Built in Poland, originally beside its sister vehicle, the Ford Ka, the 500 has been a colossal cash cow for Fiat, and following the recent demise of the Punto, the city car (plus its estate and SUV cousins, the 500L and 500X) is now the backbone of the manufacturer’s entire line-up. This Golf also marked a sensational return to form for the GTI hot hatch version. The 50s had the MGA and Fiat 500, the 60s was the decade of the Jaguar E-Type and the Mini, while the 70s brought us the Lamborghini Countach and Volkswagen Golf GTI. The car offered a unique blend of MPV and luxury coupe styling and appointments; it was based on the contemporary Espace, but only had seating for five in its large, sumptuous chairs. Most examples will come with a six-figure mileage by now, but that needn’t be a concern – few will have been thrashed and Honda’s reputation for building long-lasting cars is upheld in the case of the Insight. It’s no coincidence the concepts that previewed the Fiesta were called Verve, because that’s precisely what the newcomer delivered. Facelifted models lose some of the earlier car’s understated looks, but feel more modern and tend to have fewer miles under their belt; expect to spend around £4,000-6,000 or so for a good-to-great example. By mid-year, it was estimated that of $2,000 paid for a new automobile, $650, or about a third, went into taxes. The new car took on up-to-date, imposing styling, a range of new engines and would carry on in production (through plenty of incremental updates and facelifts) for 10 years. A few great examples of the Porsche 996 911 Carrera can be found on CarGurus for under $15,000. However, do your homework (there are plenty of specialists, clubs and magazines to consult) and you could stand to get a lot of car for your money. The car has a 6000 rpm horsepower and a 4400 rpm torque. Inside, there’s a traditionally appointed leather-and-wood interior to match what was a high-five-figure starting price. The result was one of the best-driving Jaguars there had ever been – even more so when it gained more power in supercharged XKR form in mid-2006. It’s fair to say that enthusiasts were both incredulous and appalled when the German sports car maker decided to launch a 4x4 back in 2002. The second-generation Fiat Panda was a great supermini in its own right, but the car became an enthusiast favourite when it got the hot-hatch treatment in 2006. The zenith was surely the catchily named Mégane Renault Sport 230 Renault F1 Team R26.R, a hardcore offering that focused on lightening and stiffening to improve on-track performance. Yet one car truly stands out as providing my ‘Wow!’ moment. The car was developed by BMW and used BMW technology, but the MINI was assembled in Oxfordshire – adding an all-important British connection that helped sell the car at home and abroad. A clever interior, with rubber-trimmed sections that offered tactile softness for a fraction of the cost of padded fabrics, and enough space for four adults, did the rest. The A2 is bound for future stardom, but for now it’s probably the cheapest car to buy and run on this list; prices start at around £1,000-1,500 for leggy petrols, climbing to £2,000-3,000 for diesels with lower mileages. And the good news is – unlike so many bona-fide classics of the last few decades – prices for many are still reasonable. We've picked the best cars of the past 30 years, but what do we have to look forward to in the future? The Quattroporte is also notorious for eating through its very expensive brakes and tyres, so be sure to budget accordingly if you plan to use yours regularly. Every car on this list is important in some capacity; whether they moved the game on in terms of style or technology, or even 'crossed over' into popular culture and everyday life just like the most iconic classics of the past. Fiat had a long history of producing clever small cars, but the Italian brand’s status as the manufacturer of cute, easy-to-manoeuvre city transport was under threat in the early noughties – not least from the likes of the Smart ForTwo. We’d be inclined to spend a little more to secure a better example, or perhaps even an early XKR if your budget could stretch to £20,000 or so. Otherwise, the rest of the design was handsome, elegant and a welcome tonic to the rather plain styling of its closest German rivals. As editor-in-chief of Auto Express for the best part of 20 years, I was lucky enough to drive some highly fancy and fast cars – from Ferraris to Lamborghinis, Bentleys to Rolls-Royces and Audis to Aston Martins. The MINI took styling cues from the original Morris and Austin Mini