Top 10 Sports Cars 2000 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall sports car of 2000 was the Honda S2000 (AP1) at a 2000 MSRP of $32,440 — a 9,000-rpm, 240-hp roadster that fused racetrack reflexes with Honda reliability and is now one of the most sought-after modern classics of its era. The best value of 2000 was the Chevrolet Corvette C5 coupe at a 2000 MSRP of $38,705, which delivered a 345-hp LS1 V8 and roughly 4.8-second 0-60 runs for a fraction of what European exotics cost.

Two decades on, the S2000 has become the connoisseur's pick and the C5 remains the performance bargain of the bunch.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each 2000 sports car against a fixed scorecard, blending how the cars drove when new with how they look from the rear-view mirror of 2026:

• Driving fun and handling — 30%: steering feel, chassis balance, the joy of the experience.
• Performance — 20%: horsepower, 0-60, real-world pace.
• Value in period — 15%: what you got for the 2000 sticker price.
• Reliability — 15%: how these cars held up over 25 years.
• Legacy — 10%: cultural footprint and influence on later models.
• Collectibility now — 10%: current used and collector demand.

Sources include period road tests from *Car and Driver* and *Motor Trend*, Hagerty valuation data, Bring a Trailer auction results, and manufacturer and Wikipedia model archives. All prices are period (2000) U.S. Dollars unless noted.

1. Honda S2000 (AP1) 🏆 BEST OVERALL

2000 MSRP: $32,440 | Best for: the driver who lives for revs and steering feel

The S2000 was the high-water mark of naturally aspirated four-cylinder engineering. Its 2.0-liter F20C screamed to a then-astonishing 9,000-rpm redline, making 240 horsepower — a stratospheric 120 hp per liter — and rocketing the 2,778-lb roadster to 60 mph in roughly 5.9 seconds.

The rear-wheel-drive chassis, 6-speed manual with a short, mechanical throw, and near-perfect weight balance gave it some of the purest steering of any car at any price. Known for bulletproof reliability and a VTEC crossover that felt like a second engine waking up, the AP1 has since become a blue-chip modern classic; clean unmodified examples now trade from the high teens into the high 20s on Bring a Trailer, with pristine low-mile cars going far higher.

Pros:

• Otherworldly 9,000-rpm engine that defined the high-revving naturally aspirated era.
• Telepathic steering and chassis balance that few rivals matched then or now.
• Legendary Honda durability — these engines run forever when maintained.
• Strong and rising collector demand make it a genuine appreciating asset.

Cons:

• Snappy early-AP1 handling at the limit punished sloppy inputs.
• Spartan cabin and a busy ride on rough roads.

Verdict: The 2000 S2000 is the enthusiast's car of the year — a once-in-a-generation engine wrapped in a perfectly balanced roadster.

2. Chevrolet Corvette C5 💎 BEST VALUE

2000 MSRP: $38,705 | Best for: the buyer who wants supercar pace for sports-car money

No car on this list delivered more performance per dollar than the C5 Corvette. Its all-aluminum 5.7-liter LS1 V8 made 345 horsepower and 350 lb-ft, hurling the coupe to 60 mph in about 4.8 seconds and through the quarter mile in the low 13s — numbers that embarrassed cars costing twice as much.

A rear-mounted transaxle gave near-50/50 balance, and the available 6-speed manual made it a genuine driver's car, not just a straight-line bruiser. The C5 was known for usability you could daily-drive, and its LS1 became one of the most beloved and tunable engines ever built.

Today, clean C5s remain the performance bargain of the era, with tidy coupes commonly found in the $11,000 to $20,000 range.

Pros:

• Supercar-rivaling acceleration for under $40,000 in 2000.
• Indestructible, endlessly tunable LS1 V8 with a vast aftermarket.
• Comfortable enough to use every day, with a usable hatch.
• Still the cheapest way into serious 2000-era speed.

Cons:

• Interior plastics felt cut-price next to European rivals.
• Less steering delicacy than the lighter roadsters here.

Verdict: The C5 is the value champion of 2000 — outrageous speed and everyday usability at a price that still looks like a steal.

