The term 'modern classic' may well be an oxymoron. And to the uninitiated, even the best modern classic car could be mistaken for just another piece of street furniture.
But if the expression is good enough for Penguin Publishing, frankly it’s good enough for us.
In years gone by, the word 'classic' conjured images of old boys in MGBs, en route to the Dog and Duck’s annual autojumble. Modern car mags and websites stuck well clear of the word.
At the same time, classic car publications were keen to not alienate their audiences with cars whose readers might think were better suited to a McDonald’s car park.
But today electric cars, clean air zones and speed cameras are battering enthusiasts at either end of the car Venn diagram into the eventual intersection: the modern classic.
What are modern classic cars?
Like with the aforementioned book series, modern classic cars are game-changing in their own right, and the specifics about age are purposefully vague.
Ed Callow from online auction platform Collecting Cars told us: “I think at their core, modern classics are the ‘democratised’ part of the collector car market. It’s not easy to pinpoint specific start and end years for the modern classic era, but what we tend to mean is vehicles produced in the 1980s, 1990s, and very early 2000s – from the modern period of car design and construction."
For the purpose of this list, we've kept it to cars from after 2000.
MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2003-2010, £2500-£10,000
Since we’re talking oxymorons, here’s a four-door coupé. The sleek body of this E-Class-based tourer was unlike anything else on the road at the time, yet it held true to the values of prestige and quality that defined its Mercedes range-mates.
All versions have rear-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Air suspension was an option and standard equipment included part-leather trim, electrically powered front seats, climate control, adaptive cruise control and parking sensors.
MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2003-2010, £2500-£10,000
Today, like many other ageing luxobarges, Mk1 CLSs are cheap, and that means you have to look out for a few potential pitfalls. The main issues are the balancer shafts on early petrols (one dedicated owner told us they would steer clear of early models entirely), gearbox speed sensors and the inlet port shut-off motors on diesels.
PORSCHE CAYMAN 2005-2012, £7500-£30,000
The 987-generation Cayman is on many an enthusiast’s wish list – and for good reason. Here’s a modern flat-six Porsche coupé that has its engine in a sensible place, meaning you can take liberties that you just can’t in a 911 of the same vintage.
The precise six-speed manual brings all the delights of an analogue driving experience, especially when teamed with well-weighted pedals. Sure, the PDK auto lets you tap the full potential of the car’s performance with lightning-fast shifts, but you also have to deal with the tricky little shift buttons on the steering wheel.
