The 2000s were a exciting time for performance cars that still have a fantastic driver car relationship. When you think back of the 2000s, you can immediately recall fantastic combinations of naturally aspirated powertrains, high-revving engines, stick-shift gearboxes, light weight designs and stunning bodywork. The performance car of this period weren’t just made to run great numbers they left a fun driving legacy that many petrolheads still love to enjoy today. From Japanese raucousness to high-strung 8-cylinder monsters to European purpose-built sports cars, there are a variety of early 2000s cars that collectors and enthusiasts love today.

What makes these performance cars of the early 2000s so interesting is their enduring legacy. A number of these cars have become true icons, and their desirability has only increased over time, with some commanding used-market prices at or above new. Here are 10 vehicles that embody the spirit of the early 2000s so well, showcasing the performance, engineering, styling and driver appeal that made this era so memorable.

1. Honda S2000

Remembering the heady early 2000s, the Honda S2000 has to be one of the most memorable driver-focused sports cars of the decade. Although it is a convertible, the Honda’s popular roadster was, for many years, the most powerful production car in the world for its size with its F20C engine. Underneath the Honda S2000’s popular closed-top design, the car was noted for an incredibly stiff chassis and a remarkably raw driving experience in a road car.

Why the S2000 Became So Special:

• 240 horsepower from 2.0 litres
• F20C engine revved 9,000rpm
• Slick six-speed manual transmission
• Amazingly rigid convertible chassis
• Later versions used 2.2 litres

It was only available with a slick six-speed manual gearbox, an ideal pairing for a 2.0-litre VTEC engine that produced 240 horsepower all the way up to 9,000rpm yet another indication of a high-revving nature. Later versions of the S2000 employed a 2.2-litre version of the engine that had been stroked for more power at the bottom end, with even shorter gearing to give it a little extra zing out of the hole. These factors combined to make the S2000 an all-action sports car that epitomized all that was exciting about naturally aspirated road cars with a manual gearbox, an open roof and a high-performance engine.

2. Chevrolet Corvette Z06

This one was the most popular from 2000s, as Chevrolet Corvette Z06 cars spanned the whole decade from C5 to C6. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 C5 Z06 (2001) Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 engine. The C5 Z06 arrived in 2001 and produced 405bhp using the 5.7 litre naturally aspirated LS6 V8. Despite being over two decades old now, the C5 has aged well and is still one of the best cheap race cars in motorsport.

The Corvette’s V8 Performance Story:

• C5 Z06 arrived in 2001
• LS6 V8 produced 405 horsepower
• C6 arrived as 2006 model
• LS7 V8 produced 505 horsepower
• C6 became a purist favourite

C6 Corvette Z06 arrived as a 2006 model, and delivered another performance boost. The Z06 was even more powerful, thanks to a 7.0-litre naturally aspirated LS7 V8 putting out a mighty 505hp, giving the C6 a special place in Corvette and Chevrolet performance history. While some subsequent Z06 cars will incorporate superchargers, none will match the naturally aspirated build of the C6 Z06, which explains why it remains a real favourite amongst Corvette fans. With two generations of C5 and C6 Z06s capturing most of a decade’s worth of attention, the Corvette Z06 had to show how well naturally aspirated American V8s could perform on the road and in motorsport.

3. Nissan Skyline GT-R R34

The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 was one of the most loved cars in the world, and you could say it earned an almost peerless reputation amongst car enthusiasts. It attracted all types of buyers, from young kids who just wanted it in their racing game to rich collectors looking for their perfect unicorn. It seemed to be the answer to every Japanese performance junkie’s prayers.

What Made Godzilla So Revered:

• Twin-turbocharged RB26 engine
• 280 horsepower from factory
• Easily tuned for more power
• All-wheel drive system
• HICAS supported agile handling

Although some attribute the GT-Rs global recognition to the Fast & Furious movie franchise, it was already common knowledge amongst JDM and motorsport followers just how incredible the Godzilla was long before Hollywood got to it. Twin-turbocharged RB26 engine output a modest 280hp but it was easily tunable for much higher figures. The all-wheel-drive system coupled with the then ground breaking HICAS, meant that the R34 could excel both on the race track and when making its way up to the mountain passes. Such features would be enough to earn the Skyline GT-R prestigious status among all sorts of automotive and motorsport aficionados, not to mention those that simply want to play the game.