3. Porsche Boxster S (986)

2000 MSRP: $50,695 | Best for: the purist who wants mid-engine balance and a badge

New for 2000, the Boxster S added a 3.2-liter flat-six making 250 horsepower to the mid-engine 986 platform, plus a standard 6-speed manual and bigger brakes. The 0-60 sprint dropped to around 5.7 seconds, but the magic was in the mid-engine balance, the open-top chassis rigidity, and steering that ranks among the best Porsche ever fitted to an affordable car.

Known as the model that saved Porsche financially, the S shared its "fried-egg" headlights and much of its hardware with the 996-generation 911. Values have largely bottomed and clean, well-documented S examples now represent strong entry-level Porsche buying.

Pros:

• Sublime mid-engine handling and steering feel.
• Genuine Porsche flat-six soundtrack and pedigree.
• Open-top usability with a quality folding roof.

Cons:

• The era's IMS bearing concern demands a careful pre-purchase inspection.

Verdict: The Boxster S is the connoisseur's 2000 roadster — the most balanced chassis here, with a crest on the nose.

4. BMW M5 (E39)

2000 MSRP: $69,400 | Best for: the enthusiast who needs four doors but refuses to compromise

Often called the greatest super-sedan ever built, the E39 M5 crammed a hand-assembled 4.9-liter V8 with individual throttle bodies and 400 horsepower under a discreet four-door body. With a 6-speed manual and rear-wheel drive, it ran 0-60 in about 4.8 seconds while seating a family in leather-lined comfort.

Known for its restraint and its sledgehammer mid-range, the E39 M5 became a cult icon and the benchmark every fast sedan since has chased. Long the affordable end of the M-car market, clean manual examples have begun their climb and are widely considered future blue-chip collectibles.

Pros:

• Hand-built 400-hp V8 that still feels savage today.
• Q-car subtlety wrapped around genuine supercar pace.
• A practical four-seat layout with no real dynamic penalty.

Cons:

• Expensive to maintain and repair as the V8 ages.

Verdict: The E39 M5 is the thinking enthusiast's 2000 performance car — a four-door that drives like a sports car and is finally getting its collector due.

5. Dodge Viper GTS

2000 MSRP: $69,725 | Best for: the brave soul chasing raw, analog American muscle

The Viper GTS was the most ferocious car here, full stop. Its 8.0-liter V10 churned out 450 horsepower and a colossal 490 lb-ft, launching the coupe to 60 mph in roughly 4.1 seconds through a 6-speed manual and no driver aids to speak of. Known for its side-exit exhausts, double-bubble roof, and a personality that demanded total respect, the GTS was a brawler with race-bred bones.

As one of the last truly analog supercars, the GTS has earned strong and rising collector interest, with clean examples now firmly in six-figure territory for the best cars.

Pros:

• Earth-moving 8.0-liter V10 torque unlike anything else of the era.
• Pure, unfiltered analog driving with zero electronic safety nets.
• Iconic, unmistakable GTS coupe styling.

Cons:

• Punishing to drive hard; cabin heat and a tricky limit are real.
• No traction or stability control — it tolerated no mistakes.

Verdict: The Viper GTS is the wildest car of 2000 — a no-apologies American supercar that rewards skill and punishes hubris.

6. Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

2000 MSRP: $54,995 | Best for: the collector chasing the rarest factory Mustang of the era

Built in a run of just 300 units, the 2000 Cobra R was the most hardcore Mustang Ford had ever sold. A naturally aspirated 5.4-liter DOHC V8 made 385 horsepower and 385 lb-ft, fed through a Tremec 6-speed manual to a stripped, lowered, stiffened chassis with Recaro buckets — no air conditioning, no stereo, no back seat.

It ran 0-60 in about 4.4 seconds and was built to win road races straight off the showroom floor. Known for its rarity and single-purpose focus, the Cobra R has become a genuine blue-chip Mustang collectible, with low-mile cars commanding strong premiums at auction.

Pros:

• Race-ready 385-hp factory build in a 300-car run.
• Extreme rarity that drives real collector value.
• Track-focused suspension and Recaro seats straight from Ford.

Cons:

• Stripped of comfort features — a poor everyday companion.

Verdict: The Cobra R is the 2000 muscle collectible — rare, focused, and built to race, not to cruise.

