Portofino

4,515 posts

199 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Have not see one of those Monaros for years & yet yeserday one parked outside my house.

Sounded nice when he moved off.

Dale487

1,420 posts

131 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
I’ll take the Cayman.

And weren’t Clio Trophies (or at least Cups) about £13,250 brand new?

Bonefish Blues

29,532 posts

231 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Dale487 said:
I’ll take the Cayman.

And weren’t Clio Trophies (or at least Cups) about £13,250 brand new?
Got mine at a discount smile

Those were indeed the days.

GreatScott2016

1,507 posts

96 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
I'm not sure I find that list particularly appealing, if I'm honest. I'm sure they're lovely to drive, but I don't long to own any of them. The BMW would be my pick, though, due to its reputation alone as I've not driven one yet frown

heisthegaffer

3,664 posts

206 months

Saturday 30th November
quotequote all
Would love a trophy. Saw one at Alton Towers a few weeks back and I just thought how good they still look and love that colour.

A fairly cost effective bit of fun.