Top 10 Sports Cars 2001 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall sports car of 2001 was the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C5), a brand-new hardtop hot rod that arrived for the 2001 model year with 385 horsepower and a 2001 MSRP of $48,055 — supercar pace for the price of a loaded luxury sedan. The best value of 2001 was the Honda S2000 (AP1), a screaming, 9,000-rpm roadster that delivered genuine exotic-car thrills for a 2001 MSRP of $32,300.

The year 2001 was a landmark one: it brought the new Corvette Z06, the all-wheel-drive Porsche 911 (996) Turbo, and the long-awaited E46 BMW M3, three cars that still anchor enthusiast want-lists a generation later.

How We Ranked the Top 10

This retrospective re-drove the class from a 2026 vantage point, weighing how each car felt then and how it has aged. The weighting:

• Driving fun & handling — 30%. The single biggest factor; a sports car lives or dies on how it talks to you.
• Performance — 20%. Period horsepower, 0-60, and real-world pace.
• Value in period — 15%. What you got for your 2001 dollars at the dealer.
• Reliability — 15%. How dependable each car proved over two-plus decades of ownership.
• Legacy — 10%. Cultural weight and influence on what came after.
• Collectibility now — 10%. Where values sit in the current modern-classic market.

Sources include period road tests from *Car and Driver*, *Road & Track*, and *MotorWeek*, plus Hagerty Valuation Tools, Bring a Trailer auction results, and manufacturer archives.

1. Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C5) 🏆 BEST OVERALL

2001 MSRP: $48,055 | Best for: the buyer who wanted supercar pace without supercar money

The Z06 returned for 2001 as a fixed-roof, lightweight version of the C5, powered by the new LS6 5.7-liter V8 making 385 horsepower — a jump over the standard Corvette. It ran 0-60 in roughly 4.0-4.5 seconds and was strictly rear-wheel drive with a 6-speed manual, exactly as a Corvette should be.

What it was known for was outrageous performance-per-dollar: it ran with cars costing twice as much, yet you could drive it every day. Clean, low-mile 2001 Z06s now trade as appreciating modern classics, with the best examples climbing well past their original sticker. Nothing in 2001 delivered this much capability for the money.

Pros:

• Brutal LS6 V8 with effortless torque and a great soundtrack
• Genuine supercar pace for under fifty grand in period
• Usable, reliable, and cheap to maintain by exotic standards
• A blue-chip C5 collectible today

Cons:

• Interior plastics felt budget against the price-rivals
• Ride and refinement trailed the European coupes

Verdict: The performance bargain of 2001 and the clear best overall — a future classic you could actually live with.

2. Porsche 911 (996) Turbo

2001 MSRP: $111,000 | Best for: the all-weather driver who wanted everyday usability with brutal pace

The 996 Turbo was all-new for 2001 and remains one of the great real-world supercars. Its twin-turbo 3.6-liter flat-six produced about 415 horsepower, sending power through standard all-wheel drive to a 0-60 of roughly 4.0 seconds. It was known for being unburstable and drivable in any weather — and crucially, its Mezger-derived engine sidesteps the IMS-bearing worry that haunts the normally aspirated 996.

Values have firmed up as buyers recognize it as the usable, bulletproof Turbo. It is the grown-up's choice on this list.

Pros:

• All-wheel-drive traction makes the power totally accessible
• Bulletproof Mezger-based turbo engine
• Daily-usable supercar with real luggage space
• Strong, rising collector demand

Cons:

• The most expensive car here by a wide margin
• Steering and feel slightly numbed versus the air-cooled 911s

Verdict: The most complete supercar of 2001 — devastatingly fast and usable every single day.

3. Honda S2000 (AP1) 💎 BEST VALUE

2001 MSRP: $32,300 | Best for: the purist who wanted a high-revving, no-compromise roadster

The S2000 AP1 packed a 2.0-liter F20C four making 240 horsepower that spun to a 9,000-rpm redline — among the highest specific outputs of any naturally aspirated production engine of its era. It hit 0-60 in about 5.9 seconds, drove the rear wheels through a sublime 6-speed manual, and was known for a chassis that demanded and rewarded commitment.

It was the best value in 2001 because nothing else offered this blend of exotic engineering, Honda reliability, and open-top thrills near its price. Clean AP1s are now firmly collectible.

Pros:

• The most thrilling engine on this list dollar-for-dollar
• One of the best manual gearboxes ever fitted to anything
• Honda reliability with sports-car soul
• Strong and climbing modern-classic values

Cons:

• Snappy at the limit; it punished lazy hands
• Cramped cabin and minimal storage

Verdict: The value champion of 2001 — an analog masterpiece that has only grown in stature.

4. BMW M3 (E46)

2001 MSRP: $46,045 | Best for: the driver who wanted one car for the track, the canyon, and the commute

The E46 M3 launched for 2001 in the US and is widely regarded as a high point of the breed. Its 3.2-liter S54 inline-six made 333 horsepower and revved to 8,000 rpm, good for a 0-60 around 5.0 seconds through a rear-drive 6-speed manual. It was known for an almost magical balance of usable practicality and serious pace, with back seats and a trunk that made it a true everyday sports car.

