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Jan 07, 2024

These 2000s Sports Cars Have The Most Durable Engines

If you're in the market for a used reliable sports car, these models offer

If you're in the market for a used reliable sports car, these models offer dependable motoring without draining your bank balance.

If you're after a dependable sports car from the 2000s, you'll be glad to know we've selected 10 of the best 2000s sports cars with reliable engines to help you keep the cost of fun driving down.

The vehicles on this list have been chosen based on their demonstrated abilities to provide dependable motoring that won't drain your funds. Unsurprisingly, the Honda S2000, C6 Chevrolet Corvette, Nissan 350Z, and Acura RSX all feature on our list. But what other vehicles make the cut? Read on to find out.

The Porsche 911 has always been synonymous with reliability, so it's no surprise that the Porsche 997 is among the best 2000s sports cars with the most reliable engines. In typical 911 style, the 997 featured a wide array of engine options throughout its eight-year production run, including a 325-hp, 3.6-liter boxer-six; a 355-hp, 3.8-liter boxer-six; a 345-hp, 3.6-liter horizontally opposed-six; a 385-hp, 3.8-liter horizontally opposed-six; and a 500-hp, twin-turbo 3.6-liter boxer-six.

The 2000s Porsche 911 engines are many and varied, but they're all undeniably dependable, high-performing, and ideally balanced, imbuing the 911 with impressive driving dynamics.

Just as no one is perfect, there is no perfect car. 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 generates 350 horses 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 take on the quarter-mile run in 14 seconds at 102 mph. The powertrain was mated to either a standard four-speed automatic transmission or an optional Tremec six-speed manual unit that delivers crisp shifts.

Those desiring even more oomph 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 generates 400 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque – 50 more horsepower and 30 extra 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 optional Tremec six-speed manual unit carry over.

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 these powertrains, the 5.0 V8 M113, which powers the SL-Class SL500, is among the best car engines to come out of a Mercedes-Benz plant. A combination of fracture-split forged steel con rods, magnesium intake manifold, one-piece cast camshaft, iron-coated piston skirts as well as a sequential fuel injection system make this and other M113 engines a rugged construct that's able to withstand punishing rigors. Although there are reports of leaking rear main seals on this vehicle, the car could still be driven, and the fault is easy to fix. Apart from that one minor defect, you'll find the SL-Class SL500's engine to be almost flawless.

With regard to performance, the SL500 mill sends 302 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque to the wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission, with that much output resulting in a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 6 seconds. Its top speed is 155 mph.

RELATED: 10 Best European Sports Car Engines

BMW is renowned for its slogan, "the ultimate driving machine." But as far as M3s go, few cars fittingly reflect this tagline as perfectly as the BMW M3 E92. The E92 M3's S65 V8 is the first and only V8 engine to feature on an M3. The 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated V8 generates 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 and silicon alloy block, magnesium-steel conrods, as well as iron-jacketed aluminum pistons make this one of the most sturdily built engines you'll find anywhere. Reliable, purist performance cars don't come greater than this.

The Nissan 370Z is a dependable sports car built to deliver remarkable power, exceptional handling, and outstanding driver engagement. Part of what makes the 370Z such a compelling sports car is the VQ series engine under its hood. The third-gen 3.7-liter VQ37VHR V6 is famous for its bulletproof reliability, requiring only regular maintenance and responsible driving habits to keep running almost indefinitely.

Of course, there's plenty of power to go with that dependability. The 3.7-liter V6 generates an impressive 332 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, with output handled by a six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift paddles is available.

As far as near-indestructible 2000s sports car engines go, the C6 Chevrolet Corvette is worth mentioning. This isn't surprising, considering Chevy engineers focused on perfecting the work they began with the C5 Corvette. These engines range from a 400-hp, 6.0-liter 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 on the C6 Corvette ZR1.

RELATED: 5 Best V6 Sports Cars To Buy Right Now (5 EVs That Are Better)

Designed to replace the Acura Integra, the Acura RSX became an instant hit and one of the most loved sports coupes of the 2000s due to its indestructible K-series engine. The base RSX featured a high-revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's good for 160 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 141 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm – 20 more horsepower and 17 more lb-ft of twist when 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 via a six-speed manual transmission.

Like any Nissan sports car, the Nissan 350Z certainly gave us many good experiences. It was affordable, fun to drive, cheap to run, well-built, and incredibly reliable. These attributes made it highly desirable to consumers who wanted an exciting sports car that's easy to live with.

Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 287 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 274 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. A subsequent revision to the fifth-gen Z-car saw a 13 hp bump 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.

RELATED: 10 Cheap Sports Cars That Are Surprisingly Affordable In 2023

If you're considering a used sports car with bags of charm, the Honda S20000 will do. Launched to celebrate Honda's 50th anniversary in 1999, this front-mid engine open-top sports car boasts a stunning design, ultra-sharp driving dynamics, and a slick transmission that makes you happy.

Moreover, it has a dependable engine that stands up to abuse. However, you must be prepared to deal with the S2000's excessive oil consumption.

In a list of the most reliable sports cars from the 2000s, the second-generation Honda Civic Type R EP3 was always going to make an appearance. The first Civic Type R to be built in both right- and left-hand drive, the EP3 Generation Type R features a high-revving i-VTEC four-cylinder engine making 200 hp at 7,400 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque at 5,900 rpm.

Monday Goma delights in writing about cars. He has written buyer's guides, car reviews, product reviews, etc., for a bunch of car dealership sites in the U.S. When not writing about cars, Monday can often be found either playing FIFA or researching new automotive technologies. Monday is married to a very devout, hardworking, strong-willed, and truly remarkable woman.