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We all know about the successful cars that pepper the bestseller lists.
But what about the ones that did less welI? In this story, we take a close look at them, and also dig out the specific derivatives of a model that are very rare (when did you last see a V6-powered VW Passat R36 like this one?), and in many cases it was the model as a whole that wasn’t a success. Climb aboard:
Data on cars remaining in the UK from the How Many Left? website as at early May 2022.
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Alfa Romeo Six (1979)
You can count the number of successful Italian executive/luxury saloons on one hand, but the Alfa Romeo Six took the term ‘dismal failure’ to extremes. Built between 1979 and 1986, the Six introduced Alfa’s glorious V6 engine in 2.5-litre form. Despite a seven-year production run just 12,070 Sixes were made, and data suggests just a single example survives on British roads today, with another five registered as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
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Talbot Tagora (1981)
When it comes to spectacular failures, few motoring misjudgments can match the Talbot Tagora. Intended to take PSA upmarket, the Tagora proved hopelessly incompetent and after just two years the production line was stopped with under 20,000 made for the whole of Europe, just a few hundred of which were sold in the UK. Data suggests just one - in SX trim - survives on the road today, with another eight registered as on a SORN.
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Alfa Romeo 90 (1984)
Despite the Six’s lack of sales success, Alfa Romeo replaced it with the 90 in 1984 (two years before Six production ceased). This time production lasted just three years and while more than 56,000 examples were made, we’d be amazed if the number of survivors around the globe runs to more than a handful. Data suggests there aren't any left on the road in the UK today, though nine are on a SORN.
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Hyundai Stellar (1984)
One of Hyundai’s earliest models in the UK (and indeed globally) was this Ford Cortina-inspired saloon. But sadly for Hyundai, the Stellar didn’t enjoy the buoyant (you could almost say stellar...) sales of the Ford. Data suggests that just five remain on UK roads, with another 20 on a SORN.
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Honda Legend (1986)
Production of the fifth (and final) generation Legend ended in Japan in 2021, but Honda gave up on its flagship model in the UK well over a decade ago. Having given the model two decades to succeed you can’t say Honda didn’t try, but these V6-powered saloons and (in the early days) coupés were always among the rarest cars on the road. There are 258 left on the road, with another 363 on a SORN.
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Hyundai S-Coupé (1990)
While Hyundai’s long-lived Coupé that arrived in 2002 would go on to be a decent seller, its predecessor’s forerunner wasn’t such a hot little number. As dull to look at as it was to drive, the deeply unexciting S-Coupé was the antithesis of what a car with sporting pretentions should be – even in 114bhp turbocharged form. It looks like 12 are still alive in the UK, with another 37 on a SORN.
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Alpine A610 (1992)
Renault managed to shift over 500 GTAs in the UK, so when the car was heavily revised to become the A610 it was decided that this would be Renault’s flagship luxury model. Buyers got plenty of kit as standard but the £37,000 asking price was too high. Renault dropped it to £30,000 but still only 68 A610s were sold in the UK. Just 13 survive, though interestingly another 30 survive off the road - not a great surprise as nice examples today sell for around £30,000.
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Suzuki X-90 (1995)
Everything about the Suzuki X-90 was comical: its design, its driving experience and the level of performance too. But perhaps the most comical thing of all about it was the sales figures – unless you worked for Suzuki. 131 X-90s remain on the UK road, though more than twice that number (278) are SORNed.
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Toyota Paseo (1996)
For those who mourned the passing of the Hyundai S-Coupé, Toyota introduced the Paseo, which was built in the same mould. As such it offered mediocre performance to match the bland looks and driving experience. A 1.5-litre engine provided 89bhp for minimal thrills. 176 examples survive on the road, with another 204 on a SORN.
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Audi A6 4.2 (1997)
The A6 may have been a big seller for Audi, but any car in the executive segment with a petrol V8 is guaranteed to sell at a glacial pace. Sure enough, the thirsty but incredibly discreet A6 V8 was a wolf in sheep’s clothing but it was only ever going to sell in tiny numbers. 62 are left and we salute the owners of every one of them. 90 are on a SORN.
