Top 10: Nineties hatchbacks for less than a grand
Classic cars from the Nineties have been on the up for a while, but there are still some accessible bargains around, especially if you go for run-of-the mill family hatch, which, let’s face it, is where the nostalgia lies... We pick out our top 10 on-the-cusp classics – buy them now, while they’re still available for beer money.
Peugeot 306
Sharing its underpinning with the ZX, the 306 was Peugeot’s best car of the 1990s without a shadow of a doubt. Built in the company’s Ryton factory on the outskirts of Coventry, the 306 was a strong seller in the UK and across Europe. It also proved to be significantly more rust resistant than most of its rivals.
Although based on the same chassis as it Citroen sibling, the 306 had a sharper suspension set-up. What it lacked in ride comfort – the ZX’s trump card - it made up for in pure agility, meaning that even the entry-level XN variant was a hoot to drive. 1.9-litre XUD diesels are renowned for being almost unkillable.
darthmaud on 28 November 2016
There's some truly shocking examples of automotive engineering in this list.cfc2000 on 29 November 2016
The ZX was decent to drive, but front shafts were fragile and the fuel lift pumps only lasted about 50,000 miles. Better than that Golf though, which then as now was hugely over-rated and over-priced. None of those cars is dstinctive enough to make it collectible. Soemthing like a Saab would make much more sense, cost less than £500, and be a bit different (even if it is a Vauxhall in disguise).Chris C on 9 February 2017
Agree with the R8's but it's a shame that early ones often have badly faded grey bumper plastics. Don't forget the Honda equivalents which are often in excellent carefully kept condition, no K series engine problems and relatively much rarer.Add a comment