models of the early 60s and adapted them for the new millennium: just like the original, the new MINI had round headlights, a wheel at each corner, chrome detailing and an interior dominated by a large central speedometer, all of which helped make the retro design a hit with buyers. The Panda 100HP was fairly reliable by small Italian car standards, but it pays to look for pampered, regularly serviced examples. The car was rare when new and most remaining examples are now enthusiast-owned, which means many will have benefited from having lots of money spent on their upkeep. Most Affordable In Monthly Installments – Dacia Sandero – Again the Dacia Sandero is available for £99 a month, however a deposit of £861 is required. Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. Jaguar is synonymous with beautiful automotive shapes and in 2006 the tradition continued in earnest with the second-generation Jaguar XK. Want a classic design at the lowest cost? Of course, money will be tight – but you might be surprised to realise just how much car … It is truly amazing that these cars struggled to sell and are now a rare sight, so prices are starting to climb. Despite their high-end image, Range Rovers don’t have the best reputation for reliability around and this version wasn't devoid of issues, with suspension, gearbox, engine and electrical problems all known. A combination of an eager 2.0-litre engine, great handling, classic GTI detailing and unsurpassed all-round usability saw the Mk5 Golf GTI shoot straight to the top of the class when it was released in 2004 – rivals like the Honda Civic Type R and Renaultsport Megane may have been more raw or faster, but nothing could quite match consummate ability, quality and appeal of the VW. Despite this, every decade has its own clutch of cars that are guaranteed to pass muster. We can't all afford an executive limo, but that doesn't mean we should miss out on the bells and whistles. General running costs for all models will be pricey; it’s still a large luxury SUV, after all. So Ford needed to make the Fiesta more appealing to younger customers and it managed that with the Mk7, launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008. It even sounded fantastic. What a great car. The possibilities of mass producing an American sports car were investigated by two manufacturers, the Packard Motor Car … 2000 BMW M3 E46 - $13,000. Prices start as low as £1,500 for earlier models with lots of miles on the clock, but we’d aim to spend around £2,500-3,000 on a six-speed manual model with a detachable hard-top and around 60,000 miles. 2006 – Nissan launches the Qashqai to replace its unloved Almera family hatch. Budget accordingly and stick to main-dealer or specialist servicing, however, and you’ll be left with a reliable and economical runabout that’s bound to increase in value as the years roll on. Introduced in 2002, the Quattroporte for the noughties was arguably the best ever, with an all-new platform, a Ferrari-designed V8 engine and handling and performance that weren’t too far removed from supercars of the time. There are so many great cars, trucks, and SUVs we're anticipating in 2021, and if you decided 2021 will be the year you upgrade your ride or finally get your first, this list of the 20 best and most affordable cars, trucks, … Porsche Carrera GT. 9 Lamborghinis That Time Forgot. 2000 10Best Cars. Ford’s supermini had become automotive magnolia by the start of the century. Dripping with carbon fiber and an over the top futuristic design, the twin turbo Ford V8 blasted out 750 hp, making this one of the very best race cars for the street. By the end of the Mk1’s life, there were even V6 and diesel variants, which were a world away from the likes of the 911 GT3 RS, but a sign of how broad the Porsche range could become. 2008 – Lewis Hamilton becomes F1 World Champion after a last-corner pass in Brazil gains him enough points to pip Ferrari’s Felipe Massa to the title. 2021 scrappage schemes: the complete guide, Copyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021 All rights reservedCarbuyer™ is a registered trade mark, Dartford Crossing toll changes and Dart Charge, Best signal-blocking Faraday bags for car keys in 2021. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine was mated to an electric motor to create a mild-hybrid system; the Insight couldn’t move on electric power alone, but claimed 83.1mpg economy (or a bit less in the real world) spoke for itself. Thanks to its low weight, eager chassis and fizzy engine, the Panda 100HP was a hit with the motoring press and quickly gained a cult following that continues today; prices for the cheeky hatch are remarkably strong, especially when compared to those for non-sporty Panda models. 