20 Surprisingly Affordable 1990s Dream Cars

A pickup truck that could outrun a Ferrari to 60 mph? Of course people wanted to own the Syclone when it was new. Today, this truck can be had for under $40,000 with ease. Just be warned, it doesn't actually make for a very good pickup truck. Here's one for sale on eBay right now.

Though the FD-generation RX-7 is worth a lot more than any of its predecessors, it's still relatively affordable when compared to something like a Mark 4 Toyota Supra. Prices are only going up, though, so you'd better grab one quick before they become out of reach.

Nissan didn't sell the R32-generation GT-R stateside, but now, they're over 25 years old and legal to import. Prices have gone up since they first became eligible for importation but are still reasonable (for now). Here's one up for bidding right now.

The E39-generation M5 was introduced to the U.S. market in 1999, and it remains one of the best cars BMW has ever made. It has perfect balance, great looks, and a wonderful V-8 under the hood. Clean examples can still be found for less than $20,000. This one's on eBay for sale right now.

The Lexus LS400 may not sound like a dream car to some, but the combination of comfort, stately looks, and ultimate reliability make for one seriously appealing package—especially considering you can find them on Craigslist for under $10,000 all day long.

The original ZR-1 was a technological masterpiece. It featured a 32-valve quad-cam V-8—the only overhead-cam engine in Corvette history—and adaptive dampers long before they became commonplace. Today, they're shockingly cheap with tons of examples under $30,000 (like this one). To be fair, that's C5 Corvette money, but the ZR-1 still makes a strong case for itself.

Sad that 1990s Supras are expensive? Consider Toyota's other performance car of the era, the MR2 Turbo. Today, turbo versions of Toyota's midship runabout are getting somewhat harder to find, but closed eBay listings indicate they're still available for under $10,000. That's not a ton for an excellent mid-engine chassis with tons of tuning potential. This low-mileage example in great shape is listed on eBay right now.

Shockingly, you can get an Aston Martin DB7 for well under $30,000 if you look hard enough. The V-12–powered DB7 Vantage wasn't introduced until the 2000 model year, but the 355-hp straight-six that originally came with the car should provide plenty of fun. If you're on a tighter budget, you could pick up the DB7's close sibling, the Jaguar XK8.

Unlike those for the beloved Toyota Supra, prices for the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo have remained fairly reasonable. You can find one in fantastic shape for around $20,000, and there are plenty of decent examples that cost less. With 300 horsepower from its 3.0-liter V-6, the Turbo Z is a legitimate performer, too. This super-clean red model recently sold for just under $19,000.

For around $15,000 or less, you can get your hands on a C5 Corvette, which is an incredible value. This is a 175-mph car with a near-bulletproof 350-hp V-8 and good handling to boot. Sure, the interior wasn't Chevy's best effort, but it's a fair trade.

Buying an older Lotus Esprit probably isn't a good idea, but there's really nothing else like it. Unlike competitors like the Acura NSX and Porsche 964, Esprit prices have stayed in the $20,000-to-$30,000 range, but budget a lot for maintenance. Owning an Esprit might be a headache, but there's nothing else quite like it. This S1 is listed for just under $20,000.

The Porsche 968 was the ultimate evolution of the brilliant front-engined 944. It's only got a four-cylinder, but it displaces 3.0 liters and makes 236 horsepower. The 968 Turbo made an impressive 305 horsepower, but those are significantly harder to find. In general, 968s aren't all that plentiful, but here's a low-mileage convertible for around $17,000.

V-12-powered Mercedes-Benzes are incredibly expensive when new, but you can get a 1990s SL600 for well under $30,000 now. Of course, it'll probably be costly to maintain, but, hey, you'll be driving one of the finest grand touring roadsters of the era. This one's for sale and can be yours.

The first-generation M3, the E30, has risen in price dramatically over the past three or so years, but its successor, the E36, is still somewhat of a bargain. That probably has something to do with U.S.-market M3s being deprived of the more powerful engine offered in Europe, but it's still a good car. There's a reason you see so many of these at track days. This one's listed for just $5000 on eBay right now.

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. Hell. We've even seen them for $10,000, though don't expect greatness at that price. Not bad for one of America's greatest cars. Here's a 2000 RT/10 model listed for under $34,000.

Prices for air-cooled 911s have gone totally stratospheric, but the first Boxster is still incredibly affordable. Sure, it's not Porsche's prettiest car, and there were some quality issues early on, but it's got a fantastic chassis and enough power to exploit it. It's possible to find a good one for under $10,000, which seems like a steal. This one is listed on eBay now.

If you can't stand the thought of owning a Porsche that isn't a 911, don't worry: The 996-generation 911 can routinely be found for under $20,000.

The 3000GT was one of the most interesting and technologically advanced performance cars of the 1990s, yet it's a bargain compared to competitors like the Toyota Supra and Acura NSX. Even the top-of-the-line all-wheel drive 3000GT VR4 can be found under $18,000.