9 modern-classic ’90s wagons for under £9k

Wicked wagons

Estate cars went from fusty to feral in the 1990s as car makers unleashed a barrage of fast load luggers that showed you didn’t have to drive a boring practical car during the week and only get your rocks off at weekends.

And the best news is that those ’90s cars are only on the cusp of classic status – so as well as being usable, they’re also still affordable.

1. Audi S4 (£5-8000)

Prices for the iconic RS2 went interstellar years ago, and its S2 little brother isn’t far behind. But the later S4 doesn’t require anything like the same investment.

Available in both saloon and Avant estate shapes, it came with a 261bhp 30v twin-turbo V6 that was good for 0-62mph in 5.9sec. Score extra cool points for a desirable Nogara blue one.

2. BMW 540i (£3-7000)

BMW didn’t build a Touring version of the M5 on the 1995-2003 E39 chassis, but the 540i was no slouch.

The M62 V8 punched out 282bhp, and pushed the 540i to 62mph in just over 6 secs, something the single exhaust pipe hardly hinted at. You could even order it with a manual gearbox.

3. Honda Civic Aerodeck VTi (£2-5000)

One of the greatest sleepers ever, the VTi Aerodeck fused the screaming 167bhp 1.8 from Honda’s contemporary hot hatch with a sensible estate body, often painted in OAP-spec metallic burgundy.

Thousands of them were unwittingly bought by the kind of people who have doilies on their dining table and who, fortunately for their hearts, never got near the 6000rpm VTEC cam switch point.

4. Mercedes E55 AMG (£5-12,000)

Not to be confused with the later kompressor supercharged E55, these late ’90s AMGs still packed some welly – and offered room to pack the wet dog to go with them.

Build quality wasn’t a strong suit on Benzes of this era, but a 0-62mph time of 5.2 secs and a noise like cruise night on Detroit’s Woodward Avenue will take your mind off the creeping rust.

5. Audi Allroad (£2-5000)

Both BMW and Audi launched go-anywhere luxury cars in 1999, but while BMW opted for an SUV, Audi decided to jack up its A6 executive car and bolt on some tougher bumpers.

Choose from a detuned version of the S4’s turbo V6 or a growly 2.5-litre diesel that’s not actually that much cheaper to run (a ruinous 4.2 V8 was added later).

Allroads are usually very well equipped and are currently great value, but watch out for leaking air springs.

6. Volvo 850 T5 (£2-10,000)

The 850 T5 transformed Volvo’s image from antiquarian to anarchist in one boxy sweep thanks to its boosted 222bhp inline five.

Volvo even entered an estate version in the BTCC to ram the message home, and while it didn’t win any races, it did win fans – including in Britain’s police forces.

The special 243bhp T5-R (pictured above) and its 850R follow up offered even more stonk, but less stealth.

7. Ford Granada 24v (£2-7000)

Here’s one old fast Ford you can afford without needing to sell an organ – and, unlike with the later Scorpio, you won’t need a cornea transplant every time you lift the garage door and clap eyes on it either.

These late Mk3 Granadas are a rare find, and many have had their engines yanked for new lives under Sierra bonnets.

No wonder: the twin-cam Cosworth heads boosted the power of the Cologne V6 from 148bhp to almost 200.

8. Subaru Impreza Turbo (£2-6000)

Throbbier than an anvil-inflicted head wound in a Tom and Jerry short, Subaru’s turbocharged boxer ‘four’ helped turn the Impreza into a legend both on the road and on rally stages.

Rot and rotten attempts at modifying have ruined many, but there are still plenty to choose from, including the faster, more focused WRX and STi versions that the UK didn’t get until the start of the new century.

9. Vauxhall Omega V6 (£1-4000)

GM’s last attempt at a mass-market luxury car was a good one, but a ready supply of cheap, used BMWs, Audis and Mercs means it’s long forgotten.

The gruff four-cylinder 2.2s make the most sense, but the Omega’s rear-drive chassis is genuinely fun to punt through corners, so it’d be rude not to hunt out a 200bhp+ upscale Elite or MV6. Think Carlton GSi3000, but with a wardrobe-shaped backpack.