The used car market is much more interesting for many than the new offer and that was no different 30 years ago. Even then we already gave advice on which used cars were worth considering. Exactly 30 years ago, we listed the pros and cons of the 20 most popular second-hand cars at the time. We will now take a closer look at the ten most popular of these
Opel Kadett
The Opel Kadett still sold like crazy in 1991, although that was the last year for the successful Opel. A young used copy was an interesting option if you wanted to drive cheaply yet relatively modern. However, it was time to watch out for oil consumption, a worn out camshaft on the 1.3 and rust on the older ones.
Volkswagen Golf
Just like the Kadett, the Golf II was on its last legs in 1991. That meant that you could buy a model that was still newly available at the time, even with the necessary experience. In general they were well known, although it was also here to watch out for oil consumption and leakage, especially with the smaller engines. At the time, we also advised to be careful with the sportier versions, such as the GTI, because they were not driven by too careful people.
Ford Escort
The Ford Escort Mk4 was also high on the wish list of used car seekers in 1991, although this did not always turn out well. Oil consumption and ignition problems arose regularly. The timing belt was also worth an extra check, due to a fairly short replacement period. Advice that now – a little more than with the Golf and Kadett – is not very useful anymore, given the few numbers that are left of it.
Mazda 323
We found the first Japanese entry 30 years ago on the fourth spot in the form of the Mazda 323. A car that had proven that Japanese technology works well. It was also a bit cheaper than the aforementioned Europeans. One major flaw was also known to us in 1991: rust formation. An ailment that the 323 already wanted to hit and where Mazda really got a good grip on quite late.
Opel Ascona
The first Opel Vectra was also there in 1991 as a very young used occasion, but for a somewhat more wallet-friendly car it was better to move to the Ascona. If you wanted to avoid camshaft problems anyway, it was best to look at the Vectra, although concerns about oil consumption, a weak water pump and fuel pump had come over from the Ascona. Not bulletproof, but nevertheless worth considering. After all, the Ascona sold well for a reason. However, the Ascona had to watch out for the rusty ghost again, something that was a bit better for each other with the Vectra.
Peugeot 205
In 1991, the Peugeot 205 had already been around for about eight years, but the little Frenchman was still not able to get around both new and used. However, we could not have imagined that Peugeot would stick to it for another seven years. Let them be wrong, because certainly for a French car from that time it was well put together, it looked nice and also drove very well. Our tips in 1991: pay attention to wheel bearings, check electrical functions and gearbox operation. Later, the head gasket would also be added as a known weak point.
Ford Sierra
One of the two brands with two cars in the top 10 was Ford. The larger Sierra was, just like the Escort Mk4, not the youngest at that time, but still quite a lot of car for little money. Yet here too, the technology had some fundamental points of attention. The camshafts were weak points of the Sierra’s and they also like a sip of oil. Via the valve cover gasket, oil also wanted to disappear from the engine and there was, just like with the Escort, the delicate timing belt.
Citroën BX
Of all the occasions in the top 10, only one car – okay, the 205 also somewhat – has really become a popular classic: the Citroën BX. This has been a striking outsider since its introduction, of course, thanks to its design and hydropneumatic suspension. The latter was immediately a point of attention when you went looking for a used copy in 1991, although it was already much better organized than before. Electronics would sometimes break, such as the dynamo, and the Hardy disk in the steering was also a weak point. Free tip: anyone who buys a BX in 2021 will probably add to it.
Peugeot 405
Just like Ford, Peugeot also managed to enter the top 10 of most popular used cars with two cars. That works with a car that you hardly ever see anymore: the 405. The fact that you hardly see it anymore in the Netherlands is mainly because a lot has been exported. They weren’t bad, “a rattle and at most a small gearbox problem makes the 405 an example of how the French can build cars,” we wrote 30 years ago. They understood that especially in North Africa, because you will encounter quite a few former Dutch 405s there.
Volvo 440/460
Finally, there was the home-grown Volvo 440/460. We had the Volvo built at Nedcar in 1990 as a brand new endurance tester, but they could also count on interest quite early on in the used car market because of their reasonable price. In terms of electronics, it was not really a top product, but major problems were not really known at that time. Maintenance could be pricey and it later turned out that rust did not always stay away from the Dutch Swede.
Honorable Mentions
Just outside the top 10 were a few cars that undoubtedly have a warm place in their hearts for some. Then we are talking about the Renault 19, Nissan Sunny, Audi 80, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 626, Opel Corsa A, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra, Opel Omega and ‘last but definitely not least ‘: the Fiat Panda. Now of course the big question: which one could you still go for today, 30 years later?