2000s Cars That Weren't Cool Then But Are Definitely Cool Now

Anyone who's dialed into the world of automotive social media or pays attention to auction sites will know that enthusiasm for cars from the 1980s and '90s has reached new heights: just look at the popularity of the Radwood show . It stands to reason the same phenomenon will occur with cars from the 2000s. Many of these vehicles weren't seen as being cool in their day—or at least not particularly popular or well known, due to various factors—but we think they've aged like fine wine. Click on for part 1 of this series.

2008–2010 Chevrolet HHR SS

Riding the wave of nostalgia that permeated retro automotive design in the 2000s, Chevrolet styled the HHR after cars from its post-war period, namely the Suburban. However, we're less interested in the pedestrian station wagon and instead are drawn to the performance-oriented HHR SS , which packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four cylinder engine producing 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The sporty front-wheel-drive HHR was sold either with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed auto. Chevrolet claimed it could accomplish a 0-60-mph sprint in just 6.3 seconds when equipped with the stick shift. It only lasted a few years, but we think clean examples will make for cool future classics.

1997–2002 Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler

The Plymouth Prowler was conceived in the 1990s but its production and sale continued into the early 2000s. A 3.5-liter V-6 engine sits under the hood and sends power to the rear wheels by way of a four-speed automatic transmission. The power plant initially produced 214 hp but the Prowler churned out 253 hp from the 1999 model year until the end of production. Its 0-60 time was OK for the day, at 5.9 seconds, though we always wished a larger engine could fit in the narrow engine bay. Chrysler only managed to sell 11,702 examples of this roadster, but its rarity and status as an icon of the early 2000s should ensure it will ride a new wave of popularity soon. Check out our retrospective feature here .

2005–2008 Dodge Magnum SRT8

The Dodge Magnum was a wagonized Charger, and in keeping with its muscle car looks Dodge shoved a 425-hp V-8 engine under the hood for the sporty SRT8 variant. Wagons historically struggle in the U.S. market, so this semi-sleeper model never enjoyed the popularity of its sedan counterpart. Nonetheless, it delivered impressive performance; we managed a 5.1-second 0-60-mph time in the Magnum SRT8 on the dragstrip .

2002–2005 Ford Thunderbird

We named the Ford Thunderbird our 2002MotorTrendCar of the Year , predicting it was "on its way to stardom." That wasn't the case; the retrolicious T-Bird didn't end up selling as well as expected and Ford discontinued it after the 2005 model year. But there's something about failed cars that makes them even more loveable, adding a nostalgia factor that today charms us rather than revolts us.

Lincoln LS V-8

A fitting follow-up to the Thunderbird, the Lincoln LS was the Ford coupe's platform mate and the 2000MotorTrendCar of the Year . Its Jaguar-sourced V-8 engine produced 252 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, and we praised the sedan's "razor-sharp handling and a firm, sporty ride." Alas, Lincoln's reputation among the buying public of the time wasn't the best; shoppers didn't perceive the LS V-8 as being as cool as German or Japanese alternatives. Today, with the ongoing death of naturally aspirated muscle and sports sedans, we can't help but look back at this capable Lincoln with fondness.

2006–2009 Cadillac XLR-V

Cadillac's XLR luxury roadster was seen as a cruiser for stodgy folks enjoying retirement. Those in a hurry to the yacht or country club could buy a hotted-up version of the two-seater with a supercharged variant of the regular car's 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 engine. It churned out 443 hp and 414 lb-ft and sent power to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. It was a quick car in its day; it could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Th e XLR-V rode on an early version of Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control , which impressed us with its poised road manners. This roadster wasn't a common sight in its day, and its increased rarity now makes it a lot cooler than it was when it was in production.

2000–2003 Subaru Impreza WRX

This generation of WRX was somewhat slept on but diehards appreciate it as one of the first cool Subarus we ever received in the U.S. after years of being able to "drive" it only in Gran Turismo video games. Outside of these enthusiasts, "Bugeye" WRXs look like pretty standard Japanese four-door cars. A 227-hp AWD car was a big deal at the time, and these early examples solidified the WRX as a soon-to-be classic. Check out our friends at Super Street 's first impressions of the "Bugeye" WRX here.

2003–2006 Pontiac GTO

The fifth-generation Pontiac GTO was not the retro-cool muscle car people wanted it to be. It wasn't received well when it launched for the 2003 model year, but eventually it got the power it deserved thanks to GM's 6.0-liter LS2 V-8 engine which paired either with a four-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. The GTO 6.0 had the performance to match its "Goat" nickname; 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph. As folks start looking for some 15-year-old affordable performance, the final two years of the GTO may just have the appeal they're after.

1999–2006 Honda Insight

Efficiency wasn't cool until celebrities started buying the second-generation Toyota Prius. For that reason, the original Honda Insight deserves a spot on this list. It was seen as a fuel-saver and not much more. But our friends at Super Streetrightly called it out as a sign of things to come when they drove the car for the first time in 2004. It felt like an appliance, but its design was revolutionary and its name couldn't have been more fitting. Automobile magazine called it "slower, weirder, and relatively more expensive" than the CRX it effectively replaced, but it now has a quirky coolness that might make it a car-show standout in less than 10 years.

2004–2008 Acura TSX

Acura's dad sedan wasn't seen as much more than a gussied-up Civic. However, its naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four engine produced 200 hp and eventually 205 ponies for the 2007 model year. With the advent and near-certain future of electrification hurtling toward us, high-revving four-door cars have gained a cool factor no one could have anticipated a decade and a half ago.

2002–2005 Lexus IS300 SportCross

Let's face it: this is a weird-looking wagon. For that reason, and because of American's aversion to most cars with long roofs, the Lexus IS300 SportCross didn't take off on our shores. Though Lexus only offered the model with an automatic transmission, this wagon had the same lively dynamics as its sedan sibling . If you can find a nice one, it may not be a bad idea to snag it as these were the last and only wagons Lexus ever offered in our market.

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

This one squeaks onto the list at the very end of the decade, as the Pontiac G8 GXP was sold only for one model year. It boasted a Corvette-sourced 6.2-liter V-8 developing 415 hp and 415 lb-ft, and Pontiac offered this muscular sports sedan with either an automatic or a manual transmission. It was quick; 0-60 took just 4.5 seconds, and it could run the quarter mile in 13 seconds at 109.6 mph. The Pontiac G8 GXP arrived at a terrible time, however: The Pontiac brand was on its way out and Americans kept clamoring for crossovers. Like many others on this list, seeing one of these cars today is a rare treat. Check out our first drive right here .

2000s Cars That Weren't Cool Then but Are Now, Part 1

• Chevrolet HHR SS
• Plymouth Prowler
• Dodge Magnum SRT
• Ford Thunderbird
• Lincoln LS V-8
• Cadillac XLR-V
• Subaru WRX
• Pontiac GTO
• Honda Insight
• Acura TSX
• Lexus IS300 SportCross
• Pontiac G8 GXP