None of these four models - all available from around 5,000 euros - should be sold again at the end of winter 2022/2023, because these cars not only put a lot of good mood in winter, but are also a rolling investment - at least if you follow a few rules. The VW Golf GTI is a real joker in almost all generations and the other buying tips such as the BMW 325i/330i of the golden generation E46, Lada Niva / Taiga or Audi 80 / 90 are all also available with all-wheel drive and are therefore particularly suitable for winter. It is unlikely that these will lose value and the all-wheel drive versions of the BMW 3 Series and Audi 80 / 90 often offer significantly better equipment than the standard models.
Anyone looking for such a classic of tomorrow with tough qualities and winter experience should follow a few simple tips if the car is to increase in value. The less mileage and the more equipment, the better. If you are looking for a classic, in most cases you do not want a car with bookkeeper equipment. Air conditioning, sunroof, power windows, heated seats and sound system are more popular than ever and a leather interior is one of the most important options that add value. The vehicle should have a maintenance history that is as complete as possible and if it has not been damaged in an accident, this is just as good a sign as a fresh TÜV for the best possible resale, which should be the case at some point.
Fancy an exotic off-road vehicle? For once, not a softly washed crossover that advertises a grand entrance with thick planks and rocker panels in the city center. But there is another way – and for less than 5,000 euros. The Lada Taiga, the successor to the rustic off-roader Lada Niva, is a true climbing giant made in Russia. Not a car for long-distance, but with 61 kW / 83 hp powerful enough to scramble through the toughest terrain with its four-wheel drive and reduction. The 1.7 liter injector can hardly be broken and, if the worst comes to the worst, can be repaired for comparatively little money. Not just a perfect car for winter and hunters, but also a really cool number that can be parked in your own garage for little money from the 2010s with well under 100,000 kilometers.
An upcoming classic of tomorrow with good technology, without rust and all-wheel drive? The Audi 80 / 90 from the late 1980s is not as angular and boxy as its predecessor, but with its aerodynamic design it is a true technology carrier with high everyday use. The quality is top, the workmanship is good and with a bit of luck there is even a charismatic five-cylinder for around 5,000 euros. The all-wheel drive vehicles, which are a bit more expensive and whose drive repairs can be expensive, are particularly popular. Buying tip is the Audi 90 2.3 with its 100 kW / 136 hp five-cylinder, which is usually much better equipped than the Audi 80. Some even offer heated velor/leather seats, power windows or sunroof. One day it will become a classic.
The time of the six-cylinder is hardly numbered, but the silky-smooth whispering half-dozen combustion chambers say goodbye more and more to higher segments. The BMW 325i / 330i of the E46 series is recommended for anyone wanting to rave about a sporty mid-range sedan. The 192 to 231 hp in-line six-cylinders are a miracle of refinement, offer sporty driving performance and are available with a manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Some of the models even have all-wheel drive. Since the BMW 325i / 330i models are the most powerful and expensive models below the M3 top version at the time, many offer not only the corresponding driving pleasure but also luxury equipment with electric leather seats, xenon lights, seat heating, sound system or sunroof. Inexpensive models with a mileage of less than 150,000 kilometers start at less than 5,000 euros. These can hardly be much cheaper.
The VW Golf GTI has been a truly European legend for decades. Even if the compact sports car has meanwhile degenerated into a narrow equipment variant, it still arouses great desire today, especially as a used car. Is there actually a good Golf GTI for 5,000 euros or even less? It does. If you are in the mood for a classic GTI, you will definitely find what you are looking for in the second-generation VW Golf. Why not a VW Golf II GTI with its successful 1.8 liter naturally aspirated engine, which in the mid-1980s always delivered a brisk 82 kW / 112 hp, which was enough for 190 km/h. With a bit of luck, you can find neat condition and less than 125,000 kilometers in pristine condition. Here, too, the price should only go up and the GTI even has a regulated catalytic converter. The fifth generation VW Golf GTI with up to 147 kW / 200 hp is a bit younger, but exactly expensive.