4. BMW M3 E46

Built between 2000-2006, the E46 BMW M3 was an absolute league of its own in the early 2000s. It had ultra-angular good looks absent from the previous E36 while steering clear of the overly bubbly character of the subsequent E90. Under the bonnet was an iconic inline-six with more character and less weight than its V8 successor.

Why The E46 M3 Stands Out:

• Produced from 2000 to 2006
• Iconic inline-six engine
• Lighter than later V8
• Tactile mechanical steering
• Ideal luxury-performance balance

The E46 retained tactile mechanical steering yet avoided the sea of electronic driver aids that would become as common on the next generations. It was designed as some-thing more forward than the E30 without becoming bloated, and so created a perfect combination of class and pure driving experience. That combination made the E46 the perfect M3 for that time, with its styling, engine notes, mechanically connected steering, and conservative attitude to electronic intervention working in its favor. Rather than simply going bigger and complicated, the E46 delivered the right amount of luxury and edge and became one of the cars of the 2000s.

5. Mazda RX-7 FD3S

The FD Mazda RX-7 epitomised rotary performance and became one of the world’s most iconic sports cars. While most of its manufacturing was done in the 1990s, the FD3S had a contemporary profile that, when introduced, seemed quite classic at a time when most of its rivals were a clamshell. Thanks to this progressive look, it was widely regarded as a proper 2000s performance vehicle.

The RX-7’s Legendary Rotary Character:

• Famous FD3S sports car
• Modern, timeless exterior design
• Two-rotor rotary engine
• Twin-turbocharged 13B-REW engine
• Cornerstone of tuning culture

The RX7’s groundbreaking twin-rotor twin-turbocharged 13B-REW powerplant shot to cult fame thanks to the overwhelming might and unique build that it brought to the table. The company’s innovative powerplant helped define the car as an integral part of the tuning scene and distinguished it from other performance vehicles in its era with its character and style. Given its unusual engine tech and its avant-garde styling, the FD3S was certainly unforgettable. Though the model name lasted into the 2000s, the look and character of the car was well-suited for the performance scene of the decade so it was well within its element as an element in that year’s decent conversation.

6. Honda NSX NA2

The first-generation Honda NSX redefined automotive excellence when it launched, challenging convention by proving that a supercar could be fast, reliable, and practical like an Accord. By the time the updated NA2 series joined the market in the 2000s, this mid-engine marvel had become established as a legendary icon amongst thrill-seekers.

The NSX’s Ultimate Performance Credentials:

• Mid-engine supercar layout
• Legendary Honda reliability
• Everyday usability remained important
• Refreshed NA2 arrived later
• NSX-R focused heavily on track

The crowning achievement of this era came a little after the 2002 facelift, with the launch of the Japan-exclusive NSX Type-R. The model, which was known in Japan as the NSX-R, was the ultimate track-focused model, and met Honda’s trademark reputation for road-car dominance head-on with its robot-like responsiveness and driver feedback, which made the NA2-era NSX especially significant from its various non-volatile: it offered seemingly endless amounts of mid-engine supercar goodness with a humble Honda foundation. The NSX-R elevated that concept to a more track-oriented new plateau, though, and firmly solidified the NSX’s build of Japanese road performance legacy into the full-glory lineup.

7. Lotus Exige Series 2

If all you ever dreamed of was to embarrass foreign exotic supercars on technical racecourses, the Lotus Exige Series 2 is the sort of thing you’d probably be after. Introduced in 2004, the lightweight Lotus is a true track day icon that used a high-revving 192bhp Toyota Celica powertrain and a slick 6-speed manual transmission. The name of the game: driver engagement and agility.

