    2000 Dodge Viper GTS. Click image to enlarge |
Article by Justin Pritchard
I spent a whackload of time on autoTRADER.ca last year ahead of purchasing my childhood dream machine – a Dodge Viper GTS.
I’m a child of the eighties. So, I love cars from the late eighties and (mostly) the early to mid-nineties. And the Viper was always my favourite. It was big and noisy and primitive and curvy and I always loved its big lazy vee-ten to death.
There was no other car I’d have chosen in the whole entire universe if I ever got lucky enough to own a car from my childhood poster collection.
Probably. Maybe.
“But you could get a much newer BMW M3 for that money!” my dad cautioned.
“NO!”
No, I’d have the Viper. That’s my car. No regrets. Other than the gas bill.
Anyhoo. In last year’s search for my dream snake, I did partake in a little creeping on some other models I loved as a younger car nerd. Other lustworthy rides I had posters of on my wall. Mind you, the Viper was the big poster– mac-tacked to the prime real-estate on the drywall next to my bed.
I had other posters though.
Smaller ones. Ones that were less predominantly displayed. Posters of cars I’d still hold as a close runner-up alternative, if I could ever get myself more than one childhood dream toy.
It’s delightful when dream machinery that made your teenaged self salivate winds up in real-life used car territory and becomes considerably more attainable. Discovering that your favorite out-of-reach childhood dream cars can now be had for Honda Civic money is like discovering that super-hot girl from grade 8 gym class became obese and grew a moustache. Maybe you’ve got a chance at that childhood dream after all.
Of course, cars don’t get fat and grow moustaches. They just become more affordable. Here’s a look at what was on my posters, and where these rides sit in the realm of relative attainability today.
1990’s Dodge Viper GTS: This machine has an 8-litre V10, 450 horsepower and no B.S.. Plus, it’s mean as all heck and could hand many a Ferrari from its era their own derriere on a plate. Many Vipers in the used market have upgraded intakes, exhausts and wheels, too. Pricing seems to range from $35,000 to $45,000 for a half-decent unit that hasn’t been assaulted with chrome adhesive add-ons or beaten into submission by former abuse. I’m sure you could get a motivated seller down by a few grand with cold hard cash too. After all, they’ll be broke from the gas bills.
Here’s one example with the yucky butterscotch interior for under $34,000. You could spend more on an Accord Coupe.
2001 Jaguar XKR: This sheetmetal British pussycat packs a supercharged V8 engine with the better part of 400 horsepower driving the rear wheels. Further, it’s comfortable, usable, and classier than Pierce Brosnan in a tux. You can even get a convertible, for those topless weekends away with the missus.
Many XKR owners say their machines are like rolling pieces of art—when they’re not sipping cognac and stroking their magnificent moustaches while enjoying the finer things in life. You could probably pick one of these babies up for about $20,000, and it still looks like a million and a half bucks.
Here’s one for the same money as a Kia Rio.
  Jaguar XKR-R & 1990 Porsche 911 Turbo. Click image to enlarge |
1980’s Porsche 911: Dirty old Porsches are unique, charming and have air-cooled flat-sixes that run hot enough to melt rocks on the intake manifold. Go for the 911 Turbo for a boosted flat-six that lagged worse than a Commodore 64 playing Doom 3D. Just don’t lift the throttle mid-corner if you’re into it hard—or you’ll probably wind up backwards and upside down in the ditch on the other side of the road. It all added to the charm.
Now, you can pick one up for about $20,000, depending on the model and mileage. When you do, you’ll be rolling like a boss in one of the most envied, instantly-recognizable sports cars in history.
  Acura NSX-T & Acura NSX-R. Click image to enlarge |
Acura NSX: This one was far from the fastest or most powerful supercar on the block—but the NSX was cool, primarily, for the following reasons: it was gorgeous as all living heck, had a beasty little VTEC V6 bolted to the middle, and looked like a Ferrari. And handled like a fighter jet. And earned a reputation as one of the world’s most Beautiful-to-Drive sports cars.
Ferraris from this era are all finicky, and still priced like real estate. But you can get an NSX for about $30,000 if you find a motivated seller or a unit that’s in need of a little lovin. The local Civic Hatch tuner crowd will be envious of your VTEC, too. Plus, it’s an Acura, so it’ll probably break very infrequently.
Here’s an example priced in Hyundai Genesis Coupe territory. Does anyone have a moist towelette?
  2001 BMW M5 & 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Click image to enlarge |
BMW M5: The M5 exists because BMW knows that sometimes, accidental creation of offspring gets in the way of owning that sexy two-seat dream car. This generation of the high-test Bavarian posh-rocket packed arguably its best looks ever, and existed before things got super-complicated with the electronics. You get four doors, room for the kiddies, and a five litre, 400 horsepower V8. Best of all, it’s got three pedals and drives the rear wheels. Fans say it’s the best sports sedan on the planet. Most owners agree.
Here are 3 examples of the poster-child of four-door performance available for less than a new Fiesta with a few options.
Corvette ZR1: If you haven’t cut the back portion of your hair since hanging the poster on your wall back in the nineties, you might be interested in the rare and coveted Corvette ZR1. Look for an all-aluminum four-cam V8 with no less than 375 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, and all that American-styled Corvette goodness. And, remember how badass the interiors were on these things with the digital-dash and seats right out of a sci-fi movie shuttle-pod?
Once one of the ultimate American drool machines, its fiberglass majesty can now be seen on the used market for under $20,000.
