7 Of The Coolest Retro Rides You Can Buy For Under £3000

Driving in the UK can be a dull experience for petrolheads because we’re often boxed in by a sea of economy hatchbacks and oversized people carriers. Every now and then, however, our passion for motoring is restored for a number of reasons; an empty B road or a noisy tunnel-run are good examples, as is the sight of a unique and raw retro ride. Speaking of which, why not spice up your driving experience every day with a retro ride of your own? They’re more affordable than you might have thought. Here are seven retro rides to get you well on your way for just £3000:

1. Audi Coupe B2

We all remember the screaming Group B monster that was the Audi Quattro. However for most of us, these pieces of automotive history aren’t attainable. Fortunately there is a more cost-effective solution for those who want their retro Audi fix; enter stage left the Audi B2 Coupe, essentially a tamer, more sensible version of the rally-dominating banshee that we all know and love.

Pros

• 2.2-litre KV five-cylinder engine provides a captivating soundtrack while you live out your retro rally fantasies.
• Shares the handsome image of its brutal sibling.
• Built like a tank and comes with air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors and disc brakes all round.
• Rarity means you’re guaranteed to stand out.

Cons

• Lack of a turbocharger means the soundtrack writes cheques that the engine can’t quite cash.
• Most models are front-wheel drive; Quattro versions are difficult to find.
• Parts are hard to come by.
• Rust is a common issue.

2. MG MGB GT

When people think about British Leyland, they usually remember flimsy cars with shocking build quality and the automotive abominations that were the Austin Princess and Morris Marina. It wasn’t all bad though. British Leyland also churned out some real gems, the MG MGB GT being no exception.

Pros

• 1960s styling has aged very well.
• 25 years of production means there are still plenty of good examples available at reasonable prices.
• 1.8-litre BMC inline-four engine delivers a satisfying burble; some models were even fitted with Rover or Buick V8s.
• Rear-wheel drive makes for a fun driving experience.

Cons

• Build quality is far from top notch.
• 95bhp means you’re not going to be doing much in the way of overtaking.
• Carburetted engine means you won’t see much above 25mpg.
• Rust is to be expected.

3. Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk2

The Golf GTi is, and always has been the go-to hot hatch. It taught us that you don’t need crazy amounts of horsepower to have a fun and engaging driving experience; all you need is a lightweight, well-sorted chassis and a peppy little engine. With Mk1 GTi models beginning to get seriously expensive, it’s the Mk2 that you’re after for well under £3000.

Pros

• Choice of eight-valve or a 16-valve engines.
• Huge community following leaves no shortage of clubs and societies to join.
• German build quality and reliability.
• Produced in large numbers so plenty of good examples are around today at reasonable prices.

Cons

• Finding an unmolested example is getting increasingly difficult.
• Interior will divide opinion.
• Not as exclusive as other cars of its age.
• Most examples have very high mileage.

4. Ford Fiesta Mk1 XR2

While Volkswagen paved the way for the hot hatch market, Ford showed us that it wasn’t just the Germans that could perfect them. Ford bravely stepped up to Volkswagen and pitted the XR2 against the first generation Golf GTi. The Mk1 Fiesta may not have as good an engine as the Golf (producing just over half the horsepower of the 16v), but it did have weight in its favour. Tipping the scales almost half a tonne lighter than the Golf, you’d have struggled to notice the lack of power on technically challenging roads.

Pros

• Like other Fords of the era, the Fiesta is very easy to work on and modify.
• Comparable power-to-weight ratio to the Golf GTi; 105bhp-per-tonne compared to the Golf’s 110bhp-per-tonne figure .
• Small and thin tyres mean the car can be driven to the limit at very low speeds.
• Considerably rarer than the Golf.

Cons

• Rarity means good examples can be expensive.
• Parts are steadily growing scarce.
• The Fiesta’s Crossflow engine was carburetted which meant even with extremely careful driving, you’d only ever see about 30mpg.
• Only came with a four-speed gearbox.

5. Nissan Silvia S12

Many of you will think that this car looks suspiciously like a Toyota AE86, but it is in fact the oft-overlooked S12 generation of the Nissan Silvia. While the car is comparable with the iconic AE86, the S12 is not burdened by the dreaded ‘Tofu tax’ (the Initial D-based phenomenon that’s responsible for the astronomical prices of AE86s today).

Pros

• AE86 looks.
• Appealing prices.
• No shortage of good engines, even the base CA18ET is comparable to the AE86’s 4A-GE.
• Turbocharged engines are prime territory for remaps.

Cons

• You’ll hear “Is that an ‘86, mate?” a lot.
• Unmolested examples can be hard to find.
• Most models come with an open differential as standard (no drifting).

6. Honda Prelude Gen 3

For those of you wanting retro looks with a front-wheel drive chassis, the Honda Prelude may be the car for you. The car features everything we’ve come to expect from the Japanese brand: simple interior? Check. High-revving engine? You bet. Bombproof reliability. Most definitely.

Older-shape Preludes are often overlooked these days in favour of Civics, Integras and the brilliant S2000, so it’s about time that this retro Honda got some more love too.

Pros

• Honda engines are economical, reliable and performance-orientated.
• Brilliant 80s aesthetics are guaranteed to please.
• Four-wheel steering gives the car outstanding manoeuvrability.
• Extremely affordable.

Cons

• Front-wheel drive only isn’t for everyone.
• Standard engines are somewhat underpowered and lack torque.
• Not many enthusiast owners, so well-maintained examples can be few and far between.
• You’ll hear and see a lot of lawnmower jokes: “My lawnmower’s got more torque than your Honda, bro!”

7. Toyota AW11 MR2

The AW11 MR2 is a great retro ride if you’re after something a bit different. Featuring the same twin-cam 16-valve 4A-GE engine that you’ll find in the AE86, the AW11 boasts a mid-engine layout, which makes this car a different animal altogether. You’ll find disc brakes all round, an open diff (boo) and of course the most important of all features: pop up headlights.

Pros

• 1.6-litre twin-cam 16-valve 4A-GE shared with the AE86 is decently powerful and reliable.
• Great, angular 1980s aesthetics inside and out.
• Mid-engine layout allows for fantastic handling.
• Good platform for novice or experienced drivers.
• Reasonable insurance costs.

Cons

• Very small interior; if you’re taller than six foot, you’re gonna have a bad time…
• Open differential can sometimes spoil the otherwise brilliant handling.
• No driver assistance makes driving in the wet somewhat precarious.
• The only attention you’ll ever get is from middle-aged men in vans.