Values for clean, manual coupes have surged, making it one of the strongest BMW investments of the era.

Pros:

• Glorious high-revving S54 straight-six
• Four-seat practicality with genuine sports-car handling
• Iconic, widely loved chassis
• Sharp value appreciation today

Cons:

• Known rod-bearing and VANOS service items to budget for
• Build quality of trim ages unevenly

Verdict: Perhaps the best all-rounder of 2001 — the thinking enthusiast's everyday weapon.

5. Dodge Viper GTS (SR II)

2001 MSRP: $70,400 | Best for: the buyer who wanted raw American muscle with zero filters

In its final SR-II year, the Viper GTS coupe wielded an 8.0-liter V10 making 450 horsepower and a tidal wave of torque, charging to 0-60 in roughly 4.0 seconds with rear drive and a 6-speed manual — and famously no traction control, no ABS on early cars, and no apologies.

It was known as a brutal, demanding, side-pipe-howling machine with the double-bubble roof. The GTS coupe, especially the hardcore ACR variant, has become a sought-after analog American collectible.

Pros:

• Monstrous V10 torque and unforgettable presence
• Pure, unassisted, old-school driving experience
• Final-generation SR-II collectibility
• Genuinely fast even by modern standards

Cons:

• Hot, heavy, and unforgiving to drive quickly
• Crude ergonomics and brutal cabin heat

Verdict: The wildest car of 2001 — an uncut American icon that takes real skill to master.

6. Acura NSX-T

2001 MSRP: $88,000 | Best for: the driver who wanted an everyday exotic with bulletproof manners

The NSX-T carried a 3.2-liter VTEC V6 making 290 horsepower mid-mounted behind the cabin, driving the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual to a 0-60 near 4.7 seconds. It was known as the exotic you could drive every day — Honda reliability, light controls, and a removable targa top — a car that famously embarrassed temperamental Italians on usability.

By 2001 it was nearing the end of its long run, and clean examples now command strong, steadily rising collector money.

Pros:

• Mid-engine exotic balance with everyday reliability
• Sublime steering and outward visibility
• Targa top adds open-air appeal
• Blue-chip collectible status today

Cons:

• Down on power versus newer rivals by 2001
• Aging design and a premium price

Verdict: The usable exotic of 2001 — proof that supercars did not have to be fragile.

7. Porsche Boxster S (986)

2001 MSRP: $49,930 | Best for: the buyer who wanted mid-engine Porsche balance at a real-world price

The Boxster S used a 3.2-liter flat-six making 250 horsepower mounted amidships, driving the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual for a 0-60 around 5.7 seconds. It was known for near-perfect mid-engine balance and one of the best-handling chassis of its day, often praised as more pure than the 911 it sat beneath.

Values bottomed out for years but the early manual S models are now appreciating as buyers rediscover them — just budget for the well-known IMS bearing inspection.

Pros:

• Flawless mid-engine handling balance
• Affordable open-top Porsche thrills
• A bargain entry into the marque, even in period
• Early appreciation underway today

Cons:

• IMS-bearing concern requires due diligence
• Less outright power and status than the 911

Verdict: The handling connoisseur's pick of 2001 — pure Porsche balance for half the price of a Turbo.

8. BMW M Coupe (S54)

2001 MSRP: $42,200 | Best for: the enthusiast who wanted a quirky, rare future cult classic

The 2001 M Coupe — the "clownshoe" — adopted the same 3.2-liter S54 inline-six with 315 horsepower found in the Z3 M, driving the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual to a 0-60 near 5.1 seconds. It was known for its oddball shooting-brake shape, short wheelbase, and tail-happy character that made it a handful and a delight in equal measure.

Once overlooked, the S54 M Coupe is now one of the most coveted modern BMWs, with values that have climbed dramatically.

Pros:

• The same brilliant S54 engine as the M3
• Unmistakable, rare, characterful styling
• Surging cult collectibility today
• Short, eager, communicative chassis

Cons:

• Snap-oversteer demands respect
• Tight, dark cabin and limited practicality

Verdict: The cult hero of 2001 — weird, wonderful, and now genuinely valuable.

9. Mazda MX-5 Miata (NB)

2001 MSRP: $22,028 | Best for: the buyer who wanted the most fun per dollar, full stop

The NB Miata ran a 1.8-liter four making 142 horsepower to the rear wheels through a delightful 5-speed manual (a 6-speed was offered), reaching 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds. It was never about straight-line speed; it was known as the purest lightweight roadster on Earth — tossable, communicative, and endlessly rewarding at sane speeds.

It also delivered legendary reliability and the lowest running costs on this list. Clean Special Edition NBs have begun their slow climb among collectors.

Pros:

• The best fun-per-dollar formula ever built
• Featherweight handling and a perfect shifter
• Bulletproof reliability and cheap to run
• Accessible entry into the roadster world

Cons:

• Modest power leaves it slow in a straight line
• Tight cabin for taller drivers

Verdict: The everyman's sports car of 2001 — and still the gateway drug to driving joy.

