The 1980s were quite an interesting decade. A lot went in the world, but even more went on in the car world. Aged '70s models, suffering from results of stricter emission controls and power regulations, now got completely new, boxier designs to represent the modern era. Emphasis was no longer put on style and comfort as much as on technology and efficiency. It was a time of radical change in the automotive industry, and not for the worse either.
A lot of good machines came out of the 1980s. In fact, some of the greatest and most collectible cars we've ever seen came from this decade (think Ferrari F-40, Lamborghini Countach, or even the DeLorean). A lot of these also flew under the radar, meaning some great classics may very well be out there and you won't even know about them.
This list contains 15 of the coolest cars from the '80s that you can buy for a cheap price even today, and they are all worth it too. Some of these are a brilliant buy that's bound to pay itself off in the long run.
15 Audi Coupe - $6,000
The Audi Coupe is essentially a cheaper Audi Quatrro. And of course, you're not going to find one of those in good condition for cheap. But you can find a Coupe for a good price. Four-wheel drive like the Quattro was an option, however, and it came with a choice of a Golf GTI1.8 engine or a naturally aspirated five-cylinder beast.
14 Chevrolet Corvette C4 - $6,000
Want a decent Corvette for a good price? Look no further than the C4. A solid 300 horsepower comes courtesy of the V8 under the hood, and for the price you're paying, that's quite a lot of ponies. The newer you aim for, the more expensive the Corvette is going to get. But, the C4 still represents a great ratio of price and performance, and it's not too hard on the eye, either.
13 Maserati Bi-Turbo - $15,000
Maserati cars are not totally famous for their reliability. And not all of them have been the best lookers throughout the years. The Bi-Turbo is one such machine. That said, it doesn’t half have some speed and it is a pretty quirky machine as well. Plus it is a lot more affordable than similar Ferrari’s.
12 Renault GTA Turbo - $12,000
What you're looking at here is Renault's slight attempt in mimicking Porsche. And it's certainly one of the more unusual cars on this list. A six-cylinder engine over the rear wheels gave it that 911 credentials, and nowadays, good ones can go for relatively low prices. Look after it well and it’ll last a while.
11 BMW M5 E34 - $13,000
While this is not the rarest BMW, the E34 M5 does have its perks. First of all, no one can say that this BMW is not a looker. It sports that classic BMW performance sedan vibe, with some of the most well-rounded bodyworks of all BMWs ever.
It also happens to be incredibly fast. Yes, these produce roughly 315 horsepower from the factory (a 340-horsepower engine got introduced early in the '90s as well). Due to their "sleeper" status, these can be tuned to surprise everyone on the road. Plus, good ones can be really cheap, and they are really good cars to own.
10 Mazda MX-5 Miata - $17,000
Everyone loves a good Miata. Even if the Honda S2000 was a bit more of an oddity, the MX-5 Miata is a pretty good car in itself. It was fast, nimble, and earlier editions of the car were very pretty. You’d be surprised at how little some good ones here can go for.
9 Ford Sierra XR4i - $8,000
The Sierra XR4i does not quite get the same level of affection as say, a Ford Sierra Cosworth. And that probably isn’t a surprise, given it perhaps isn't as good. But, the XR4i is much rarer. Despite that, it can go for pretty reasonable money. So you aren’t going to be short-changed, and they are still sought-after enough cars.
8 Lotus Excel - $10,000
While it may look weird from some angles, the Lotus Excel retains the aesthetics Lotus was famous for in the '70s and '80. And a twin-cam 2.2L engine, it delivers a good amount of power as well. Oh yeah, it’s the same engine that you can find in the Lotus Esprit. All Excels, including the beefier 180 bhp version, handle superbly. And 160 bhp in the standard version is nothing to cry about.
7 Renault 21 Turbo - $8,000
Another Renault Turbo. And quite a good-looking one too. It was sort of France’s answer to the Ford Sierra Cosworth. It was not quite as powerful, with its horsepower output ranging from 175 to 204, but it was a pretty puncher performer nevertheless. Later Quadra editions saw four-wheel-drive introduced to the model too, which made it all the more fun in tight corners. For a $8,000 '80s classic, not bad, really.
6 Jaguar XJS - $12,000
Though still not in the same league as the Jaguar E-Type (we all know how revered and priceless those can be), the XJS seems to have gained quite a decent following. The trademark Jaguar style is all there, complete with leather trimmings and deep wooden accents, and the exterior is just as easy on the eye as the interior. Not only is the XJS stylish, but it can also put in a good performance and is probably more reliable than some of today's Jags. For $12,000 used, this car is really a bargain.
5 Mercedes 190E - $15,000
If you can get your hands on an '80s Mercedes-Benz in good condition, you can consider yourself lucky. The value of the 190E has shot up in recent years, but you can still find them for a good price. We recommend the 1988 model, which introduced a new, 204 bhp engine. Though, no one buys these for the power. They're quickly becoming coveted classic luxury sedans everyone wants to boast in their collection.
4 Volkswagen Golf GTI - $4,000
The Volkswagen GTI is a classic really. It is one of the cars that ushered in the "hot hatchback" era in Europe, and to this day, it remains a bit of an icon. And it became so in the United States as well. You can find good ones for good prices, and they are worth snapping up.
3 TVR Wedge - $20,000
TVR was never really famous for making truly reliable machines. But back in the day, they could produce a good car. The Wedge sports one of those love-it-or-hate-it types of designs, but we think it looks incredible for the era. These also happen to be extremely enjoyable to drive. 0-60 in one of these takes just under 5 seconds, thanks to a mighty 450 SEAC V8.
2 Mazda RX-7 - $7,000
Mazda RX-7 has become one of the best classic JDM cars there is. It's the car that made the Wankel rotary engine famous, both due to its performance and its sound. They handled well, they drove great, and what’s more, they always looked great too. Not much can beat a p well preserved RX-7, just look after that engine and you’re all good.
1 Porsche 928 - $15,000
The 928 is one of the most unique models Porsche ever made, and its value is bolstered even further by the fact that the company hasn't been producing these for a long time now. We love those pop up headlights, and some can be absolute steals even in 2020. Honestly, these things are really undervalued, and it’s weird that they are. Found one in good condition? You won't go wrong if you purchase it.