Go-faster £10k repmobiles | Six of the Best
Nothing used to say success like a big engine in a small four door - time to remember the heroes
Audi A4 2.6, 1996, 80k, £5,500
So the Audi A4 as we know it is no more, replaced by the A5 Saloon and Avant. With 30 years having now passed since the introduction of the 80’s replacement, there really aren’t many original A4s around at all. When they do surface, it tends to be with 1.8 turbo or diesel power. The models that made the most sense back in the day, though never the ones to covet - back in the '90s, or now. This isn’t either of those, however, as it’s a 2.6 V6 A4, rare when new (because there was a more powerful 2.8 around) and basically extinct now. Not the sportiest of this list, but with the manual gearbox and in really lovely condition - just 80k in 28 years, owned by the same family after being a dealer demo - and with no corrosion to speak of. Old school Audi at its very best - and for just £5k, too.
Nissan Primera GT, 1998, £7,995
If the Audi isn’t racy enough, this ought to do it - a Nissan Primera GT. A touring car legend across the globe, and especially so in BTCC, the GT and its tin-top racing programme should have helped the Primera’s image no end. From dowdy beginnings, the performance flagship with its revvy SR20 16-valver and sorted chassis really was an unexpected hero. The GT remained an underrated one, however, because it still looked quite a lot like a Primera. Few sold in period and even fewer remain, but some corkers are out there still - though sometimes they’re in Northern Ireland. And they’ve come from Japan. We couldn’t say no to this one, though, complete with touring car aero - said to be factory fit - and pearl white just like a proper race car. Given the price some classic Nissan icons now command, £8k doesn’t seem silly. Especially with space for all the family to enjoy the fun…
Honda Accord Type R, 2001, 107k, £8,995
Still the forgotten Type R to some extent, which it really shouldn’t be, the Accord has enjoyed a little bit of a resurgence over the past few years. This is when the racy repmobile started to get serious: the Primera and its ilk were fun with 150hp or so, but the Accord could boast almost 100hp per little from its 2.2-litre four. Peak power was made at 7,200rpm, it’d go to eight, and the sound was pure VTEC bliss. The Accord had some serious chassis hardware to take advantage, too, more in keeping with the exotic template set out by the Integra than the cheap and cheerful Civic that followed: limited-slip diff and a 40 per cent stiffer body, but a kerbweight of just 1,306kg thanks to the removal of some sound deadening. This facelifted one should have less troublesome synchros and, while no longer standard, does appear to have been doted on. One person’s loss for a house purchase could most certainly be your gain.
Vauxhall Insignia VXR, 2014, 65k, £9,995
The fastest Insignia always looked like a lot of car for the money as a new purchase, and especially so when used. Where else are you going to get a 10-year-old car with more than 300hp from a turbo V6, all-wheel drive, a manual gearbox and an average of just 6,000 miles a year for £10k? Certainly the affordability could make running costs easier to swallow. The VXR may not hail from the glory days of the fast four- and five-doors, but it absolutely adheres to the important criteria, with loads of power, loads of standard equipment and loads of space for all the family. It’s even an actual four-door saloon, despite what the advert says, surely the rarest of the three VXR body styles. As a later Supersport, this Insignia should also be capable of 170mph, which would make family holidays fun. Recently serviced and seemingly in fine fettle, five won’t go much faster for less.
Ford Mondeo ST220, 2006, 74k, £7,990
The rules state that where everyman performance cars are concerned, Ford must follow Vauxhall in a shortlist - or vice versa. They have to. The ST220 was by all accounts the best Mondeo made, combining that sonorous 3.0-litre V6 with the Mk3’s capable chassis. The ST Mondeos stopped here, and the later five-cylinder turbo was never quite the same. A bit like the Accord, in fact, this thing received rave reviews in period, but that didn't prevent it from selling in fairly small numbers. With rust having claimed a few (like so many fast Fords) really good ST220s are finally starting to get the appreciation they deserve. This Performance Blue hatch has covered just 74k and looks superb: the wheels aren’t corroded, the seat bolsters are intact and even those infamously scratchy plastics seem good. Plus it’s one of the last ones at the cheaper tax rate - time to see what the ST220 fuss is about.
BMW 330i (E46), 2000, 44k, £8,450
Things were going pretty well at the turn of the century if you’d made it to an E46 330i. While much of the fuss back then was around what BMW had achieved with diesel power, there was little to rival the 231hp petrol straight six - either from within BMW, or from the alternatives. The M54-engined 330 had replaced the M52-engined 328 early in the E46’s life, and the boost of almost another 40hp only made a great small BMW even more desirable. Which is why you’ll now struggle to find one now, because so many found their way onto drift tracks or circuits. As an auto this one will have held less appeal to that crowd, but what a survivor: just 44,000 miles since 2000, the last owner for more than 20 years, a seemingly flawless exterior and just as nice cabin. If you don’t like new BMWs much, this ought to do the trick - and surely isn’t likely to lose any money, either.
Mind you, £10k is about the price of a 100k mile Hyundai i10 supermini these days, isn't it? The next iPhone will probably be about £10k too.
The others seem outrageously bad value when just a few more grand gets you into cars like Golf Rs, M135i and M235is. Yes not saloons but far superior cars.
It brings in to focus how dull cars for the Everyman have become… can’t think what the modern equivalents are.
The estate version of the Insignia would be a great car.
I had an Accord Type R and liked it a lot. A bit loud on the motorway - could have done with having a 6th gear - but fabulous everywhere else, whether pootling around or pressing on. Felt lovely and lightweight, brilliant engine, gearbox, suspension, steering, and great seats.
The main issue with them is the front bulkhead. Poorly shaped for drainage from above, it holds on to rain & muck that comes off the windscreen and will inevitably rust through the RHS front firewall & footwell. Watch out if looking to buy - it can be sorted, but is pricey to do so. Otherwise great cars imho.
Stuff hangs round indefinitely in a lot of cases at prices like that, can’t be that many folk wanting to pay 8 grand for a mk3 Mondeo, they were decent but never had that X factor thing that the stuff that ascends to silly prices did.
Mental to put that much cash into one of those, try flogging one after having a change of heart and wonder where all the buyers clutching 8 grand are, would be lucky to get half.
- it was genuinely immaculate
- suspension has been comprehensively refurbished
- head unit replaced with the standard android thing and properly wired in for hands free.
- manual.
I.e you could jump in and treat it like something only 4 or 5 years old. Then it makes a lot of sense. Else £3k max as you'll need to spend the same again to stop it feeling baggy and old.
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