Flagship coupes have been around for a long time and have been able to stand the tests of time too, but back in the 90s, the two-door, fixed-roof car was much more in vogue than it is today. There were the sports coupes that have always been around, but the coupe format existed in a larger circle across multiple segments – personal luxury coupes, sports coupes, and even affordable coupes (we’ll look at some of these below).
Over time, the luxury coupe has decreased in popularity and the affordable coupe is all but dead. There are some exceptions such as the Toyota GR 86 or Subaru BRZ which start from around $30,000. Here are the affordable coupes that we should pay attention to, since they offer simple style, varying levels of performance, and some interesting quirks of their own.
The 1990s Sports Car That Could Keep Up With Ferraris For A Fraction Of The Price
Ferraris are considered the benchmark for supercar performance and luxury, but there is one car that gave the prancing horse a run for its money.
10
1995 Alfa Romeo GTV
Avg. Value: $8,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3.2-liter, NA V6 |
237 hp |
213 lb-ft |
Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
Alfa Romeo has produced some of the most memorable automotive designs of the past and the GTV is an elegant coupe, with a very reasonable price. Older Alfas have a reputation for mechanical quirks and failures, but this is also true of many cars that are a couple of decades old. What makes the Alfa GTV (and its Spider cousin) a great used coupe is not solely its Italian design flair, but its range of engines, which includes two variations of a 3.0-liter V6 and one 3.2-liter V6.
The latter could propel the car to 60 mph in the 6-second range and go on to more than 150 mph. A manual transmission was also standard, making this a legitimate sports car although the GTV was front-wheel drive only, which must have provoked torque steer when configured with the flagship engine. Other engines included 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinders and various other V6s including a 2.0-liter V6. It was built from 1995 to 2004.
9
1992 Subaru SVX
Avg. Value: $8,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3.3-liter, NA H6 |
231 hp |
228 lb-ft |
Front-engine, all/front-wheel drive |
This coupe’s full birth name is the Subaru Alcyone SVX, but in the US it was called simply the Subaru SVX and was built from 1991-1996 for one generation only. It’s a cohesive design but very 90s in its approach, with attempts to give the exterior some individual character, visible in its sloping fastback glasshouse and pinched rear end.
The two-piece side windows will help you stand out further. We can thank Giorgetto Guigiaro at ItalDesign for the SVX’s artistic direction. A lazy four-speed automatic transmission was fitted, yes, but a generous 3.3-liter boxer engine and the option of all-wheel drive were good decisions. At 3,500 pounds it also wasn’t light, but with 231 horsepower on tap, the SVX could tap on the window of 60 mph in the seven-second range. Front-wheel drive was offered, which reduced the sticker price further.
8
1992 Cadillac Eldorado
Avg. Value: $8,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4.6-liter, NA V8 |
295 hp |
290 lb-ft |
Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
The Cadillac Eldorado is not a sports car, but more of a comfortable tourer; a mission it easily completes. This was the final generation of Eldorado (The Golden One) and ran from 1992 until 2002. It was a front-wheel-drive luxury car with a 4.9-liter V8 that was swapped out for two Northstar engine versions, displacing 4.6 liters.
There was no manual transmission since this was a cruiser. Cadillac’s 3,600-pound Eldorado was sold in two main versions: the ESC, ETC (Sport Coupe or Touring Coupe), and niceties such as climate control, adaptive suspension, rain-sensing wipers, and even perforated leather upholstery on some configurations. There are common faults or weak points to watch for as with any older car, but this coupe will cosset you in a comfortable cocoon of nostalgia.
The 1990s Were All About Speed Wars, And These Cars Prove It
The ’90s roared with speed! From RUF Yellowbird to McLaren F1, these 10 supercars, hitting 240 mph, defined a thrilling decade.
7
1990 Ford Thunderbird
Avg. Value: $10,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3.8-liter, supercharged V6 |
210 hp |
315 lb-ft |
Front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
If we’re looking at affordable coupes, the penultimate generation Ford Thunderbird is a must-see. The tenth-generation T-Bird is an angular coupe with authentic 90s looks – some might say it featured ‘anonymous’ styling. Yet it’s a refined and sporty-looking coupe on a rear-wheel drive platform, with real power lurking in the range. A four-speed automatic was standard, along with a 3.8-liter V6 or either a 4.9-liter V8 or Ford’s iconic 4.6-liter Modular V8.
Most enthusiasts would prefer the Thunderbird Super Coupe, or ‘SC’, which was powered by a supercharged version of the V6 engine and brought along an optional manual transmission as a bonus. Later, the SC would get a power bump to 230 horsepower / 330 pound-feet – impressive figures. An underrated rear-wheel-drive coupe from Ford, mostly shunned from the limelight in favor of the Mustang.
6
1990 Toyota Sera
Avg. Value: $11,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1.5-liter, NA I4 |
104 hp |
97 lb-ft |
Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
At first, the Toyota Sera seems to be another ’90s coupe with an anonymous face, but as it parks up, you notice someone opening its butterfly doors. It’s Toyota gone crazy, in the form of a three-door liftback coupe, sold in Japan but imported to the US by some enthusiasts, making it pretty rare.
