>Chances are, somebody, somewhere, sometime this year, was cruising down the boulevard in their 2003 Pontiac Vibe when "Unwell" by Matchbox Twenty came on the classic rock radio station, and it triggered an existential panic attack. The sudden realization that such an awful song is 20 years old and such an awful car is now considered a classic is enough to make anyone feel old.

Classic rock is supposed to be jams like Led Zeppelin and classic cars are '53 Chevy Corvette C1s, but the actual definition for a classic automobile is anything that is 20 years or older. Speaking of making folks feel old, according to American Collectors any car that was manufactured 45 years ago is considered to be antique, so a 1978 Dodge Aspen is a precious heirloom. Weirdly enough, cars made prior to 1930 are called "vintage," which doesn't sound nearly as old as an antique.

This being 2023, that means cars made in 2003 are now considered classics. California actually requires a car to be 25 years old to be a classic, but 20 years is a general classification. Two decades doesn't seem like that long ago and the early 2000s don't immediately conjure up thoughts of iconic classic cars, but rules are rules. With that, here are 10 surprising newly-crowned classic cars, ranked from goofiest to coolest.

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10 2003 Dodge Intrepid SXT

Collector Value: $2,243

Honestly, the Dodge Intrepid actually wasn't that bad of a car, and it's hard to believe it has the least amount of collector value on this list. The cab-forward design was pretty slick and if they had thrown some decent wheels on it and maybe some cool graphics, it would have been pretty badass. It also came with some respectable performance options that kept it from being super-lame.

Power, Performance, and Price

The 2003 Intrepid SXT came with a 250-horsepower V-6 engine and was a favorite of highway patrols. It was probably slept on because it was wedged between two historic eras. It was made in the old AMC plant that cranked out killer muscle cars and was replaced in 2005 by the rebooted Dodge Charger. Basically, the Intrepid was the Jan Brady of performance sedans, and the middle child always gets ignored.

9 2003 Saturn Ion

Collector Value: $2,823

Saturn was a GM imprint that was supposed to compete with Japanese imports but was really known for making some of the worst subcompacts ever. The Saturn Ion certainly fell into that category. Noted for its unappealing design, poor handling, and awful quality, it was also a death trap. With a whopping 12 recalls, including a faulty ignition switch that caused the deaths of 13 people, it was a killer ride in the worst possible way.

Power, Performance, and Price

Edmunds listed the 2003 Ion as #6 on their 50 Worst Cars of All Time list, nine spots above the exploding 1971 Ford Pinto. They commented that it was, "Shockingly incompetent to drive and with an interior to match. Kick it and your foot might get stuck in the gaps between the plastic body panels." Collector value is low on this one except for the small masochist market.

8 2003 Mercury Sable LS

Collector Value: $2,973

A 2003 Mercury Sable is pretty much a Fourth-gen Taurus, but was somehow marketed as an up-scale version. The cheap plastic interior and shoddy craftsmanship called into question its status as a luxury automobile, but apparently, it was slightly nicer than its Ford cousin. It shared the same mechanical components as the Taurus, but had a unique body style that was no less uninspired and forgettable.

Power, Performance, and Price

The 2003 Sable LS did have a decent V-6 engine that generated 200 horsepower, but Consumer Reports said it, "isn't as smooth or responsive as comparable powerplants from Honda, Nissan, or Toyota." Also, the 2003 model was recalled several times for major issues like faulty brakes and spontaneous engine fires. Again, how are people willing to pay more for a used one of these than a Dodge Intrepid?

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7 2003 Jaguar X-Type Sportswagon

Collector Value: $3,051

Launched in 2001, the Jagaur X-Type is widely regarded as one of the worst cars ever made. It was essentially a down-scale Jag, which is something nobody ever asked for, but it was also quite expensive. It was based on the Ford Mondeo, a car so lame that the Blue Oval never even tried selling it in the United States.

Power, Performance, and Price

Car and Driver named The Jaguar X-Type one of the 20 Biggest Automotive Flops of the Past 30 Years. The auto mag pulled no punches in their assessment, saying, "It was obnoxiously underbuilt, remarkably overpriced, and about as charming as a hernia." Despite being a complete flop, Jaguar kept making these cars for almost a decade, including the 2003 Sportswagon which had the added indignation of being a station wagon.

6 2003 Toyota Matrix XRS Sport Wagon

Collector Value: $4,179

The popular sci-fi Matrix franchise was in full force in 2003, with both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions being released that year. Also in 2003, Toyota came out with their Matrix compact hatchback, which would have been like if there had been a 1980 Datsun Star Wars subcompact. Actually, there really should be a Datsun Star Wars, like maybe a 280ZX with twin ion engines or laser cannons.

