You can buy these fantastic cars for a fraction of what they cost new. They're great to drive and an excellent investment for the future...
Top 10 future icons
The years go by and what once seemed normal and everyday recedes into the rear view mirror. Case in point: did you realise the Jaguar XK8 is nearly 20 years old? Or that the Renault Sport Clio 182 Trophy was launched nearly a decade ago?
An entire tranche of brilliant enthusiast cars are currently in a transition phase from post-modern metal to classic car status. That means now's the time to pick up a bargain before everyone else cottons on.
We have something to suit all tastes here, from the transcontinental classiness of a big Jaguar GT to the fizzy hooliganism oflightweight French hot hatch. There are cars here ideal for track days, and others perfect for a cruise on a warm summer's evening. All of them, however, are the kind of cars you'll love to see when you open your garage door. The pleasure these cars provide is far beyond their current financial value. These cars are investments that demand to be driven, and once you start you really won't want to stop.
1. BMW M5 (2005-2010)
Arriving at the peak of V10 engine development in F1, no one could quite believe that BMW's M department had put a high-revving, naturally aspirated V10 engine under the bonnet of a 5-Series. Then we heard it for the first time and there could be no doubt: the wail from the quad tailpipes was unmistakeable, and a legend was born. Think 500bhp, an 800rpm redline, a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox and an optional HUD that looks more like a gunsight in M mode and you're there.
Why you want one
For the sheer decadence of having a V10 engine in a saloon. It matters not that the current M5 is a bit faster, because it only has a 'sensible' twin-turbo V8. From the very moment you touch the throttle and hear the intake roar, the E60 will have you hooked.
2. Mercedes-Benz SL500 (1989-2001)
When the R129 replaced the long-running R107 in 1989, it was one of the most advanced and forward-thinking cars money could buy. And it was successful, too, so there is no shortage of examples to buy and many have led easy lives in heated garages. A six-cylinder model is available and is very capable, but it's the V8 that has the proper X-factor you'll want from a hero car.
Why you want one
It's too easy to view the SL500 as the safe option - a stately, mature choice. But from the moment the big V8 gently whooshes into life it wins you over. Your heart rate drops and all seems well with the world - it should be prescribed by the NHS as a stress-buster. It has a surprising turn of speed, while its build integrity is something to behold.
3. Porsche Boxster S (1999-2004)
The Boxster was the car that saved Porsche as a company. After disastrous sales in the early 1990s, the ship was steadied by the sales success of the air-cooled 993, but the all-new Boxster - developed alongside the revolutionary water-cooled 996 - was vital if the company was to grow into the 21st Century. Buyers couldn't get enough of them - by 1999, a significantly more powerful 'S' model joined the Boxster range, with larger brakes and a six-speed gearbox.
Why you want one
If the Boxster has a problem, it's that it's too good. No other car does so much so well and so effortlessly. On a good road, it's sublime, and when you just want to get home it can do that too, perfectly. It's the quintessential modern sports car and a conspicuous bargain.
4. Ford Focus RS (2002-2003)
The automotive world has never been the same since Ford released the first Focus RS. It was a pivotal car in the timeline of hot hatch evolution: the first car to really gel together the recipe of 200bhp+, 2.0-litre turbo power, exotic suspension, a limited slip differential and extraordinary road and circuit performance in the modern era.
Why you want one
The steering wheel will tug this way and that over rough surfaces, and the ride is also firm, but the rush of boost is addictive. The car feels as if it's being dragged into the apex, rather than ever contemplating understeer. The Focus RS remains brilliant and we love it!
5. Renault Sport Clio 182 Trophy (2004 only)
The 182 Trophy is the ultimate traditional hot hatch, almost certainly the last of the breed. This was the generation of Clio that took over the mantle of true hot hatch from Peugeot, and as PSA's star waned, so the hardy band of enthusiasts at RenaultSport took on the challenge. All Clios are collectible, but the Trophy is the pinnacle - a final hurrah. Sachs dampers, Recaro seats, extra-light Speedline wheels and a global production run of just 550 - but it's the Trophy-only upgrade pack that make a great car even more special.
