Each decade saw its fair share of new vehicles. All gearheads know for a fact that the 60s and 70s were the best decades for muscle cars. Looking back, the Challenger and the Mustang were far more exciting back then than they were in the 80s. While this is true for muscle cars, it does not necessarily apply to sports cars across the Atlantic Ocean.

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The global automotive landscape of the '80s and '90s were definitely dominated by European cars. As a matter of fact, European carmakers cemented the reputation they earned in the 1950s but releasing vehicles that would dictate the way the automotive industry would be like. The most reliable European classic cars money can buy will make any gearhead as happy as ever.

10 1980 Renault 5 GT Turbo

French cars are not necessarily attractive. With that being said, the French seem to have a thing for hot hatchbacks. Cars such as the Renault Megane RS Trophy or the Peugeot 207 RC are far from stale baguettes.

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The Renault 5 Turbo is by definition the ultimate classic hot hatch. During the 80s, the French hatchback took part in WRC races and even won the Monte Carlo Rally. Behind the driver, there's a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-four engine that makes 158 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. It is important to underline the fact that the Renault 5 Turbo's curb weight is only 2,138 lbs. While far from cheap now, the Renault 5 Turbo is still the kind of European sports car you should buy before prices skyrocket.

9 1988 BMW M3

BMW "M" division was created back in the 70s in an effort to open the door for BMW's racing program. Between 1972 and 1988, the M division grew from 35 to over 400 employees. Several M-badged vehicles were released from the late 70s to the mid-80s, including the infamous M635 CSI. It would not be until 1986 that BMW released the car that changed the entire brand.

The very first M3 completely transformed the European car industry. It was the first time that BMW had made a sports car that was somewhat accessible. By today's standards, the 2.3-liter inline-four engine is not the most impressive motor ever made. However, back in 1986, 197 hp was not too shabby. The M3 was not just power. It came with a sport suspension system and an interior that was sportier than the norm.

8 1988 Porsche 959

When people think about Porsche, a plethora of vehicles come to mind. From the 550 Spyder, to the 935, to the outlandish Carrera GT, there has not been a decade in which Porsche was simply incapable of manufacturing a vehicle that wealthy gearheads would not like. During the 1980s, Porsche slammed its fists on the table by releasing one of the most respected sports cars ever made.

If there is one high-end sports car that shook up the industry back in the 80s, it is for sure the Porsche 959 S. Equipped with a mean twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter flat-six unit that makes 510 hp and 414 lb-ft of torque, the 959 meant business. It is fair to say that the 959 was up there, competing with the Lamborghini Countach and Ferrari F40. Consequently, the 959 is definitely not among the cheapest Porsches money can buy.

7 1988 Volkswagen Corrado

Volkswagen may not necessarily the brand one would go for if they are looking for a sports car that be driven aggressively the vast majority of the time. Though it is true that most Volkswagen cars cannot compare to the monsters released by Mercedes-Benz or BMW, the German carmaker did produce a couple of vehicles that were beyond amazing.

When the Corrado was revealed, the Scirocco was still being marketed. It was strange to see two cars from the same company essentially competing with one another. When looking at the fine print, it is easy to say that the Corrado was a notch above the Scirocco. The Corrado G60 came with a supercharged 1.8-liter inline-four powerplant that develops 158 hp. What truly makes the Corrado special is its spoiler. It was the very first car to be equipped with an electrically retractable spoiler.

6 1989 Ferrari Testarossa

Since its creation in 1947, Ferrari collected one victory after another, both on and off the track. In August 2020, the Italian company was valued at $30 billion, which is quite remarkable for a brand that barely uses conventional advertising mediums and targets a very specific demographic. The name Ferrari is always associated with socioeconomic success, which may partly explain why some classic Ferraris are worth more than $60 million.

The Ferrari Testarossa is one of the icons from 80s. Featured in Miami Vice, the car was perceived at the time as the cool car to own. The cheese grater panels gave the Testarossa a very peculiar look. In fact, it fit perfectly with the 4.9-liter flat-twelve that churns out 380 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Though the Testarossa has been eclipsed by newer and faster Ferraris, it will always remain the player's car of the 80s.

5 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

It is often wrongly believed that Mercedes-Benz is a car brand for senior citizens that did well for themselves. Though it is true that older folks tend to enjoy driving the comfortable and powerful German sedans, Mercedes cars are far from being tame. Anyone familiar with AMG-badged cars know for a fact that these things pack a serious Mike Tyson-like punch.

The Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II is a homologation special. It was created in an effort to beat BMW's M3 on the track. The mean-looking sedan is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter Cosworth inline-four engine that makes 232 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. On top of having an incredibly powerful four-cylinder unit, the Evolution II looks as if it is ready to beat its opponents on and off the track.

4 1995 Volkswagen Golf VR6

The Volkswagen Golf has been around since 1974. It is one of the most successful vehicles sold by the German car manufacturer, along with the Beetle. Two years after the Golf was released, Volkswagen released the more energetic GTI trim to the lineup. The following generations also inherited the GTI treatment, but things really got serious in the mid-90s.

The Golf GTI has been around for over 45 years. It is a decent low-end car with enough power to please its owners. Volkswagen upped the ante in 1995 by introducing its now legendary VR6 engine. The VR6 is Volkswagen's own take on a V6 engine. Its very first version produces 172 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. It may not seem like much, but it gave Volkswagen an edge over the competition.

3 1996 Porsche Boxster

Back in the 90s, Porsche was in deep trouble. Nearing bankruptcy, the company did what every business would do during tough times: it raised the price of its 911s. However, it is commonly known that increasing the price of a product must be done extremely carefully. As the German automaker was on the verge of financial collapse and desperately needed to reverse the trend, it did the unimaginable.

The Porsche Boxster is one of the most underrated European sports cars of the '90s, but it does not deserve all the hate it has received over the past 25 years. In fact, the Boxster is a decently powered roadster that looks somewhat attractive. The 2.5-liter flat-six engine makes 201 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. The Boxster was cheaper than the 911, and therefore attracted people that would have normally not considered buying a Porsche.

2 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV

When looking at supercars from the 1980s, it is fair to say that the Countach dominated the decade. With Lamborghini setting the bar very high, it became necessary for Lamborghini to come up with a new concept for the 1990s. What came out of Lamborghini's Research & Development Department is a beast that is still fondly remembered by gearheads worldwide.

The Lamborghini Diablo is the ultimate supercar of the 90s. Nothing made during that era came close to becoming as popular and admired as the Diablo. At the time, the car looked like it had come from the future. The centered exhaust tips and the large wing complimented the car's beautiful physique. Moreover, the 5.7-liter V12 that pumps out 485 hp never failed to disappoint its owners.

1 1999 BMW X5

Back in the 1980s, the two major producers of SUVs were Jeep and Range Rover. Though there were other companies manufacturing SUVs, it was nothing like today. When looking at today's SUV scene, it is fair to say that about every single carmaker has at least one SUV in its lineup. As a matter of fact, even high-end car companies like Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini have developed their own SUVs.

BMW was the very first car manufacturer to come up with an SUV equipped with a potent engine. In fact, it is the very traditional automaker to join the SUV craze. The very first edition of the X5 was released in 1999, when most carmakers were still focusing on coming up with station wagons. To a certain extent, the X5 paved the way for all the SUVs currently on the road.