These 90s Sports Cars Were Once Expensive but Are Now Super-Affordable
The 90s yielded several automotive innovations, many of which carried over into the next millennium. Sports cars were never more popular, despite their often unattainable price tags, but you’d be surprised at how many are actually quite affordable now.
1990 Mazda MX‑5 Miata
Renowned for being both stylish and fun to drive, the Mazda MX‑5 Miata from the early '90s was already an affordable, sporty roadster to begin with. With the nameplate evolving since then, those earlier models have only gotten cheaper and cheaper over the years without losing any of their pizzazz.
1990 Ford Mustang 5.0 LX Convertible
While it may have carried the Mustang name, the 5.0 LX Convertible model from 1990 was more sporty than muscular. It wasn’t as stylish as some other models - even some other Mustangs - but it still performed well thanks to its powerful 5.0-liter V8 engine. The LX was already an affordable alternative then - and it’s even more affordable now.
1997 Eagle Talon TSi
Although it was really just a rebadged Mitsubishi Eclipse - developed as part of a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Chrysler - the ‘97 Eagle Talon TSi still offered fantastic performance, and was a massive upgrade in the style department thanks to its sportier and more aggressive look. It’s a surprisingly affordable purchase today, too.
1997 BMW E36 M3
While smaller than many of its modern iterations, the ‘97 BMW E36 M3 also offered a more engaging driving experience and classic BMW engineering. It had a strong inline-six engine and was an extremely zippy daily driver thanks to its lightweight construction. These days, they rarely go for more than $13,000.
1993 Chevrolet Corvette C4
With exactly 40 years of heritage behind it, the ‘93 Corvette C4 had plenty of expectations to live up to - and live up to them it did! Despite looking fancy and expensive - even by today’s standards - this classic V8 can sometimes be found for under $10,000.
1993 Volkswagen Corrado VR6
Volkswagen isn’t exactly known for its sports cars, so it may surprise you to learn that the ‘93 Corrado VR6 is actually a fantastic vehicle. Its distinctive, workmanlike styling helped it to stand out amongst other early 90s sports coupes, while a strong engine underneath the hood gave it a blend of power and precision that folks couldn’t get enough of.
1996 Nissan 300ZX (Z32)
Also known as the Fairlady Z, the ‘96 Nissan 300ZX still retained the nameplate’s trademark low-but-wide sleek profile. It was also a technological marvel underneath the hood, offering a driving experience that few other cars could match, and even fewer could surpass. Despite all that, though, these are still fairly affordable today.
1991 Mazda RX‑7 (FD)
First introduced in 1991, this version of the classic RX-7 gave the brand an updated facelift, bringing it more in line with other vehicles of the time. It was praised for its agility, being one of the zippiest cars on the road without becoming totally unwieldy. While by no means cheap, these highly sought-after models can often be found for under $30,000.
1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR‑1 (C4)
With a Lotus-engineered engine and high-performance capabilities, the 1990 Corvette ZR-1 was intended to be the fastest production car in the world when it was released. And while it may have fallen just short of that, it still packed a huge punch under the hood. These days, they tend to go for under $20,000.
1997 Chevrolet Corvette C5
The ‘97 Corvette C5 ushered the Corvette nameplate into the new millennium, giving the nameplate a huge design overhaul, with a new frame and a new engine to boot. Needless to say, it was a pretty significant vehicle back then, but you’ll often find these going for under $20,000.
1992 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I
1992 introduced the world to the Lancer Evolution series, a line of high-performance sports cars with a rally pedigree behind them. With aggressive, in-your-face styling and a powerful turbocharged engine to back it up, these early Lancers were celebrated and are surprisingly affordable now.
1999 BMW Z3 M Roadster
A high-performance variant of the Z3, the ‘99 Z3 M Roadster by BMW was renowned for its classic look and sporty performance. It featured a 3.2-liter inline-six engine producing 240 horsepower under the hood, and offered a visceral driving experience that you can try out for yourself for under $20,000.
1990 Caterham Super Seven
A direct descendant of the Lotus Seven, the 90s Caterham Super Sevens don’t often appear in discussions, which is a shame because they’re easily some of the best-looking sports cars ever. They’re also moderately cheap today, often selling for under $20,000.
1996 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
A high-performance variant of the classic Firebird, the Trans AM WS6 offered a more powerful engine, as well as more aggressive styling to match. It’s pure American muscle from top to bottom, and is usually available for under $15,000.
1992 Subaru Impreza Turbo
Also known as the WRX in some regions, the ‘92 Impreza Turbo from Subaru was a significant vehicle for the company, being their first foray into the performance market. And for a first attempt, it was surprisingly capable thanks to its turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer engine and rally-like performance.
