If you’re looking for a reliable sports car from the 2000s, you’ll be glad to know that we’ve selected 10 of the best 2000s sports cars with reliable engines to help reduce the cost of driving fun.
The vehicles on this list have been chosen based on their proven ability to provide a reliable engine that won’t drain your funds. Unsurprisingly, the Honda S2000, C6 Chevrolet Corvette, Nissan 350Z and Acura RSX make our list. But what other vehicles make the cut? Read on to find out.
10 Porsche 911 (997)
The Porsche 911 has always been synonymous with reliability, so it’s no surprise that the Porsche 997 is among the best sports cars of the 2000s with the most reliable engines. In typical 911 style, the 997 featured a wide range of engine options during its eight-year production run, including a 325-hp 3.6-liter boxer-six; a boxer-six of 355 hp and 3.8 liters; a horizontally opposed 3.6 liter 345 hp six; a 385-hp, 3.8-liter horizontally-opposed six; and a 3.6-liter twin-turbo 500-hp boxer-six.
The engines in the 2000s Porsche 911 are many and varied, but all are undeniably reliable, high-performing and ideally balanced, giving the 911 impressive driving dynamics.
9 Fifth generation Pontiac GTO
Just like no one is perfect, no car is perfect. And if anything, the fifth-generation Pontiac GTO’s soggy suspension is proof. But since this post is about 2000s sports cars with reliable engines, the GTO deserves a mention here. The car was first available with GM’s 5.7-liter V8 small-block LS1 engine, which also powered vehicles such as the Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette. Here, it makes 350 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 365 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. With a top speed of 160 mph, it can sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and run the quarter mile in 14 seconds at 102 mph. The powertrain was mated to a standard four-speed automatic transmission or an optional Tremec six-speed manual unit that offers crisp shifts.
Those craving even more thrust should consider the 2005-2006 Pontiac GTO, which features GM’s 6.0-liter LS2 V8 engine lifted from the Chevrolet C6 Corvette. The mill makes 400 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, 50 more horses and an additional 30 lb-ft of torque than the 2004 iteration. So it rips when you drop the hammer, with 0-60 mph achieved in 4, 7 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.3 seconds at 105.9 mph. The standard four-speed automatic transmission and Tremec’s optional six-speed manual carry over.
8 R230 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500
Mercedes-Benz has built some pretty reliable engines. Witness the 2.6 inline six M103, 4.2 V8 M116, 3.0 inline six OM606 and 2.0 inline four M111. Like those engines, the 5.0 V8 M113 that powers the SL-Class SL500 is among the best automotive engines ever to roll out of a Mercedes-Benz plant. A combination of fracture-split forged steel connecting rods, magnesium intake manifold, one-piece cast camshaft, iron-coated piston skirts and a sequential fuel injection system make this and other M113 engines a robust construction that is capable of withstanding the punishing rigors. Although there are reports of rear main seal leaks on this vehicle, the car is still drivable and the failure is easy to fix. Aside from this minor flaw, you’ll find the SL-Class SL500’s engine to be nearly flawless.
As for performance, the SL500 mill sends 302 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque to the wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission, with that big output resulting in a 0-60 acceleration time 6 second mph. Its top speed is 155 mph.
7 BMW M3 E92
BMW is known for its slogan, “the ultimate driving machine.” But when it comes to M3s, few cars adequately reflect that motto as perfectly as the BMW M3 E92. The S65 V8 in the E92 M3 is the first and only V8 engine to appear in an M3. The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 makes 414 horsepower at 8,300 rpm and 295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm. That power propels the M3 to 60 mph in 4.3 ticks and the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at 113 mph.
Hydro-aluminum cylinder heads, eutectic aluminum silicon alloy block, magnesium steel connecting rods and iron-jacketed aluminum pistons make this one of the toughest engines you’ll find anywhere. Reliable, performance purist cars don’t get any bigger than this.
6 Nissan 370Z
The Nissan 370Z is a reliable sports car built to deliver remarkable power, exceptional handling and outstanding driver involvement. Part of what makes the 370Z such an attractive sports car is the VQ-series engine under the hood. The third-generation 3.7-liter VQ37VHR V6 is famous for its bulletproof reliability, requiring only regular maintenance and responsible driving habits to continue running almost indefinitely.
Of course, there’s a lot of power with that reliability. The 3.7-liter V6 makes an impressive 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, with output managed by a six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed automatic transmission with manual paddle shifters is available.
5 C6 Chevrolet Corvette
When it comes to nearly indestructible sports car engines of the 2000s, the C6 Chevrolet Corvette is worth mentioning. That’s not surprising, considering Chevy’s engineers focused on perfecting the work they started with the C5 Corvette. These engines range from a 6.0-liter 400-hp LS2 V8 engine under the hood of the 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvette C6; a 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8, a 505-hp 7.0-liter V8; and a 638-hp 6.2-liter V8 supercharged LS9 engine that debuted in the C6 Corvette ZR1.
4 Acura RSX
Designed to replace the Acura Integra, the Acura RSX became an instant hit and one of the most beloved sports coupes of the 2000s due to its indestructible K-Series engine. The base RSX featured a four-cylinder 2 .0-liter high-speed that’s good for 160 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 141 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm — 20 more horses and 17 lb-ft of twist compared to the Integra LS. . The Acura RSX Type S has a tuned version of the four-cylinder engine, which makes 200 hp at 7,400 rpm and 142 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm.
A five-speed manual is standard on the base RSX; an optional five-speed automatic transmission is available. The Type S sends power to the wheels entirely through a six-speed manual transmission.
3 Nissan 350Z
Like any Nissan sports car, the Nissan 350Z certainly gave us a lot of good experiences. It was affordable, fun to drive, cheap to drive, well built and incredibly reliable. These attributes made it highly desirable to consumers who wanted an exciting sports car that was easy to live with.
Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 287 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 274 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. A later revision of the fifth-generation Z car saw a bump of 13 hp to 300 horsepower in models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, while those sold with the five-speed automatic unit continued to offer 287 hp. Later versions of the 350Z’s V6 made 306 horsepower.
2 Honda S2000
If you’re thinking of a used sports car with bags of charm, the Honda S20000 will do it. Launched to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary in 1999, this front-mid-engined open-top sports car boasts stunning styling, ultra-sharp driving dynamics and a slick drivetrain that keeps you happy.
Plus, it has a reliable motor that stands up to abuse. However, you must be prepared to deal with the excessive oil consumption of the S2000.
1 Honda Civic Type R EP3 Generation
On a list of the most reliable sports cars of the 2000s, the second-generation Honda Civic Type R EP3 was always going to appear. The first Civic Type R to be built in both right-hand and left-hand drive, the EP3 Generation Type R features a high-revving i-VTEC four-cylinder engine that makes 200 hp at 7,400 rpm and 145 lb. -ft of torque at 5,900. rpm.
