New BMW 3 Series

Jeep Avenger

Renault Captur

BMW X3

Kia Sportage

Aston Martin Vantage

BMW 5 Series

unicorns-the-rarest-cars-you-can-buy-–-but-should-you

These are the halo models that were always doomed to fail – the derivatives that were signed off in a fit of blind optimism, and which would lead to heartbreak in showrooms around the country.

If you’re a second-hand car dealer, you’ll be praying that none of these are offered as a trade-in, because you just know they’ll be a nightmare to shift. But some might make an interesting choice for you…

Slideshow story - please click the right-hand arrow above to continue

To someone they seemed like such a good idea at the time.

Estate

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

5 SERIES

The 402bhp V8 550i may lack the glamour and power of the M5, but those model-unique twin-exhausts give the game away of this ultimate wolf-in-sheep’s clothing. Most came fully loaded, but ensure yours has the useful head-up display and adaptive cruise options.

There are around 300 on UK roads today across two model generations, but the one you want is the estate of 2010-2017, with just a handful of these ever sold. The fuel and vehicle excise tax bills will be tiresome, but you will be driving one of the most interesting, well-resolved, powerful, and rarest wagons on the road.

We couldn’t find any 2010-2017 models for sale at the time of writing, but there were a few previous gen variants around. For a 2006&nbsp;550i Touring with 95,000 on the clock you’ll pay around&nbsp;£8000.

BMW 550i Touring

Saloon

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

We salute whoever at Volvo decided to bring this thirsty four-wheel drive 4.4-litre V8 to UK shores. It makes no sense at all, until it does: for those who don’t do many miles, such as retired folk, this is a way to travel in huge comfort and style.

With a near-silent 311bhp petrol engine humming away you might even get 28mpg on a steady run. There are just over 100 of these on UK roads at present.

We found a tidy looking 2007&nbsp;example with 58,000 miles for&nbsp;£8990– that works out at £28.90&nbsp;per horsepower…bargain.

Volvo S80 V8

Once a bastion of the British car industry, Rover is no longer a going concern anywhere but in the used car market.

For the canny buyer, that can be as good news as it is for the enthusiastic collectors of the firm’s finer models. Some of the cars from its later history remain in reasonable supply, can prove mechanically sound and come at rock-bottom prices.

Most collectable of them all is the Rover Mini, but for those looking to buy some no-nonsense transport for pocket money, the likes of the 25, 75, CityRover and Streetwise can make sound investments, especially if you can find later examples that aren’t yet overwhelmed by having covered giant mileages.

ROVER

In its final years MG Rover undertook an ambitiously mad scheme to re-engineer the 75 for rear-wheel drive, powered by a Ford Mustang V8. As long as your mileage isn’t great, 22mpg could be survivable, and it would be a gloriously smooth way to transport your family.

Its MG ZT-T 260 twin brother has around 80 examples still on the road; this one? Just 17 in estate form.

Predictably, we couldn’t find any of the coveted Tourers for sale at the time of writing. But we did find a couple of saloon examples featuring the same V8 powertrain. The cheapest we found was a tidy looking beast from 2004 with 47,000 miles for £9950.

Rover 75 V8 Tourer

In the market for a comfortable, smooth family wagon without that horrible diesel rattle and future black pump supertaxes? Of course you are, and the 281bhp straight-six T6 fits the bill perfectly. Auto and four-wheel drive are standard, as is a 0-62mph time of 7.2 seconds, going to a top speed of 152mph.

Interestingly, of 190 on the road, it seems a full 20&nbsp;of those are ‘Authorities’ spec, used by the police and ambulance services. This is a good club to join, and your registration fee will be from around £2500&nbsp;for a model with 160,000 miles.

Volvo V70 T6

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

PASSAT

For an apparently staid company, VW certainly does some wacky things: the Phaeton and emissions fiddling spring to mind. But so should this idea of shoehorning a 4.0-litre 275bhp W8 engine into a model that has long been the byword for suburban anonymity.

It even came as an estate, and in both forms only the quad exhausts hint at the bulldozer-knocks-down-garden-wall-of-vicarage-fête potential. From a maximum of 210 or so examples on UK roads, there are now only 71&nbsp;left; they should be savoured and preserved, and you should volunteer.

