Which 5k early 90s "classic"?

[white_goodman]

I have been pondering on a replacement for my 2009 MINI Cooper recently and have mainly been focusing on new/nearly new hot hatches. However, big depreciation does put me off a little and although modern hot hatches are very fast and make great all-round daily drives, I do find the driving experience that modern cars give a little sanitised (I haven't driven all the contenders yet though).

My three favourite cars that I have owned (205 GTi 1.6/E30 325i/Corrado VR6) all hailed from the early 90s. These were all attainable performance cars that I lusted after in my teens, so nostalgia comes into it a bit but these cars all offered a sense of involvement and immediacy that a lot of modern cars lack. Every drive was an adventure but by this time cars were actually pretty reliable and useable too. Instead of blowing 15k+ on a new/nearly new hot hatch then, I am considering buying something fairly modern, cheap, comfortable and practical for daily duties and an early 90s classic to keep in the garage for fun.

So what late 80s/early 90s cars should I consider? I want a hot hatch/coupe/sports car that should offer reasonable reliability, decent parts availability and hold its value if looked after and used sparingly. Budget is 5k or less. All the above were bought for 3k or less 10-15 years ago but I appreciate that the ship may have sailed price-wise on some early 90s "classics" now. The best value performance cars tend to be between 10-15 years old but a 10-15 year old car still feels modern and lacks that "classic" feel that I find so appealing.

Models under consideration are:

Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 (had the 1.6 but never scratched the 1.9 "itch")

VW Golf GTi 8v/16v mk2 (another unscratched "itch" and I would want the 3 door)

Renault 5 GTT

I'm not averse to a fast Ford (Fiesta/Escort RS Turbo for instance but they're silly money now)

I never owned an early 90s Japanese car. I don't want a mk1 MX5 but a Honda CRX or mk1 Toyota MR2 certainly appeal (prefer the mk1 to the mk2 but people seem to rate the mk2 Turbos on here).

"Classic" Saab 900 Turbo 2/3 door?

So, for a MAXIMUM of 5k, which of the above potentially offers the best option in terms of reliability, depreciation and parts availaibility? Are there any other good options that I haven't considered?

[indapendentlee]

106 Rallye S1? Won't go far wrong, you should be able to find a good one for that money and they're a hoot!

[white_goodman]

indapendentlee said:

106 Rallye S1? Won't go far wrong, you should be able to find a good one for that money and they're a hoot!

Thanks. That's a pretty good shout actually. Even the S2 has a certain something about it.

[s m]

Escort RS2000

Shouldn't depreciate much

Plenty around for less than 5k

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...

Edited by s m on Friday 6th April 18:50

[Quavers]

Renault 5 turbo is a hoot but not easy to live with - nor is it cheap to run. Best of luck finding somebody willing to replace a clutch.

[ElectricSoup]

Peugeot 309 GTi

FIAT Tipo 2.0 i.e. 16v

Alfa 145 Cloverleaf

Citroen ZX Volcane

[IanJ9375]

Corrado VR6 I suspect will be a rarity and see it's value increase over time

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[Quavers]

Renault 5 turbo is a hoot but not easy to live with - nor is it cheap to run. Best of luck finding somebody willing to replace a clutch.

[stevekoz]

Food for thought

1. Subaru Impreza - this one needs a few hundred spent on bodywork. Arches are a known weakspot. But once sorted. It's a quick and will be an appreciating car. Especially a limited edition like this one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That said. A standard unmolested UK2000 turbo will likely start to appreciate fairly soon.

2. Nissan 300zx

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Arguably not the most desirable of z cars but its a good drive and the Twin Turbo in standard form is likely to become rarer, howmanyleft.co.uk states about 60 left registered.

3. Peugeot 306 Rallye / gti-6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-PEUGEOT-306-RALLYE...

Recently surfaced on PH itself. This is a classic french hot hatch. First car of its kind with a 6speed and a good hoot to drive.

4. Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Italian. Pininfarina. Turbo. Plenty of specialists about and should start to rise in value in near future.

5. Renault Clio 16v

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Along the same lines as your r5 - GTT but for the 90's era and not 80's. Not as valuables as a williams but therefore easier to purchase and i think it will go up soon for a good low mile one.

[boombap]

stevekoz said:

Food for thought


2. Nissan 300zx

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Arguably not the most desirable of z cars but its a good drive and the Twin Turbo in standard form is likely to become rarer, howmanyleft.co.uk states about 60 left registered.

I was tempted by these, but put off by the fact not many mechanics will know their way around one. Especially if something like the HICAS needs looking at.

But this is probably me being a wimp, as there aren't really any horror stories/reliability issues but you do have to tread with caution nevertheless.

[white_goodman]

Quavers said:

Renault 5 turbo is a hoot but not easy to live with - nor is it cheap to run. Best of luck finding somebody willing to replace a clutch.

