In a new-car market dominated by crossovers and a shift to EVs, hybrids and Chinese brands, finding truly exciting cars is increasingly difficult. If car culture is to survive in the future, it will need cars the future generations of petrolheads will aspire to own. Let's take a look at what's still available at under R1 million (new).
Words: Hannes Oosthuizen
It is exceptionally difficult to predict which cars will become collectible in the future. After all, collectability is not the same thing for everyone. For some people it is about an investment opportunity, for others simply reliving fond memories of particular cars. Either way, few will argue that options are limited at the moment, and particularly so once you exclude the limited-edition, exotic car brands.
As I started my search for the "special" cars under the R1m mark, I looked for vehicles with a combination of traits - performance on its own doesn't merit inclusion, the performance also needs to be delivered with a certain "fizz", a combination of design appeal, multi-sensory pleasure and, yes, some exclusivity and/or heritage.
In my view the most affordable car still listed for sale new that remotely qualifies as "desirable" is probably Suzuki's Swift Sport. Yes, it may still be the previous-generation Swift Sport, but as of yet there is no firm indication yet of when (or even if) a new Swift Sport is on the way.
Priced at R454 900 for the manual-transmission variant (slightly more for the Automatic), you get a racy-looking little hatchback powered by a 1.4L turbo engine that delivers 103kW/230Nm. This gives it sufficient bang for the buck - a 0-100kph time of 8 seconds is quoted, as is a 205kph top speed. It's also an agile, fun little car to drive and seeing as it's a Suzuki, well-cared for example should last well.
I spotted decent number of Swift Sports at a recent exotic car run, so they seem well-supported as an "entry-level" performance car in the car community.
A mainstay of the local "hot hatch" market, Volkswagen's Polo GTI is priced at R585 800, but no longer offered with a manual transmission. Though it is desirable by many in South Africa, that desirability is arguably more as a result of its status appeal than for true performance ability of excitement. Nevertheless, it is a fast car - its 2.0L turbo engine delivers 147kW and 320Nm of torque, enough for a 6.7 second 0-100kph time.
The GTI badge is iconic worldwide and there is a lot of history, which counts in the Polo GTIs favour. But it has become ubiquitous, and is unlikely to reach collectible status any time soon in my view. In the very long-term, once the Polo GTI population has become much smaller, that view might change.
Another compact hatch on which the jury is very much out at the moment, is the latest-generation Mini Cooper S. Priced at R646 395, the Cooper S is a swift machine, with a claimed 0-100kph time of 6.6 seconds, made possible by its 150kW/300Nm turbocharged 2.0L engine.
It is a truly memorable drive, however, as its forerunners were? First indications are that it has potentially grown a little too soft and refined. It is offered with an automatic transmission only and it lacks the immediacy of its predecessors. Even visually it seems less distinctive - no more air intake on the bonnet, and at the rear it lacks those cheeky exhaust tips. Of course, the counter-argument is that, at the price, you have considerable scope to add options and customise your Cooper S into something very tasty. Or, perhaps just rather wait for the JCW variants...
Next on the list of potential future collectibles is Toyota's GR86. It is the only coupe-shape car to make this shortlist, one of only a few with a manual transmission, and also boasts a relatively unique boxer engine (from Subaru).
Priced at R786 000 for the 6-speed manual, the GR86's 2.4L boxer engine delivers 174kW and 250Nm of torque, to the rear wheels (another point of distinction). Performance is brisk, with a 0-100kph time of 6.4 seconds and a 226kph top speed. It is certainly one of the more old-school, dynamic driving experiences available at under R1m, something which should ensure it some desirability in the future.
Volkswagen's Golf GTI is another highly admired hot hatch offering with a long history and cult status to its name. Yes, in recent years it has moved up the price lists to a point where it beyond reach for most enthusiasts, but it still ticks many of the required boxes.
The current (pre-facelift) Golf 8 GTI is powered by a 180kW/370Nm 2.0L turbo engine which gives it enough power to sprint to 100kph in 6.4 seconds. It is no longer offered with a manual transmission, but the DSG gearbox has become somewhat iconic in its own right.
Furthermore, sales of the current Golf GTI has not been as strong as in previous years, and so volumes are lower, which ultimately may lead to greater demand from enthusiasts in the future, when exciting hot hatches will be even rarer. There is no firm indication yet on when the upgraded model will arrive in South Africa, due to fuel quality-related issues.
