Most exciting cars from around 2000

[shp4man]

I don't have time right now, but I heard a good story from a Ford insider about the development of the 4.6L Ford V8. It has to do with the downturn in the big defense industry after the Berlin Wall got taken down. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

The 4.6 just never feels like it has all of the power that it could. I'd rather have pooprods.

[Payman]

I friggin love these, and missed out on a sweet deal on one because I hesitated. How badass would you look driving this through downtown Oslo? 

https://www.oldcaronline.com/1971-Buick-Riviera-Cadillac-Michigan-for-sale-ID882410.htm

[Payman]

Oh. My. God. 

https://www.oldcaronline.com/1997-Ford-Thunderbird-Lutz-Florida-for-sale-ID841067.htm

[BimmerM3]

Oh. My. God. 

https://www.oldcaronline.com/1997-Ford-Thunderbird-Lutz-Florida-for-sale-ID841067.htm

[FoMoJo]

Oh. My. God. 

https://www.oldcaronline.com/1997-Ford-Thunderbird-Lutz-Florida-for-sale-ID841067.htm

NO, just NO!

[Submariner]

Nonsense .  Thousands of town cars still serve as airport taxis all over North America.  They just keep running.

I honestly haven't seen a single Town Car at JFK or Newark the last three or four times I've been.  It's all Camry's, Accords's, Altima's, Pathfinders, Continentals and XTS's.

[Submariner]

"This is a terrific way to get some attention"

In the same way being put on a sex offender registry does.

[FoMoJo]

I honestly haven't seen a single Town Car at JFK or Newark the last three or four times I've been.  It's all Camry's, Accords's, Altima's, Pathfinders, Continentals and XTS's.

Still thick as giant flies up here.

As for taxis, etc., I know they've been pretty well replaced by the likes of Camry's, et al and we don't ride in taxis often, other than taking the local Town Car Limo to the airport on occasion, but the last time we were in Manhattan, a few years ago for a few days, we did travel around town quite a bit in taxis.  One of the first was a Crown Vic, extended I think.  It was late at night in the rain.  We got into the big back seat and sunk down in the cushions.  Very comfortable, easy in and out and floated like a cloud over the bumps and potholes.  Another time, it was a Camry.  Cracked my head, almost my neck, trying to slide into the back seat.  Felt every single bump and pothole on the way to our hotel.  Another time, it was some sort of goofy looking Nissan van.  Easy enough to get into and out of, but it was riding inside a drum.  Thank goodness we got a Town Car to take us to the airport.

[68_427]

That's as american as I could think of

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

That's as american as I could think of

Yup! F Bodies, C5 (who cares  about some squeaks in a 20 year old Muscle/Pony car) and the Impala are the only ones I'll think he'll be happy with! Damn for sure he won't like any of the Panther cars mentioned! 

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Marauder first model year was 2003 so it doesn't fit.  Still it's a better choice than the SS boat.

Funny you should use the term "Boat" when The last BOAT of that era was using the same Panther Platform as your tarted up police cruiser....

[68_427]

Yup! F Bodies, C5 (who cares  about some squeaks in a 20 year old Muscle/Pony car) and the Impala are the only ones I'll think he'll be happy with! Damn for sure he won't like any of the Panther cars mentioned! 

Pace cars even more so!  Honestly my Corvette doesn't have any rattles that I wouldn't expect any 20 year old car to have, and later F bodies were tightened up too

[CaminoRacer]

4th gen Trans Ams were one of my favorite cars when I was a kid. Those nostrils.

Maybe I should get one soon. Either that or a GTO if I want something a bit nicer.

[68_427]

4th gen Trans Ams were one of my favorite cars when I was a kid. Those nostrils.

Maybe I should get one soon. Either that or a GTO if I want something a bit nicer.

WS6 prices have gone up in the last couple of years.  I remember them being under $10k and now they're around $15k for a clean example, and Firehawks are $20k+

[Payman]

40 years later, I still want a Bandit Trans Am.

