German cars have a nasty habit of getting overhyped, something to do with an eager fan base and very big marketing budgets.

Occasionally, one or two cars do fly under the radar, somehow escaping the watchful eye of the faithful, and for whatever reason don't get much of the marketing budget. Today, some of these cars have gone on to become coveted classics, others are still attainable and are showing no signs of becoming valuable any time soon. One thing is for sure, though, all of these sports cars deserve to be driven before you judge them.

10 Volks-Porsche 914

1976 Porsche 914
Via Bring A Trailer

When it came out it was derided, Porsche wanted it to be their budget offering, but it turned out that there was very little Porsche actually in the car.

1969 Porsche 914--Top Speed
via: Top Speed

It was very much a VW product, which made the confusingly VW-Porsche badged cars the most accurate. If you look at it for what it is, a nimble, affordable little VW sports car wearing a Porsche emblem, then it is actually a great car. Even if it is technically an awful Porsche…

9 BMW 840Ci

A Silver BMW 840Ci 1998
Via Wikipedia

When the 8 series came along in the early 90s it was a technological marvel, it was also a bit of a maintenance nightmare thanks to all the complex electronics.

1995 BMW 840Ci 5-Speed Sports Car
Via: BringaTrailer

As much as the V8 engine didn’t cure all those gremlins, parts for these V8s are more easily and cheaply found, bringing down the running costs substantially compared to the admittedly more desirable V12.

Related: 8 Reasons Why We Love The E31 BMW 8-Series (2 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)

8 Porsche Boxster

Porsche Boxster 986 (2003)
via: redd.it

Today, everyone can appreciate how good the modern Boxster and Cayman sports cars are. Back in the 90s, the Boxster 986 was an unknown quantity and Porsche had a checkered history with their past budget sports cars. Time would certainly prove the value of the original Boxster, after a bumpy first few years with the 2.5-liter engine, they switched to a 2.7-liter layout and that banished pretty much all the demons.

2004 Porsche Boxster 986
via Autobytel

It also shared more than just a passing resemblance to the 996 generation 911, with the two cars almost identical in front of the A-pillars. Although that fact might annoy 996 owners, it just goes to show what great value Boxster buyers were getting.

7 VW Corrado

1024px-VW_Corrado_(2347670773)

Most will agree that the VR6 Corrado is already a modern classic, but the more common and infinitely more affordable 1.8-liter cars were still excellent.

Red '92 Corrado
Via Wikimedia Commons: Steve M

In the vast world of VW cars, the Corrado is something of a drop in the ocean, and in many ways a bit of an odd duck, being a two door sporty car without really being a sports car. As a result it didn’t sell all that well and the model got axed, today it is the one VW most of us actually still want.

Related: Here's What Everyone Forgot About The Volkswagen Corrado

6 Audi TT

Silver Audi TT 1998
via Favcars

The first generation has a few infamous concerns, one of them involves the front end lifting at high speed, quite disconcerting in any performance car. We are not talking about the performance-oriented Quattro though.

Via NetCarShow.com

We are talking about the entry-level front-drive car, it had sharp handling and just enough performance to be fun and actually represents great value on the used market. You will also never be in danger of reaching a high enough speed for it to be dangerous.

5 BMW 1M Coupe

The front of the 1M Coupe
bmwblog.com

One of the most underrated modern performance cars is the lightweight 1M, named the 1M specifically, so people wouldn't confuse it with the M1 supercar.

The rear of the 1M Coupe
bmwblog.com

The 1M is actually faster and more fun to drive than the classic supercar though, it was pretty expensive when new, but the glories of depreciation mean prices are now tolerable.

Related: Here's What A 1970 BMW M1 Procar Costs Today

4 Mercedes-Benz SLK 32 AMG

4-Via-Collecting-Cars-Cropped-1
4-Via-Collecting-Cars-Cropped-1

Once the 55 AMG came along and gave the relatively small sports car a great big dollop of power, the 32 was forgotten.

Mercedes-Benz SLK 32 AMG
CarandClassic

It shouldn’t be the case, though, because the 32 AMG is by far the better sports car. The 55 turned it into a wild muscle car, but on track it is the 32 that will give you more thrills and fewer spills.

3 BMW Z1

BMW Z1
Via bmwblog.com

Today the Z1 is highly collectible, back in the late 80s and early 90s it was a revolutionary little car that very nearly didn’t get built.

BMW Z1 - Rear
Via CarPixel

It was BMW's first sports car in decades but was only really meant to be a concept car, the reception twisted their arm, and they decided to make a limited run of around 8,000 cars. It was priced very close to the Porsche 911 back then, so sales were understandably slow, a price well worth paying considering how much they are worth now.

Related: 10 Things Most Gearheads Forgot About The BMW Z1

2 Porsche 944 Turbo

hagerty 944 turbo
source:porsche

The front engine rear drive Porsches are cars even die-hard fans of the brand tend to avoid, but among all the misfits, the 944 turbo reigns supreme.

Porsche-944 Turbo Red Rear Quarter View
via Porsche Finder

Considering the power and fun factor it is one of the most underrated cars money can buy, you just have to get over the fact that it is not an authentic rear-engine Porsche.

1 BMW M Coupe

BMW Z3 M Coupe Front Quarter Silver
BMW

The flying clown shoe is the ultimate example of why companies will spend so much money on doing feasibility studies for new models. This car was not a necessary addition to their lineup, but that didn't change how awesome it was.

1999-BMW-M-Coupe
source: wsupercars

Ultimately it is one of the best BMW cars ever made, but the fact that it was more of an engineering project BMW just happened to put into production, the design wasn’t even part of the equation. If you want a better looking version, get the Z3 M, if you want a pure performance car, get the 325 horsepower clown shoe.