Sleeper cars come in all shapes and sizes. That's what makes them so appealing. That equates to a potential muscle car killer hiding in plain sight on every street corner. The Germans excel at making sleeper cars, often shoehorning performance engines into the most unassuming shells.
The legendary Mercedes-Benz 500E can get classified as a sleeper. It was a plain-looking car that packed a huge punch – and that is the key to sleeper vehicles. They're cars that trick unsuspecting gearheads. Vehicles that get presumed to lack horsepower, before delivering a knock-out blow.
Many of these German sleepers fall within the affordable bracket. Often forgotten about, or ignored by buyers. They offer up sensational thrills at sensible prices without drawing much attention. So for gearheads who are looking for something different, here are 10 German sleeper cars that are surprisingly cheap to own and maintain.
10 Mercedes-Benz R500 (From $7,500)
Buying a minivan can signal the end for some gearheads. No more fun: just practicality, and boredom. A vehicle is laden with children, all their stuff, and clutter. That needn't be the case. As the Mercedes-Benz R500 is a great package that has suffered huge depreciation.
A spacious and luxurious minivan, the R500 boasts a 5.0-liter V8 with 301 hp. It will rocket to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds thanks to its AWD system. Elegant and potent, the R500 can act as an executive shuttle, school-run darling, and drag strip hero. It also sounds fantastic.
9 BMW 535d F10 Wagon (From $14,000)
Diesel-engined cars are very popular in Europe. Mostly down to the high gasoline prices. That means their diesel-powered monsters are relatively common. And the BMW 353d wagon is one of the best. Looking like every other wagon in the range, it packs an almighty punch.
A 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six spools out 313 hp. More impressively, it develops 464 lb-ft of torque. This allows the humble estate to rocket to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Phenomenal performance in plain skin. On a cruise, the BMW 353d will reward a driver with circa 40 mpg.
8 Smart ForFour Brabus (From $5,000)
The first wave of Smart cars were curious vehicles – Cleverly designed city cars aimed at those who were looking to save on running costs... that was until Brabus got involved. Utilizing all their know-how, they transformed the small four-seater hatch into a fire-breathing oddity.
Subtle styling modifications, suspension tweaks, and more power. The Smart ForFour Brabus made 174 hp and would hit 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Reliable, and great fun to drive, the little hot hatch would tear through twisting roads with fervor.
7 Audi Q7 4.2 TDI (From $10,000)
A seven-seater with a plush interior. The Audi Q7 isn't the obvious choice for blowing cars away at the lights. But thanks to its 4.2-liter V8 diesel engine, it delivers startling performance. An impressive 326 hp and colossal 560 lb-ft of torque are on offer. Big numbers for an SUV.
All that grunt allows for a 0-60 mph run of 6.1 seconds. The turbo-fed engine is smooth in its delivery. It also weathers high mileage and returns a combined 24 mpg. Noted as being superb on long journeys, the Q7 is ideal for those seeking space, power, and towing prowess.
6 Opel Insignia GSI (From $22,000)
Opel Insignia is a big seller in Europe. It offers excellent build quality, comfort, and reliability. The hot GSI version hides its potential well. Fairly drab on the outside, it makes a great sleeper with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and traction-finding four-wheel drive system.
Boasting 256 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, the GSI will launch at 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. On the move, it is very responsive in gear. Grip levels are huge. A superb all-weather vehicle, it is an impressive performance car – one that will last and not cost a fortune to keep on the road.
5 BMW 130i From ($7,000)
There are so many 1 Series BMWs on the road that picking out the fast versions can be tricky, especially when lesser models get pimped up to look faster than they are. This works to the advantage of the BMW 130i. A car that got hailed as being as good to drive as an E46 M3.
A peach of an engine lurks under the hood. A silky smooth 3.0-liter straight-six with 261 hp. Deploying that power will see the little car hit 60 mph in 6 seconds. Rear-wheel drive and very playful, the BMW 130i is a bomb-proof motor that enjoys hard driving. A real gem.
4 Volkswagen Passat R36 (From $11,000)
One of the most boring-looking cars on the road. The older Volkswagen Passat has no redeeming style features. It's a car that does its job without fuss. A yawn of a car. The R36 version though gets lots of exciting upgrades. It still looks rather staid, and it is all the better for it.
The list of tasty bits is extensive. A 3.6-liter V6 with 296 hp feeding a sports exhaust, all-wheel drive, and racing suspension and giving the R36 the ability to hit 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Highly entertaining to drive, the engine rasps and barks at wide-open throttle.
3 Skoda Superb 280 SportLine (From $30,000)
Walking around a Skoda Superb SportLine can leave a gearhead underwhelmed. It's an average-looking car, – one that doesn't brag about its pedigree – which is why it is one of the best modern sleepers out there. A true unicorn. And a bit of a beast, but in smart shoes.
Think of it as a performance bargain. The Skoda gets a four-wheel drive system. A 2.0-liter 276-hp engine. Plenty of grip and poise from the chassis and can rocket to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. It's much like a fast Audi, but much cheaper to buy and drawing a lot less attention.
2 Audi Allroad BiTDI (From $12,000)
The Audi A6 Allroad is an estate car with a fondness for basic off-roading. It's a versatile car, that families love. An Audi Allroad has loads of internal space, rides wonderfully, and eats up miles. What they're not famed for is their turn of pace, which works well for the Bi-Turbo.
Power comes courtesy of a 3.0-liter twin-turbo diesel V6. This setup delivers 308 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. That's enough to propel the family wagon to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. A wallet-friendly 40 mpg is also on offer. That's enough grunt to shame several leading hot hatches.
1 Volkswagen Beetle Turbo (From $16,000)
A cute little love bug with a bite, the Volkswagen Beetle Turbo borrows its best bits from the Golf GTI. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI engine makes 211 hp, allowing this frisky Beetle to scamper to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which is plenty fast enough.
The last thing you expect to get beaten by at the lights is a Beetle. The engine itself is plenty powerful enough in the basic specification, but there are loads of tuning options out there. This means anyone looking to create the ultimate sleeper could be looking at a perfect base.
Sources: Parkers, AutoTempest