Regardless if you are a car enthusiast, like me, or you just do not want to buy a boring car, this article is for you. After all, people say that life is short and we don’t have time for boring cars, right? This article goes a bit specialized as we will only look at European cars and on top of all – for the budget of not more than 5000 euro.
So what are the most rewarding and exciting to drive European cars under 5000 euro?
- Audi S3 (8L)
- Audi TT (8N)
- BMW 3-series (e36)
- BMW 3-series (e46)
- BMW 5-series (e39)
- Ford Fiesta ST (Mk6)
- Peugeot 306 GTI-6
- Renault Sport Clio 2 RS 182
- VW Golf GTI (Mk5).
I might be partially repeating myself with the other article I did for fun cars you can own for less than $5000 but that other article is for fun cars in a more general context. Moreover, the other article’s list was with attention to safety too, whereas this one you are reading right now is aimed only towards sheer driving pleasure. So let’s explore the above list in more detail and see why every car on it has been chosen.
We start alphabetically with the Audis. The first S3 (with internal designation 8L) was a turbo beast based on the Mark 4 Golf and featuring a Haldex 4×4 system which drove all 4 wheels when the traction of the front ones wasn’t sufficient. Unlike the Golf Mk4 GTI though, the S3’s 4×4 made it much more planted, which can be considered as its primary source of driving pleasure along with its horses and size. It had a little over 200 hp from the factory but the turbo makes it easy to take the car’s power to the next level. Also, since the car is small, it is pretty tossable and a very convenient town car. It was produced between 1999 and 2003.
More of the same but with a bit more contradictory style with the first Audi TT. Like the S3, it was based on the Mk4 Golf platform and you get a Haldex 4×4 drivetrain for the most potent turbo version which has the same engine and output as the hot hatchback. The labelled as Quattro 4×4 system was also available with other versions from the range as an option. The TT feels sporty from the inside as you sit low down and this, amplified by the small size of the vehicle and the drivetrain, makes it an eager driver’s car. The German coupe was produced from 1998 to 2006 but I recommend getting one from the facelift after 2003 as the ones before it suffered from high speed and cornering instability. If you get one from the first years of production, make sure it was recalled to have this instability fixed.
BMW time. This list would have been laughable if some cars from this manufacturer weren’t included and rightly so. Fortunately for the budget of 5 thousand euro, you can get cars from the widely regarded as the last true BMW era, which was the 90s and early 00s. We start with the e36 3-series, which is simple and simply brilliant to drive. Produced in the last decade of the 20th century, it has that analogue feel which most of us, petrol heads, crave and was largely not affected by the BMW’s urge to wire everything in their cars (making them much more complicated) which came with later generations. You can get the e36 with an array of engines but I suggest going for the smooth and pretty decent in power top of the range naturally aspirated 6-cylinder ones – the 2.5- and 2.8-litres. It also featured a multi-link rear suspension which is an improvement over the past generation – the e30.
Coming up is the next generation of the 3-series – the e46. Many enthusiasts will tell you that this is the best BMW you can buy if you want the authentic BMW feel. It is most probably true for a lot of people. The car is a very good blend of drivability, style and decent luxury. Also, it is too not very affected by the complex electronics BMW push for, although some new systems are present and they can make the ownership a bit more complicated. As with the e36, go for the bigger 6-cylinder engines (in the 325/328 or 330), although the smaller one – in the 323 is also not too bad in terms of performance. Choose a manual transmission and do not opt for the X-drive (BMWs 4×4) for full driving pleasure. The e46 was produced from 1997 to 2006.
The last BMW in our list is the 5-series e39. With a poised ride, superb drivability and a strong presence, especially if with the M-pack bumpers, angel eyes and bigger rims, it is perhaps the best BMW for many of the petrol heads who associate themselves with the brand’s motto – “The ultimate driving machine” but also like this other image of BMW – the image of composure, alpha presence and discreet maliciousness which especially the bigger models have. And the fact that you can have one of these e39s with the top of the range 4.4-litre V8 for less than 5000 euro makes this car a wonderful value for money. If you opt for the 540 though, which is with the aforementioned V8 engine, know that the earlier motors featured a Nikasil cylinder walls coverage which makes the engine extremely durable until the coverage is there. The Nikasil, however, is sensitive to the sulfur in the petrol so if you live in a part of the world with higher levels of sulfur in the gasoline, be warned. If you don’t want a V8, get it with one of the same engines recommended for the e46. This 5-series was produced from 1995 until 2003.
We continue with the Ford Fiesta ST fifth-gen. This generation of the small car was made from 2002 and 2008 and the ST was introduced in 2004. It has a 2-litre naturally aspirated engine producing 150 hp and this is sufficient for dynamic driving in the city which is this car’s natural habitat. It will not set any lap records anywhere (the circulated 0-100 km/h time is 8.4 seconds) but it feels very nippy and with that traditionally well-sorted suspension by Ford, it is a joy to drive. Apart from this, the ownership and maintenance of the car are very affordable.
Stirring up in the mix some French cars, the first one being the Peugeot 306 GTI-6. Like the Fiesta above, it was not a really fast car, achieving a similar 0-100 km/h as the latter. What this car was great in was cornering. During the 90s, Peugeot made some fabulously cornering machines and the 306 was one of the best. In terms of the engine, it has a 2-litre 4-cylinder producing 167 hp. The GTI-6 was made from 1996 to 2001.
Moving on to yet another hot hatch – the Renault Sport Clio 2 RS 182 (that’s a long name and you can also see other variations of it). Renault has made one of the best hot hatches historically and the Clio 182 is one of them. It has a fantastic chassis and due to its lightness, weighing only 1100 kg, it is fast, getting to 100 in about 7 seconds and provides cornering joy in tons. As the name implies, it has 182 PS from its 2-litre non-turbo engine which makes this car a pocket rocket. You sit relatively low and due to the cramped interior, you may feel like you are driving a fighter jet on the road. It was produced only from 2004 to 2005.
We finish with the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The list just wouldn’t be complete without it, don’t you agree? Good thing that VW made the fifth generation properly as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th were just a shadow of the original GTI. With the Mk5 GTI, VW finally made a worthy successor to the daddy of all hot hatches. It was sold with a turbocharged 2-litre engine producing about 200 hp and it is a joyous car to drive. Front-wheel drive only, as the original, and with an excellent chassis to give you lots of smiles when cornering. The steering is direct and the acceleration and torque – very pleasant indeed. The Mark 5 GTI will get you from 0 to 100 in about 7 seconds and will not break the bank if it breaks down. Also, it is well equipped for the time during which it was produced so you can cruise in comfort when you are not goofing around the public streets with a grin on your face which this car inspires you to do.
As always I hope this article was useful to you, stay tuned for more and I wish you a great day!
Images by: Marc Schaefer, Loris Demaria, Martin Katler. Thank you, guys!