The best cars from the ‘90s

The 1980s, with their accessible hot hatches, monstrous homologation specials and ballistic supercars, were a tough act to follow, and with insurance premiums biting, you’d be forgiven for thinking cars from the 90s would be a bit of a let-down.

But don’t write them off so quickly. This was the era in which the widespread adoption of fuel injection, ABS and power steering improved dependability, safety and usability. In short, these cars are modern enough to be reliable and accessible, but old enough – and, now, rare enough – to be interesting. And unlike many ‘80s cars, their successors from the 90s are still very much within reach, and we offer guide prices (for decent examples) for all:

Cars are listed in chronological order – this story covers 1996-1999 – we did earlier cars recently. Slideshow story – please click the right-hand arrow above to continue

1996-2013 (years of production)

£900 (price today for a used decent example)

With a loping ride and a huge cargo area, the Berlingo Multispace is the kind of car that should have enjoyed far greater success. But it required owners who had to decide that they didn’t mind it was based on a French bread van. So much so that early models didn’t even have five doors. It got more practical, and just as likeable, as time went on.

1996-2008

£500

This is the car that not only demonstrated how a mere supermini could be profoundly desirable but kick-started Ford’s comeback with its ‘New Edge’ design language. Regular models got a 68bhp Duratec engine, though the SportKa bumped that up to 94bhp and boasted the gearbox and suspension from the Puma. In either guise the Ka is heaps of fun, and endlessly charming.

1996-2001

£15,000

The Lotus Elise, the car on which its maker’s business has been built for the last two decades, was a revelation in 1996: the sports car reimagined for a new century. Though it only had 118bhp in launch specification, the car’s sub-800kg kerbweight still makes it feel like enough with which to amuse yourself even today. Check under the car for front clamshell damage before buying, and that the Rover K-Series engine has had new head gaskets recently.

1996-2004

£2050

An appealing, but not especially sporty, compact roadster, hamstrung in the UK by the non-availability of a manual gearbox in early versions. Meaty power from the supercharged 2.3-litre four partly compensates, as does the then-novel folding metal roof. A cruiser, not a sprinter, in short. Well built and plenty still about, but watch out for rust.

1996-2004

£7000

When Porsche launched the Boxster it completely upended the sports car world, not least in the UK. At the time we all thought a new, cheaper yet familiar-looking flat-six two-seater Porsche would be hard on its 911 big brother. Instead, it made life hard for everyone else, notably Lotus and TVR in the UK. The entry-level 2.5-litre 986 model was beset early on by expensive gremlins, but the Boxster settled into a life as the middle market’s predominant sports car and for over two decades has topped the comparison tests.

Entry models offer top value, but most buyers find the quickest, best equipped models hard to resist – a late-90s Boxster S looks like a smart place to put your money right now. Watch for the dreaded IMS (Intermediate Shaft Bearing) and RMS (Rear Main Seal) faults, and find a car in which they’ve been put right. Do this, and nearly every model, except the first and cheapest, is a joy to own. 

1996-2003

£800

Today hardly anybody has a compact MPV in its line up any more. But there was a time when nobody had had a compact MPV at all. We’ll get letters if we say Renault invented the breed, but let’s hope it’s not too controversial to say that it really popularised it, and proved it could work in Europe.

1996-2003

£16,000

Maximum ‘TVR’ was arguably achieved when Blackpool’s famous car maker dropped its own V8 engine into a lightweight sports car for the first time. The wicked-sounding Cerbera, TVR’s only ‘2+2’-seater coupe, was the result. 4.0-litre six-pots, 4.2-litre V8s and 4.5-litre V8s were offered, the 4.5s being the most reliable – provided the valve clearances have been regularly maintained. Look for dings on the plastic body panels (they’re tricky to repair) and for corrosion on the chassis.

1996-2005

£800

The fifth-generation Passat was from a time when maker Volkswagen was out to show the world that it could mix it with the premium brand elite. Sharing its platform and many of its longways-mounted engines with the original Audi A4, it had unmistakable ‘90s-era aerodynamic styling, a beautifully built interior, and offered more choice on engines and drivetrains than Mondeo man would have known what to do with.

Today the ‘W8’ versions are like unicorns, but 20-valve 1.8Ts, VR5s and V6s – some with four-wheel drive – aren’t so tricky to find.