Power, Performance, and Price

The Matrix was a joint venture between Toyota and GM that also resulted in the aforementioned Pontiac Vibe. Whatever it was called, it had absolutely nothing to do with action-packed Matrix films, as its styling walked a fine line between dorky and boring. The 2003 Matrix XRS Sport Wagon was billed as being zippy, but it was underpowered and definitely not fast enough to dodge bullets.

5 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata SE

Collector Value: $8,404

When you think about two-seat convertible sports cars, Alfa Romeo, Triumph, and Fiat probably come to mind, but the Mazda MX-5 has outsold them all by a wide margin. Introduced in 1989, the MX-5 was marketed as the Miata in the United States and was an immediate success. At the time, tiny sports cars weren't in style, but Americans bought them up in droves.

Power, Performance, and Price

The lightweight import had a perfect 50/50 front/rear balance, making them a dream to drive and is the reason why amateur racers embraced it. The MX-5 got a facelift in the second-gen as well as more powerful engines, making these cars even faster and sportier. In 2002, the top trim for the Miata was SE, which didn't come with any extra power or performance but did include a backpack and a couple of baseball hats.

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4 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Coupe

Collector Value: $9,642

The 2003 Nissan 350Z not only counts as a classic in the technical definition, but in the spirit of the term. Introduced in 2002 for the 2003 model year, this legendary two-seat sports car became a favorite of street racers and drifters alike. It hit superstardom by gracing the movie poster for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and was the main ride for film antagonist Takasi (DK). Actually, it was a Fairlady Z, but it's the same car.

Power, Performance, and Price

When the 350Z hit the scene it was a serious sports car that didn't stretch the budget too much. It was Porsche power for Miata money, and that resonated with enthusiasts. It was also helpful in that it had nearly perfect steering, braking, and acceleration. MotorTrend loved it after an initial test drive and said, "It's quick when you want it to be, yet smooth as silk on occasions that require discretion."

3 2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra

Collector Value: $19,066

The fourth-generation Mustangs are tied with the second-gen for everyone's least favorite, but unlike the Pinto-esque Mustang IIs, the Fox Body successors came with some serious ponies under the hood. The most juice you could get in a '74 'Stang was a detuned 171cu-in V-6, but a 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra had a piston-pumpin' supercharged 4.6-liter V-8, that made it one of the fastest muscle cars of the decade.

Power, Performance, and Price

It was nicknamed the "Terminator" Mustang and there are a lot of different stories as to why, but basically, it was designed to kick the Chevrolet Camaro's ass, which it did, sort of. Chevy Discontinued the Camaro a year before in 2002, so maybe it was pure coincidence, or perhaps the SVT Cobra actually did terminate it, or at least scare it into hiding for a few years.

2 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Collector Value: $22,402

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car people think about when the term "classic" is thrown out, but there was a whole lot of really blah 'Vettes made since its introduction in 1953. The underpowered C3s of the late 1970s and pretty much the entire C4 generation come to mind as uninspired examples. The C5 was from a transitional period, between the design malaise of the C3 and the radical supercar styling of the more recent gens.

Power, Performance, and Price

It's also a fairly underrated era because the 2003 Corvette Z06 was a hell of a sports car. As a replacement for the Z1, the Z06 was a tribute to the performance of Sting Rays of the early '60s. It did quite a good job honoring that heritage with a powerful 405 horsepower engine as well as superior suspension and handling. Those who are good with math and dates may notice that 2003 is 50 years after 1953, so this half-century anniversary car has some potential collector value.

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1 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10

Collector Value: $60,063

A Dodge Viper from any generation or year is a classic for the simple fact that it's the most awesome American sports car ever built. With the 20-year rule in place, however, the 2003 Viper SRT-10 just officially became a classic and the ones to follow will have to wait. 2003 is the first year of the third generation, and it's when Dodge bumped the legendary V-10 up to 8.3 liters, so this one's a keeper.

Power, Performance, and Price

The average used price is less than the original MSRP, but not by much, and the truth is that a pristine example will fetch top dollar. Unlike a lot of "classic" cars on this list, the 2003 Viper will only increase in value in the coming years. It's highly unlikely that there will ever be a 100-point Saturn Ion at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but Vipers will always be fender-to-fender with the top exotics and vintage cars at the best shows for eternity.