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Isuzu Vehicross (1997)
Never sold officially in the UK, it’s reputed that a dozen or more grey-import examples of the Vehicross have made it over here. We got our first glimpse of the Vehicross as a concept in 1993; by 1997 the car was in production with a 3.2 or 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
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Plymouth Prowler (1997)
With fewer than 12,000 made the Plymouth Prowler isn’t quite the unicorn that you might imagine – at least not in its home country. But in the UK, where the car was never officially imported, it seems there are eight on UK roads today, with another five on a SORN.
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Renault Sport Spider (1997)
When Renault tries to take on Lotus in the affordable sports car market there can be only one winner. Powered by a mid-mounted 2.0-litre Clio engine, the Sport Spider was wacky and fun but far too compromised to appeal to British buyers. Still, at least we got a windscreen, unlike some markets. Just 96 made it to the UK, and 38 of them are left, with another 40 on a SORN. Hard to find used for obvious reasons, but when they do come up they'll set you back more than £30,000.
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Vauxhall Sintra (1997)
With MPVs becoming all the rage, GM’s European arm wanted a piece of the action. So it imported and rebadged the US-focused Chevrolet Venture. Buyers could choose from 2.2 or 3.0 V6 petrol engines; a diesel wouldn’t arrive until near the end of its sales life. A dreadful car in virtually every respect, 16 are left today, with another 95 rather optimistically on a SORN.
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Cadillac Seville STS (1998)
We could just work our way through every Cadillac that ever came to the UK (not that there were many) but we’re sticking to those that were built with right-hand drive. Attempting to take on the established luxury marques, this GM offshoot failed miserably, but what a glorious failure with its 4.6-litre V8. 69 remain, with another 117 on a SORN.
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Ford Cougar (1998)
The Cougar didn’t sell in tiny numbers but it’s one of those cars that’s fast-disappearing from UK roads and before we know it they’ll all have gone. Of all the Cougars registered over 90% have already been lost or taken off the road so while it didn’t used to be a unicorn, it’s fast becoming one. 644 are left on the road, down from a cool 6505 examples in 2012.
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Alfa Romeo 166 (1999)
When an Alfa dealer sold a 166 there were street parties to mark the occasion; the Italian company just couldn’t lure buyers away from the German brands that ruled the roost. As a result any 166 is now unusual; 237 are left on the road - down from 1008 in 2012 - though an impressive 410 are on SORN, some doubtless awaiting modern classic status for this model which is entirely possible, especially for well-preserved examples with ULEZ-friendly Euro 4 petrol engines.
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Honda Logo (2000)
By the time Honda launched the Logo in the UK it had been on sale in its home market for four years, so it was already past its sell-by date. As a result Honda didn’t expect to sell a huge number of Logos – which was just as well really as the model was canned in 2001, having had one of the shortest periods of any car on the UK market. There is still a decent number on the roads - 553 - with another 243 on a SORN, a testament to how tough old but simple Japanese-made cars can be.
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Renault Scenic RX4 (2000)
Renault never offered a four-wheel drive version of its later Espaces but it did produce a 4x4 version of the bigger-selling Scenic. However, the Scenic RX4 didn’t prove a hit and as a result it was short lived. Engineered by Steyr Daimler Puch, the RX4 featured part-time four-wheel drive with the rear diff displacing the spare wheel well – which is why this was relegated to the outside of the tailgate. 199 survive.
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Mercedes Vaneo (2002)
British car buyers are snobs and they don’t want their car to be closely associated with commercial vehicles. So when you name your car the Vaneo and make no attempt to disguise the fact that it’s essentially just a small van with windows it’s always a tough sell. 600 are on the road, with another 348 on a SORN.
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Renault Avantime (2002)
One of the all-time might-have-beens, the Renault Avantime deserved better. Shoddily built and poorly packaged, the Avantime couldn’t hope to compete with more rational (invariably German) rivals which is why fewer than 400 of these luxury coupé-estates were sold in the UK and just 8557 were made in all; 160 survive in the UK today, with another 142 on a SORN.
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Renault Vel Satis (2002)
Though not quite as 'different' as the Avantime, the Vel Satis was still out there. The Vel Satis offered hatchback practicality in a segment that favoured saloons – and German brands. 121 are left in the UK, with another 220 on a SORN.
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Honda Civic IMA (2003)
Offered only in saloon form, the Civic IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) was always overshadowed by the more practical, higher-quality and much higher-profile Toyota Prius. Reliable but bland, the IMA was replaced by the Civic Hybrid in 2006 – which carried on the tradition of selling in tiny numbers. 625 are left, with another 136 on a SORN.