10. Audi TT Quattro (225)

2001 MSRP: $36,100 | Best for: the buyer who wanted all-weather style and turbo torque

The TT 225 quattro paired a 1.8-liter turbo four making 225 horsepower with Audi's all-wheel-drive quattro system and a 6-speed manual, reaching 0-60 around 6.7 seconds. It was known less as a hardcore driver's car and more as a design statement — a Bauhaus-inspired coupe with one of the most admired interiors of its time and grippy all-weather traction.

It is the most affordable way onto this list today, with early manual quattros just beginning to draw collector interest.

Pros:

• Iconic, era-defining design inside and out
• All-wheel-drive grip in any weather
• Strong turbo torque and easy daily usability
• Still an attainable modern classic

Cons:

• Less playful and pure than the rear-drive rivals
• Early electronics and turbo plumbing need care

Verdict: The style-and-traction pick of 2001 — a design landmark that drives better than its looks suggest.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 2001 Sports Car (Then and as a Classic Now)

• 996 IMS bearing: The normally aspirated 996 and Boxster carry the well-documented intermediate-shaft bearing risk; verify it has been addressed. The 996 Turbo's Mezger engine is exempt — a key reason it commands a premium.
• S2000 valvetrain and clutch: Confirm valve clearances have been checked and look for clutch and synchro wear from hard-revving owners; the F20C is robust if serviced.
• E46 M3 rod bearings and VANOS: Budget for preventative rod-bearing service and listen for VANOS rattle; documented work adds real value.
• Viper heat and clutch: Check for cooked clutches and heat-damaged interiors; these cars run hot and were often driven hard.
• Timing and service history across the board: Belts, chains, and tensioners matter on every car here — paperwork is worth more than polish.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: Minor cosmetic wear, dated infotainment, and non-original wheels move the needle far less than buyers fear. Originality and a clean mechanical record drive value; a faded shift knob does not.

FAQ

What was the best overall sports car of 2001? The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C5), new for 2001 with 385 horsepower at a $48,055 MSRP, offered the most performance-per-dollar of any car in the class and remains a strong modern classic.

What was the best value sports car of 2001? The Honda S2000 at $32,300 — its 9,000-rpm, 240-horsepower engine and superb manual delivered exotic-grade thrills for a fraction of the cost of the European exotics.

Which 2001 sports cars are worth the most today? The Corvette Z06, Porsche 996 Turbo, BMW M Coupe, E46 M3, Acura NSX-T, and clean S2000s have all appreciated strongly as modern classics.

Was the 996 Turbo affected by the IMS bearing problem? No. The 996 Turbo uses the Mezger-derived engine, which does not share the intermediate-shaft bearing weakness of the normally aspirated 996 and Boxster, making it the more bulletproof choice.

Did the E46 BMW M3 arrive in 2001? Yes. The E46 M3, with its 333-horsepower S54 inline-six, launched for the 2001 model year in the US and is now considered one of the best M3s ever built.

Which 2001 sports car is cheapest to own today? The Mazda MX-5 Miata (NB) — it is the most affordable to buy, the most reliable, and the cheapest to run while still delivering enormous driving joy.

Bottom Line

The class of 2001 was a golden one. The Corvette Z06 earned best overall by pairing genuine supercar pace with everyday usability at a price that still looks like a steal, while the Honda S2000 took best value with an engine and gearbox that humbled cars costing far more. Around them stood the bulletproof 996 Turbo, the brilliant E46 M3, the savage Viper, the usable-exotic NSX-T, and the eternally joyful Miata.

More than two decades on, nearly every car on this list has earned its place as a modern classic — and most are worth more now, in real terms, than the day they left the showroom.

Sources

• Hagerty Valuation Tools — 2001 Corvette Z06, 996 Turbo, S2000, E46 M3, Viper GTS, NSX-T values (hagerty.com)
• Bring a Trailer — recent auction results for 2001 S2000, M Coupe, and Z06 (bringatrailer.com)
• *Car and Driver* — period road tests of the C5 Z06, 996 Turbo, and E46 M3 archive (caranddriver.com)
• *Road & Track* — 2001 sports car comparison and road-test archive (roadandtrack.com)
• *MotorWeek* — 2001 Corvette Z06 and Mustang Cobra/Bullitt road tests (motorweek.org)
• Wikipedia — Porsche 911 (996), Dodge Viper (SR II), BMW M3 (E46) model pages (wikipedia.org)
• Kelley Blue Book — 2001 model-year specifications and original MSRP data (kbb.com)
• Edmunds — 2001 Honda S2000, Audi TT, and Acura NSX features and specs (edmunds.com)
• Automobile-catalog.com — 2001 horsepower, 0-60, and performance figures
• Honda/Acura press archives — 2001 S2000 and NSX specifications (hondanews.com)

*Sports car review — 2001 sports car reviews, rating, best sports car 2001, and a retrospective review of the top modern-classic sports car picks for buyers.*