We found a stunning example in Petersfield sporting full leather interior and&nbsp;wood trim with just 45,000 miles, all for £3500...tempting.

Volkswagen Passat W8

Jaguars are consistently among the best-handling cars of their kind, with the firm’s model range encompassing the XE, XF and XJ saloons, the F-Type sports cars and multiple SUVs.

Jaguar was actually relatively late to launch its first SUV, the F-Pace, but it quickly followed it up with the smaller E-Pace and the all-electric I-Pace.

That SUV range will keep growing, too, with larger and more luxurious SUVs planned to take on the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover from sister brand Land Rover.

JAGUAR

If you wanted a top-welly XF from its first generation, the fire-breathing 503hp XFR was the way to go. All of which overshadowed the ‘Super V8’ models, which struggled on with a mere 420bhp...

Insurance costs should be significantly lower than for the XFR into the bargain too – few thieves aspire to stealing such an anonymous car. There are just over 300 of these sleepers adorning UK roads.

A private sell with 98,000 miles and full service history will see you a modest £7490&nbsp;poorer.

Jaguar XF SV8

Hatchback

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

In a world of turbocharged three-cylinder engines, the 3.2-litre A3 sports twice as many combustion chambers, so it’s the perfect antidote to downsizing. It’s also much less frenetic than the S3 alternative; built for cruising rather than tackling twisty roads, effortless mile eating is the V6’s forté.

Unlike many others featured here, the A3 is a genuinely affordable car and there are quite a few of them around, some for as little as £1495.

Audi A3 3.2 V6

The Passat W8 may have proved impossible to sell but that didn’t stop VW from coming up with a sequel – the R36. Despite losing a quarter of its cylinders, power was boosted to 299bhp and as with the W8 there was four-wheel drive to get that power down.

Control freaks were dismayed that there was no manual option; all R36s came with a six-speed automatic transmission instead. The latest figures suggest 137 dwell in the UK.

Pull together £9000&nbsp;and you can bag yourself a very tidy example with 91,000 and part service history.

Volkswagen Passat R36

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

INSIGNIA COUNTRY TOURER

The wealthiest Audi buyers don’t choose an A8 or R8; they buy A6 Allroads. Perhaps this fact wasn’t lost on Vauxhall’s product planners when they dreamed up the high-riding Insignia Country Tourer with its body cladding and four-wheel drive. Launched in 2013 the model was axed two years later.

If you fancy something uber-rare try to find a petrol-powered Country Tourer; there are just six on UK roads. However, none of them are currently for sale.

Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

Using the same injected 1.9-litre engine as the Peugeot 405 SRi, which was closely related to the 205 GTi’s engine, the Citroën BX 19 GTi came in various forms. Most prosaic was the 8-valve edition while spiciest was the GTi 16-valve (25 left).

Rarest of the lot is the BX GTi 4x4; just four are now in use. If you own one, hang onto it as it’s a future classic if not one already. If you don’t but want one, it will almost certainly be worth more in future - however you may have to wait, as none are currently on sale.

Citroën BX 19 GTi 4x4

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

GALAXY

It would be easy to assume that any Ford Galaxy will have sold in vast numbers and that as a result there’ll be no shortage of survivors of any derivative.

But few buyers opted for the top-spec V6 four-wheel drive models which is why just five&nbsp;Ghia V6 4x4 autos are now taxed, along with eight even posher Ghia X 4x4 autos. A quietly sumptuous way to get around, and you can be increasingly sure survivors are being well cared for.

But, due to such small numbers left in the UK, none are currently up for sale.

Ford Galaxy V6 4x4

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

R CLASS

The Mercedes R-Class didn’t make much sense in any form. It wasn’t that well packaged and it was ugly, but its interior wasn’t a bad place to be. As a luxury family car for six it was never short of power, but if you wanted an over-abundance of horses Mercedes was happy to sell you a 6.2-litre AMG edition with 503bhp.

That was enough to propel this pricey people carrier from 0-62mph in just 5.1sec, threatening the constitution of its occupants.

There are currently none of these ultra-rare MPV rockets for sale in the UK, but if there were, we imagine they would command over £15k.

