High-performance cars from the 1990s and early 2000s can be snapped up for family hatchback money. We highlight our favourite 150mph-plus cars for less than two grand.
1 - BMW 535i (1996 – 2003)
The E39 BMW 5 Series saloon has a timeless design, while possessing a superb ride and decent handling. It also has a fine range of strong engines and, in 3.5-litre V8 guise, the BMW 535i is capable of topping out at 152mph.
The 535i isn’t the most common of E39s on the market, but we found a tidy 2003 model with an automatic gearbox and respectable 112,000 miles under its belt, for £1,950. The motors themselves are strong, but look out for worn rear suspension bushes and electrical niggles with the ECU.
For Elegant looks and a fabulous mile-muncher
Against Electrical problems can flare up from time-to-time
2 - Volvo V70 T5 estate (2000 – 2007)
There’s a good reason why many police constabularies across the UK employed the Volvo V70 T5 as a motorway chariot – because they’re highly durable, practical and a genuinely fast estate car.Powered by a 2.3-litre five cylinder turbocharged lump kicking out 250bhp, it’s capable of 0-62mph in 6.8sec and will keep on accelerating to 155mph.
Being a Volvo, the V70 T5 possesses thick, comfortable seats and a high safety rating. There are some leggy examples in the classifieds, but look hard and you can bag a 2003 T5 estate with respectable mileage for £1,800.
For Spacious cabin, interior quality and safety rating
Against Not the sharpest-handling estate
3 - Lexus LS400 (1990 – 2000)
One of the most well equipped luxury saloons of the 1990s, the Lexus LS400 was arguably ahead of its time when it was launched back in 1990. The premium Japanese car firm spent six years developing the LS400, racking up US$1 billion in development costs.
It paid off, though. Six-figure mileages are a regular sight with these luxury barges and there’s even one example on record in America with 902,000 miles on the clock and still going strong. Opt for a post-1997 example and the 4.0-litre V8 engine pumps out 290bhp, helping the big Lexus hit 155mph.
For Superbly-built luxury saloon with plenty of kit
Against Expensive consumable items, such as exhaust and tyres
4 - Mercedes-Benz CLK430 4.3 V8 (1997 – 2002)
The first-generation Mercedes-Benz CLK430 is a rare beast, but a persistent scan of the classifieds can yield a genuine four-seater coupe, with all the toys and a thunderous 275bhp 4.3-litre V8 engine under the bonnet.
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Second hand is useless
You can see cars such as Mercedes that cost £60,000 or more new advertised at a couple of thousand quid or less, but most buyers in that sector wouldn't be able to put on a set of decent new tyres, never mind pay for a major fault to be fixed. More and more cars are going to fall into this bracket in the future. Expenses are getting way, way out of hand and we will end up with a huge amount of costly scrap metal because those who would buy them when they are old couldn't afford to run them.
Volvo off the list please
The 155mph you quote was Volvo's clever advertising. "We don't know how fast it goes but it's limited to 155mph". At maximum revs in top gear it would be doing 155 mph, so technically speaking, the advertising was correct i.e. it is mechanically limited to 155mph. But it never had the power to reach that speed.
Second hearing