7 Forgotten Sports Saloons You Need To See

Bored with roadsters? Growing weary of hot hatchbacks? Apathetic towards coupes?

Sounds like you need a sporty saloon. But not just any sporty saloon - one that'll stand out a little among the throngs of Mercedes, BMWs and Audis that seem to dominate the segment. Perhaps something a little cheaper than all those, too.

We've narrowed it down to a selection of lesser-spotted sport sedans which all offer something different from the norm. We can't guarantee they'll all be easy to find, but there'll be plenty of entertainment there when you do.

Alfa Romeo 155 Silverstone (£1,500+)

Nobody wants a Toyota Avensis or MG6 based on a few BTCC wins, but every repmobile driver in the mid 1990s wanted a 155 Silverstone on the driveway. With its black alloys, slightly flared arches, raised spoiler, red paint and screaming Twin-Spark engine, every journey made you feel like Tarquini. Pity the fool who only had a Vauxhall Cavalier.

Peugeot 405 Mi16 (£2,000+)

There's a lot to like about the 405 Mi16 - its handsome looks, its great handling, and its excellent engine. Sadly, the latter has been lifted from most Mi16s to turn 205 GTIs into even hotter hatchbacks. We can see the appeal, but it's a shame so many 405s have had their hearts removed for vehicles destined to wind up crashed on track days or put through hedges. If you see a 405 Mi16, save it for us...

Honda Accord Type R (£2,000+)

The JDM fanboys love their Civic Type Rs, but on UK roads it was the Accord saloon that provided us with one of the best hardcore Hondas. Displacing 2.2 litres, its 220-bhp engine and limited-slip differential were always up for some thrashing, and these days they're a steal second-hand. Find an unmolested one and it'll be the most reliable car here, yet one of the most fun.

Volkswagen Passat W8 (£2,500+)

Recipe for making the perfect sleeper: take modestly attractive but fairly dull saloon car. Paint it in a subtle colour. Give it marginally bigger wheels than standard. Put a 4.0-LITRE, EIGHT-CYLINDER ENGINE UNDER THE BONNET. Attach Germanic, sensible VW badge to the nose. Your Q-car is now complete.

Mazda 6 MPS (£4,000+)

While all the yobs were buying up Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Evos, those of a less baseball-cappish disposition could appreciate the talents of the Mazda 6 MPS. A little more refined but still surprisingly quick, it's an eye-catching vehicle even in the greyest of grey paints they all seem to be daubed in. Like its Japanese cousins though, you must never tot up your weekly fuel bills. Unless you get a kick from crying, that is.

Chrysler 300C (£7,000+)

Like the Passat, Chrysler 300Cs are pretty good sleepers too, though the technique is a little different from the Germanic W8. Here, everyone will think you're 50 Cent, with that enormous chicken coop grille and brash American styling. However, in the UK he'll probably think you're driving one of the diesel models. Until you scream past with your rear tyres ablaze.

Renault 12 Gordini (£varies)

If you think hot Renaults are a recent phenomenon, think again. This leftest of left-field choices has a 123 horsepower 1.6-litre engine. Doesn't sound like much by today's standards - that's 10 bhp off the Twingo Renaultsport. But in 1970 it was a little more impressive, as were all-round disc brakes, the all-aluminium engine block and five-speed gearbox. The Renault 8 Gordini is more iconic, but the unusual 12 wins our heart for its forward-thinking spec.

Who's up for a little eBaying? Thought so...