17 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. Nowadays, they can be had for under $30,000 with ease. Just be warned, it doesn't actually make for a very good pickup truck. 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 Mk.4 Supra. Prices are only going up, though, so you better grab one quick before they become out of reach. is listed for under $20,000.

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). listed for just over $30,000.

The E39-generation M5 was introduced to the US market in 1999, and remains one of the best cars BMW has ever made. It has a perfect balance, great looks, and a wonderful V8 under the hood. If you're lucky, used examples can still be found for less that $10,000. for less than $11,000 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. with just 114,000 miles on it for $4000.

The original ZR-1 was a technological masterpiece. It featured a 32-valve quad-cam V8—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 (). 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 version 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. is listed for exactly $10,000 on eBay right now.

Shockingly, you can get an Aston Martin DB7 for well under $30,000 if you look hard enough. The V12-powered DB7 Vantage wasn't introduced until the 2000 model year, but the 355-hp straight-six that came with the car originally should provide plenty of fun. If you're on a tighter budget, you could pick up the DB7's close sibling, the Jaguar XK8. with some admittedly awful-looking wire wheels on sale for just under $25,000.

Unlike the beloved Toyota Supra, prices for the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo have remained fairly reasonable. You can one in fantastic shape for around $20,000, and there are plenty of decent examples that cost less. With 300-hp from its 3.0-liter V6, the Turbo Z is a legitimate performer too. with the manual for just over $22,000.

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 and good handling to boot. Sure, the interior wasn't Chevy's best effort, but it's a fair trade. on eBay right now for $14,000.

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. .

The Porsche 968 was the ultimate evolution of the brilliant front-engine 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 .

V12-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. for sale, and can be yours.

The first-generation M3, the E30, has risen in price dramatically over the last three or so years, but its successor, the E36, is still somewhat of a bargain. That probably has something to do with US-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. listed for just $7000 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. for under $40,000.

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. , but we can forgive it considering the $5000 price tag.

The 3000GT was one of the most interesting, technologically advanced performance cars of the 1990s, and 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 .