Our editors' five favourite wallflowers
They're under-appreciated, but affordable and kind of rare. Just watch out for parts and service costsHistory is littered with cars that someone, somewhere loves – frequently without any logical basis.
Often these cars, which are unloved by the masses, end up as 'orphans' – vehicles that sold in niche volumes and were quickly relegated to 'forgotten' status.
Here, we've compiled a list of five cars that were personally memorable, if not especially popular in their day.
Editor in Chief, Mike Sinclair
There's something very special about five-cylinder cars – and it's all about the ear. Fives have a marvellously rich lilt which, as the pressure comes on, transforms to a howl that's half motorcycle, half F1 car.
And when fives come to mind, the front-drive Volvo 850 T5-R is one of the unsung heroes.
Big wheels and a low, serious stance somehow turned the square-rigged mid-90s Swedish sedan from oh so mild to almost wild. Especially in the pale yellow colour that stood out so rabidly against a sea of sensible German colours.
Tuned (and many were), the T5-R was good for a genuine 230kW at the front wheels, and with the help of a decent diff and sticky tyres, capable of 0-100km/h in a properly quick 6sec or so. And it was a hoot to drive fast. Almost like the world's largest hot hatch.
They're rare Down Under, but ridiculously cheap. I'm reticent to tell you any of this – I want one and you're all going to snap them up.
Engine: Turbocharged five-cylinder, 2.3-litre
Power: 177kW @ 5600rpm
Torque: 330Nm @ 3000rpm
Transmission: five-speed manual or four-speed auto
Final drive: Front
Price when new: $74,950 (manual), $75,950 (auto)
A decent T5-R with moderate km's on the clock are getting harder to find - but if you come across a desirable manual for around $15,000 then we can advise that it wont be for sale for very long.
Managing Editor, Marton Pettendy
Affectionately known as the Silvia in markets outside Australia, where the sixth-generation S15 model carved itself an enviable reputation before it was axed – a victim of changing environmental regulations – in late 2003. The 200SX was Nissan's last affordable rear-drive performance coupe.
Sure, the six-cylinder 350Z two-seater coupe and convertible arrived Down Under earlier that year, priced from about $60,000, but we're still waiting for a compact, stylish and accessible 2+2 coupe from Nissan with the type of rear-drive turbo-four performance that made the 200SX such a hit with enthusiasts.
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder, 2.0-litre
Power: 147kW @ 6400rpm
Torque: 265Nm @ 4800rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or four-speed automatic
Final drive: Rear
Price when new: $42,900 (Spec S)
As we go to print, there's a tidy-looking original Spec R S15 (the later of the two generations) – a manual in yellow – asking just under $16,000 with 149,000km on the clock.
Alfa Romeo 164
Technical Editor, Ken Gratton
Pictures of the Alfa 164 could never do the car justice. In the pages of a magazine the traditional Alfa grille seemed horribly out of place on the sharp, slinky Pininfarina design.
But in the flesh the 164's styling was chic, yet purposeful. As I climbed into a car out the back of Talbot Motors in February 1989, I couldn't help but be impressed by the stylish and modern interior.
One of the most underrated luxury sedans I've driven, it was nothing like the stodgy Alfa 90 that preceded it. The 3.0-litre V6 was glorious and powerful, and the steering was so precise... in a way that I've rarely encountered in any large front-wheel drive car since then.
In 2016 the manual-only 164 Quadrifoglio (164 Q), with its uprated engine and added equipment, is a car worth the extra time searching for. But even the cloth-trimmed 164 Scala is hard to find. Let's face it, the 164 is just plain rare; you might have to track one down through the Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia
Engine: Fuel injected V6, 3.0-litre
Power: 149kW @ 5800rpm (164 Q)
Torque: 269Nm @ 4400rpm (164 Q)
Transmission: Five-speed manual (164 Q)
Final drive: Front
Price when new: $72,900 (164 Q)
A vendor recently sold a 164 Q with a dud starter motor. The asking price had been $2999.
Road Test Editor, Matt Brogan
Some might blame its awkward name, but the truth is the pro_cee'd GT was a fantastic sports hatch let down by just two prominent factors: a three-door-only body-style and lack of automatic transmission.
Scoring third place in our 2014 Warm Hatch Comparison and 12th in our inaugural Australia's Best Driver's Car awards the potent, fun-handling Kia hatch was something of a bargain in its segment; its $29,990 list price including a 150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre four-pot turbo capable of a 0-100km/h time of 7.7sec.
Quietly withdrawn from sale in March 2016 the pro_cee'd GT remains an enjoyable drive backed by a long warranty. It can now be found second-hand for as little as $21,500.
Engine: Fuel injected four-cylinder, 1.6-litre
Power: 150kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 265Nm @ 1750-4500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Final drive: Front
Price when new: $29,990
At last count, 12 cars were listed for sale, ranging in pri_c'e from $21,500 to $24,990. None have travelled more than 30,000km.
Staff Journalist, Feann Torr
A fan of JDM tuners, the S2000's F20C engine was a 2.0-litre VTEC unit that wound up to 8800rpm and it made the car a handful! It's one of those machines you'd almost rather follow than steer at the limit, especially on a turning, twisting mountain pass. It was a little skittish when the VTEC kicked in and the rear-drive two-seater could be described as tail-happy.
But what a spirited car to cruise in, and handsome to boot. Developing 177kW of power above 8000rpm and 208Nm above 7000rpm, this was a car that loved to driven hard. It looks great today with the hard tonneau roof (and Spoon body kit if I may say so) and is significantly more affordable than when new. And I'm seriously considering getting one – but finding one with no mods is tricky . . .
Engine: Fuel-injected four-cylinder, 2.0-litre
Power: 176kW @ 8300rpm
Torque: 208Nm @ 7500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or four-speed automatic
Final drive: Rear
Price when new: $73,590
You can step into an S2000 for an asking price as low as $14,000 for a 2000 model.
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