58 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk
Theultimateguide to
modern classiccars
BMWZ3
Years produced: 1995-2002
Price range: £1,000-£10,000 Rarity:★★★★★
Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★
THEcombinationofaBMWbadgeandstrikingretrolookson
anaffordabledrop-toptwo-seaterwastoomuchformanybuyers
toresistwhentheZ3waslaunchedin1995.Itstillis,because
priceshavenowsliddowntoalevelwheretattycarsareless
than£1,000.Theearly1.9-litrefour-cylinderversionsarepretty
simplemechanically,too,soareeasytofixevenforacompetent
DIYmechanic.It’smoreofacruiserthanasportscar,though.
11
GERMAN
INVESTMENTS
Our top Audis, BMWs, Mercedes,
VWs and Vauxhall-badged Opels
Audi Cabrio/Coupé
Years produced: 1992-2002
Price range: £1,000-£10,000 Rarity:★★★★★★★
Maintenance:★★★★★★Investment:★★★★★★
WHILEthevalueoforiginalAudiQuattroshasgonethroughthe
roofandpricesofBMWE303Seriesmodelshaveshotup,the
AudiCoupéandCabriohavestayedverymuchinbangerterritory,
withpricesbarelyinfourfigures.Franklywecan’tunderstandwhy,
andthinktheclassiccarmarketwillsoonwakeuptothem,too.
Thetin-topAudiCoupéwasalwaysasolidandattractivecar,and
althoughtheConvertiblewasalittlemorewobbly(aproblem
withmanysoft-topcars),it’sstillaclassy-lookingthing.
expertview
Don’tthinkoftheZ3
astypicalpurists’
BMW;itgetsraggedif
youreallytrytoharry
it.Butit’sastylish
drop-topthatnow
looksgreatvalue.
JohnMcIlroy
Deputy editor
