Top 10 Sports Cars 2005 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best sports car of 2005 was the all-new Chevrolet Corvette C6, our Best Overall pick at a 2005 MSRP of $44,245. For a single year, no other car delivered 400 horsepower, sub-4.5-second acceleration, and genuine grand-touring civility for the money. Our Best Value of 2005 was the Mazda RX-8 at a 2005 MSRP of $26,435 — a four-door, four-seat, 9,000-rpm rotary coupe that drove like a purpose-built sports car and undercut nearly everything sharper than it on price.

2005 was a landmark model year. Chevrolet retired the pop-up headlamps and launched the C6 Corvette. Ford rolled out the retro-styled S197 Mustang, and the Lotus Elise finally arrived in the United States. The cars below are ranked as a retrospective, weighing how they drove then against what they have become as modern-classic buys now.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each car on six factors, blending period road-test impressions with how each model has aged.

• Driving fun and handling — 30%: steering feel, chassis balance, and how alive the car felt at real-world speeds.
• Performance — 20%: horsepower, 0-60 mph, and outright pace versus rivals.
• Value in period — 15%: what a 2005 buyer got for the money against the competition.
• Reliability — 15%: how dependable and ownable the car proved over the long haul.
• Legacy — 10%: cultural footprint and influence on what came after.
• Collectibility now — 10%: trajectory of used and collector values today.

Sources include period reviews from Car and Driver and MotorTrend, Hagerty valuation data, Bring a Trailer auction results, manufacturer press materials, and Wikipedia model histories. Period MSRP figures are stated in 2005 dollars; current values reflect clean, well-kept examples.

1. Chevrolet Corvette C6 🏆 BEST OVERALL

2005 MSRP: $44,245 | Best for: the buyer who wanted supercar pace with daily usability

The C6 was the headline arrival of 2005, and it earned the Best Overall crown by being shockingly complete. Its 6.0-liter LS2 V8 made 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, firing the coupe to 60 mph in roughly 4.3 seconds through a rear-mounted six-speed manual transaxle.

Rear-wheel drive, a comfortable cabin, and a usable hatch made it a real grand tourer, not a track toy. It was known for delivering exotic numbers at a Cadillac price, and clean early C6s now trade in the mid-teens to low-$20,000s, making it one of the great performance bargains of its era.

Pros:

• 400 horsepower for under $45,000 was unmatched value in 2005.
• Genuine daily usability with a real trunk and comfortable ride.
• Strong, cheap-to-own LS2 V8 with a deep parts ecosystem.
• Sub-4.5-second 0-60 that embarrassed cars costing twice as much.

Cons:

• Interior plastics felt cheap against European rivals.
• Image baggage kept some buyers away regardless of the substance.

Verdict: The most car for the money in 2005, and still a brilliant used buy today.

2. Porsche 911 Carrera S (997)

2005 MSRP: $81,400 | Best for: the buyer who wanted the definitive everyday sports car

The 997-generation 911 arrived for 2005 and corrected nearly every complaint about the outgoing 996, restoring round headlamps and a richer cabin. The Carrera S used a 3.8-liter flat-six making 355 horsepower, reaching 60 mph in about 4.7 seconds with rear-wheel drive and a slick six-speed manual.

It was known for being the rare exotic you could drive every single day, in any weather, without drama. Values have stabilized into modern-classic territory, with sorted manual coupes commanding $40,000 and up as the 997 earns reverence as the last analog-feeling 911.

Pros:

• The benchmark steering and chassis of the entire class.
• Usable all year with everyday comfort and reliability.
• Naturally aspirated flat-six that revs with rare purity.
• Strong, rising values that reward careful ownership.

Cons:

• Early 997s carry intermediate-shaft (IMS) bearing concerns worth verifying.
• The highest entry price of any car on this list.

Verdict: The thinking enthusiast's choice and the class yardstick, then and now.

3. Honda S2000

2005 MSRP: $33,260 | Best for: the purist who lived for revs and steering feel

By 2005 the S2000 had matured into one of the finest roadsters ever built. Its 2.2-liter F22C inline-four made 240 horsepower and screamed to an 8,200-rpm redline, hitting 60 mph in about 5.4 seconds through a magnificent six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. It was known for a chassis and gearbox so precise that owners forgave its peaky power delivery.

Bulletproof Honda engineering and a devoted following have pushed clean examples to $30,000 and beyond, a rare case of a used car worth more than its sticker.

Pros:

• One of the best manual gearboxes ever fitted to a production car.
• A 9,000-rpm-class engine with thrilling top-end rush.
• Legendary Honda reliability when properly maintained.
• Appreciating values that reward clean, unmodified cars.

Cons:

• Snappy early-chassis behavior at the limit demanded respect.
• Little low-end torque meant constant shifting to stay in the powerband.

Verdict: The driver's roadster of its generation, now a blue-chip modern classic.