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Seat Cordoba (2003)
Seat tried a couple of times with the Cordoba. The original came in 1994 then in 2003 came a small Ibiza-derived saloon that was never going to appeal to UK buyers. The Cordoba was competent enough, just not the sort of thing that was ever going to be popular. 294 are left, with another 400 or so on a SORN.
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Fiat IDEA (2004)
Fiat has had more than its fair share of duds over the years but this one was one of the lowest-profile models ever. This micro-MPV looked neat but buyers didn’t even know it existed, so few were sold. If you do see one, it probably won’t even register. Believe it or not, 799 remain in the UK, with 282 on a SORN on top of that.
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MG XPower SV (2004)
MG Rover was in big trouble when the SV was being developed, but instead of focusing on its bread-and-butter models it invested in vanity projects like this one. Just 82 were made before MG Rover went bust, the company having made a loss on every one despite it selling for Porsche 911 money. 15 survive on the road, with another 17 on a SORN. Rarity means that these sell for over £30,000 today.
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Volvo XC90 V8 (2005)
When Volvo teamed up with Yamaha to develop a petrol V8 it needed to install it into as many of its cars as possible – but only the S80 and XC90 were suitable. Thus equipped, the seven-seat SUV could crack the 0-60mph sprint in just under seven seconds and go on to a limited top speed of 130mph. Miraculously there are still 188 on UK roads, most of which we suspect have been converted to run on LPG.
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Citroen C3 XTR (2005)
When MG Rover introduced the Streetwise it became the butt of endless jokes but that didn’t stop Citroen from borrowing the idea and doing its own small hatch-based pseudo off-roader. While Continental buyers could buy their XTR with jacked-up suspension, a limited-slip diff and sump guards, all we got was a lame-looking matt black bodykit. No wonder it sold badly. 632 examples remain on the road, along with 170 on a SORN.
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Citroën C6 V6 (2005)
The C6 didn’t exactly set the sales charts alight, but if you want a spectacularly rare car your quest should be to track down one of the V6 petrol editions. Citroën sold under 1000 C6s in the UK and of those, it seems that all but 100 or so had diesel power. It looks like just 31 V6 petrol C6s are left.
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Hummer H3 (2005)
While the Hummer H3 was in production from 2005 until 2010, it was introduced to the UK just at the point that Hummer became one of the most toxic automotive brands ever created. The company retreated from the UK after small sales and the brand being axed in America. 98 H3s remain in the UK, along with 37 more on a SORN. The Hummer name was revived as a sub-brand of GMC in America, used on a new EV pickup that arrived on the road in early 2022.
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Cadillac BLS (2006)
Cadillac has never been able to make things work in Europe but to show how committed it was to this side of the Atlantic, the GM offshoot went so far as to develop a Caddy that wasn’t even sold in the US. Effectively a rebodied Saab 9-3 and built in Saab’s Trollhattan factory, the BLS came in saloon or estate forms, both of which sold in tiny numbers. 230 are left, with another 82 on a SORN.
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Subaru Tribeca (2006)
If ever you needed proof of the UK/US motoring divide, this is it. While British customers were never going to buy a full-size SUV that came only with thirsty six-pot petrol engines, it was just the thing for American buyers. About 332 are left in the UK today, with another 98 on a SORN.
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Daihatsu Materia (2007)
As a niche player, Daihatsu was never going to trouble its more mainstream rivals with Materia sales. All cars came with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions; the narrow model range didn’t help and neither did the quirky styling. They are proving durable and owners seem to be looking after them: 693 are left, only about 21% down from the peak level of 873 in 2014. Another 46 are on a SORN at present.
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Chevrolet Epica (2008)
You probably didn’t even know that this utterly unremarkable saloon ever existed, such was its invisibility. Perfect for anybody who wanted something big and bland, Chevrolet shifted just a few hundred before the plug was pulled. 167 survive on the road, with another 31 on a SORN.
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Lexus IS250C (2009)
Lexus’s take on the BMW 3 Series convertible, the IS250C was a petrol-only 2+2 coupé-cabrio that was costly, beautifully built and destined to sell only in miniscule numbers. Power came from a 2.5-litre straight-six with all cars getting a six-speed automatic gearbox. 801 remain alive here - and the numbers aren't reducing much, a testament to both legendary Lexus durability and, we suspect, generally light weekend usage.