1996-2000

£2000

The looks were not universally liked and the interior was a little plasticky, but this unsung fast Honda had a great 198bhp 2.2-litre VTEC engine that loved to rev. And you could have your Prelude with a novel four-wheel steering system, which helped reduce the effects of understeer and made the car feel really nimble.

1996-2002

£700

Korean cars weren’t generally highly regarded in the 1990s, so it was something of a coup that Hyundai managed to sneak this swoopy coupe into people’s long-term affections. Making it was a move that paid off - it looked neat, drove nicely and was well made, and it paved the way for the brand’s subsequent successes.

1996-2007

£2000

The gorgeous 156 won us over with its ravishing looks and desirable badge. Sharp steering and twin spark engines sealed its place in our hearts, until the even better looking 159 came along. Okay so it was made of cheese and broke down a lot, but a flawed diamond is still a diamond.

1996-2003

£900

The A3 is the car that brought the idea of an upmarket, plush hatch into the spotlight. There was a desirable badge on its nose, and it didn’t cost a fortune to buy new at the time. Today, a standard model can be had for very little cash indeed, while the meatier S3 hot hatch will see you part with considerably more.

1996-1999

£1500

With only seven of these Spanish firecrackers left on the road, you’ll have to search long and hard if you plan on putting one on your driveway. Still, if you manage to find one at least you’ll have a tenacious-handling, fun little hot hatchback on your hands. Its rarity should help with residuals, too.

1997-2003

£1000

Horrendous depreciation often made the Peugeot 406 Coupé more expensive to own than its rivals, and it had exactly the same interior as its more humdrum saloon and estate siblings. However, it looked glorious, drove well and had the option of a terrific V6. Buy a good one now and you won’t regret it.

1997-2006

£2000

BMW had been making a 3 Series long before the E46 arrived, but this one truly established itself as the class leader for compact executive cars. And set a theme in exterior and interior design and feel that still exists today. They were all good to drive, but the M3 was a particular giggle.

1997-2003

£2000

This tough, agile and much sought affordable lightweight is getting rare because many have been modified for track use. It was made in two phases from 1997, both with healthy, reliable 118bhp 1.6litre engine plus five-speed. This power in the a 900kg package equates to 150bhp-plus in today’s 1200kg models, hence the VTS’s 127mph top speed and 7.9sec 0-60. 

1997-2004

£15,000

A reputation for troublesome engines has driven 996 values down, but there are fixes available; buy smart, and you get a pukka 911 that’s terrific to drive without having to pay the usual premium. And try to remember the last time you saw one of these on the road. See? They’re getting quite rare now.

1997-2001

£1500

It looks particularly cute thanks to big, bulbous eyes, a rising waistline, a pert rear end and a curved side window – just like all classic Ford coupés. Then there’s the way it drives. Sure, when you peel the pretty bodywork away you’re left with the underpinnings of a humble Ford Fiesta, but there was never anything wrong with the way a 1990s Fiesta drove, so things looked promising from the outset.

The suspension was uprated with tauter springs, fatter anti-roll bars and a stiffer rear axle, so the Puma was really entertaining to drive. The most 1.7-litre engine was pretty special too, producing 123bhp. A great car when new, the Puma is surely set for classic status. Rust is a big killer, so check arches, sills, boot floors and windscreen surrounds for crumbling metal. Beware fragile bottom ends, too – walk away from any car with a knocking or tapping engine. The car still inspires love, inspiring in turn Ford to revive the nameplate on an excellent new compact crossover.

1997-2000

£1000

When the Xsara VTS first came on sale, Citroën made the claim that it was the fastest sub-£18,000 coupe you could buy – courtesy of its 164bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. It wasn’t the most rewarding car to drive around town, but on a good stretch of road it came alive, with sharp steering and a fluid chassis. Think of it as a cut-price 306 GTi-6, and you’re there.

1997-2005

£1500

Here’s proof that Volvo wasn’t all about boxy saloons and estates in the 90s; the two-door C70 showed the world the Swedish manufacturer could do stylish, too. That it’s comfortable, spacious and safe only adds to its appeal, as does the fact you can have one as a convertible.

1997-2000

£16,000

Honda’s hard-charging hero is even more thrilling to drive today in a world of torquey turbos and electric steering. All analogue, with a gloriously high-revving VTEC engine that screams like a racing mill, and with one of the best, if not the best, front-drive chassis ever. Prices are moving up, but still something of a bargain. 

