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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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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