Mercedes-Benz R63 L AMG

The XM was a proper Citroën, with its Hydractive suspension and styling that put it a million miles away from its staid German rivals. Uniquely, when the tailgate was opened a separate hinged window kept rear-seat occupants’ barnets intact.

The XM proved a slow seller and now it’s a bona fide classic it’s the 24-valve V6 that everybody wants. Which is a shame as there are just two left on UK roads.

Want one? You’ll have to venture to continental Europe.

Citroën XM V6 24v

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Anything Citroën&nbsp;could do, Peugeot could match. British buyers don’t like big French cars so when Peugeot introduced the 607 in 2000 it was never going to be a big seller. But it was likeable enough and Peugeot shifted quite a few with four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

It was the V6 petrol units that nobody wanted, so it’s a minor miracle that there are still as many as 8&nbsp;still in use. But what a gloriously comfortable way to get around.

A slightly tired looking 2006 model with 108,000 miles and part service history will see you just £580 poorer but 208bhp better off.

Peugeot 607 V6

SCORPIO

If ever there was a car perfect for tinted glass it was this one; nobody wanted to be seen driving one. Despite it being one of the most disfigured cars to ever grace our roads there are still dozens of examples still running.But they’re virtually all petrol; just 13&nbsp;have diesel power. But the thing is vast, with more rear legroom than a contemporary Mercedes S-Class. So bad it’s good?

So good in fact it appears that none of the 13&nbsp;owners are willing to part with their beloved TDs - none are currently for sale.

Ford Scorpio TD

ZAFIRA

At one end of the motoring spectrum you have the hot hatch and at the other the MPV. One puts driving enjoyment above all else and the other focuses on practicality. We’ll leave you to work out which is which. What you can’t do is combine the two, although that didn’t stop Vauxhall trying with the Zafira VXR.

Some said that it was too much of a sports car ride-wise to make a good family car, and too much of an MPV to be a sporty drive. But we applaud Vauxhall for trying, and it was rewarded with sales. Compared with others in&nbsp;this story there are plenty of survivors – 664&nbsp;at the last count.

To own one of these seven-seater, 237bhp MPVs you’ll be looking at around £5000.

Vauxhall Zafira VXR

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

ESPACE

After Germany, Italy and Switzerland, the UK was Renault’s biggest export market for the Espace, and we liked the four-wheel drive Quadra edition so much that it accounted for almost one in six of sales. Admittedly the original Espace is now getting on, but despite its popularity there are just five Espace Quadras surviving on the road here.

To own one, you’ll have to pay around £5000…and make your way over to mainland Europe.

Renault Espace Quadra

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

ALTEA

The picture here doesn’t do the Altea Freetrack any favours as it looks misshapen and frankly more than just a bit weird. But it was actually a pretty decent car thanks to its spacious interior and lengthy standard kit list. But when was the last time you saw one?

Probably never, even though there are more than 400 diesel-powered examples on our roads. Much rarer is the petrol-powered 2.0 TSI, of which there are just 63&nbsp;currently in use.

We couldn’t find any TSIs for sale at the time of writing, but a decent diesel will cost in the region of £3000.

Seat Altea Freetrack TSI

Coupe

Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.

The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Levorg is a more conventional estate.

At other extremes, there’s also the BRZ, an entertaining coupé that is let down by its price and resale values, and of course the Impreza, which comes in a variety of forms, including a hot model.

SUBARU

The Subaru BRZ and its cousin the Toyota GT86 prove that you don’t need loads of power to create a brilliant driver’s car. But ideally you do need a manual gearbox, which is why there are just 132&nbsp;BRZ autos registered in the UK. But if you’re using it for stop-start commuting rather than as a weekend car, it could be for you.

The cheapest automatic BRZ we could find? £13,500.

Subaru BRZ auto

VECTRA

When Vauxhall introduced a 3.2-litre V6 engine for the Vectra it was always going to be a niche seller. Huge running costs – not least of all depreciation – meant few private punters signed up for one. And neither did fleet managers, terrified of the depreciation rates.

So it was up to police forces to take them on; the 154mph Vectra V6 made a great unmarked traffic car. And a great understated super-wagon for you too, if you give it the chance.

