WE FOUND: 1999 Honda Integra 1.8 Type R, 95K, £16,990
BMW 328i (E36)
“The hardest-hitting, least compromised all-rounder on sale for less than £30,000,” is what we reckoned of the 328i back in 1995. Much of the same remains true today, except you can snag one for one-tenth of the as-new asking price.
BMW 328i (E36)
Many have led hard lives, though – these were sub-£1000 cars for a long time – so buy carefully. Also, if you’re looking to own a manual example, or a 328i ‘Sport’, be prepared to reach deeper into your pockets for the privilege.
WE FOUND: 1997 BMW 3 Series 2.8 328i SE, 83k, £6,995
Fiat Coupé
A Chris Bangle masterpiece, and not half bad to drive either.
The five-cylinder, 20-valve engine, offered in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, has the most exotic feel, but the four-cylinder option (a descendant of the Delta Integrale powerplant) still has the means to entertain.
Fiat Coupé
Rust is by far the biggest issue: inspect the sills, subframes, wheel arches, footwells, boot floor, exhaust… Basically, just give the whole thing a thorough going-over. Interior plastics are prone to developing a horrid sticky finish, too. Running project cars can be found for £500, but the best examples are north of £10,000.
WE FOUND: 1996 Fiat Coupe 2.0 Turbo 16v, 38k, £8950
Toyota MR2 (SW20)
Forget the second-generation MR2’s reputation for having a wayward tail – we never thought that held very much water.
Still, Toyota revised the model no fewer than five times, with updates two (in 1991) and three (1993) gradually softening the handling to tune out the risk of snap oversteer. Any MR2 is a great drive and a fairly reliable proposition, barring rust or any extensive modifications.