4. BMW M3 (E46)

2005 MSRP: $48,995 | Best for: the buyer who wanted one car for the track and the commute

The E46 M3 was near the end of its run in 2005, and many regard it as the purest M3 of all. Its 3.2-liter S54 inline-six made 333 horsepower at a sky-high 7,900 rpm, reaching 60 mph in about 4.8 seconds with rear-wheel drive and a proper six-speed manual. It was known for blending a usable back seat and trunk with genuine track ability.

The S54 is a coveted engine today, and clean manual coupes have climbed to $30,000-plus, with the rare CSL a six-figure car.

Pros:

• A revered naturally aspirated straight-six with epic sound.
• Daily comfort plus serious track pace in one body.
• Timeless E46 styling that still looks right.
• Strong collector momentum for clean manuals.

Cons:

• Rod-bearing and VANOS maintenance must be documented.
• The SMG automated manual is best avoided versus the proper stick.

Verdict: The most usable everyday performance coupe of 2005 — and a rising icon.

5. Lotus Elise

2005 MSRP: $39,985 | Best for: the weekend purist chasing maximum feel per dollar

2005 was the year the Elise finally reached America, and nothing else drove like it. Weighing under 2,000 pounds, it paired a Toyota-sourced 1.8-liter making 190 horsepower with a 4.9-second sprint to 60 mph through rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. It was known for unfiltered, telepathic steering and cornering grip that shamed cars with twice the power.

Its featherweight purity has aged into cult status, with tidy US-spec cars now bringing $45,000 and up.

Pros:

• The purest steering and handling of anything here.
• Toyota reliability under a track-bred chassis.
• Under 2,000 pounds for a sensation no rival could match.
• Rising, cult-classic values that hold firm.

Cons:

• Spartan, hard-to-enter cabin with almost no amenities.
• Modest straight-line power versus the muscle on this list.

Verdict: The featherweight feel king of 2005, and an appreciating cult car.

6. Ford Mustang GT (S197)

2005 MSRP: $25,705 | Best for: the buyer who wanted V8 muscle and retro style on a budget

The retro-styled S197 Mustang was one of 2005's biggest stories, channeling 1960s fastback design over a fresh platform. The GT's 4.6-liter V8 made 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft, hitting 60 mph in about 5.1 seconds through rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual. It was known for delivering authentic V8 character and head-turning looks at a price almost anyone could reach.

As an affordable modern classic, clean GTs still trade in the $10,000-to-$16,000 range, keeping the muscle dream cheap.

Pros:

• Genuine V8 muscle for around $26,000 when new.
• Iconic retro styling that has aged gracefully.
• Cheap, simple, and endlessly supported by the aftermarket.
• Strong used availability keeps entry costs low.

Cons:

• A live rear axle trailed independent-suspension rivals in finesse.
• Interior materials reflected the aggressive price point.

Verdict: The budget muscle hero of 2005 and a charming, cheap classic now.

7. Mazda RX-8 💎 BEST VALUE

2005 MSRP: $26,435 | Best for: the buyer who wanted exotic engineering and rear seats for the price of a coupe

Our Best Value of 2005 was a genuine oddball triumph. The RX-8's 1.3-liter twin-rotor Renesis made 238 horsepower in six-speed manual form, spinning to a 9,000-rpm redline and reaching 60 mph in about 6.4 seconds, rear-wheel drive. It was known for a near-perfect chassis balance, suicide rear doors, and usable rear seats — a true four-seat sports car.

Soft used prices, often $10,000 to $15,000, make it the most car-feel-per-dollar on this list, provided the rotary is healthy.

Pros:

• Exotic rotary engineering at an economy-car price.
• Superb 50/50 balance and steering that rivaled pricier cars.
• Four real seats and four doors in a true sports car.
• Bargain used values for the brave and informed.

Cons:

• Rotary apex-seal wear and flooding demand careful inspection.
• Thirsty and torque-light versus piston rivals.

Verdict: The cleverest, best-value sports car of 2005 — buy a healthy one.

8. Nissan 350Z

2005 MSRP: $28,150 | Best for: the buyer who wanted serious rear-drive pace for the money

The 350Z was Nissan's affordable performance statement, and by 2005 it was a polished package. Its 3.5-liter VQ35 V6 made 287 horsepower (300 in Track trim), reaching 60 mph in about 5.4 seconds with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. It was known for muscular torque, aggressive styling, and a low cost of entry that brought rear-drive thrills to the masses.

Plentiful and durable, clean Track-spec cars now sit in the $12,000-to-$18,000 band.

Pros:

• A torquey, tunable VQ V6 with strong real-world pace.
• Low entry price for genuine rear-drive performance.
• Robust mechanicals with a vast aftermarket.
• Distinctive styling that still looks aggressive.

Cons:

• Cabin plastics and road noise betrayed the budget.
• Early VQ engines can burn oil if neglected.

Verdict: The accessible rear-drive performance bargain of 2005.

9. Subaru Impreza WRX STI

2005 MSRP: $32,445 | Best for: the all-weather driver who wanted rally pace anywhere

The STI brought World Rally Championship technology to the street, and 2005 was a high-water mark. Its 2.5-liter EJ257 turbo flat-four made 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft, launching to 60 mph in roughly 4.9 seconds through all-wheel drive, a driver-controlled center differential, and a six-speed manual.