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Aston Martin Cygnet (2010)
Aston Martin reckoned it could sell 2000 Cygnets each year and it was initially bullish enough to say that the car would be available only to existing Aston owners. Then it realised that far from being sought after, the Cygnet - essentially a poshed-up Toyota iQ - was essentially unsaleable. Production was wound up after just three years, with just a few hundred examples sold around the globe. 132 examples are left on UK roads, along with 25 on a SORN. Rarity has boosted values; you won't get into a used example for less than £32,000 today.
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Chevrolet Volt (2010)
Also sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Ampera, the Volt would prove to be even more exclusive with just a few dozen sold. Which is a shame really, as it was a neat-looking machine that packed some equally neat technology. 113 Volts are left on UK roads.
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Honda CR-Z (2010)
Honda was the first car maker to put a hybrid car on sale, with its original Insight for the Japanese market. But it’s never enjoyed the success that Toyota and Lexus have which is a shame, because in the case of the CR-Z, hybrids can be fun to drive as well as sharply styled. There are 3779 CR-Zs active in the UK - only down a few percent from the model's peak year of 2014. This is clearly a model that lasts - and is loved.
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Nissan Cube (2010)
Japanese buyers love the left-field, so the Cube was right at home on the streets of Tokyo or Hiroshima. But those in Barnsley and Norwich weren’t so keen on the pricey Cube, which was a dismal failure for Nissan in the UK. There are 1082 still on the road in the UK.
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Renault Wind (2010)
Using Clio mechanicals, the Wind was quite a neat little sporty number that was held back by a ridiculous name – and the fact that not long after it was launched Renault decided to rationalise its range. The Wind bit the dust after minimal sales; 2081 examples survive, with another 90 off the road.
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Chrysler Delta (2011)
First seen as the Lancia Delta in Europe in 2008, somebody decided that sticking on some Chrysler badges and bringing this quirkily styled hatch to the UK would be a good idea. Buyers had a different idea though, and shunned the pricey Delta in spectacular fashion, especially as it had pricing to rival the BMW 1 Series. There are 752 Deltas left on the UK road, with another 26 on a SORN.
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Peugeot 508 RXH (2011)
On paper the 508 RXH looked promising; 198bhp, four-wheel drive and fuel economy of 69.9mpg. What’s not to love? And for business owners it was even more tempting, thanks to CO2 emissions of just 107g/km. But the clunky transmission that you had to drive around, and a fidgety ride conspired to ruin the driving experience, while real-world fuel consumption was closer to 40mpg. Suddenly the 508 RXH wasn’t so lovely after all. 563 or so survive in the UK, with 18 more on a SORN.
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Renault Fluence (2012)
Pure-electric cars were struggling to gain traction when the Fluence arrived in 2012, and despite a relatively low price of under £18,000 (plus battery lease costs) it wasn’t that costly. But after just 79 had been sold Renault gave up on the Fluence. Of those, 43 are left, and 14 are on a SORN.
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Suzuki Kizashi (2012)
If ever there was a car that you just knew at the outset would sell in miniscule numbers, this is it. Suzuki buyers like small, cheap-to-run hatchbacks, so the idea of a 2.4-litre petrol-engined automatic saloon with four-wheel drive was only ever going to appeal to a tiny audience. Incredibly, Suzuki managed to shift around 330 of them, but they have a very high survival rate: 300 are still on the road, and another 16 are on a SORN.
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Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (2018)
The 697bhp 6.2-litre V8-powered Trackhawk went on sale in the UK in 2019, joining the ranks of the super-SUV, though one arguably lacking the brandpower of some of its rivals from Lamborghini and Aston Martin. There are 63 examples on the UK roads, and intriguingly for such a new model, two more are already on a SORN.
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BMW 550i (2010)
The 402bhp V8 550i may lack the glamour and power of the M5, but those model-specific twin-exhausts give the game away of this ultimate Q-car. Most came fully loaded: ensure yours has the useful head-up display and adaptive cruise options. There are around 350 on UK roads today, but the one you want is the estate, with just a handful of the 2010-2017 F10 generation ever sold.
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Volvo S80 V8 (2006)
We salute whoever at Volvo decided to bring this thirsty AWD 4.4-litre V8 to UK shores. It makes no sense at all, until it does: for those who don’t do many miles, such as retired folk, this is a way to travel in huge comfort and style. With a near-silent 311bhp petrol engine humming away you might even get 28mpg on a steady run. There are 92 of these left on UK roads at present, and that number seems pretty stable; we're pleased to see them getting looked after. A further 14 S80 V8s are on a SORN.
