Few segments spark as much nostalgia as the affordable sports cars that defined the 1990s and 2000s, machines that blended clever engineering with prices ordinary buyers could actually reach. Automakers quietly retired most of them as tastes drifted toward crossovers and electric power. These nine discontinued sports cars sit atop the list enthusiasts keep begging manufacturers to revive.
1. Honda S2000: The 9,000-RPM Roadster
Built from 1999 to 2009, the S2000 wrapped a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that screamed to a 9,000-rpm redline around a taut rear-drive chassis with near-perfect weight balance. Its short-throw six-speed and open top made it a purist’s antidote to heavier grand tourers, and it remains a fixture on most-wanted revival lists.
No true successor has followed, and periodic hybrid-roadster rumors have yet to materialize. Clean, low-mileage examples now trade well above their original stickers, evidence of how firmly demand has held nearly two decades after the last car left the line.
2. Honda Prelude: The Coupe That Built A Following
Across five generations, the Prelude served as Honda’s stylish front-drive coupe, introducing features such as four-wheel steering long before rivals caught on. The US line ended in 2001, but Honda has since teased a returning Prelude badge on a hybrid coupe, a move longtime coupe loyalists welcomed.
Whether the reborn car recaptures the original’s affordable, driver-focused character remains an open question. For many fans, the appeal always rested on sharp handling and clean lines rather than raw power, qualities they hope the new model honors.
3. Mazda RX-7: The Rotary Icon
Sold from 1992 to 2002, the FD-generation RX-7 paired a sequential twin-turbo 13B rotary with sculpted bodywork that still looks modern decades later. Its compact engine and low center of gravity gave it handling that many rotary faithful still rank among the best of the era.
Tightening emissions rules ultimately doomed the thirsty, apex-sealing rotary, and Mazda has yet to bring a proper successor to market. Persistent concept cars and fresh patent filings keep hope alive, yet a production return remains unconfirmed, and each passing year drives values of clean survivors steadily higher.
4. Mitsubishi 3000GT: The Twin-Turbo Tech Flagship
Mitsubishi’s 3000GT VR-4 crammed a twin-turbo V6, all-wheel drive, active aerodynamics and four-wheel steering into one 1990s flagship. That gadget-laden approach made it a genuine technology showcase, and it still headlines bring-it-back wish lists.
All that hardware also made the car heavy and expensive to maintain, and production ended in 2000. Mitsubishi’s current lineup leans almost entirely on crossovers and sedans, leaving little room for a spiritual heir. Even so, its ambitious, feature-packed formula continues to earn a place near the top of nostalgic best-of countdowns.
5. Mitsubishi Eclipse: The Affordable Turbo Coupe
For budget-minded buyers, the turbocharged Eclipse delivered real speed through the 1990s and 2000s before production wrapped in 2012. Mitsubishi then attached the storied name to the Eclipse Cross crossover, a decision that frustrated longtime coupe fans.
Enthusiasts argue the badge deserves a proper sports car rather than a family hauler wearing a familiar name. With the tuner-friendly 4G63 engine long gone from the range, any credible revival would need to recapture the original’s accessible price and endlessly modifiable spirit to win the faithful back.
6. Subaru WRX STI: The Rally Hero
Subaru retired the WRX STI after the 2021 model year, leaving the current WRX without its hotter, rally-bred variant. Its turbocharged boxer engine, symmetrical all-wheel drive and aggressive stance built a devoted following that performance faithful have not forgotten.
Subaru has hinted a future STI could arrive with electrified power instead of a traditional turbocharged four. Fans remain sharply divided over whether that shift would preserve the raw, tactile feel that defined the nameplate for two decades, and used prices for the final gas-powered cars have climbed accordingly.
7. Toyota MR2: The Budget Mid-Engine Toy
Toyota’s MR2 delivered exotic mid-engine handling at an everyday price across three generations before bowing out in 2007. Its balanced layout and light weight earned it a lasting reputation for driver engagement, keeping it near the top of reader revival polls.
Reports of a returning affordable Toyota sports car surface regularly, sometimes tied to a rumored partnership with another automaker. Nothing has reached showrooms yet, but the enduring interest suggests a modern MR2 would find a ready audience among buyers priced out of today’s increasingly expensive performance cars.
8. Nissan 240SX: The Drift Favorite
Sold in the United States from 1989 to 1998, the rear-drive 240SX became a drift and tuner staple thanks to its balanced chassis and swap-friendly engine bay. Rising resale values reflect how sought-after clean examples have become among drift and tuner circles.
Nissan never offered a direct replacement in the American market, and surviving examples are increasingly modified, crashed or simply worn out. A modern, affordable rear-drive coupe from the brand remains one of the most frequent requests from the enthusiast community, though nothing concrete has emerged so far.
9. Acura NSX: The Everyday Supercar
The original NSX proved a supercar could be reliable and comfortable enough for daily driving, and the second-generation hybrid that ended in 2022 carried that philosophy forward. Its blend of usability and exotic performance still draws praise from supercar enthusiasts.
Acura has signaled that a next NSX could return as a fully electric halo car rather than a gas-electric hybrid. Whether battery power can preserve the engaging, communicative character that defined both earlier generations is a question fans are eager to see answered whenever the third chapter finally arrives.
More from Morning Overview
