Auto Express – August 20, 2019

60 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Theultimateguide to

modern classiccars

Years produced: 2002-2004

Price range: £3,500-£15,000 Rarity:★★★★★

Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★

BMWE36

3Series

Years produced: 1990-2000

Price range: £500-£6,000 Rarity:★★★★★★★★

Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★

THEMk4Golfwasinitiallyabitofadisappointmenttofansoffast

Volkswagens,withalacklustreGTImodelpoweredbyaweedy

1.8-litreturbopetrolengine.Yet,allwasforgivenwhentheR32

wasrevealed,featuringanew3.2-litreVR6enginethatproduced

238bhp.Ithadfour-wheeldrive,whichmeantitcouldholditsown

againstafastBMWorturboSubaruthroughthecorners,too.It

wasalsothefirstVWtousetheDSGdual-clutchautomatic

gearbox,althoughasix-speedmanualwasalsoavailable.

Whilethedrivetrainwasnew,therestofthecarhadtheusual

Golfpracticalityandquality.TheR32wasexpensivenewandonly

stayedinproductionfortwoyears,soit’srarenowandsoughtafter

bycollectors.Dealersaskmorethan£15,000forthebestcars.

AFTERaBMW3Seriesturns10yearsold,itentersa

zonewhereit’saffordabletopeoplewholikedubious

modificationsandcan’taffordpropermaintenance.

Thosethatsurvivetheseyearsunscathedgradually

becomeinterestingandwillgetadmiringglances.The

oldestE363Seriesmodelsarenowapproachingtheir

30thbirthday,andunmodified,tidyexamplesare

definitelyworthalook,especiallythesix-cylinderpetrol

modelswithTouring,CoupéorConvertiblebodies.

expertview

Weightandcomplexity

meanthattheR32

isn’tatruehothatch

–butithasappeal

asamini-GTwitha

V6exhaustnote.

JohnMcIlroy

Deputy editor

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R32