7. Acura Integra Type R (DC2)

2000 MSRP: $24,805 | Best for: the front-drive purist who values handling over horsepower

The Integra Type R proved you didn't need big power to build a great sports car. Its high-revving 1.8-liter B18C5 made 195 horsepower at a screaming 8,000 rpm, driving the front wheels through a slick 5-speed manual and a helical limited-slip differential. Stripped of sound deadening, fitted with lighter glass and a strengthened shell, the Type R cornered with a precision that humbled far pricier machinery.

Known as the finest front-drive car of its generation, the DC2 Type R has rocketed in value; clean, unmodified examples now command well into the tens of thousands.

Pros:

• The benchmark front-drive chassis of its era.
• An intoxicating 8,000-rpm VTEC engine with addictive response.
• Rare, blue-chip collector status for the unmolested cars.

Cons:

• Modest straight-line speed and a stripped, noisy cabin.

Verdict: The Type R is the handling savant of 2000 — proof that balance and revs beat brute force.

8. Audi TT quattro (8N)

2000 MSRP: $33,800 | Best for: the design lover who wants all-weather grip and a style statement

No car captured the Y2K design moment like the Audi TT. Its Bauhaus-inspired, surface-clean shape looked like nothing else on the road and remains a milestone of turn-of-the-millennium industrial design. The 225-hp quattro version paired a 1.8-liter turbocharged four with a 6-speed manual and all-wheel drive, running 0-60 in about 6.3 seconds with confident all-weather traction.

Known more as a stylish grand-touring coupe than a razor's-edge sports car, the TT prioritized usability and looks. Early 225 quattro coupes are now appreciating as design icons, though values remain accessible.

Pros:

• Landmark Y2K design that still turns heads in 2026.
• All-wheel-drive quattro grip for year-round confidence.
• Turbocharged 1.8T with a generous, tunable aftermarket.

Cons:

• More style-led GT than a sharp-edged sports car.

Verdict: The TT is the design statement of 2000 — an icon of its moment that has aged into a genuine modern classic.

9. Toyota MR2 Spyder

2000 MSRP: $23,558 | Best for: the budget purist who wants mid-engine balance for Miata money

The third-generation MR2 Spyder revived Toyota's mid-engine roadster as a featherweight purist's tool. Its 1.8-liter four made a modest 138 horsepower, but at well under 2,200 lbs, the mid-engine layout delivered handling delicacy and steering feel that belied the price.

Drive went to the rear wheels through a crisp 5-speed manual, and the car was known for being light, tossable, and supremely communicative. Reliable in true Toyota fashion, clean Spyders remain an affordable and increasingly appreciated way into mid-engine motoring.

Pros:

• Genuine mid-engine balance at an entry-level price.
• Toyota reliability that makes ownership painless.
• Featherweight agility and sharp steering.

Cons:

• Only 138 hp — quick reflexes, leisurely straight-line pace.
• The early SMT automated manual was best avoided.

Verdict: The MR2 Spyder is the budget purist's choice — a mid-engine roadster that punches far above its modest price and power.

10. Mazda MX-5 Miata (NB)

2000 MSRP: $22,300 | Best for: the buyer who wants the most fun per dollar, full stop

The NB Miata rounds out the list as the eternal answer to "the answer is always Miata." Its 1.8-liter four made a friendly 140 horsepower, sent to the rear wheels through one of the best manual gearboxes ever made. It was never about outright speed — it was about the perfect, accessible joy of a lightweight rear-drive roadster you could exploit at legal speeds.

Known for ironclad reliability, low running costs, and a vast community, the NB remains the most attainable real sports car of 2000 and a perennial first-track-day favorite. Values stay friendly, making it the easiest entry point here.

Pros:

• The best shifter in the business and pure rear-drive joy.
• Bulletproof, cheap to run, and endlessly supported.
• The most fun-per-dollar of any car on this list.

Cons:

• Modest power means it's slow by modern standards.