1. As ever, check for signs of regular servicing – thrashed examples exist and do not make the best buys, even if the MR2 is quite hardy. 3. For the ultimate in collectability, the limited-run Edition 30 – built to celebrate 30 years of the Golf GTI – is particularly appealing. Thankfully, despite Saab’s absence from the new-car market for several years now, parts and specialist support are still readily available. ‘Quattroporte’ is Italian for ‘four doors’ and tradition dictates it’s the name given to the largest, most luxurious Maserati in the range (at least before the Levante SUV arrived). ... spartan tin can of a car to ride around in no matter how cheap it was. Provided it’s not a rust bucket, a 1.3 or 1.6-litre model from the early 2000s will cope well with big mileages and can be maintained on a low budget. There aren’t many known issues to worry about, although parts can be pricey if anything does go wrong and the car’s lightweight aluminium bodywork can be costly to repair – which can mean expensive insurance. The A2 was powered by a choice of petrol and diesel engines, but the 1.4-litre TDI diesel was – and still is – the one to go for, with decent performance and real-world economy of over 60mpg on average. The move isn’t adjudged a success and there hasn’t been another show since. The Golf Mk5 answered the critics, though, with a happier mix of great quality, comfortable yet agile handling and class-leading engines, and financial figures that put it into the mix against everything from the Vauxhall Astra to the VW’s premium cousin, the Audi A3. If you fancy your own slice of Swedish sophistication, the good news is that 9-3 Convertible prices are low at present; a particularly well used model can be picked up for under £1,000, but we’d err towards examples with under 100,000 miles on the clock and a comprehensive maintenance history for around £2,000-3,500. An SUV? Lamborghini's 2000s halo car was featured in Chris Nolan's "The Dark Knight." A full-length panoramic sunroof also featured, along with acres of interior space and a large boot – the latter of which previewed the rear-end styling of the then-radically styled Megane and Scenic models. We have the best 90s cars in Japan, United Kingdom, United States and Europe to make it a little easier to navigate. Suzuki Swift (2010-2017) Since it first went on sale in 2005, the Suzuki Swift has become a popular car in the UK. It’s one of the best-handling cars of its type from the period, too, although drivers not used to mid-engined cars may find it ‘snappy’ if pushed too far. ... Best Movie Car Chases Of 2020. Styled by Ian Callum – the man responsible for the original Aston Martin Vanquish – the new XK brought Jaguar’s flagship model bang up-to-date and was praised for its stunning good looks. The third-generation car was light, agile and offered great performance thanks to its 136bhp 1.8-litre engine with variable valve timing to give a good balance between economy and power. The third iteration of the market-defining Range Rover SUV arrived in 2002 and represented the first nut-and-bolt redesign of the model since the original burst onto the scene in the 70s. Firstly, the company is Warranty Direct, and their reliability index can be found here. $5,000 on average is all you need in order to get yourself one of these incredibly fun, nimble and extremely lightweight targa top sports cars. As the car that helped VW find its sporty mojo after the lacklustre Mk3 and Mk4 Golf GTIs, the Mk5 stands as an important and impressive hot hatch. The Worst Cars Of The 2000s. These Are the Top 10 Under-Appreciated American Cars of the 2000s Everybody remembers halos like the Dodge Viper and Ford GT—but this list is for the people. We grouped the best 1990s cars by country. When BMW launched its first reimagining of the iconic Mini, few could have predicted just how much of a runaway success it would be. 2000 – Tyre pressure monitoring made mandatory for all new cars. • Subscribe to Auto Express now and get 6 issues for £1. Subscribe to Auto Express now and get 6 issues for £1. Though recently contested, the 80s and 90s have their own universally accepted candidates: the be-winged Ford Sierra Cosworth and Ferrari F40 for the former and the McLaren F1 or Audi RS2 Avant for the latter. The car … All rights reserved.Auto Express™ is a registered trade mark. Some cars have more to offer than others, of course, and that’s where we come in – we’ve created this guide to the top ten best cheap cars on the