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If depreciation drives you mad, if the credit card bills are biting or if you simply don’t believe in spending much on cars, read on! Rather than despairing in the classifieds, rejoice by owning one of these top 10 stars.
Ford Mondeo
The car Jackie Stewart helped develop was a car Ford had to get right. Before it, the company had been stung by fierce criticism of the 1990 Escort, a model mediocre in every way. With the Mondeo, Ford set out its stall as mainstream dynamic masters, a mantle it holds to this day. Costing $6 billion to develop, it was not outstanding to look at even when new. But the interior is solid, engines bulletproof and, even now, the car’s handling and ride excellence shine through. For £250 for an early 1.8 LX, you’ll rarely pay less for a three-times Formula One Champion-developed car. Don’t overlook it; such Mondeos are utter bargains.
Nissan Primera
More people buy X-Trails than Primeras nowadays, but back in the early ‘90s, it was a little more in demand. Quite rightly so; the British-built 2.0-litre models were crackers, with a powerful engine and a dynamic handling balance that was eons ahead of the boring Bluebird it replaced. Note, we say 2.0-litre models though; 1.6-litre models, with their smaller tyres and less-focussed suspension, are best left to the minicab drivers. Look for an SLX in red or a dark metallic, and you’ve arguably the first convincing ‘Europeanised’ sporty Japanese family car, displaying all the inherent reliability of cars from the Far East. Despite actually coming from Sunderland.
Citroen Xantia
Buy a C6, blink, and what it’s cost you in depreciation could buy you a perfectly passable Citroen Xantia. Why would you want to? For its understated but very well-proportioned lines, its reluctance to rust and, above all, its top-drawer ride quality. Like the C6, Xantias employ hydropneumatic suspension with an ability to smother even the most liberal of French roads. Turn up the stereo to drown the trim rattles and you could almost be in a Jaguar. Don’t be tempted by VSX models with ‘Hydractive II’ systems though. More electronic control cuts queasiness in cornering but introduces more to go wrong, too. It often does. For £250, you’re best off buying a 1.8 LX sitting back and enjoying comfort you wouldn’t credit for so little.
Fiat Cinquecento
Ah, the modern reinterpretation of the original 500. Not quite as famous, but still a bit of a star when it was launched in 1993. Micro-sized but still able to seat four, its upright style and flat sides gave it designer-utilitarian style that was equally at home in Turin or Tunbridge Wells. Galvanised panels means they don’t rust either. The tiny 900cc engine provides meagre power but is willing, and thrashing the nuts of it is all part of its frenetic, Italianate charm. It really does cost pennies to run too, with minimal fuel bills and very low insurance ratings. Who needs a smart, when this is almost as compact yet packs in two extra mates, too?
VW Golf MkII
We’ll probably always see MkII Golfs on our roads. They’re tough as old boots – even mad-cap becapped boy racers with max’d GTis seem unable to destroy them. For our minuscule budget, we’d look for a more prosaic 1.6 CL five door though. More likely to have been driven carefully, it comes not swimming in equipment but with the bank vault feel you’d expect of a VW. It’s sweet to drive, high-set seats are firmly comfortable and it’s even quite good fun through corners. They don’t make them like this any more, but you needn’t worry – they’ll always be found in the classifieds! However, be prepared, if you find a late ‘big bumper’ model, to possibly having your bumpers stolen…
Audi 80
The 80 comes from an era when Audi was pursuing its clean, smooth aero look to perfection. The 80 is perhaps the most satisfying manifestation of this, with lines that still look contemporary today, despite it being launched in 1986. The interior still pleases too, with solid plastics and red instrument lighting that oozes class. However, don’t expect loads of kit for so little – some don’t even feature a rev counter! And it’s no lightweight, so rev the 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre engines you will have to do. Handling also isn’t as composed as you’d expect, but choose a light metallic and you have a premium-looking car for a pittance.
MG Metro
Are we completely insane? Maybe… but get past the Metro moniker and those with experience of the original Mini Cooper may just see where we’re coming from. The Metro, when it was launched in 1980, drew heavily from the original Mini’s underpinnings, including its suspension. So equipped, the Metro may ride appallingly but handles with real kart-like flair and steers superbly. Feedback is fantastic and the gloriously over-specced brake system is another bright spot. Sure, the 1,275cc engine isn’t remotely refined but it’s torquey and even your gran could fix it. Fid a rust-free late ‘80s model in British Racing Green, and you could just have a classic on your hands - though your mates won’t be laughing on the other side of their faces just yet.
Volvo 740
Company chief executives used to swan around in Volvo 740s back in the 1980s. For the stressed company boss still reeling from Black Monday, the comfort of his top-spec 740 purchased in the good times soothed comfortingly. The thought of its comfortable heated seats still bring a tear to his eye, the way a pretty unspectacular 2.3-litre four-pot still managed to cruise with refinement will evoke happy memories. What’s more, so impossible to destroy are Volvos, you can now bring back the ‘80s with a big old barge of your own. Live-axle rear-drive handling is hilarious and that chrome grille is classy enough to make £250 look like a steal. A sure-fire investment.
Vauxhall Omega
Vauxhall left the large saloon market not because its offerings were bad, but because it lacked the desirable badge of German rivals. In many ways, the Omega was a fair match for poverty-spec BMW 5-Series, not least because of its entertaining, well-sorted rear-drive handling. The styling was oval-tastic and the dashboard was Fisher-Price, but engines were sprightly, even the 2.0-litre four-pot most commonly found for £250. Most at this level are GLS spec and lack air con, but otherwise do a good job of impersonating slightly baggy executive-line transport. And if you get bored, respray it white and see how many 318i drivers you can terrify on the motorway.
Peugeot 205
In many ways this is the car of the ‘80s. Impossibly well-proportioned and a peach to drive, it was a delight at any price – even 1.1-litre models gave enjoyment far beyond their means. Most were basic but it didn’t seem to matter as there was so much else to enjoy, not least a rare blend of entertaining handling and great ride. Even Peugeot thought it irreplaceable, so didn’t do so directly for fifteen years, when the 206 finally came along. Today, it’s easy to overlook as many are firmly in the domain of bangerdom, but the magic still shines through and surprising integrity means they’re good for well over 100,000 miles. They rarely seem to rust, either. We’d look for a 1.4-litre petrol; not only cheap to buy, but you’ll spend pennies running it, too.
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ok, ok - I must admit that I did watch it too, because I drove behind it in the traffic 
Thanks for the interesting information!
in a newspaper saw a beautiful picture of a PINK Nissan Micra. It is stunning and I mean stunning! I even cut the picture out 