John Wright's Top Buys for Fun and Affordable Cars

By: Unique Cars magazine staff

Date: 22.05.2017

We asked our resident car nuts to nominate five fun but affordable cars that you'd never lose your shirt on. Here's John Wright's top five...

JOHN WRIGHT'S TOP FIVE BUYS:

1. BMW E36 M3
Price range - $15,000 - $30,000

I have to rank this M3 first because I bought one on exactly this premise: what is the most underrated but affordable classic car on the market? The original E30 M3 was not built in right-hand drive but they still command mostly six-figure sums. While the six-cylinder E36 is less pure in concept – because not designed as a race car first – it is wonderful to drive. Interestingly, the early 210 kW five-speed cars seem rarer than the 232 kW six-speed Evolution. range is $15K to $30K for a 1994-95 coupe.

- Our shed: BMW E36 M3

2. FORD FALCON EB GT
Price range - $30,000 - $50,000

The EB Falcon GT may not have delivered the full 200 kW but its got style and that name makes it highly collectible.

- Ford Falcon EB GT review

3. MAZDA RX-7 TWIN TURBO
Price range - $20,000 - $40,000

The Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo that ate Bathurst must soon head the way of the R100 and RX-3.

- Mazda RX-7 Type R Bathurst review

4. VOLVO 850R
Price range - $7000 - $12,000

When I saw a Volvo 850R sedan (while researching this yarn) with a roadworthy and rego at $7500 it was all I could do not to ring up and buy it. The wagon would be even neater.

- Future classic: Volvo 960/S90

5. AUDI TT QUATTRO
Price range - $5000 - $10,000

My bargain basement special is the original Audi TT Quattro, a classic Bauhaus design of timeless beauty.

- Audi TT RS review

More top five picks from our team:

- Andy Enright
- David Morley
- Angelo Loupeteis
- Uncle Phil
- Guy Allen
- Cliff Chambers

Tell us what your top five choices would be: uniquecars@primecreative.com.au

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