UK market in 2020 so you get maximum bang for your buck. The best small cars on sale are cheap, practical, easy to drive on congested modern streets … Much like the first-generation Audi TT, the A2 is a product of the early noughties that was almost certainly ahead of its time. If you find yourself scouring the classifieds for the cars below, don’t forget to check out our guides to buying a used car, what to check before you do and how an HPI check can help. The best used small cars for £2,000 ... you might be thinking about buying yourself a cheap runaround. • Introduction• The best cars of the 1990s• The best cars of the 2000s• The best cars of the 2010s• Cars of the future: what's next... New 2021 Nissan Qashqai revealed with hybrid powertrain, “VW is the brand the others want to beat, but it's making life easier for them”. Fiat went into its back catalogue and rethought a classic: the 500. It’s not surprising, though: you’d be hard pressed to have more fun in a small hot hatch, even today – we’d bet on prices strengthening in years to come. Prices hover around £7,000-8,000 for good examples. Even today, 45 years after its introduction and 30 years after discontinuation, the Fiat Bertone X1/9 remains one of the most appealing classic cars that everyone can afford. Introduced in 1999, the Honda Insight was a quirky two-seater city runabout that was designed to be light, aerodynamic and above all, efficient. Electrical gremlins are common and some cars suffered hydropneumatic failure, so beware and seek the advice of a specialist if you’re not sure. However, we reckon it’s easy to earmark a few models for future stardom. “The best buying advice for many readers over the years has been, ‘Buy a Golf.’ And the Mk5 was particularly sweet.”. If you like the idea of a small Fiat with impressive performance and giggle-inducing handling, you’ll need at least £2,000 to secure a higher-mileage example that’s been properly looked after. The top ten best cheap cars on the UK … Now it can be an ultimate affordable GT car since the ride comfort is known to be comfortable. New Nissan Qashqai family SUV takes the fight to the Skoda Karoq with improved tech, more practicality and a fuel-efficient hybrid option, Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler thinks Volkswagen’s drop in quality means the likes of Kia and Hyundai are simply doing things better right now, The third-generation Honda HR-V compact SUV gets hybrid powertrains as standard, To celebrate 30 years of Britain’s best-selling weekly car magazine, Auto Express team members past and present pick their landmark models, We pick the best cars from the launch of Auto Express in 1988 to 1999, We round-up the best cars that went on sale from 2000 to 2009, We round-up the best cars from 2010 to the present day. It previewed the car with a concept at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show, but few thought it would be bold enough to actually build it. Citroen Saxo. For the best blend of performance and economy, we’d recommend the 2.7-litre V6 diesel engine (these are the most numerous on the used market), although the silky-smooth 3.0-litre V6 petrol provides effortless performance and perhaps better fits the C6’s character. 13 Affordable Cars From the '90s That Will Become Classics 13 Affordable Cars From the ’90s That Are Sure-Fire Future Classics 2018-06-29 16:56 in Design Words By Contributor It's certainly one with scarcity keeping values high - just three … Values for the original Insight are on the rise as collectors and enthusiasts begin to take notice of its significance. What a brilliant job by BMW. It wasn’t a case of style over substance though; the XK used modern aluminium construction and a development of Jaguar’s 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine producing 294bhp with a paddle-shift automatic gearbox. Whether or not all of our choices will see their market value rise in the years to come is entirely open to debate. Thankfully, prices for the Avantime are low today, starting at around £2,000-3,000 for something worth owning. The C6 was priced in the high-£30k bracket when new and values have dipped markedly since then, but they sit higher than those for most other modern Citroen saloons. Find used Volkswagen Golfs. Be sure to check for signs of TLC – the C6’s complex suspension system and engines benefit from regular maintenance and servicing, preferably at the hands of a main dealer or Citroen specialist. Then there’s the styling; Italian design house Pininfarina was responsible for the Quattroporte’s brooding lines and great proportions and the design has stood the test of time remarkably well. Values for the original 'new' MINI are low, but these are likely to rise as enthusiasts and collectors wake up to its significance. It boasts practicality, affordability and comfort. 