ESSENTIALS Volkswagen Golf R32 Price (new): £22,340 Powertrain: 3.2-litre V6, 238bhp 0-62mph: 6.6 seconds Top speed: 153mph Fuel Consumption: 24.4mpg Annual VED: £430 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Price (new): £

There’s no shortage of variety with used BMWs. But the bargains? That’s a trickier path to tread – let CAR be your guide

We were spoiled for choice when it came to outlandish performance that was genuinely attainable back in the Nineties, as this super sextet of buys proves

RATINGS = Thrill-free zone = Tepid = Interesting = Seriously good = A truly great car = new entry this month. Cars in italics are no longer on sale. Issue no. is for our most recent major test of the

The Nineties produced some of the most capable, varied and driver-focused all-wheel drive cars ever, but can the old guard here put up a fight against the newer kids on the block?

Year of manufacture 2002 Recorded mileage 18,000 Asking price £275,000 Vendor The Classic Motor Hub, Gloucestershire; 01242 384092; classicmotorhub.com WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £86,000 Max power 381bhp M