Top 10 Ultimate 80s Motors

If you think human civilisation peaked with red braces and Duran Duran, then you, my friend, are a child of the 1980s.

Luckily, the 1980s was also responsible for some pretty tidy metal. Even better, most of that metal is skulking around near the bottom of its depreciation curve. For a fistful of readies you could park your chinos in one of the following 80s icons.

1. Toyota Corolla AE86

If you walked into a Toyota showroom in the 1980s and said you wanted a Corolla, even the salesman would have laughed at you. We reckon that happened a lot, as the AE86 Corolla is rare, and thanks to the sideways scene, it's one of the hottest cars around. You'll know this because sellers are offloading utter sheds for n0rth of five grand. Buy one, and set up camp on the nearest roundabout.

2. Mercedes-Benz 190e Cosworth

Think Cosworth only dealt with Fords? Think again. The baby 'Benz was also fettled by Cossie in the 80s, to give us the excellent 190e 2.3 and 2.5. Bit more classy than a Sierra, no? Don't think that it's soft though - this thing spanked BMW M3s in the German DTM series.

3. Ford Capri 2.8

"Leave it aaaaaahhhhht, you geeezah" "Shat it, slaaaag" etc. The Capri is your typical 80s car chase fodder, but it's finally shaking the East-end image and being appreciated as a retro classic. Looks mean from all angles, and with a 2.8 V6 in the nose it has the power to shake the boys in blue. Well, if they're also driving a 1980s "motah".

4. Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2

You still see a lot of Mk2 Golf GTIs about, and there's a good reason for that. In fact, there are several good reasons. They're cheap, light, look cool, don't break down, and can still teach a modern hot hatch a thing or two about ride and handling. In fact, why the hell are you reading this when you could be driving a GTI right now?

5. BMW M635 CSi

BMW was on a roll in the 1980s. BMW M3, anyone? Or how about an M5? But for a bit more class, the M635 CSi (M6, for the yanks) did the trick. They're going up in price these days but at least people will no longer associate you with banker tools or inner-city crack dealers. And with 282 horses frying the rear tyres, who cares what people call you?

6. Range Rover

It isn't all about hot hatches and yuppie coupes. The good old Rangie is one of Blighty's most distinctive cars, and the first-gen model was in its prime in the 80s. It drank like George Best but so did anything with a V8 in those days. The most important thing was lording it over all the plebs in their lesser vehicles. A 4x4 from a time when Greenpeace were more concerned about saving the whales than saving fuel.

7. Renault 5 GT Turbo

Some cars are known for their speed. Others, for their looks. Some are known for exploding. The Renault 5 GT Turbo was one of the latter. Okay, so it could run a little hot sometimes, but we reckon that's worth it for the fun you'd have in between. Not as slick as a Peugeot 205 GTI perhaps, but one of the quickest hot hatches of the 80s.

8. Audi quattro

"Fire up the quattro", say people without Audi quattros since Life on Mars hit the airwaves. Those who do have Audi quattros have said it all along, shortly before dispatching the nearest soggy B-road like a rally-driving boss. Modern Audis are good, but would you really have that TT RS Plus in your dream garage?...

9. Rover Vitesse

If you thought Rovers were all about pensioners slowly staining the driver's seat of their Rover 45, then think again. 190bhp may not sound much today, but back in 1982 it made BMWs and Mercs look a bit flaccid. Thank that Rover V8 engine again. And let's face it, it looks ace too - like a Lotus Esprit for the family man.

10. Ferrari Mondial

No, the Mondial is hardly the ultimate 80s Ferrari, but for the price of a high-end Volkswagen Up you can put a Fezza on the drive. A knicker-dropping badge for chastity-belt cash? Sounds like a plan - and if you're brave, it'll still top 140mph. Best of all, nobody will really know that it's actually a bit crap.