The cavernous glasshouse – as well as the jaw-dropping butterfly doors – give the Sera more gravitas than more prestigious cars, but its powertrain and front-wheel-drive setup are economy class only. A small and modest engine sends its power through an automatic or manual transmission to the front wheels and many versions had only drum brakes at the rear. This is a coupe that’s worth having for its rarity and head-turning design. If you can find one.
5
1991 Dodge Stealth
Avg. Value: $11,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 |
300 hp |
308 lb-ft |
Front-engine, all-wheel drive |
Ah, the Dodge Stealth – a capable and familiar-styled coupe that shared its platform with the Mitsubishi 3000GT. It shared most of its engines with the 3000GT, including the 222-horsepower V6 and the flagship twin-turbo V6 version. But the Stealth is also available in a third variant with a single overhead camshaft, 12-valve V6 that made 164 horsepower.
Aside from the turbocharged Stealth, all other versions offer an optional 4-speed automatic transmission in addition to the standard 5-speed and are front-wheel drive. These models are cheaper to buy, run, and still provide a fun and nostalgic trip back to the 90s, complete with its eye-catching exterior and plastic-filled interior.
10 American Cars From The 1990s That Are Modern Classics
Cars are added each year to the list of new classics, look away now if you were born in the ’90s – these 1990s American cars are now modern classics.
4
1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Avg. Value: $14,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2.0-liter, turbocharged I4 |
195 hp |
203 lb-ft |
Front-engine, all-wheel drive |
Mitsubishi’s Eclipse was produced in four generations from 1989 through 2012 and spawned other American badge-engineered variants in the form of the Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon (below). It was built in the US and featured versions of the 4G63 inline-four engine, itself an icon that appeared in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Mitsubishi offered an all-wheel-drive setup together with the turbocharged version of the engine for the flagship GSX trim.
Other configurations available are front-wheel-drive turbocharged and naturally aspirated versions. A 4-speed automatic transmission was offered, although the manual suits the car’s eager chassis and punchy engine. There was later a facelift to the first generation that removed the pop-up lights and replaced them with fixed units. The Eclipse is a decent 90s coupe that, when configured with the turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, and manual transmission, is a surprisingly capable yet affordable coupe.
3
1991 Toyota MR2
Avg. Value: $14,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2.0-liter, turbocharged I4 |
200 hp |
200 lb-ft |
Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
There were three Toyota MR2 generations produced with the last, W30 generation failing to inspire many enthusiasts. The W20 featured mini-supercar styling that has been compared to a ‘baby Ferrari’. Its mid-engine platform, exotic design, and available punchy turbocharged engine make it desirable to collectors and enthusiasts, with the MR2 starting to appreciate.
Aside from the turbocharged version which was only available with a manual transmission, there was a 2.2-liter naturally aspirated configuration with an optional four-speed automatic. It made 130 horsepower. The MR2 was notorious for its ‘snap oversteer’ tendencies thanks to its midship setup, but the risk is low if the car is driven within its boundaries, taking into account its powertrain layout. Even so, Toyota adjusted the suspension after 1992 to make the car handle in a more neutral fashion.
2
1990 Eagle Talon
Avg. Value: $15,000
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2.0-liter, turbocharged I4 |
195 hp |
203 lb-ft |
Front-engine, all-wheel drive |
As part of the now-defunct Diamond Star partnership between Mitsubishi and Chrysler, the Mitsubishi Eclipse was sold as the Plymouth Laser, and this, the Eagle Talon. It is almost identical to the Eclipse and was produced alongside it with the same facelift and followed it into the second generation.
As such, the Talon offered a familiar range of powertrain and drivetrain configurations to the Mitsubishi. A naturally-aspirated, front-wheel-drive 1.8-liter four-cylinder was accompanied by a larger, 2.0-liter unit (the 4G63). Also available was the turbocharged TSi version with up to 195 horsepower and its all-wheel-drive counterpart. Like the Eclipse GSX, the top-flight Talon with its turbocharged engine, four driven wheels, and manual gearbox make this 90s coupe pretty special and a treat to drive at an affordable price.
A Collector’s Guide To Some Of The Rarest Sports Cars From The Early 2000s’
These are the speed standouts from the turn of the millennium.
1
Wild Card: 1981-1987 Dodge Charger
Avg. Value: $13,000
Front and side view of a 1985 Dodge Shelby Charger
|
Engine |
Power |
Torque |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2.2-liter, turbocharged I4 |
146 hp |
168 lb-ft |
Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
The fifth-gen Dodge Charger is technically an 80s model, built from model years 1982 to 1987, but it’s perhaps just as worthy of a mention when discussing coupes from this period. Not a muscle car by any metric despite its iconic name, the Charger started out based on the Dodge Omni 024. Over time, it differentiated itself from its modest origins, but the front-wheel-drive platform was a big handicap. Even so, a range of engines were available, culminating in the 2.2-liter, four-pot.
American tuning legend Shelby also offered a modified Charger with upgraded suspension, brakes, wheels, and styling elements. There was a turbocharged variant of the Shelby Charger and later a GLHS version with even more power. Today, the fifth-gen Charger isn’t the icon the Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro turned out to be, but for those seeking an underrated coupe, it could be just the right thing.