[CaminoRacer]

WS6 prices have gone up in the last couple of years.  I remember them being under $10k and now they're around $15k for a clean example, and Firehawks are $20k+

Wow. That's easy GTO money.

[MX793]

I think a well sorted C5 is your best bet.  The Lincoln LS is just a re-bodied Jag that isn't as good as a comparable 5er. 

I seem to recall the LS being compared favorably to the E39, particularly in driving dynamics.  Interior and refinement wasn't quite up to the BMW's standards, but it was considered the better driving car.  And it was a heck of a lot cheaper.  IIRC, you could get the V8 Lincoln for what a 528i cost.

[Payman]

You can even get a convertible model...

[Eye of the Tiger]

If you must have a Ford V8, consider having it in a Panoz Esperante, or the earlier Roadster.

[MX793]

Then don't get t-tops . It will squeak and rattle, but not like a C5.

As has been the case since 1967, the Camaro is always the better (and IMO more desirable) used car vs. the Corvette - body integrity, build quality, modibility, utility, durability (esp. rear transaxle C5+).

The C5 "transaxle" which is just a 4L60 auto or Tremec T56 (same trannies as the F bodies) bolted directly to the differential rather than having a length of driveshaft between?  Why exactly would that be inherently more problematic than when there is several feet of extra shaft between them?  For that matter, can you point me to some stories of transaxle issues that plagued the C5?  I can't seem to find any other than the onesy-twosy issues that you can find for pretty much any car.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Pace cars even more so!  Honestly my Corvette doesn't have any rattles that I wouldn't expect any 20 year old car to have, and later F bodies were tightened up too

My '99 Vert was solid as a rock! No rattles or leaks!

[Raza]

I've made a lot of money working on Lincoln LS's. Just sayin'.

The 84 Tbird was a fairly decent car with the 5.0 V8. Had one.

Anecdotal, but my friend spent a lot of money keeping his Lincoln LS on the road too.  Seemed like pieces of junk. 

[Raza]

Those F-bodies are also absolutely hideous.  Yuck. 

Does the reborn GTO make the cut or is that too new?  That might be a fun car to tinker with.

2004 was the LS1 model, 2005 the LS2.  Extra 50 horsepower, a little more extroverted styling, louder exhaust, and, as I recall, the change to the exhaust split it up so it looked like a dual exhaust (the LS1 model had a true dual, but they exited on the same side) and was rerouted to allow for a bigger trunk.

I totally dig the LS2 GTO (and the LS1 wasn't bad either), but he could just get a Monaro which would be easier to get over there.  And in Europe, they sold a Monaro VXR500, which supercharged the engine for 500 horsepower.  If you feel like going completely insane.

[FoMoJo]

Funny you should use the term "Boat" when The last BOAT of that era was using the same Panther Platform as your tarted up police cruiser....

Face it man, they were all boats.  How else could you cruise in them?

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Anecdotal, but my friend spent a lot of money keeping his Lincoln LS on the road too.  Seemed like pieces of junk. 

My mom had two (one V6 and a V8) and din't have any issues! We had a T Bird (same car) also that was trouble free......

[MX793]

My mom had two (one V6 and a V8) and din't have any issues! We had a T Bird (same car) also that was trouble free......

My grandparents had a V6 for like 10 years and I don't recall any issues.  And my grandfather is kind of hard on his vehicles (he once took his LS off road chasing some kids on ATVs off his property...).

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

My grandparents had a V6 for like 10 years and I don't recall any issues.  And my grandfather is kind of hard on his vehicles (he once took his LS off road chasing some kids on ATVs off his property...).

[giant_mtb]

Always loved the Lincoln LS.  Crisp lines, excellent proportions, RWD.  Pretty rare to see around here, especially in good condition. 

[Raza]

My mom had two (one V6 and a V8) and din't have any issues! We had a T Bird (same car) also that was trouble free......

My grandparents had a V6 for like 10 years and I don't recall any issues.  And my grandfather is kind of hard on his vehicles (he once took his LS off road chasing some kids on ATVs off his property...).

Well, I said it was anecdotal.