The Exige’s Lightweight Formula:

• Introduced in 2004
• 192-horsepower Toyota engine
• Slick six-speed manual gearbox
• Chassis 10 percent stiffer
• Sticky Yokohama A048 tyres

The Series 2 Exige had a chassis which was 10 per cent stiffer than the Elise 111R, and sticky Yokohama A048 semi-slicks allowed it to stay flat and stable through bends at speeds few cars could manage. Over a lengthy seven-year production run, Lotus kept refining this lethal combination and more than a dozen limited editions appeared. Though super focused and very much a track day toy, the Exige was also remarkably civil on the road, which was part of its appeal, as it could deliver an extreme circuit experience without being totally unmanageable. Its light weight, stiff chassis, high-revving engine, slick gearshift, and stickier tyres came together to produce one of the defining cars of the decade.

8. Dodge Viper ACR

The Dodge Viper ACR was a very different beast. When Dodge decided to unleash this American nightmare, subtlety was out of the window and it was all about a monster naturally aspirated V10 engine with up to 640 Hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. This huge V10 sounded all sorts of crazy when breathing.

The Viper’s Brute-Force Formula:

• Naturally aspirated V10 engine
• Up to 640 horsepower
• 600 lb-ft of torque
• Outrageously fast performance
• Track-focused ACR-X race car

The Viper was a monster that required total respect and total commitment from whoever dared to hit the throttle. Its massive performance and outright theatrics made it too dangerous to be anything but a handful on the road. Race-ready spec engines like the SRT-10 and the turnkey ACR-X race car cranked the Viper up to an even more aggressive setting and cemented the venomous two-seater as a racing force in multiple series around the world. Where some cars would settle for a more refined approach, the Viper went all in on the brute-force formula, building its legacy around one huge, naturally aspirated V10, enormous power and a totally unmistakable exhaust note.

9. BMW Z8

Coming on the scene just after the last turn of the century, the Z8 offered jaw dropping looks with traditional long-bonnet to short-deck roadster proportions. Underneath the gorgeous body was one of the first modern self-supporting aluminium space-frame chassis, driven by a potent 5.0-litre V8, which in naturally aspirated form delivered 400 horsepower. Power made its way to a lovely six-speed stick gearbox for an authentic roadster experience.

Why The Z8 Became A Unicorn:

• Classic sweeping roadster proportions
• Self-supporting aluminium space-frame chassis
• 5.0-litre V8 engine
• 400 horsepower output
• Six-speed manual transmission

Since then the Z8 has become a true unicorn car and a passionate cult of wealthy collectors. Second-hand examples regularly sell for around US$250,000 on the open market, well over double the car’s original price when new. That market position, coupled with the Z8s classic proportions and unique bodywork, reveals just how much great design and a V8 can still command in a very competitive segment. Coupled to the aluminium space-frame chassis, 5.0-litre V8 engine and a manual gearbox, this all combined to produce a very good-looking, stylish grand tourer of unique character, for which the prices on the second-hand market have gone a long way.

10. Porsche Boxster 986

Manufactured until 2004, the 986-generation Porsche Boxster was the perfect car at the perfect time. It is mid-engined with a water-cooled 2.5-litre flat-six that makes 201 horsepower, and the body provides perfect weight distribution, an extremely low centre of gravity and typically neutral handling. This helped the Boxster become a persuasive performance car in the first decade of the new millennium.

How The Boxster Strengthened Porsche:

• Produced until 2004
• Mid-engine layout
• 201-horsepower flat-six
• Near-perfect weight distribution
• Famously neutral handling

Hugely similar to the 911 in its core, the Boxster shared its bonnet, front wings, headlights and cabin architecture with Porsche’s flagship car. The easy ability to half the point at which it’d be considered ‘a real Porsche’ broadened the appeal of the new car, helped to rescue the brand’s financial status and cement the building blocks of the company’s world-beating current period. Critics of the period made no bones about their praises of the Boxster, and if you delve a little into every other performance car from the early 2000s you’ll get a sense of that particular decade of a time when unadulterated mechanical soul and driving passion ruled the roads these ten cars were more than speed merchants.