10 Older Sports Cars Far Superior To Their 2023 Models
When an automaker is updating a sports car model, they take a lot into consideration – reviews and opinions on the previous model, emerging technologies, regulation changes, and evolving customer preferences are some of the factors they might consider. In a perfect world, new versions of old sports cars should be better than their predecessors. Take the new Honda Civic Type-R, for example. Many believe it’s the greatest version ever, which is ideally how every new model should always turn out to be.
Sadly, our world is not perfect, and sometimes automakers produce updated models that leave gearheads disappointed for one reason or another. Sometimes the newer version is uglier than its predecessor, less reliable, less fun to drive, or doesn’t evoke the same emotion as its predecessor. In this article, we look at ten used car models that most gearheads would choose over their 2023 versions.
10 Toyota Supra MK4
Don’t get us wrong – the 2023 Supra is an awesome sports car. It’s sleek, reasonably priced, available with a manual transmission, and since it’s a Toyota, it’s one of the most reliable sports cars you can buy today.
However, the 2023 Supra is nowhere near as iconic as the Supra Mk4 of the ’90s was. The Supra Mk4 is a legend of the auto industry largely thanks to its recognizable design, legendary 2JZ engine that could be tuned to generate over 1,000 hp, and its famous role in the Fast and Furious franchise.
9 1963–1977 Alpine A110
The A110 is a legendary sports car built by little-known French automaker Alpine from 1963 to 1977. The A110 is easily one of the most iconic French sports cars ever as it had a gorgeous design penned by the renowned Giovanni Michelotti, a superb driving feel, and many victories in the rallying world.
Four decades after the original A110 went out of production, Alpine decided to revive it to bring in more sales. While Alpine did a great job of creating a modern version of the old A110’s design, the modern A110 hasn’t really created as much interest in Alpine as the company had hoped for. Part of the reason why the modern A110 has largely failed is that it produces less than 300 hp despite costing almost $100,000.
8 Porsche 911 993
The iconic Porsche 911 had been around since the ’60s and is still the best sports car money can buy according to many gearheads. The latest 911 still has the recognizable design that gearheads love, Porsche’s advanced engineering and technology, and plenty of power coming from its naturally aspirated or twin-turbocharged flat-six engines.
However, if you ask 911 fans which generation is the greatest, most of them will say the 993 of the ’90s. The main reason why this is the case is that the 993 was the last 911 to use an air-cooled engine before the automaker switched to water-cooled engines.
7 Datsun 240Z
In the late ’60s, Nissan – then going by Datsun – built one of its best cars ever – the 240Z. The 240Z wowed everyone with its stylish design that made the Italians jealous, its bulletproof V6 engine, and its affordable price tag. Compared to European sports cars of the day, the 240Z was a no-brainer for anyone looking for affordable and reliable sports cars.
The 240Z was so successful that it started the Nissan Z series which has been in production since. The latest car in the series – the 400Z – debuted in 2022, but it has been slightly disappointing. The fact that it uses the same platform and some parts from its predecessors is a big problem to many gearheads, but the biggest letdown is in the design department. The 400Z is ugly compared to the 240Z, especially the front fascia. According to Edmunds, the 400Z’s performance also falls short of its rivals.
6 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5
Since 1989, the Miata has been the best-selling two-seater sports car in the world and is still going strong today. The latest Miata is the most beautiful of all the generations and has stuck to the same formula that has kept the Japanese icon on top.
However, purists love the Miata for its driving feel, and the 2004 Mazdaspeed MX-5 was built to deliver the best possible experience behind the wheel. Built by Mazda’s in-house tuning division, this fantastic MX-5 had upgrades like a turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 175 hp, upgraded Bilstein shock absorbers, an upgraded six-speed transmission, and wider tires. According to experts, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 stood out from the crowd thanks to its un-to-drive character, thrilling acceleration, excellent steering response and handling, and excellent build quality.
5 BMW 8-Series E31
In 2018, BMW decided to re-enter the grand tourer market by reviving the 8-Series after a two-decade hiatus. The modern 8-Series has been quite a success for BMW over the last five years, but it’s pretty easy to forget as there’s nothing really special about its looks or performance.
We’d rather have its legendary predecessor – the E31. The E31 was revolutionary when it debuted in 1990. Its sleek design was among the first to be created using CAD tools, and it had advanced technologies like electronic drive-by-wire throttle and a multi-link rear axle. The E31 was also the first V12-powered road car with a six-speed manual transmission. If you’re in the market for cheap used sports cars, the E31 is a superb choice.
4 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34
The latest Nissan GT-R generation may have dropped the ‘Skyline’ name, but it continues to offer the incredible performance and great value for money that its predecessors are known for. With a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 sending 565 hp to all four wheels, the 2023 GT-R is super fun to drive.
Still, when asked to choose between the latest GT-R and the R34 of the ’90s, most gearheads would choose the R34 in a heartbeat. The R34 is one of the main reasons why the Skyline GT-R and Nissan in general gained a cult following around the world. Its handsome looks, legendary RB26 engine, and tuning potential have made it a highly sought-after collectible. The R34 is also a pop culture icon after its role in the Fast and Furious movies, which is why collectors are willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy the R34.
3 Mercedes-Benz SL500 R129
The Mercedes-Benz SL is among the longest-running car models in history, having been introduced back in the ’50s. The latest SL generation was introduced in 2022 and was praised for its elegant design and powerful engine options.
The latest SL is great, but it will always be outshined by the legendary R129 generation in terms of how important it was for the German brand’s reputation. For one, the R129’s boxy design oozes elegance and will always turn heads. The R129 was also among the most technologically advanced cars of its day and had cool features like seat-integrated seat belts, projector lens HID headlamps, an automatic rollbar, and more. The fact that it had the option of a V12 engine makes the R129 one of the best sporty used cars available.
2 1992 Honda NSX-R
In 2016, Honda finally listened to its fans and built a second generation of arguably its greatest model – the NSX. The second-generation NSX turned out great as it had lots of power to play with and many advanced technologies. However, it’s nowhere near as impactful to the industry as the first-generation NSX was.
The first-generation NSX sent shockwaves throughout the auto industry when it debuted in the early ’90s as it had a Ferrari-rivaling design, and advanced technologies, and since F1 racing legend Ayrton Senna had helped in its development, it was incredibly fun to drive. The old NSX was also among the most reliable sports cars, which is rare in cars of its class.
1 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
The C8 Corvette has been around for the last three years now, and to many gearheads, it’s the best Corvette ever. It has a proper design that competes with the best from Europe, a powerful V8 engine to match its looks, and for the first time ever, it’s mid-engined. The C8 also shows that Chevy still cares about sports car reliability.
However, despite all the upgrades and cool features, the C8 would still be obliterated by the 2019 Corvette ZR-1. The ZR-1 was based on the C7 Z06 but had upgrades like a new 755-hp supercharged V8 engine and a race-inspired aerodynamics package. With a top speed of 212 mph, the 2019 ZR-1 is still the fastest Corvette ever made.