1997-2010

£1700

A decent cooking 9-5 can be had for less than a grand, but why bother when a good Aero is barely any more? £1700 gets a good one – expect boosty performance, fabulously comfortable seats and squishy suspension. They won’t stay this cheap forever. Mind out for boost leaks and electrical glitches, though.

1997-2002

£1800

First-gen Foresters make charmingly honest and rugged workhorses; naturally-aspirated 2.0s are dependable, while Turbo models are fabulous sleepers – almost as quick as a contemporary Impreza with welly-boot looks. They handle surprisingly well, too, and of course should go anywhere. Numbers are thinning, though, so get in quick. 

1998-2009

£17,500

Bentley’s version of the last pre-split Rolls-Bentley saloon, powered first by 350bhp 4.4-litre twin turbo BMW, then from ’99 by the reinstated 450bhp 6.75-litre original. The bigger engine is considered more desirable, but the 4.4 is more agile and easier to maintain. Decent quality, and lots of car for Focus money, but watch out for maintenance and insurance costs.

1998-2004

£1300

Original, Series 1 Multiplas are an unfamiliar sight on the road, and perhaps that is a good thing. And yet, such a practical (there are three seats in the front, remember, though the middle one could be replaced by an 18-litre fridge) and quirky device deserves recognition. It’s a surprisingly satisfying steer, too, with conspicuously good road-holding.

1998-2004

£800

This is the one: the car that reinvented what we thought a Ford could drive like. The first family-sized Ford that was really good fun to drive in all forms, perhaps since the demise of its rear-drive predecessors.

The Focus totally rejuvenated Ford’s lineup. Every car after - Fiesta, Mondeo, plus the cars that Ford has diversified with since – has been one of the best cars in its class to drive, and it’s the Focus that set the precedent, that made Ford’s engineers car and, ultimately, made buyers care. They might not know why they think a Ford is nice to drive, but they like the fact that it is.

1998-2004

£2000

Less favoured by some than earlier Discos, which means prices are still low, the Disco II’s a decent 4x4 workhorse and tow car, especially with 2.5-litre five-cylinder TD5 diesel. It’s commonly a seven seater, too, though the rearmost seats are very cramped. V8s are impossibly thirsty, and some versions over-complex, what with electric anti-roll and air springs, but simpler models still appeal if not rusty. 

1998-2005

£2400

Subtly larger, more curvaceous, considerably more powerful and better to drive than the original car, the second-gen MX-5 was the comfortable victor when Autocar tested it against the MGF, BMW Z3, Toyota MR2 and Fiat’s Barchetta. Rust can be an issue, and while it’s not as good to drive as the contemporary Lotus Elise, it’s much more practical.

1998-1999

£13,000

With the fifth-generation of the Japanese performance legend that need only be referred to by the cognoscenti as the ‘Evo’, Mitsubishi’s loopy turbo saloon got serious. This was when the car got its famously steroidal flared-arch styling, some proper bucket seats, widened tracks, proper Brembo brakes and an engine upgrade (to 275lb ft of torque). It was the last version of the car before Mitsubishi UK started official imports, and so arguably the canniest of the Evos to go bargain-hunting for.

1998-1999

£2000

One of the era’s lesser known driver’s cars, the Primera GT only had 148bhp from its atmospheric 2.0-litre petrol engine, but a healthy one should still be good for 62mph in 8.0sec. They’re a rare find these days: howmanyleft.co.uk claims only 24 examples remain registered. But if you like understated sports styling and fluent handling, they’re worth seeking out, though search you will have to do.

1998-2004

£1000

A posh interior, silky-smooth V5 and V6 engines, and, supremely tight panel gaps. Yes, the Mk4 Golf has it all. Apart from the same entertaining handling and sharp styling as the Ford Focus. Ah. However, that didn’t stop this generation being extremely popular amongst those who couldn’t afford an Audi A3 but still wanted a premium hatch.

1998-2006

£3000

Despite being launched over 20 years ago, this pretty little sports car still looks just as visually appealing now as it did back in 1998. Perhaps that’s why it’s managed to earn itself something of a reputation as being a hairdresser’s go-to set of wheels. Anyway, those early models were initially offered with a 177bhp and 221bhp versions of the same turbocharged 1.8-litre four-pot used throughout the VW Group, with power being sent to all four wheels.

