If you’re in the market for a new vehicle these days, you may find the prices staggering. And that means the market for pre-owned is growing.
Requirement: You yearn for good old German engineering from a time where not everything was electronic … and at an affordable price, too. Most of these cars were sold in relatively high volumes here in South Africa, so second-hand options aren’t exactly scarce (bar an exception or two). Below are five examples.
The 3 Series made its mark with the E30, with this being a successful follow-up. The 318i made use of a naturally aspirated 1,8-litre straight-four engine which pushed 103 kW to the rear wheels. Luxuries such as power steering, electric windows and central locking are all present and correct.
The first-generation C-Class was available with several engine outputs, including two AMG variants that never made their way to our shores. The C200, with its naturally aspirated 2,0-litre engine delivering 100 kW, was a popular choice. For those wanting a bit more power, supercharged Kompressor models are also available.
The first-generation Audi A4 is a curious engineering feat as it made use of a longitudinal engine mated to a front-wheel drive system. This particular model employs a 20-valve 1,8-litre engine worth 92 kW. Turbocharged or V6 quattro models are also available for those who want a spot more power.
On the less advanced side of the scale, there is the trusty Mk3 Jetta. Despite not being quite as luxurious as those cars detailed above, this model gained praise for its level of refinement, compared to the previous Jetta. The CLi made use of a fuel-injected 2,0-litre petrol engine with a power output of 85 kW, meaning it is capable enough of keeping up with the aforementioned sedans.
Ideally, we would have used the Opel Omega here, but we couldn’t find any. The Rekord, though, made use the 2,0-litre engine, but thanks to fuel injection, the peak power was pushed up to 81 kW. Truth be told, it will feel somewhat older than the other sedans on this list (which, of course, it is).