Verdict: The NB Miata is the everyman's 2000 sports car — affordable, reliable, and more fun than its spec sheet ever suggested.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 2000 Sports Car (Then and as a Used/Classic Buy Now)

• S2000 valvetrain health: the F20C thrives on revs but demands strict valve-clearance checks and timely valve adjustments; a neglected top end is a warning sign.
• Maintenance history above all: documented service, receipts, and one or two careful owners matter more than a slightly lower mileage figure with no paper trail.
• Mods can hurt or help: tasteful, reversible bolt-ons are fine, but cut springs, hacked wiring, and boost-it-yourself turbo jobs slash value — original, unmolested cars command the premium now.
• Porsche and BMW service items: budget for the IMS-bearing question on the Boxster and the cooling-system and VANOS upkeep on the M5 before you buy, not after.
• Rust and crash history: check frame rails, floors, and panel gaps on every car here; a clean, straight, unrepaired shell is worth paying up for.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: ultra-low mileage often matters less than people think — a well-sorted 40,000-to-60,000-mile car that has been driven and maintained is frequently a better ownership bet than a museum piece that sat for years and now needs every seal and fluid replaced.

FAQ

What was the best overall sports car of 2000? The Honda S2000 (AP1), for its 9,000-rpm engine, telepathic steering, balanced chassis, and Honda reliability — a combination nothing else of the year quite matched.

What was the best-value sports car of 2000? The Chevrolet Corvette C5, which delivered 345 hp and roughly 4.8-second 0-60 runs for a 2000 MSRP of $38,705, undercutting European rivals by tens of thousands.

Which 2000 sports car is the best collector buy today? The S2000, Integra Type R, Viper GTS, and Cobra R have all appreciated strongly; the S2000 and Type R lead the affordable-modern-classic surge, while the Cobra R and Viper command true premiums.

How fast was the 2000 Honda S2000? About 5.9 seconds to 60 mph, with a 9,000-rpm redline and a 160-mph top speed from its 240-hp 2.0-liter F20C engine.

Was the Audi TT a real sports car or just a style icon? Both, with an emphasis on style — the Y2K-defining design was the headline, and the 225-hp quattro added all-wheel-drive grip, but it leaned more toward stylish grand touring than razor-edged sport.

Which 2000 sports car is cheapest to own today? The Mazda MX-5 Miata (NB) — cheap to buy, cheap to run, ultra-reliable, and supported by a massive parts and community network.

Bottom Line

The year 2000 was a golden moment for affordable performance. The Honda S2000 earned best overall for delivering an engine and chassis that have only grown more legendary with time, while the Corvette C5 took best value by offering supercar pace at a price that still defies belief.

Between the mid-engine purity of the Boxster S and MR2, the four-door genius of the E39 M5, the analog fury of the Viper and Cobra R, the front-drive brilliance of the Type R, the Y2K style of the TT, and the eternal joy of the Miata, 2000 gave enthusiasts a deeper, broader field than almost any year before or since.

Pick by how you want to feel behind the wheel, buy the best-documented example you can find, and any of these ten will reward you.

Sources

• Hagerty — 2000–03 Honda S2000 values have surpassed contemporary Boxsters and Z3s, and Hagerty Valuation Tools (Honda S2000, Porsche Boxster).
• Bring a Trailer — auction results and market trends for Honda S2000, Acura Integra Type R, Dodge Viper, and Corvette C5.
• *Car and Driver* — period road tests and 0-60 data for the 2000 Corvette C5, Honda S2000, and BMW M5.
• *Motor Trend* — period acceleration and quarter-mile testing for the C5 Corvette (LS1) and Dodge Viper GTS.
• Wikipedia — Chevrolet Corvette (C5), BMW 5 Series (E39), Porsche Boxster (986), and Dodge Viper (SR II) model pages.
• Automobile-Catalog — verified specifications for the 2000 Dodge Viper GTS, Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R, Acura Integra Type R, and Audi TT quattro.
• Silodrome and MustangSpecs — 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R production figures, MSRP, and performance.
• Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book — 2000 model-year MSRP, specs, and current used valuations for the Miata, MR2 Spyder, S2000, and Corvette.
• Grassroots Motorsports and Gear Patrol — Toyota MR2 Spyder and Honda S2000 buyer's guides and ownership notes.
• The Drive and PistonHeads — retrospective features on the BMW E39 M5 as the peak super-sedan.

*Sports car review — 2000 sports car reviews, rating, best sports car 2000, and a retrospective review of the top modern-classic sports car picks for buyers.*