Once one of the most desirable, reasonably affordable performance cars you could buy, Subaru's WRX has fallen on hard times recently. The era of the rally-bred special has gone, and Subaru has tried to carefully evolve the WRX to keep it in line with modern trends, with increased sophistication, luxury and efficiency being prioritised over rorty exhaust notes and supercar-humbling performance.
And so you could argue that the current WRX is simply not hot or special enough. But let's look closer... It is powered by a turbocharged 2.4L boxer engine that develops 202kW and 350Nm of torque. It is also available with a 6-speed manual gearbox and, of course, boast the marque's all-wheel drive system. Interestingly, Subaru doesn't disclose performance figures, stating merely that the 0-100kph dash should take "around 6 seconds".
Priced at R839 000, it is certainly one of the more interesting offerings under the R1m marque, and slow sales also means it is quite rare... all potentially good in the long run. Sadly, the Subaru WRX is one of those modern performance cars that could be viewed as boring right now, but potentially very exciting in the future...
Next up is a real little firecracker, the Toyota GR Yaris. Priced at R848 600 it is currently still offered with a manual transmission, though that might change with the upcoming facelift. As it stands, the all-wheel drive, 1.6L turbo GR Yaris has 198kW and 360Nm and sprints to 100kph in 5.5 seconds.
It is a properly thrilling car to drive, with sharp and engaging dynamics. It also looks the business, with its pumped-up arches and aggressive aerodynamics. If any current car under R1m is a sure bet for future classic status, the GR Yaris is it.
The Hyundai i30N (R848 900) is an interesting candidate. The Korean brand's first offering under its "N" performance brand, the i30N has been around for a while now, and although highly rated by the media worldwide, has just not captured the local market's imagination. One of the reasons is heritage - while a Golf GTI has plenty of that, the Hyundai has none. Judged on pure merit, it does a lot right - its 2.0L turbo engine delivers 206kW and 392Nm of torque. Hyundai claims a 0-100kph time of 5.4 seconds and a 250kph top speed.
It's an exciting car to drive (8-speed dual-clutch), and looks the part, too. Limited volumes should ensure some exclusivity in the future but Hyundai will need to follow it up with new N offerings that help build the following, and it remains to be seen whether it will do that (in SA). As it stands, the i30N's only sibling in SA, the Kona N, is no longer in production (but still listed as available at the same price in SA).
The Toyota GR Corolla is another fiery hot hatch that appears to be out of sync with market trends (particularly in crossover/SUV-obsessed South Africa). It uses the same turbocharged 1.6L engine that you'll find in the GR Yaris, but here it pumps out even more power and torque - 221kW and 370Nm. Toyota claims a 0-100kph of 5.3 seconds and a 230kph top speed for this manual-transmission, all-wheel drive hatchback.
With its five-door hatchback body it may initially come across as a more "family-friendly" version of the uncompromising GR Yaris, but look closer (and get behind the wheel) and you'll soon realise it's every bit as hardcore. Two variants are available, the Core (R849 400) and the Circuit (R911 400).
Knocking on the door of the R1m club are the following Germans; Audi S3 Sportback (and Sedan), BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe and new BMW M135 xDrive. In fact, add only a few options to these cars (as most people do) and you're likely over the R1m mark.
Nevertheless, they are among the most powerful cars you can get for the money, with their 2.0L turbocharged engines delivering 213kW (S3), 225kW (M235i) and 233kW (M135) respectively. All three of them also feature all-wheel drive, so sprinting ability is ferocious, with all three cars achieving 0-100kph sprint times of below 5 seconds.
Of course, their brands hold significant appeal and in both instances they have considerable motorsport legacy and heritage. And yet, though undeniably desirable, I doubt any of three will ultimately become desirable collectibles in the future. None of them are full-fat performance vehicles (not true RS or M cars, in other words), and in the greater scheme of things are they are perhaps too sophisticated, too derivative...
Verdict
The Mazda MX-5, the king of the compact roadsters, is no more (in South Africa). It's Fiat/Abarth 124 sister car has also disappeared - as has the entire Abarth line-up, in fact. There are no more exciting Hondas, Nissans or Alfa Romeos under R1m, no more Ford RS variants, no Opel OPC and no RenaultSport.
As you can see, pickings are slim... Toyota, however, has to be commended for delivering two of the most exciting cars under R1m. The GR Yaris is arguably one of the unsung heroes of modern-day (affordable) performance car motoring. The fact that Toyota is struggling to sell them just illustrates so vividly why this list of "exciting" cars will only become shorter - there simply doesn't seem to be a market for these machines any more. Get one while you can, future generations of petrolheads will thank you.