90s Coupes That Are Cheap, Fun, and Totally Forgotten

The 1990s gave us some of the most exciting and quirky coupes ever made. These cars were fun to drive, packed personality, and are now mostly forgotten yet they remain incredibly affordable today. For enthusiasts looking for a nostalgic thrill without breaking the bank, these 90s coupes offer a perfect blend of style, performance, and character. It’s time to rediscover these hidden gems.

Mercury Capri

Okay, this one is so weird. It was a front-wheel drive convertible, which is already a weird start. It was supposed to be this fun, cheap roadster, kind of like a Miata competitor, but it was… not that. The turbo version had a little pep, but it was mostly just plasticky and strange. But you know what? It has a cult following now. It’s just so unabashedly ‘90s. You can probably find a running one for, I dunno, $3,000? Maybe less? It’s a weirdo history lesson on wheels.

Geo Storm

Hah, the Geo Storm! This was basically a rebadged Isuzu Impulse. It looked kinda cool, like a little wedge, and it had a twin-cam engine in the GSi model that was actually pretty rev-happy. But it was a Geo. It was sold at Chevrolet dealers next to the Metro and the Tracker. Nobody took it seriously. But it was light and kinda fun to chuck around. I bet you could find one for two grand if you’re patient. It’s the definition of a forgotten footnote.

Ford Probe GT

This is the car that almost replaced the Mustang. Can you imagine? A front-wheel drive Mustang? People lost their minds. So the Probe ended up being its own thing. The GT had a turbocharged V6, and it was actually pretty quick for its time. The pop-up headlights are pure ‘90s. But because it’s not a Mustang, it’s just… forgotten. You can scoop up a decent one for maybe $4,000. It’s a seriously cool piece of “what if” history.

Eagle Talon TSi

This one’s a bit of a cheat because the DSM guys—that’s Diamond Star Motors, the Mitsubishi and Chrysler partnership—they know about it. But in the mainstream? Totally forgotten. It’s a twin to the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Plymouth Laser. The all-wheel-drive TSi Turbo was an absolute monster, a rally car for the street. But they’re all either wrecked, rusted, or modded to death by now. If you find a clean one, it might be $6,000 or so, but good luck. They’re legendary, but only to a select few.

Saturn SC2

Oh man, Saturn. The plastic-bodied, “different kind of company” car. The SC2 coupe was actually… kinda neat? The doors and fenders were plastic so they wouldn’t dent, which is brilliant. The dual-cam engine was buzzy and loved to rev, and it handled surprisingly well. It was just so… honest. No pretensions. But they’ve all pretty much dissolved into dust. You might find one for $2,000, a weird, smiling, plastic time capsule.

Hyundai Tiburon

Before Hyundai was cool, they made the Tiburon. It means “shark” in Spanish, which is… ambitious for a front-wheel drive coupe. The first generation, with the weird bug-eye headlights, is so ‘90s it hurts. It wasn’t fast, but it was cheap and kinda stylish in a weird way. It’s the car you bought when you couldn’t afford a Celica. Now? You can probably get one for, like, $2,500. It’s a reminder of how far Hyundai has come.

Isuzu Impulse RS

Okay, this one is a deep cut. The Impulse, and specifically the RS version. It was designed by Giugiaro, so it looks awesome, all sharp angles. And the RS had a handling package tuned by Lotus. Yeah, Lotus. So it actually handled incredibly well. But it was an Isuzu, a company nobody associated with sporty cars. They’re incredibly rare now. If you ever see one for sale, it might be $5,000, and you should probably buy it just for the story.

Mitsubishi Mirage Coupe

Not the Lancer, not the Eclipse. The plain old Mirage Coupe. It was just a simple, light, economical coupe. But then they made a version with the 1.8L from the Eclipse, and it was a little rocket. It’s the ultimate sleeper. Nobody looks at a ‘90s Mirage and thinks “performance car,” but that one specific model could surprise you. Good luck finding one that isn’t completely clapped out, but if you do, it’s maybe a $3,000 car.

Plymouth Neon Coupe

Everyone remembers the Neon as a dorky sedan. But they made a coupe! And the ACR model—the Auto Club Racer package—was a stripped-out, suspension-tuned monster for SCCA racing. It was an absolute giant-killer on a racetrack. But it’s just a Neon, so nobody cared. They’ve all been raced into the ground, but if you find a survivor, it’s a $4,000 track-day legend in disguise.

Suzuki Esteem Coupe

The name says it all, right? “Esteem.” They wanted you to have some. It was just a basic, reliable, incredibly anonymous coupe. There is nothing exciting about it at all, which is kind of what makes it fascinating now. It’s a perfect snapshot of basic ‘90s transportation. You could probably buy one for fifteen hundred bucks from someone’s grandma. It’s the opposite of a collector car, and that’s its charm.