The 2000s was a great era for sports cars. It was the last era for many great engines, ideas, and cars. The technology during the 2000s was also rapidly changing meaning cars were getting more and more advanced, yet they still were very driver-focused.
The 2000s was the last era of pure gasoline, the days when nobody seemed to care about emissions, hybrids, Tesla's, etc. Here are the 10 best drivers cars from the 2000s, the era of V10 F1 cars, Top Gear, Gran Turismo, the Fast and the Furious, and so much more. The 2000s was an ultimate decade for drivers cars, and here are the best ones.
10 Porsche Carrera GT
The Carrera GT is an ultimate driver's car powered by a Formula 1 derived 5.7-liter V10 engine. Porsche had secretly made the engine back in 1992 for Footworks F1 team, only for it to be benched. The Carrera GT produced 603hp and 435 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 was 3.9 seconds with flat out speeds of 208mph.
The Carrera GT is cut from a different cloth. A 6-speed manual gearbox with RWD you really did need the skill to drive this beast, It is unforgiving and can also be quite tail-happy. It did the Nürburgring in 7:28 back in 2004. It is by far one of the fastest Porsches ever made.
9 Audi R8
Meet the car Iron Man drives. The Audi R8 was launched in 2006 as Audi's flagship supercar. It included an iconic low sleek body and originally a thumping 4.2 liter V8 pushing out 414hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. The R8 could hit 60 in 4.6 seconds and flat out hit 188mph. The R8 stuck to the road like glue and won many awards particularly to do with its handling.
The R8 is a fun supercar that really did rival the likes of the 911. It was balanced, AWD, and aerodynamic. Best of all it was comfortable on a long journey and easy to live with, something which Audi marketed hugely calling it the "everyday supercar."
8 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni
From 1968 to 2008, Valentino Balboni was Lamborghini's chief test driver. He has driven 80% of the Lamborghinis ever made and always had an affection for RWD cars. When he retired from his position, Lamborghini could not just let him go with a party and a watch. No chance. Instead, they made and designed a Gallardo all around him. It featured RWD and a 6-speed manual gearbox, though an automatic was an option.
Under the hood was a 542hp 398 lb-ft of torque 5.2 liter V10. The LP550-2 Balboni pushed to 60 in 3.9 seconds flat out hitting 199 mph. The Balboni won Top Gear Car of the Year back in 2009 and it was heavily praised throughout the media. A true driver's car with a lot of pedigree.
7 BMW E46 M3 CSL
The standard E46 M3 is a great car. But the CSL is a different breed. Launched in 2004, it was a more hardcore, lighter version of the E46 M3 featuring the same 3.2-liter S54 inline-6 but this time it pushed out 360hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The CSL could shoot to 60 in 4.5 seconds topping at 155mph.
The CSL was ultra-lightweight. Carbon fiber body panels, a stripped interior, carbon fiber air-box, glass-reinforced plastics, and more. This resulted in a 50:50 weight distribution and a weight reduction of 100kg from the standard M3. It came as SMG only which was brutal. The CSL is by far one of the best ever M-cars ever made. There is so much to know about BMW's M-division but all we know is that the CSL is one of a kind.
6 Honda Civic Type R EP3
Here is what a proper hot-hatch looks like, there's no messing about here whatsoever. Under the hood is a 197hp 2.0 VTEC engine pushing out 197hp and 139 lb-ft of torque. The Type R could shoot to 60 in only 6.4 seconds flat out hitting 146 mph. The Type-R handled like a go-cart, it was an insanely fun car to drive and the noise was awesome.
The Type-R goes down as one of the all-time greats in the world of hot hatchbacks. It really hit every nail on the head in terms of styling, performance, feelings, and practicality. It may not be the most powerful hot-hatch out there, but even with 197hp, this thing is fun. Unfortunately, despite it being made in LHD form for Europe, it was never officially sold in the USA. Check out the evolution of the Type R Civic.
5 Ferrari Enzo
If you are naming a car after the finder of that specific car company, it has to be beyond perfection. The Ferarri Enzo does just that, being built 14 years after Enzo's death, mainly to celebrate their F1 success, it quickly became the world's most advanced car.
The Enzo is designed around science. Under the hood is a 6.0 V12 pushing out 651hp and 485 lb-ft of torque. The Enzo hit 60 in 3.1 seconds before topping out at 217.5mph, faster than the LaFerrari. The Enzo lapped the Nürburgring in 7:25:21. It was extremely advanced, sharing many features with F1 cars.
4 Maserati MC-12
How to build a brilliant race car? Take an already existing hardcore drivers' car that was known to be the most advanced car in the world, slap your branding on it, tune it a little and wow you have an FIA GT1 class homologation car.
The MC12 is essentially an Enzo. But it was never praised as much. In fact, it was said to be too big and too hard to drive. Under the hood is a 6.0 V12 pushing out 621hp and 481 lb-ft of torque. The MC12 hits 60 in only 3.7 seconds flat out hitting 208 mph - slower than an Enzo then. It does however feel more like a race car, as it essentially is just a race car for the road.
3 Porsche 987 Cayman S
Here is a car that mega Porsche collector Magnus Walker would love to own. It's quite easy to see why since the Cayman S is an awesome balanced sports car that has managed to stay at the top of the competition for years. Powered by a mid-mounted 3.4-liter flat 6 pushing out 291hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 took place in 5.1 seconds with a flat out top speed of 171 mph.
The Cayman S 987 is a fun car to drive. The mid-mounted engine means it is more balanced than a 911. It is quite an easy car to drive fast which has made it popular amongst first-time Porsche buyers. It is also quite a practical car with two storage areas and good interior space.
2 BMW E60 M5
The E60 BMW M5 is an awesome driver's car. Powered by the legendary S85 V10, it pushes out 500hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. It featured an F1 engine in a sedan car that hit 60 in 4.2 seconds and flat out would do over 200 mph. This super sedan would catch up with Ferrari's easily.
Loads of people love the E60 M5 as it was outrageous. A computer on wheels with 11 driving modes. The E60 M5 is not the most reliable car in the world, it would probably spend more time at the garage than out on the road, but when it is working it is fast. A screaming sedan that enthusiasts absolutely love.
1 Chevrolet C6 Corvette ZR1
Here's an entry that may cause a bit of confusion. But the ZR1 C6 Corvette truly is a driver's car with 630hp and 604 lb-ft of torque. GM really was gunning for their European rivals with the most extreme car possible. What made the ZR1 such a driver's car was the speed. It was phenomenal. It took 3 seconds to reach 60 before topping at 205 mph.
The ZR1 C6 was a hardcore car. It was meant for serious drivers only with little grip on the rear too. It was manual only and it sounded like a monster. It was a serious handful to drive at speed but driving normally was ok. A complete hooligan of a car then.