Noughtie But Nice – Should We all be Buying Cars from the 2000s?

The thing about classics is that the definition may remain the same, but the focus continually shifts as the passage of time relentlessly marches on. Of course, there will come a time in the not too distant future when there won’t be any “new” classics, so to speak, and some may even argue that we’re already there and that the early 2000s is the cut off. Yes, there will be exceptions; the supercars and one-off hypercars, the limited production models and the like, but everyday classics? Doubtful.

The reasons behind this are myriad; from the inability to work on them ourselves to the lack of any real originality, and indeed individuality, but this is a whole other article for another time. For now at least we can still enjoy those cars that have something about them, some intrinsic value that marks them out as bona fide classics, and going back to the whole shifting focus notion, we reckon cars from the noughties are very much on the cusp of classicdom, waiting eagerly in the wings for their chance in the spotlight.

We’ve all watched the upward trajectory that values of ’90s classics have enjoyed for a while now, following on as they did from their ’80s predecessors, and it’s a trend that’s very much continuing, but our advice today is to keep an eye on the next batch of potential modern classic metal – those cars from the 2000s – because we’re sure they’re going to follow suit. This is more than just a hunch though. We’re not in the business of peddling hearsay, or merely blowing smoke (unless it’s those worn piston rings we really need to replace). We know what we’re talking about and we have the experience and indeed the data to back it up.

You see, the EV market may still be growing but that growth is slowing. What with the withdrawal of government incentives and subsidies, combined with the high cost of ownership of EVs and continuing concerns over range limitations, manufacturers are not selling as many fully electric vehicles as they would have hoped, or indeed previously projected.

As a result, a lot of people are turning to the internal combustion engine for help. We’re not talking about 70 year old MGBs, or crusty old Beetles though (although both have their place). No, people still want the creature comforts of a modern car but without the elevated cost of owning and running an EV, and for many of these folk, that means a car from the 2000s.

Still analogue enough to be wholly engaging and enjoyable, not to mention conducive to DIY servicing and maintenance, cars from this era had pretty much been perfected as the 20th Century rolled over into the 21st. Whether it be a hatchback, saloon or estate, thanks to much better rust protection, technological advancements and improved manufacturing techniques, cars from the early 2000s had been refined to the point where almost anything could potentially be the last car you’d ever need, and right now prices are looking incredibly tempting.

Further adding to this demand is the nature of buyers who have new found purchasing power. 2000 was 25 years ago (excuse us as we cry into our DVD collection), meaning those that were just passing their driving tests back then – the 17 and 18 year olds – are now very much at an age where a “classic” is on their radar, and just as classics to us may be those of the ’70s or ’80s (or whichever era is your huckleberry), to these guys a classic means a car from the noughties.

Additionally, there’s a whole new batch of models that can now be imported into the US, further fuelling that demand. Yep, that’s right, in America there’s a federal ruling whereby foreign vehicles that turn 25 years old become exempt from a whole load of Department of Transportation regulations and legislation, allowing them to be imported with far greater ease. This year that means cars like the Lotus Exige, Audi RS4 Avant and the Mitsubishi Evo VI, for example, and you just have to look at what happened with the R34 Nissan Skyline GTR last year to see what we mean.

If you want further proof then have a gander at the latest cars recently featured in this series as a case in point. From sporty GTs like the Aston Martin DB9 and two-seater sportsters from TVR, Honda and Lotus, to hot hatches like the Renault Clio II RS and MG ZR, they are all very much of the noughties.

We could go on. There’s the MINI Cooper S and Peugeot 106 GTi. The Porsche 911 GT3 and Lamborghini Gallardo. Bentley‘s Continental GT and Australia’s Holden Monaro. These are just a handful of the myriad cars from the 2000s that have “classic” written all over them. Cars that could potentially see a decent return on investment in the future. Venture past this period, however, and everything starts to look a bit samey, with most models losing the individuality that heavily contributes to any potential classic status.

As we touched upon at the beginning, cars from the noughties may be the last true classics, so perhaps it’s time you picked one up for yourself before we’re all being chauffeured around in identically bland, boring, self-driving coffins. The good news is our improved search functionality here at Car & Classic allows you to filter by age and year, making finding your perfect noughties nonpareil an absolute doddle. So what are you waiting for?