You Can Buy These Great-But-Forgotten Cars For Cheap In 2022

Over the years, the automotive industry has had new cars that receive a lot of love from the public and grow pretty popular, and they never go out of style or disappear. On the other hand, it has also had cars that are just great but somehow woefully underappreciated in their heyday, fading all too soon from the public's collective memory.

The good news about the latter is that some still have a passionate fanbase that keeps their dream alive. What's more, great-but-forgotten cars are reasonably cheap. The only catch about these cars is that one needs to put more effort into finding them, but they are out there. That said, here are some of the great-but-forgotten cheap used cars to buy in 2022.

10 Buick Reatta – $4,300

The Buick Reatta is one of the best of the underrated and forgotten American performance cars. The automaker presented the car in the late 1980s as their halo car and was available either as a two-seater coupe or convertible. It was built on a shortened GM E platform and powered by a 3.8-liter V6 with independent suspension and disc brakes.

All Reatta models were highly optioned cars at the time, and despite dating from the late 1980s, they featured a touch-screen display in the cabin and other modern tech features. Its production lasted only four years, with about 21,000 units produced. Today, a well-maintained 1989 Buick Reatta can be had for $4,300 for the coupe model, while the convertible variant ranges between $15,000 and $20,000.

9 Subaru SVX – $6,300

In the early 1990s, Subaru wanted to up its game in a big way. To achieve this goal, the company brought in the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro to design the SVX model. The car turned out to be a bit weird but marked Subaru's first try at 6-cylinder powertrains. With the new engine producing a decent 230 horsepower, the SVX was ranked among the fastest cars of the 1990s. Moreover, it featured the all-wheel-drive system now associated with the Subaru marque.

The 230-horsepower AWD car may not have been as powerful as many in its class, but it remains one of the favorite old foreign cars among many people in the United States. And with around $6,300, the used car market reveals several options of a well-kept 1992 Subaru SVX.

8 Volvo P1800 – $18,000

Not many people would associate the Volvo brand with a sexy, stunning sports coupe. Nevertheless, in the 1960s, Volvo was known for its exotic vehicles, and one of its sexiest models was the P1800. It was a celebrity in its own right, as Roger Moore's car in The Saint film.

The car was equipped with an inline four-cylinder engine that pushed out 100 horsepower. And although it wasn't the fastest car on the road, one would be hard-pressed to find a more elegantly beautiful car for $18,000.

7 Datsun 510 – $8,800

The Datsun 510 never dropped off the map for a serious car enthusiast, but for everyone else, it faded quietly out of the limelight. The car was offered as a four-door or two-door sedan and a four-door wagon, and it came powered by a 1.6-liter SOHC four-cylinder engine that churned out a healthy 96 horsepower.

Early in his career, race legend John Morton raced one as part of a relationship with the marque, and today, they still make pretty fantastic performance cars. A well-maintained 1968 Datsun 510 sells for around $8,800.

6 Volkswagen Corrado – $9,100

The Volkswagen Corrado was launched as a low-cost alternative to the Porsche 944. The standard model came equipped with a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine, there was also a supercharged 1.8-liter version that produced up to 158 horsepower, enough to sprint from 0-60 mph under 7.5 seconds. For those who needed more power, an optional 2.9-liter VR-6 was available, and it cranked out 180 horses and achieved 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. And if that's not enough, it also offered top-notch goodies like the electronic traction control and rear power spoiler.

According to Hagerty Price Guide, a well-kept 1990 Volkswagen Corrado can fetch around $9,100, while the Corrado VR6 comes with a price tag of $16,600.

5 BMW 318ti – $13,800

The BMW 318ti, otherwise known as the Compact, was an odd mix. From the front view, it looked like a regular 3-series. With a starting price of just $19,900, it was the cheapest BMW available in the United States in years. The 318ti was available in two trim levels, the Active and the Sport, and it featured luxury components such as keyless entry and fog lights.

Optional features included a sunroof, an upgraded sound system, and an in-car cell phone or limited-slip differential. Today, finding a 318ti is rare, and if fortunate enough, a well-maintained 1993 model comes with an affordable price tag starting at $13,800.

4 Lotus M100 Elan – $13,100

Meant to succeed the original British Elan from the 1960s, the M100 Elan was the first Lotus equipped with a front-wheel-drive layout. It came powered with a regular 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged, each producing 130 horsepower and 165 horsepower, respectively. The turbocharged versions hit 0-0 mph in 6.6 seconds and could speed p to 137 mph, which was remarkable at the time.

In terms of styling cues and dimensions, the M100 was a head-turner and perfect at handling too. And although it may not be considered the best Lotus car, it was the best FWD sports car of its time. Finding a well-kept 1990 Lotus M100 Elan can be acquired with a price tag of around $13,100.

3 Opel GT – $12,400

The Opel GT was an attractive two-seater that resembled the third-generation Corvette, the C3. The car came powered with two engine options, a 1.1-liter OHV inline-four-cylinder engine that produced 67 ponies and a 1.9-liter inline-four engine that pushed 102 horsepower. Moreover, it came equipped with two transmission options, a 4-speed manual and a 3-speed automatic.

However, many models have been converted to 4 and 5 automatic gearboxes in recent years for an improved experience. And it is priced at around $12,400.

2 Mitsubishi Starion – $11,900

The Starion was one of the cars that fell under Mitsubishi and Chrysler marque. It was built to rival the likes of the Porsche 924 and other performance cars from Toyota – the market leaders at the time. Thus, inspired by the Porsche 924, it featured a unique styling that formed its own identity.

Moreover, the Starion offered a few advanced techs, including an advanced 2.0-liter 4G63 turbocharged engine and ABS. Its engine pushed up to 200 horsepower and accelerated the 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds, putting it on pace with the Mustangs and Camaros of the day. Today, finding a healthy 1986 Starion can fetch around $11,900.

1 Merkur XR4Ti – $8,500

The XR4Ti was the American version of the Ford Sierra Xr4i. The Sierra had seen great success in the European market, so Ford saw it fit to release an American version that many desired. So, to suit the US market and adhere to the emission regulations, Ford replaced the V6 engine with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Mustang SVO and the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and sold it as a rebadged Merkur model.

With the manual-transmission version producing 175 horsepower and making the 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds, the Merkur XR4Ti was a reasonably-priced fast car. Today, a healthy Merkur XR4Ti can be had for around $8,500.