Front-wheel-drive cooking models were made available later in its lifecycle, while a 3.2-litre V6 was also dropped under the TT’s bonnet in 2003. A limited-run of 800 lighter TT Sports were also made in 2005, which also saw the 1.8-litre engine’s wick turned up to 237bhp. And of course, you can have a TT with a folding canvas roof. An early 221bhp 1.8-litre coupe would be our pick. Expect to pay around £3000 for a tidy one.

1998-2005

£3000

The 164, is now going for five figures in some quarters, so if you want a big, cheap Alfa, here’s where to look. Twin-sparks are cheaper, but if you can stretch to it, the big six-pot is so much more characterful. Luxurious Lusso trim gives you all the toys and opulent surroundings, too. 

1999-2004

£3000

Renaultsport’s early makeover of the second-generation Clio was superbly realised, and powered by a 2.0-litre engine with variable valve timing and 172bhp. In a car weighing only 1035kg, that was more than enough for brisk B-road progress, though the most memorable element of the package was the pert chassis, which was playful in the extreme but usefully benign in a way that pocket-rockets past haven’t always been.

‘Cup’ versions of the 172, available from 2002, saw the kerb weight trimmed to 1021kg, the suspension stiffened and lowered and some styling tweaks to the front and rear bumpers. Air conditioning and anti-lock brakes were chased out in the interests of weight-saving and track-related activities respectively. Prices are moving firmly north for good examples.

1999-2006

£2000

The last of the Celicas still languishes close to banger territory, yet its sharp styling still looks fresh today. Bear in mind, too, that beneath the skin sits the same rev-happy 1.8-litre engine as is fitted to the Mk3 MR2 – not to mention a chassis that’s similarly fleet of foot. They won’t hang around at these prices forever.

1999-2005

£2500

A two-door version of the rather dumpy seventh-generation Vauxhall Astra had no business looking this good – but then, styling by Bertone helped matters. It had substance, too, though; the body was 20% stiffer than the standard cars, meaning it handled, while this turbo version was savagely fast. A bit of an underrated gem, then, this one, though sadly not easy to find now.

1999-2006

£5000

Barely sneaking into our list, the BMW X5 was one of the first SUVs (sorry, BMW called it a Sports Activity Vehicle at the time) to give the Range Rover - briefly a sister car - a headache. It had all the luxuries of a 5 Series and even managed to drive like one too; a trick which no premium off-roader could match at the time.

1999-2005

£1000

Although it seems to hark back to a golden era when Britannia ruled the waves and men wore pin-striped suits and bowler hats, the Rover 75 actually arrived in the showrooms on the very cusp of the new millennium. Its attractive exterior was reminiscent of Rovers past, and its cosseting and high-quality interior reeked of wood and leather.

This was the first Rover produced during the firm’s fleeting ownership by BMW, so it’s surprisingly well made and quite sophisticated underneath. The bodyshell is impressively stiff, for one, and the clever suspension endows the front-wheel drive 75 with more than competent road manners. All 75s were well equipped, and there was a good choice of engines, including BMW’s own 2.0-litre diesel and Rover’s creamy petrol V6. Find a good one that’s been well looked after and you’ll be getting luxury motoring for banger money. 

1999-2002

£1000

“Vauxhall Vectra” and “cool” don’t usually go together in the same sentence, but the arrival of the Vectra GSI in 1999 went some way to changing this. Motorsport-derived looks and a potent 2.5-litre V6 gave this hot Vauxhall some much-needed kerb-side appeal and impressive performance. Only a few thousand were made, so that should help residuals.

1999-2005

£2000

A car you could never imagine the Audi of today building. Forward-thinking, innovative and clever, the A2 was an instant classic, and one day will be a cult favourite. Today it’s in banger territory, though, offering Golf-sized space in a Polo-sized car for peanuts. Go for a mechanically simple petrol model and enjoy. 

1999-2005

£2000

It suffered from rust, as did all Mercs of its era, but find one that’s clean and a W220 is about as opulent as it gets for the price. £3000 is all it takes to get a good, clean example; this was the first S-Class that combined plutocratic comfort with agile handling, and threw sleek looks into the bargain too.