Thanks. Yes, I missed out on a mint, white 5GTT on a J-plate as my first car in 2000. It would have been a blast but yes, I understand that they weren't even that reliable when new and I'm sure that running it would have brought me to my knees compared to the "sensible" 1.4 Astra that I bought instead. Despite being a lot safer though, the earlier "modern" cars (which I generally consider to be 1995 or newer) weren't generally that great. A lot of extra weight in the name of safety, numb controls and yet still saddled with previous-generation engines, which now felt rather underpowered. My '95 Astra being a perfect example!

[white_goodman]

stevekoz said:

Food for thought

1. Subaru Impreza - this one needs a few hundred spent on bodywork. Arches are a known weakspot. But once sorted. It's a quick and will be an appreciating car. Especially a limited edition like this one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That said. A standard unmolested UK2000 turbo will likely start to appreciate fairly soon.

2. Nissan 300zx

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Arguably not the most desirable of z cars but its a good drive and the Twin Turbo in standard form is likely to become rarer, howmanyleft.co.uk states about 60 left registered.

3. Peugeot 306 Rallye / gti-6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-PEUGEOT-306-RALLYE...

Recently surfaced on PH itself. This is a classic french hot hatch. First car of its kind with a 6speed and a good hoot to drive.

4. Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Italian. Pininfarina. Turbo. Plenty of specialists about and should start to rise in value in near future.

5. Renault Clio 16v

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Along the same lines as your r5 - GTT but for the 90's era and not 80's. Not as valuables as a williams but therefore easier to purchase and i think it will go up soon for a good low mile one.

Thanks. Some interesting options there. The Nissans are cool but a little big and unwieldy (and automatic). The Fiat is certainly an interesting option. Clio 16v? I haven't seen one of these around for ages! Not as iconic as the 205/Golf/5 GTT. A Williams definitely but I suspect well north of 5k by now...

Subaru is an interesting one. I had a 2004 WRX as my daily for nearly three years and loved it. However, if I went there again, it would have to be a "classic" Impreza. I didn't really picture my "special" car as being a four door AWD saloon but the RB5 is undeniably special and certainly, I wouldn't turn my nose up at a Sapphire Cosworth or Delta Integrale (very special 4 doors but obviously way too expensive)!

[white_goodman]

ElectricSoup said:

Peugeot 309 GTi

FIAT Tipo 2.0 i.e. 16v

Alfa 145 Cloverleaf

Citroen ZX Volcane

All decent suggestions but exceptionally rare and I'm not sure if any of them are quite "special" enough. Maybe the 309 (when I was about 15, an older friend had one of the last ones, a white 3 door and I thought it was awesome) but the interior is awful compared to the 205 and the 205 is still the one that I really want. Wow! I just found a Clio Williams on A/T for 13k! It's lovely but 13k for a 25 year old Clio is just madness!

[Dapster]

A few left field choices to give you food for thought.



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C969838



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C975422



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C963665



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C971349



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C971233



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C977978

[s m]

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C940255

[anonymous-user]

I just sold a 944 I owned for 8 years at a profit, I spent a bit of money and a lot of time improving it, but it was the cheapest car Iv'e ever run overall, and totally reliable, buy a good one to start with.

[white_goodman]

Dapster said:

A few left field choices to give you food for thought.



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C969838



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C975422



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C963665



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C971349



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C971233



https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C977978

Thanks for the suggestions. R129 and XJS are really cool and a lot of car for the money but they're more grand tourers and I'm after more of a B-road weapon. 944 is a possibility but I thought they were worth a bit more than that and for that money, I might prefer a flat 6 Boxster, which I'm not sure is really rare and "classic" enough. Surprisingly, the favourite so far is the classic Scooby. They seem relatively great value right now and surely have to hold their value or even appreciate over the next few years. This one is a little over budget but looks lovely! As much as I love 205 GTis/mk2 Golf GTis/R5 GTTs, at 5 figure asking prices, they're having a laugh. I remember when these cars were all worth peanuts!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[white_goodman]

s m said:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C940255

Thanks, I think I'll pass...;)

[s m]

white_goodman said:

s m said:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C940255

Thanks, I think I'll pass...;)

No worries - seemed to tick a few of your boxes below and as per Pentti Airikkila said ......most people on his driving courses were faster in that Si Mondeo than in a rwd Sapphire Cosworth

white_goodman said:

........car that should offer reasonable reliability, decent parts availability and hold its value if looked after and used sparingly. Budget is 5k or less.........

I'm not averse to a fast Ford

[strath44]

The e30 325i you mentioned at the start I take isn’t available on budget?!
I to this day still want one with the m-sport kit in dolphin grey!
This one doesn’t have the kit but still the best colour IMO