1996 Porsche Boxster 986
The first entry into what can now be considered a classic Porsche nameplate, the ‘96 Boxster 986 was not only a terrific vehicle, it also saved Porsche from financial ruin, and became their highest seller at the time. These days, they often go for around $12,000.
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider
Known for its distinctive Pininfarina design, the ‘91 Spider revived the “Duetto” nameplate and featured a quirky heart-shaped grille and wedge-shaped profile. These vehicles don’t typically come cheap, but this one often goes for around $17,000.
1992 Peugeot 205 GTI
A renowned hot hatch, the ‘92 205 GTI from Peugeot was both engaging to drive and offered super sporty handling despite its more boxy design than many of the others on this list. These days, they’re even cheaper than they were then, with many selling for under or around $11,000.
1993 Renault Clio 1.8 16v
The ‘93 Clio 1.8 16v (shortened to just “Clio 16S” in its native France) was a high-performance variant of the first Clio, offering better styling, performance, and handling than that vehicle. It’s a significant entry into the Renault canon, usually selling for around $8,000 today.
1996 Mercedes‑Benz SLK
The ‘96 SLK was designed to be sporty, light, and stylish, and that’s exactly what it was. It was also famed for its “vario roof”, a retractable hardtop that transformed the vehicle from a coupe into a convertible. These days, they go for around $7,000.
1990 BMW E36 325i
What the original BMW E36 325i lacked in style, it made up for in every other department. It was solid, reliable, and a surprisingly powerful performer, too. Its plain shape also made it perfect for modification enthusiasts. These days, they don’t tend to be more expensive than $3,000.
1996 Peugeot 406 Coupé
Launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1996, the Peugeot 406 Coupé featured a design by the legendary Pininfarina as well as a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. Its combination of supreme style and relative affordability led it to being dubbed the “poor man’s Ferrari”. Indeed, it’s only gotten cheaper since then.
1993 Renault Clio Williams
The Clio Williams was a limited edition version of the Clio, developed in tandem with the Williams Formula One team. Naturally, this meant that it could perform just as well as the best of them and, despite its pedigree, it often sells for under $16,000.
1998 Audi TT
First introduced in 1998, the Audi TT nameplate was only dropped as recently as 2023. The first generation was distinct for its Bauhaus-inspired design, and shared components with both Audi A3 and VW Golf Mk4. They’re super cheap today, selling for anywhere between $2,000 and $4,000.
1992 Saab 900 Convertible
Saab has always played it safe - literally. They’re probably best known for their vehicles’ practicality and safety features. The ‘92 900 Convertible was no different, still practical, still safe, but far outperformed the brand’s other models. They normally sell for under $5,000.
1993 Fiat Coupé
Featuring yet another Pininfarina design, the ‘93 Fiat Coupé was instantly distinctive thanks to its sharp, angular features and body-colored dashboard. It was an outstanding performer, even if its build quality left a bit to be desired, and now goes for around $6,000.
1996 BMW 5 Series (E34)
The ‘96 BMW 5 Series (E34) was the last of the third-generation 5 Series, offering elegance and precision combined with performance and power. A charming model, these often go for as little as $5,000.
1990 BMW 8 Series (E31)
A grand tourer with sporty styling, the BMW 8 Series (E31) from 1990 was BMW’s flagship model, known for its sleek design, pop-up headlights, and incredibly luxurious interior. These days, they tend to sell for around $14,000.
1990 Toyota MR2 (Mk2)
With a turbo-charged engine that gave it a huge boost to performance, the Toyota MR2 (Mk2) from 1990 was engaging to drive and super stylish, too. These models often go for around $5,000.
1990 BMW 3 Series (E36)
A significant improvement over its predecessor, the E30, the 1990 E36 offered a sporty and engaging driving experience, even if it was somewhat lacking in the style department.
1999 Honda S2000
Created to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary, the S2000 was engaging to drive, classic in its sense of style, and had a high-revving engine roaring underneath the hood. They often go for under $8,000.
1999 Porsche Boxster S (986)
Essentially a more powerful version of the original Boxster that shows up earlier on our list, the Boxster S from 1999 offered the same consummate style with improved performance thanks to its 3.2-liter flat-six engine.
1992 Acura Integra GS-R
Highly sought-after due to its 1.7-liter, 160-horsepower B17A1 engine, the Integra GS-R was the most affordable Acura model to feature Honda's VTEC technology. Even today, it’s still pretty cheap.
1991 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo
The result of a collaboration between Dodge and Mitsubishi, the Stealth R/T Turbo was technologically advanced and immensely powerful as well, thanks to its turbocharged engine. It often sells for under $14,000.
1992 Lexus SC300
Despite being a “luxury” badge, the 1992 Lexus SC300 is a surprisingly affordable early '90s sports car, sharing its DNA with the Toyota Supra. It tends to sell for around $10,000 today.