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Rover 75 V8 Tourer (2004)
In its final years MG Rover undertook an ambitiously mad scheme to re-engineer the 75 platform for rear-wheel drive, powered by a Ford Mustang V8, and available both as a saloon and wagon. This Rover wagon would deliver 22mpg, which could be viable as long as your mileage isn’t great, and it would be a gloriously smooth way to transport your family.
Its MG ZT-T 260 sporty twin brother has 62 examples still on the road; this Rover version? Just 17 were built in estate form, of which nine survive on the road today. Five more are on a SORN, and we reckon they could all be worth good money one day.
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Volvo V70 T6 (2006)
In the market for a comfortable, smooth family wagon without that horrible diesel rattle and future black pump ULEZ supertaxes? Of course you are, and the 281bhp straight-six T6 fits the bill perfectly. Auto and AWD are standard, as is a 0-60 time of 7.2-seconds, going to a top speed of 152mph. Interestingly, of 119 or so still on the road, it seems a full 18 of those are ‘Authorities’ spec, used in past or, less likely given their age, present by the police and ambulance services.
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Volkswagen Passat W8 (2002)
For an apparently staid company, VW certainly does some wacky things: the Phaeton and emissions fiddling spring to mind. But so should this idea of shoehorning a 4.0-litre 275bhp W8 engine into a model that has long been the byword for suburban anonymity. It even came as an estate, and in both forms only the quad exhausts hint at the potential.
A potential that was never fully delivered on, sadly: it wasn't actually all that fast in reality, hindered by a lack of low-end torque. There are only a few left on UK road - 62 to be precise, with another 79 on a SORN; we hope they will all be savoured and preserved.
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Jaguar XF Super V8 (2008)
If you wanted a top-welly XF from its first generation, the fire-breathing 503hp XFR was the way to go. All of which overshadowed the Super V8 models, which struggled on with a mere 420bhp. As Autocar said at the time, with an XF V8 “it’s hard to think of a better way to cover miles.” There are 290 Super V8s left, with another 28 on a SORN. Super V8s are to be had from £8000 today.
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Audi A3 3.2 V6 (2003)
In a world of turbocharged three-cylinder engines, the 3.2-litre A3 sports twice as many combustion chambers so it’s the perfect antidote to downsizing. It’s also much less frenetic than the S3 alternative; built for cruising rather than tackling twisty roads, effortless mile eating is the V6’s forté. But we found it hard to love: “for all its many virtues, don't buy this A3 if you’re expecting an entertaining drive”. A reasonably impressive 1372 A3 3.2s remain on the road, along with 500 on a SORN.
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VW Passat R36 (2008)
The Passat W8 may have proved impossible to sell but that didn’t stop VW from coming up with a sequel – the R36. Despite losing a quarter of its cylinders, power was boosted to 299bhp and as with the W8 there was four-wheel drive to get that power down. Control freaks were dismayed that there was no manual option; all R36s came with a six-speed DSG transmission instead. We loved it though: “behind the running costs this is a talented, likeable car”. There are 138 survivors on UK roads, along with 19 more on a SORN. Used examples cost from £9000.
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Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer (2013)
The wealthiest Audi buyers don’t choose an A8 or R8; they buy A6 Allroads. Perhaps this fact wasn’t lost on Vauxhall’s product planners when they dreamed up the high-riding Insignia Country Tourer with its body cladding and four-wheel drive.
Launched in 2013 the Insignia was axed two years later but that hasn’t stopped Vauxhall coming back for more; the all-new Insignia of 2017 spawned a Country Tourer edition too, but that got the axe along with the estate in September 2019. If you fancy something uber-rare try to find a petrol-powered Country Tourer; there are just 11 on UK roads, alongside 41 diesels.
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Citroën BX 19 GTi 4x4 (1987)
Using the same injected 1.9-litre engine as the Peugeot 405 SRi, which was closely related to the 205 GTi’s powerplant, the Citroën BX 19 GTi came in various forms. Most prosaic was the 8-valve edition (just nine left on UK roads) while spiciest was the GTi 16-valve (19 left). Rarest of the lot is the BX GTi 4x4; just five remain in use in the UK - though 20 more are on a SORN, some of which are presumably awaiting classic status being conferred upon them...
