The 90s were fantastic for the auto industry. After two decades of terrible, slow cars, manufacturers figured out how to make cars fast and exciting again, resulting in icons like the McLaren F1, Honda NSX, and Dodge Viper, to name a few.
The 1990s also saw a large influx of cheap Japanese cars, forcing European and American manufacturers to lower their prices and improve their quality. Because of this, there are many fantastic ones out there classic cars from the 90s that can afford gearboxes on a tight budget. Let’s explore ten of the best.
10 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W140) – $ 13,500
Via favcars.com
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is undoubtedly one of the best luxury sedans ever built. It’s stylish, powerful, reliable, well-engineered, and full of luxurious amenities. There have been several generations of the S-Class over the years, but few of them are as good as the ’90s W140.
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The W140 is often lauded for its mature nature and bulletproof reliability. It’s also powerful thanks to a massive 6.0-liter V12 with 402 hp.
9 1994 Ford Taurus SHO- $ 3,500
Via: BringaTrailer
Ford has never gone bankrupt, which no other traditional American automaker can say. However, Ford was on the verge of bankruptcy in the 1980s but was saved by the Taurus. The Taurus wasn’t anything special, but it sold 2 million times in the late 1980s, saving the Blue Oval brand from bankruptcy.
via celicahobby
Four years after production of the Taurus began, transmissions were demanding more power, so Ford introduced the powerful Taurus SHO. The 1994 SHO was powered by a Yamaha-built 3.0 liter V6 engine that developed 220 horsepower, which made it pretty fast.
8th Porsche Boxster 986 – $ 11,000
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Porsche makes amazing sports cars, but they are usually bought by wealthy people. However, in the 1990s, fierce competition from Japanese automakers forced Porsche to develop a cheaper model that could afford more gearboxes. The result was the Boxster.
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The Boxster was an instant hit. Although it was the cheapest Porsche, you couldn’t tell at first glance because it had a great design. The Boxster also had a 3.2 liter boxer mid-engine that developed 254 horsepower and a top speed of 160 mph.
7th Chevrolet Corvette C5 – $ 10,000
Via favcars.com
Although the C4 Corvette was much better than its predecessor, sales fell sharply towards the end of its production due to the influx of cheaper Japanese sports cars. So Chevy went back to the drawing board in the mid-1990s and developed a greatly improved fifth-generation Corvette.
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The C5 Corvette had a new design and several upgrades compared to the C4, most notably the 5.7-liter V8 engine made of all-aluminum, which developed 350 hp in the base model. The C5 Vette had a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph.
6th 1993 Chevrolet Camaro – $ 4,000
Via bringatrailer.com
The Camaro is considered to be one of the greatest muscle cars of all time and has been in continuous production for almost six decades. There are six generations of the Camaro, which means buyers have plenty of affordable options.
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One of Camaros’ best budget-conscious transmissions is the fourth generation variant, which debuted in 1993. The 1993 Camaro had a revised sporty design and was powered by a 3.4 liter V6. The best part about buying this car is that it has a vibrant aftermarket, which means that with the right modifications you can turn it into an absolute beast.
5 Aston Martin DB7 – $ 16,300
Via Motorious.com
Nobody expects an Aston Martin to be on such a list, but the DB7 is not like any other car made by the UK automaker. Unlike other Astons, the DB7 was designed as an entry-level sports car to compete with the growing number of cheaper Japanese sports cars in the 1990s.
Via: Aston Martin
Despite being the cheapest Aston, the DB7 had a fantastic design and performance to match, thanks to a massive 5.9-liter V12 that developed 420 horsepower. With prices below $ 20,000, the DB7 is one of the most affordable V12-powered sports cars you can buy.
4th 1990 Mazda RX-7 – $ 9,200
Via Super Street
The third generation Mazda RX-7 is being lauded by gearboxes, which explains why prices are soaring these days. What many transmissions don’t know is that the second-generation RX-7, while not looking as good as the FD, is just as fun to drive.
Via: YouTube
The second generation RX-7 had a completely redesigned exterior that resembled the Porsche 924. Driven by a 1308 cc twin rotor engine with 200 hp, it was great fun to drive.
3 Mazda MX-5 Miata NA – $ 8,400
Via: The Miata Forum
In 1989 Mazda introduced its most important model of all time – the MX-5 Miata. Mazda had a simple formula for the MX-5 – a lightweight, two-seat roadster with great driving dynamics and an affordable price. Mazda’s plan worked because the MX-5 is currently the best-selling two-seater sports car of all time.
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The first generation Miata is three decades old, but it’s still the amazing roadster we all fell in love with. It’s got a great design with fold-out headlights, and even though it had a tiny 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder under the hood, it’s still guaranteed to leave a fat smile on any gear head.
2 1990 Nissan 300ZX – $ 13,100
Via: Mecum
The 300ZX is a two-door sports car in Nissan’s Z-Car family, produced from 1983 to 2000. The 300ZX had a lot going for it – great styling, great driving experience and a lot of power since it was the first Z-Car to be equipped with a V6.
Via: wsupercars
Unfortunately, the 300ZX didn’t sell as many units as Nissan wanted as it was overshadowed by the Skyline GT-R. Because of this, gearheads find a well-preserved 300ZX for significantly less than the Skyline GT-R at the time.
1 Saab 900 – $ 8,000
Via netcarshow.com
Before GM bought and ruined Saab, the Swedish automaker had a longstanding reputation for making quirky cars with unbeatable quality, safety, and reliability. The incredible 900 is one of Saab’s most popular cars.
Via: favcars
Introduced in 1978, the 900 is a full-size compact car that has gained a significant following. The 900 has a quirky design and is hailed as one of the most reliable classic cars on the market today.
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About the author
Martin Peter
(210 published articles)
Martin is a veteran content creator who has been writing about cars for over a decade and has fallen in love with them even longer. Growing up, Martin was surrounded by driven people who gave him a deep love and understanding of cars from a young age. He loves learning and writing about all developments in the automotive industry – especially in the field of electric vehicles. When he’s not writing about cars, he enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and fur baby.
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