It was known for blistering all-weather traction and a giant rear wing. Clean, unmodified examples have become genuinely scarce, with collector cars climbing past $30,000.

Pros:

• All-wheel-drive rally pace in rain, snow, or dry.
• A torque-rich turbo flat-four begging for boost.
• Adjustable center differential for true driver control.
• Sharply rising values for unmolested cars.

Cons:

• Many were modified hard, so stock survivors are rare.
• Ringland and turbo wear demand documented maintenance.

Verdict: The all-weather rally weapon of 2005 and a rapidly appreciating cult car.

10. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR

2005 MSRP: $35,374 | Best for: the sharpest-handling all-wheel-drive sedan buyer

The Evo VIII was the STI's eternal rival, and the 2005 MR edition sharpened it further with a lighter aluminum roof and refined suspension. Its 2.0-liter 4G63 turbo four made 276 horsepower and 286 lb-ft, hitting 60 mph in about 4.6 seconds with all-wheel drive, Active Yaw Control, and a five-speed (six on later cars) manual.

It was known for surgical turn-in and trick differentials that made it a giant-killer on a back road. Clean MR examples now command $40,000 and up among collectors.

Pros:

• Active Yaw Control for uncanny cornering precision.
• The legendary 4G63 turbo four with huge tuning headroom.
• Track-ready all-wheel-drive grip straight off the lot.
• Strong, climbing collector values for clean cars.

Cons:

• A firm, raucous cabin made daily driving a chore.
• Hard-driven, modified examples are common; survivors are scarce.

Verdict: The scalpel of 2005's rally sedans and a blue-chip collectible now.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 2005 Sports Car (Then and as a Used/Classic Buy Now)

These cars are 20 years old now, so condition and history matter more than the badge.

• RX-8 rotary apex seals: check compression, watch for hard cold starts and flooding, and confirm the engine has not been run low on oil. A weak rotary is the single biggest RX-8 risk.
• S2000 valvetrain and revs: verify clean valve adjustment history and that the F22C still pulls hard to its 8,200-rpm redline without rattles.
• Maintenance history above all: demand documented service for the M3's rod bearings and VANOS, the STI and Evo turbos and ringlands, and the 911's IMS bearing.
• Originality and modifications: STIs, Evos, and 350Zs were heavily modified; unmolested, stock survivors command real premiums.
• What matters less than nostalgia implies: raw 0-60 bragging numbers mattered far less to long-term enjoyment than steering feel, chassis balance, and a healthy, well-documented drivetrain. A sorted slower car beats a tired fast one every time.

FAQ

What was the best sports car of 2005? The Chevrolet Corvette C6 was the best overall, pairing 400 horsepower and sub-4.5-second acceleration with real daily usability at a 2005 MSRP of $44,245.

Which 2005 sports car was the best value? The Mazda RX-8, at a 2005 MSRP of $26,435, delivered exotic rotary engineering, near-perfect balance, and four usable seats for the price of an ordinary coupe.

What major sports cars debuted in 2005? The C6 Corvette, the retro S197 Ford Mustang, and the new 997-generation Porsche 911 all arrived for 2005, and the Lotus Elise finally launched in the United States.

Which 2005 sports car is the best modern-classic investment now? The Honda S2000, E46 BMW M3, Lotus Elise, and the STI and Evo rally sedans have all appreciated strongly; clean, unmodified examples are the ones to chase.

Was the WRX STI or the Lancer Evo better in 2005? Both were superb. The STI offered slightly more torque and an adjustable center differential, while the Evo VIII MR turned in more sharply thanks to Active Yaw Control — the choice came down to traction-first versus precision-first.

Are 2005 sports cars reliable to own today? Several are, especially the Honda S2000 and Corvette C6, but every one rewards documented maintenance; the RX-8 rotary and the turbocharged rally sedans demand the most careful inspection.

Bottom Line

2005 was one of the deepest sports-car model years in memory, spanning featherweight track toys, retro muscle, rally rockets, and a genuine everyday exotic. The Corvette C6 stood above the field as the Best Overall, delivering 400 horsepower and supercar pace at a mainstream price, while the Mazda RX-8 earned Best Value by packaging rotary cleverness and four-seat practicality for coupe money.

Two decades on, the smart buy is the cleanest, best-documented example you can find — because in this class, condition and history now matter more than horsepower ever did.

Sources

• Cars.com — 2005 Chevrolet Corvette specs and prices
• Topspeed — 2005 Porsche 911 Carrera S (997)
• Wikipedia — Porsche 911 (997)
• Honda News — 2005 Honda S2000 specifications
• Hagerty — 2005 BMW M3 valuation
• DrivingLine — The Classic S197 Mustang GT
• Wikipedia — Mazda RX-8
• Wikipedia — Nissan 350Z
• Automobile Catalog — 2005 Lotus Elise specifications
• Cars101 — 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX and STi spec page
• HotCars — Buying a 2003-2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII

*Sports car review — 2005 sports car reviews, rating, best sports car 2005, and a retrospective review of the top modern-classic sports car picks for buyers.*