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Ford Galaxy V6 4x4 (1996)
It would be easy to assume that any Ford Galaxy will have sold in vast numbers and that as a result there’ll be no shortage of survivors of any derivative. But few buyers opted for the top-spec V6 four-wheel drive models which is why just five Ghia V6 4x4 autos are now on the road, along with 26 on a SORN.
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Mercedes-Benz R63 L AMG (2007)
The Mercedes R-Class didn’t make much sense in any form. It wasn’t that well packaged and it was rather ugly, but its cabin wasn’t a bad place to be. As a luxury family car for six it was never short of power, but if you wanted an over-abundance of horses Mercedes was happy to sell you a 6.2-litre AMG edition with 503bhp.
That was enough to propel the luxo-MPV from 0-62mph in just 5.1 seconds, threatening the constitution of its occupants. Just five are on UK roads, with another four on a SORN, down from a peak of 12 on the road in 2007.
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Citroën XM V6 24v (1994)
The XM was a proper Citroën, with its Hydractive suspension and styling that put it a million miles away from its staid German rivals. Uniquely, when the tailgate was opened a separate hinged window kept rear-seat occupants’ barnets intact. The XM proved a slow seller and now it’s a bona fide classic it’s the 24-valve V6 that everybody wants. Which is a shame as there are just three left on the road, with another nine off it.
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Peugeot 607 V6 (2000)
Anything Citroën could do, Peugeot could match. British buyers don’t like big French cars so when Peugeot introduced the 607 in 2000 it was never going to be a big seller. But it was likeable enough and Peugeot shifted quite a few with four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. It was the V6 petrol units that nobody wanted, so it’s a minor miracle that there are still as many as four still in use, with another six off the road.
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Ford Scorpio TD (1996)
If ever there was a car perfect for tinted glass it was this one; nobody wanted to be seen driving one of these. Despite this there's still a good number running. But they’re virtually all petrol-powered; just nine have diesel power.
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Vauxhall Zafira VXR (2005)
At one end of the motoring spectrum you have the hot hatch and at the other the MPV. One puts driving enjoyment above all else and the other focuses on practicality. We’ll leave you to work out which is which. What you can’t do is combine the two, although that didn’t stop Vauxhall trying with the ludicrous Zafira VXR.
We said: “It’s too harsh a package for everyday MPV use, and still too much of an MPV to make it an effective performance car”. Still, it took the tedium out of the school run. There are still 545 Zafira VXRs on the road, with another 171 on a SORN.
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Renault Espace Quadra
After Germany, Italy and Switzerland the UK was Renault’s biggest export market for the Espace, and we liked the four-wheel drive Quadra edition so much that it accounted for almost one in six of sales. Admittedly the original Espace is now getting on, but despite its popularity there are just three Espace Quadras left on the road here - from 700 in 1995.
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Seat Altea Freetrack TSI (2007)
The picture here doesn’t do the Altea Freetrack any favours as it looks misshapen and frankly more than just a bit weird. But it was actually a pretty decent car thanks to its spacious cabin and lengthy standard kit list. But when was the last time you saw one? Probably never, even though there are over 400 diesel-powered examples on our roads. Much rarer is the petrol-powered 2.0 TSI, of which there are just 56 currently in use.
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Subaru BRZ auto (2012)
The Subaru BRZ and its cousin the Toyota GT86 prove that you don’t need loads of power to create a brilliant driver’s car. But ideally you do need a manual gearbox and while this isn’t the only performance car to come with just two pedals, when there’s an alternative most buyers will take it. Which is why there are just 155 BRZ autos registered in the UK.
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Vauxhall Vectra 3.2 (2002)
When Vauxhall introduced a 3.2-litre V6 engine for the Vectra it was always going to be a niche seller. Huge running costs – not least of all depreciation – meant few private punters signed up for one. And neither did fleet managers, terrified of the depreciation rates. So it was up to police forces to take them on; the 154mph Vectra V6 made a great unmarked traffic car.
Or at least it used to. In the past decade or so police forces have tended to buy premium cars like BMW 530d Touring as they depreciate less, which rather left cars like the Vectra 3.2 without a market. It seems around 222 Vectra 3.2s are left.
Data on cars remaining in the UK from the How Many Left? website as at early February 2022.