2008 – The British Motor Show moves back from Birmingham’s NEC to London ExCeL, in a bid to better engage with the public. Of course, this isn't a very comfortable or practical car… The debate surrounding the definition of a ‘classic’ car has been raging on among enthusiasts for years. And the result was a car that redefined what fashion-conscious customers could expect from a vehicle. Go for the Datsun 240Z. Secondly, congratulations to the Honda Accord which ranked at number one, and to Honda, Nissan and Toyota who all managed two cars in the top 10. Go for a rarer Sport model with its plastic wheelarches and you’ll likely pay a premium, but you won’t need more than £3,000 to secure a very tidy example of this noughties icon. More sensible options are the 3.0 and 3.6-litre diesels, badged TD6 and TDV8 respectively. Read Volkswagen Golf reviews. Brilliant interior packaging and excellent economy make it a fantastic all-rounder nearly two decades after its introduction, while its forward-thinking styling has stood the test of time remarkably well. Nissan had nothing to lose when it decided to gamble on a new type of car for its family model in 2006. There were 1.8, 2.0 and 2.8-litre petrol engines, along with a frugal 1.9-litre diesel. Step into the new millennium and things get a little hazier. We’d aim for a good (if higher-mileage) example of the latter if we had around £10,000-12,000 to spend, but an earlier TD6 with plenty of history could also make a great everyday car for less. The Avantime was powered by a choice of 2.0 or 3.0-litre petrol engines in the UK, neither of which provide impressive performance or economy by today’s standards, but the smoothness of the latter suits the Avantime’s luxury cruiser feel best. https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/162225/future-classics-from-the-00s The Hellcat is wide and robust, as it should. Mazdaspeed3 ( Pratttattattat) E-Class Coupe ( Mirror Universe Stig) Chevy HHR SS ( Cookinwithgas3) Toyota Corolla ( driving_enthusiast) Neeeeeeeon … Brilliant! Now the Cayenne is a locked-down member of the range, and it even has a smaller SUV, the Macan, as a stablemate. It has huge air ducts to feed the massive V-12 engine sitting behind the cabin. 2005 – Despite repeated bids to save the firm, MG Rover goes bust, with debts of more than £1.4 billion. The Almera hatchback had been a flop, so Nissan decided on a crossover. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to get burned … Lowest Deposit – Peugeot 108 – The 108 is available … Many feel that there simply hasn’t been enough time for a car from less than 20 years ago to attain classic status. To me, the Challenger has the best design among modern muscle cars. Petrol-electric hybrids are commonplace these days, but it wasn’t too long ago that the technology was a novelty. There was a point, at the end of the noughties, when the scrap between manufacturers to produce ‘the ultimate, extreme hot hatchback’ got rather serious (or silly, depending on your point of view). Lets get on with the list. Its styling wasn't so traditional, but incorporated some classic Citroen cues; the C6’s concave rear window and bold sloping roofline were a nod to the CX. Saab may no longer be with us, but it had a rich and important history and a talent for making left-field alternatives to the German executive mainstream. In terms of coverage we have everything from hot hatches to top of the line sports cars just under supercar status and we hope we got all the 90s sports car … Now is the time to buy and enjoy one – we’d recommend a Cooper S with low miles and a full service history. Thirdly, congratulations to the Japanese automotive industry which supplied every car in the Top 10, and an amazing 16 of the Top 20. The Indian industrial giant starts a programme of investment in the two British brands, including their production facilities. These days, no volume car manufacturer would really consider having a line-up without some form of family crossover. 2008 – Ford sells Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors. 2000 BMW M3 E46. https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/104729/the-best-cars-of-the-2000s City cars and superminis make up the bulk of new car sales in the UK – and with good reason. It kept air-conditioning, but did away with much of the other niceties for a weight saving of around 120kg over the regular Mégane R26.