Many great ‘90s cars have skyrocketed in value, but there are still bargains to be found. Here are the dream cars that are within reach.
Many automotive stars of the 1990s, cars like the fourth-generation Toyota Supra and the last of the air-cooled Porsche 911s, have skyrocketed in price as modern classics. Many others have avoided that fate, though, and there are still plenty of bargains to be found for those brave enough to adventure out into the far reaches of Facebook Marketplace.
Here are more than 20 dream cars of the 1990s that are still available today at a reasonable price to anyone willing to put up with the troubles that come with a 30-year-old enthusiast car.
1991–1999 BMW 8-Series: The original 8-series is a wonderful GT car that you can now buy for a tiny fraction of the price of a new one. V-8-powered models can routinely be found for under $15,000, but if you want the mighty V-12 and its optional manual, you'll have to fork up a bit more cash. Be prepared to spend extra on maintenance, and don’t expect to find the coveted 850CSi for cheap.
View Price on Amazon1992–2002 Mazda RX-7: Though the FD-generation Mazda RX-7 is worth a lot more than any of its predecessors, it's still relatively affordable when compared to something like a MkIV Supra. Prices are only going up, though, so you better grab one quickly before they become out of reach.
1989–1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R: Nissan didn't sell the R32-generation GT-R stateside, but now, they're over 25 years old, and legal to import. Prices are still reasonable when compared to later R33-generation cars and particularly cheap in comparison to stratospheric pricing on R34 models.
1990–1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1: The original Corvette ZR-1 was a technological masterpiece. It featured a 32-valve quad-cam V-8—the only overhead-cam engine in Corvette history, save for the new Z06—and adaptive dampers long before they became commonplace. Today, they're shockingly cheap with some examples falling under $20,000.
1976–2004 Lotus Esprit: Buying an older Lotus Esprit probably isn't a good idea, but there's really nothing else like it. Higher-end Esprit prices have climbed, but even the almighty V-8 cars are relative bargains in comparison to NSXs and 911 GT3s of the same era.
1991–1995 Dodge Viper: It's amazing how much Dodge Viper you can buy for $40,000. Some models, like the early roadsters and the GTS, are becoming pricey collector's items, but look hard enough and you can probably pick up a mid-1990s roadster in the $30,000 range.
1999–2003 BMW M5: The E39-generation BMW M5 was introduced to the US market in 1999, and remains one of the best cars BMW has ever made. Well-maintained examples can reach 300,000 miles, so the market ranges wildly from high-mileage cars in rough shape to pristine collector examples in the six figure range.
1987–1996 BMW M5: Though they're not as cheap as they used to be, the E34-generation BMW M5 from the ‘90s is still within reach for most people. Used examples hover above $20,000, though ultra-clean examples can go for much more than that.
1992–1999 BMW M3: The first-generation BMW M3, the E30, has risen in price dramatically over the last three years, but later models like the E36 can still be found for under $20,000.
Source: roadandtrack.com