A hefty 750 examples are left, which sounds enormous compared with some we’ve talked about, but that’s down from a cool 4800 in 2005. However, severer depreciation means that we found a 2005 example with 105,000 miles, full service history and almost a full years MOT for&nbsp;£650.

Vauxhall Vectra 3.2

XC90

When Volvo teamed up with Yamaha to develop a petrol V8 it needed to install it into as many of its cars as possible – but only the S80 and XC90 were suitable. Thus equipped, the seven-seat SUV could crack the 0-62mph sprint in just under seven seconds and go on to a limited top speed of 130mph. The original XC90 was a superbly practical seven-seat SUV, and we love the idea of it with a V8.

Miraculously there are more than 190&nbsp;V8s left on UK roads, many of which we suspect have been converted to run on LPG.

However, we found a good old 4.4-litre petrol with 151,000 miles, full leather interior and a 12 month warranty for £5990.

Volvo XC90 V8

On paper the 508 RXH diesel-hybrid looked promising; 198bhp, four-wheel drive and fuel economy of 69.9mpg. What’s not to love? And for business owners it was even more tempting, thanks to CO2 emissions of just 107g/km.

But the clunky gearbox and fidgety ride conspired to ruin the driving experience, while real-world fuel consumption was closer to 40mpg. Suddenly the 508 RXH wasn’t so lovely after all. Today, 603&nbsp;examples are left.

We found 2013 reg model with mileage north of 100,000 for £5995.

Peugeot 508 RXH

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive, while the closely related Stelvio and smaller Tonale both competes in the booming SUV class.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

When an Alfa dealer sold a 166 there were street parties to mark the occasion; the Italian company just couldn’t tear buyers away from the German brands that ruled the roost. As a result any 166 is now unusual, but if you’ve got one of the 2.0 Twin-Spark Lusso editions you can feel smug knowing it’s one of just 66 or so left on the road.

At the time of writing, we couldn't find any for sale.

Alfa Romeo 166 TS Lusso

MEGANE SCENIC RX4

Renault never offered a four-wheel drive version of its later Espaces but it did produce a 4x4 version of the bigger-selling Scenic.

However, the Scenic RX4 didn’t prove a hit and as a result it was short lived. The RX4 featured part-time four-wheel drive with the rear differential displacing the spare wheel well – which is why this was relegated to the outside of the tailgate. Around 400&nbsp;examples survive across a slightly baffling 16 RX4 derivatives and trims.

You’ll soon find that these soft-roaders can be had for well under £1000 – we found an tired example for just £400.

Renault Scenic RX4

When MG Rover introduced the Streetwise it became the butt of endless jokes, but that didn’t stop Citroën&nbsp;from borrowing the idea and doing its own small hatch-based pseudo off-roader. While Continental buyers could buy their XTR with jacked-up suspension, a limited-slip diff and sump guards, all we got was a lame-looking matt black bodykit. No wonder it sold badly.

However, the endless ridicule has resulted in plenty of sub £1500&nbsp;examples.

Citroën C3 XTR

And finally… We imagine that Rover in 2004 would have rather liked then-prime minister Tony Blair to have ditched his Jaguar XJ for one of these long wheelbase 75s. The car even got the 75 V8’s huge front, though sadly not its engine. Rear-seat passengers did however get their own clock. Which is important.

Sadly, Rover only built around 11 examples of these before its future showed up: not a starring role outside 10 Downing Street, but inside it, as Mr Blair wrestled with 6000 Rover staff losing their jobs overnight as the firm keeled over. There are less than 10&nbsp;&nbsp;examples left on UK roads.

We hope you enjoyed this story. To easily access more like it, why not sign up to receive our email&nbsp;newsletter?&nbsp;What Car?&nbsp;is the UK’s biggest car-buying brand and has been helping Britain’s car buyers make purchasing decisions for over 40 years, and the&nbsp;newsletter&nbsp;will keep you up to date with all our latest stories. And signing up takes less than 30 seconds.&nbsp;<a href="https://rebrand.ly/03wiu8">Click here to sign up</a>

Rover 75 Limousine

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