Why you want one
There's nothing like a Trophy. Those Sachs dampers give the car spectacular poise, as if it's hardwired to your body. No other car on sale today is so much fun, let alone a 10-year-old one, for this money. It really is the greatest quick Renault of old. That £7000 top valuation looks really low for a car of such talent.
6. Jaguar XK8 (1996-2006)
The XK8 dragged Jaguar into the modern era, even if it owed much to the XJS under its skin. But what a skin! Its curvaceous, fuselage-like form harked back to the E-type in a way that had chequebooks quivering around the world. Excitement was piled on two years after launch with the arrival of the supercharged XKR. Bulletproof reliability joined the party when the 4.0-litre was replaced by a reworked 4.2. The rest, as they say, is history.
Why you want one
XKs get under your skin. One of the more focused drivers' cars here, from the moment you climb into its snug cockpit, the XK8 wins you over. It's brilliantly usable, comfy and still handsome. It can also be hustled with verve - any car able to top 150mph deserves respect.
7. Volkswagen Corrado VR6 (1992-1995)
Volkswagen's innovative narrow-angle V6 engine added a touch of exotica to its sporting cars in the early 1990s. The pretty Corrado really benefited from this smooth and torque-laden power unit, realising the true potential of the Corrado's Golf MkII-based chassis. The car was a huge success, acquiring a form of 'it' status as a must-have. But many were driven too hard, so consequently they're a rare sight today. Nearly everyone has fond memory of a VR6 - a great reason alone to invest.
Why you want one
On paper, the idea of a Golf MkII-based coupe with a large V6 engine up front doesn't sound that promising. Then you get behind the wheel and the VR6 rapidly wins you over. The engine is a gem, both smooth and powerful, the handling is even better and the whole car is just so usable. It loves to rev, but soaks up the miles, and there's even decent room inside. It's already a hero car, so expect values to rise and rise.
8. Alfa Romeo 156 GTA (2001-2007)
The ultimate 156, the GTA was the pinnacle of Alfa's heartbreaking rollercoaster existence. In some senses, it was the car that had it all: an engine that nearly looks as good under the bonnet as the noise it makes, dashingly handsome styling, that badge and the Alfa heritage. It was hamstrung by a heavy engine over the nose in a FWD platform, meaning unbalanced handling if you're a hamfisted driver.
Why you want one
The 156 GTA will never be one of the great sports saloons, but in some ways its the suprise of our not so little gathering. It's like a big, hairy dog that slobbers on the furniture and chews your shoes. There are times when you'll curse the naughty old beast, but you'll adore it all the same and wouldn't be without it.
9. Citroen Saxo VTS (1997-2003)
The Saxo VTS was a great sales success for Citroen: a desirable hot hatch cast from the same mould as the Peugeot 205GTI. Most sporting ones sold in the UK were the eight-valve VTR, mainly because it was the insurable one at the time. The other reason was that the lower-powered VTR looked exactly the same as the full-fat 16-valve VTS. While the 'S' was the car everyone wanted, it has remained tantalisingly out of reach until relatively recently.
Why you want one
It will take effort to find a good VTS, as well as expenditure to rediscover the car's full potential. This will be well spent, because a good VTS is a terrier of a car, positively straining at the leash fromt he moment you wake it. It reaffirms that driving is all about involvement and passion.
10. Nissan Skyline GT-R (1999-2002)
The last of the Skyline-based, straight-six engined 'real' GT-Rs, the R34 is a PlayStation hero car and a blindingly obvious investment opportunity. Just think of all those youngsters who tuned their virtual GT-R up to 900bhp and then flung it around a digital Suzuka in Gran Turismpo back in the day. Guess what? They might want to buy a real one now. But the GT-R is more desirable in the eyes of those who appreciate its ability to defy physics.
Why you want one
The GT-R is a big, high-tech muscle car. Its imposing presence commands all around it. Inside, the driver is bombarded with technical information. The straight-six makes a unique noise, and the whole car couldn't be further from the PlayStation experience its detractors label it with. This car is amazing and 500bhp sounds oh-so tempting.
Originally featured in Issue 001 of Modern Classics magazine, pick up a copy by emailing Leise Enright at leise.enright@bauermedia.co.uk