The 2000s produced some of the most striking cars in recent memory, and that wasn’t always a great thing. It was a decade of experimentation, a time when, pre-recession, companies were willing to pursue big-budget projects and bold designs in the hope of capturing the public consciousness as we thundered into the new Millennium. In a bid for glory, there were many, many misses, but we’re not here to talk about those. Instead, we want to talk about the wins.
In this article, we explore 10 different vehicles we consider to be absolute lookers. Cars with beautiful designs that still impress to this day, but with one big caveat: they’re dirt cheap to buy today (at least compared to their original prices and modern counterparts). Exotic, striking looks for a mere $15,000 may sound too good to be true, but it’s out there for the taking if you’re willing to take a risk, and some of these gorgeous vehicles are much bigger risks than others.
After much deliberation, we’ve chosen 10 vehicles from the 2000s that we believe are as beautiful today as they were when they first rolled off the production line. They’ve been ordered from cheapest to most expensive according to their average price range of vehicles with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer, numbers gleaned from comparing current and past CarBuzz Marketplace listings.
Infiniti FX35 (First Gen)
Average Price Range: $8,000 – $11,500
Engine
3.5-liter V6
Horsepower
280 hp
Torque
270 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD / AWD
Transmission Options
5-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$36,000
The Infiniti FX doesn’t receive the love it deserves. This innovative and boundary-pushing crossover was a big part of Infiniti’s turnaround in the early 2000s, and while the FX45 and later FX50 are the models that get all the attention, it was really the base FX35 that moved in any sort of volume. Its look was dubbed the “Bionic Cheetah” thanks to a futuristic feline appearance that looked ready to pounce, and it truly set itself apart from everything else on the road at the time.
Sitting on the excellent FM platform, paired with taut suspension, and given the brand’s new 3.5-liter V6 putting out 280 horsepower, the FX35 was, and is, a force to be reckoned with, and one of the most interesting and attractive crossovers in recent memory. While the second generation is also great looking, the first is a bit cheaper, and truly fits the description of a beautiful car you can now get dirt cheap.
Mk1 Audi TT
Average Price Range: $8,000 – $12,500
Engine
1.8-liter turbo I4 / 3.2-liter VR6
Horsepower
180–247 hp
Torque
173–236 lb-ft
Drivetrain
FWD / AWD (Quattro)
Transmission Options
5/6-speed manual, 6-speed DCT
Original MSRP
~$32,000
Few cars defined the early 2000s design language as much as the first-generation Audi TT. Inspired by Bauhaus principles and the Auto Union vehicles of the 1930s and ’40s, it was designed here in the US by some absolute legends who wanted to give Audi an entry-level sports car unlike anything the world had ever seen. The practically seamless and curvy exterior design was a breath of fresh air during a time dominated by sharp edges and boxes. It was essentially three half-circles, an idea that would carry over to the Volkswagen New Beetle just a few years later, with an interior that held the driver tight and offered little to distract you from the road.
It was a type of classic sports car we wish they’d still build, but the introduction of AWD, two engine options, and later even a DCT, showed the performance was nothing but modern. Today, they’re rather cheap to pick up, and they all look fantastic, but if you’re lucky enough to find one with those famous baseball glove seats, that might be the one to splurge on.
Mazda RX-8
Average Price Range: $9,000 – $13,000
Engine
1.3-liter rotary
Horsepower
232 hp (manual) / 212 hp (automatic)
Torque
159 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
5/6-speed manual, 4/6-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$26,000
The Mazda RX-8 is a highly controversial vehicle, but darn, if it isn’t pretty. Mazda’s attempt at introducing a flagship rotary-powered sports car was a valiant one, especially one with four usable doors despite keeping those attractive coupe-like looks. However, once on the market, the car’s glaring flaws started rearing their ugly heads, and it was obvious the model wasn’t in it for the long haul.
The issues really stem from the car’s engine and transmission. While the high-revving Renesis was fun at first, it lacked the serious power of competitors, and reliability issues became impossible to ignore. 232 horsepower isn’t too bad for a sports car from 2008, but that was only available with the manual transmission, meaning anyone who wanted, or had to have an automatic, was punished. These issues meant its good handling dynamics and looks couldn’t save it, but let’s hope the company learned from its mistakes.
BMW Z3
Average Price Range: $10,000 – $15,500
Engine
1.9L NA I4 / 2.5-liter / 3.0-liter inline-6
Horsepower
138–225 hp
Torque
133–214 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
5-speed manual, 4/5-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$32,000
While everyone remembers how the Mazda Miata once again made roadsters fun and accessible, the Z3 once again made them fashionable. In the early 1990s, the company recognized a gap in its lineup for a small sports car, so it developed the RWD, drop-top Z3, featuring timeless looks and a range of potent engines to steal customers away from Porsche. Is it possibly more of a ’90s car than a 2000s one? Maybe, but it was sold until 2002, so it counts in our book.
The base inline-four engine was whatever, so moving up to an inline-six option was practically mandatory. The 3.0-liter unit was the most potent option you were going to get outside of the famed Z3 M variant, and it offered more than enough motivation to make the car feel quick. Paired with the manual, it was more engaging, but it was a car that was nearly as fun as the automatic, due to leaning into its comfort side. They’re beautiful, fun, and affordable. What more could you want in 2026?
Pontiac Solstice
Average Price Range: $11,000 – $16,500
Engine
2.4-liter I4 / 2.0-liter turbo I4
Horsepower
177–260 hp
Torque
166–260 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$20,500
We love GM’s Kappa platform twins equally. However, if we had to pick a favorite, we’d go with the Pontiac Solstice. Both of them packed solid performance into two well-proportioned packages, but we’ve always found the sleek curves of the Pontiac to be more attractive, even though many say the interior feels like the cheaper of the two.
