The 1990s offered so many performance cars that many of them have been forgotten. This is a celebration of the cars that may have slipped most people's minds or that don't get their fair share of the limelight—according to many Road & Track readers, anyway..
Ford
Alfa Romeo GTV
Sure, it might have been front-wheel drive, but there's still a lot to love about Alfa's mid-'90s GTV coupe. It looks like a creature from space and, thanks to a lovely V-6 engine, makes a wonderful sound. Best of all, they'll be eligible for import into the U.S. starting next year.
Alfa Romeo
BMW M3 Lightweight
Okay. Everyone knows the E36 M3, but did you know BMW made a super-limited lightweight version? BMW churned out 125 creatively named M3 Lightweights, which featured more aggressive suspension, a stripped-out interior, a big rear wing, and Motorsport graphics. If you can find one, expect to pay a hefty premium, though.
Wikimedia Commons + Mr.chopper
Chevrolet Impala SS
It's easy to forget the high-spec Impala SS considering its stately looks and cop-car derivation. But when a clean one pops up for sale, it's hard not to imagine yourself cruising down the freeway in big-body style.
Chevrolet
Dodge Neon R/T
While it's rare to see a Neon on the road today, there was a time when entire grids of these cars dominated the SCCA. At one time, Dodge offered the Neon ACR, which came with upgraded suspension components in the trunk to be installed later. The Neon R/T is a more street-friendly version of the ACR.
Dodge
Dodge Stealth
The Stealth is basically just a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT, although it doesn't get nearly as much love. It looks just as strange, and has a neat wing mounted at the base of the rear window. This turbocharged R/T model can be yours.
Dodge
Ford Taurus SHO
At one point, the Taurus was the best-selling car in the U.S. The SHO, then, was the best of the best. Though fairly tame on the outside, a Yamaha-built V-6 capable of revving to 7000 rpm lurks under the hood. It's connected to a Mazda five-speed manual transmission sending power to the front wheels. This white one is for sale right now.
Ford
Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
Some people consider the 5.9-liter Grand Cherokee the original high-performance SUV. The Magnum V-8 pushed out 245 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque, which were impressive numbers in the '90s. It could get to 60 mph in just 6.8 seconds, making it the quickest SUV you could buy when new. This one is for sale right now for under $9000.
Jeep
Lexus SC
The Lexus SC300 was basically a more luxurious Supra, equipped with a naturally aspirated version of the 2JZ straight-six. The V-8 version had the same drivetrain as the ultra-reliable LS400. Here's one in good condition is up for bidding now.
Lexus
Lotus Elan (M100)
People love the original Elan but don't often bring up the front-wheel-drive version from the 1990s. Although it didn't exactly live up to the legend, it was still fantastic to drive. Here's one you can own for just under $10,000.
Lotus Cars
Mercedes-Benz 500E
The ridiculous AMG Hammer is the W124-chassis muscle car everyone remembers, but the 500E is a masterpiece too. Mercedes turned to Porsche to fit the 5.0 liter V-8 from the 500SL roadster and an upgraded suspension to the relatively staid E-class. Subtle, but it could give an M5 from the era a run for its money.
Dick Kelley/Car and Driver
Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is so closely tied to the Fast & Furious movies, folks seem to forget it's a legitimate performance car even in stock form. Especially the rare, all-wheel-drive GSX version, which came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 210 horsepower.
Dick Kelley - Car and Driver
Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
The R32 Skyline GT-R wasn't the only homologation special Nissan built in the '90s. There was also the Pulsar GTI-R, an AWD turbocharged hatchback built so the company could run in the World Rally Championship. The GTI-R was never sold in America, but luckily, it's now old enough to import. This one is already in America, and you can own it.
Nissan
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Nissan's Sentra SE-R was a critically acclaimed performance bargain in its day, but no one seems to remember it now. At only 2500 pounds, it's light, and its 140-hp inline-four revs all the way to 7500 rpm.
Nissan
Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad 442
Despite its muscle-car-inspired name, the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad 442 is the opposite of the 1960s convention. It is, however, a legitimate front-wheel-drive sport compact. With a 180-hp inline-four, the Cutlass Calais Quad 442 was an SCCA favorite.
Oldsmobile
Panoz Roadster
Panoz as a company is pretty obscure on its own, so you could imagine how little love its relatively unknown Roadster gets. It looks like a mix between a Caterham and a muscle car, powered by a 5.0-liter Ford V-8. As you can imagine, it's quick.
Brian Silvestro
Porsche 968 Club Sport
Porsche's short-lived 968 dwells in the shadow of its predecessor, the 944, and its successor, the Boxster. The 968 Club Sport was arguably the best nonturbo iteration of the 924/944/968 line, but everyone forgets it exists. It might be one of the best front-engined cars Porsche ever built.
Porsche
Subaru SVX
Okay, the SVX isn't exactly a "performance" car, but we still think it belongs on this list. Despite the wild Giorgetto Giugiaro design, it's not exactly the most popular '90s JDM car out there. But make no mistake, it's a seriously cool piece of machinery.
Subaru
Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo
Want an early-90s car with legitimate rally credentials that isn't a Subaru or a Mitsubishi? Find one of these, a Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo, also known as the Celica GT-Four. As the name suggests, this Celica came with all-wheel drive and a turbo four that made around 220 horsepower stock.
Toyota
Volvo 850 R
The 850R was the first time Volvo really let its hair down and partied. It made a very respectable 240 horsepower from its turbocharged five-cylinder, but looked subtle enough to blend into the background. Its spirit lives on today in the lovely V60 Polestar.
Volvo Source: Car and Driver Category: automotivefeatures
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