It did have an ace up its sleeve with the introduction of the Coupe version and its removable Targa roof, though, and that paired great with the performance in the GXP version. This version came stacked with a stiffer suspension, better tires, a limited-slip differential, and most importantly, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four making an impressive 260 hp. These are the ones you want, and even they can be had very affordably. Just don’t expect to find a GXP Coupe for very cheap.
Mercedes-Benz SL 500
Average Price Range: $12,500 – $17,500
Engine
5.0-liter V8
Horsepower
302 hp
Torque
339 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
5-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$85,000
The R230-generation SL 500 remains one of the most elegant grand tourers Mercedes has ever produced. This period in Mercedes’ history is marked by some very attractive designs, but there was something about the R230 before its unfortunate 2008 facelift that perfectly blended heritage looks with modern design cues. It was a hard-top convertible begging for performance, and while the SL600 and AMG models delivered that in spades, the SL500 is the one that’s become dirt cheap in 2026.
This is because it “only” made 302 horsepower, despite that power coming from one of the most robust V8 powertrains the company has ever made. That power makes the car feel swift, and gives it the perfect exhaust note to enjoy when you’re packing on the miles with the top down. For a car that cost upwards of $85,000 when new, it’s a bona fide steal today.
Jaguar XK8 Coupe
Average Price Range: $14,500 – $18,000
Engine
4.2-liter V8
Horsepower
300 hp
Torque
310 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
6-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$70,000
When Jaguar introduced the XK8 in the mid-1990s, Aston Martin wasn’t pleased. The long, sleek grand touring coupe featured a very similar set of features to the Aston, respectable performance, and a cheaper price, all while looking much better in the eyes of some. It was precisely the car the brand needed at the time, a GT that captured everything the brand stood for at the time, with enough grace, space, and pace baked in to take the brand into the 21st Century.
While many updates were made over the years, the best addition was the 4.2-liter V8 added in 2002, which improved acceleration thanks to a solid six-speed automatic transmission. Starting at approximately $70,000, its depreciation has been mighty, and this shouldn’t surprise, given it’s a Jaguar, but it could be the elegant grand tourer you’re looking for if you have a good bit set aside for repairs.
S197 Ford Mustang GT
Average Price Range: $14,000 – $20,000
Engine
4.6-liter V8
Horsepower
300 hp
Torque
320 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$25,000
The fifth-generation Mustang GT was a beautiful return to form for an American icon. Look, we love the SN95 and Fox Body Mustangs, but there’s no denying they were a bit of an acquired taste. Riding the wave of retro nostalgia coursing through the auto industry at the time, the S197 arrived with the perfect heritage-inspired design, looking like you ripped a Mustang Fastback straight from 1965, and gave it a modern makeover.
We’ve always preferred the looks of the pre-2010 facelift models to the post-facelift models, even if the latter offered much better performance. With these early GTs, you are stuck with merely 300 horsepower, but their lack of genuine firepower has made them pretty affordable today, and sometimes you need to learn to enjoy the ride, rather than worrying about getting to the destination as quickly as possible.
Cadillac XLR
Average Price Range: $17,000 – $24,000
Engine
4.6-liter Northstar V8
Horsepower
320 hp
Torque
310 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
5-speed automatic
Original MSRP
~$76,000
Despite how you feel about the Cadillac XLR as a whole, we still maintain it’s one of the best-looking designs to come out of GM at the time, and just as good-looking, if not better looking, as any drop-top GT coming out of Europe at the time, too. It was a bold gamble: using the C6 Corvette’s platform as a starting point, and then build a flagship Cadillac sports car on top of it. The brand maintains that nearly every part of the platform was altered before the final design rolled off the production line, but it’s still obvious from its overall shape that Corvette DNA is hiding in there.
That’s fine with us, because the C6 Corvette was fantastic, and one would think that would mean the XLR was fantastic too. However, it did have some drawbacks, namely its high price and the choice to use the Northstar V8 under the hood. This engine is ubiquitous and infamous, and even the supercharged XLR-V did little to sway buyers. The XLR is rare today, and parts are hard to find, but that’s the reason they’ve dropped so substantially in price. And if you want something unique and beautiful, it’s hard to beat.
Maserati Coupe
Average Price Range: $20,000 – $26,000
Engine
4.2-liter Ferrari-derived V8
Horsepower
390 hp
Torque
333 lb-ft
Drivetrain
RWD
Transmission Options
6-speed manual, 6-speed automated manual
Original MSRP
~$84,000
The Maserati Coupe may be the most controversial addition to this list, but hear us out. It’s not often you get the opportunity to own genuine Italian royalty for cheap. While depreciation hits Maseratis particularly hard, they do still have a floor, and $20,000 for a sports car sporting a Ferrari-derived V8 engine making nearly 400 horsepower is genuinely impressive. It’s all wrapped in a sleek Italian body designed by the famed Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign fame, you know, only one of the greatest automotive designers of all time.
The car delivered simple, uncluttered looks with a focus on performance, and when paired with the right shade and correct wheel design, it shines even brighter. While it’s the most expensive option on this list, this kind of depreciation equals “dirt cheap” in our eyes, and most of the models you’ll find for sale are going to have impressively low mileage. Do your research, and put away cash for repairs, but if you play your cards right, your exotic Italian dreams could come true.
Sources: Classic.com
