8 ’80s Classics You Can Buy for $5000 or Less
It is getting quite difficult to find a car from the “Rad Era” for an entry-level price these days. The generations that enjoyed these cars when new—as well as a younger audience who might have experienced them on the used market—are recognizing their true worth as relevant historical tributes to a decade known for decadence.
It’s not just Lamborghinis and pre-merger AMGs that are getting the attention, either. Demographic changes and an increasingly globalized 1980s automotive marketplace spoiled “young urban professionals” for choice: cars ranging from a 1982 Ford EXP two-seater to an E32 BMW 7 Series luxury sedan each had their own enthusiast audience then, and they do once again today.
As a result, the list of ’80s cars that are in good shape and can be had for $5000 or less is a pretty short one. We dug into the Hagerty Price Guide for cars in #3 condition (a very clean, driver-quality example that runs well) that met our pricing and age criteria, and here’s what we found.
1984–2000 Jeep Cherokee 2.5-liter (XJ)
Some may forget that the AMC-derived, 2.5-liter four-cylinder motor in the Jeep Cherokee lasted so long, but you could indeed get this entry-level mill up until the 2000 model year. It even had a cool name by that point: “Power Tech,” though, given its 125 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, the phrase risks overselling. (The next and final year of the Cherokee was exclusively powered by the 4.0-liter inline-six.) And when you opt for the big four in your Cherokee, you get the perk of owning a 2020 Bull Market pick, but with a more approachable transaction price.
That’s not to say all four-cylinder Cherokees sell below our promised ceiling of $5K. For the 1989 model year, a two-door, two-wheel-drive example averages at $4900; a four-door example goes up to $5000. Add the 4×4 option and prices for both four-cylinder Jeeps jump to $6600. In fact, the cheapest 4×4 is the 1984–85 base model with a one-barrel carburetor, and it will set you back an average of $5800. Interested in the rarer, turbodiesel four-pot Cherokee? Those go for a far steeper $8200.
1988 Buick Reatta
It is a shame that such a compelling and uniquely styled touring coupe made this list, but the Buick Reatta had a difficult time finding its place in the market. That isn’t likely to be the case for much longer, as only the first year of Reatta production (1988) can be purchased for $4800. This is up 4.3 percent, while 1988 Reattas in #1 condition are up 10 percent to a robust $22,700.
1980–83 Continental Mark VI
Unlike the 1980–89 Lincoln Town Car, which is experiencing a resurgence, the sistership Continental Mark VI can still be purchased for under five grand. The iconic Mark Series was downsized, contemporized, and computerized in the tail end of the Malaise Era, and being early in on that technology hasn’t earned valuations worthy of later Lincolns or earlier Continentals.
The more desirable Mark VI coupe can be had for $4500 in #3 condition, while the more staid sedan rings up for an even more modest $3500. It’s ironic that Continental Mark VIs originally sold for more than their Lincoln Town Car siblings, but the broader appeal and higher production volume of the Townie ensured a comfortable advantage in the classic car market.
1982–88 Cadillac Cimarron
While it takes some serious mental gymnastics to think GM’s J-body would make a car worthy of the Wreath and Crest, the last few years of Cadillac Cimarron production actually made for a decent car. By 1985, GM’s 2.8-liter V-6 had 130 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission was available, and the front end looked far more like that of a baby ‘Lac and not a tarted-up Cavalier.
Too bad about that, because it wasn’t enough to save the Cimarron. And a mere $2500 in 2024 dollars is needed to buy a #3 condition example, with any powertrain configuration. A shame, because modern motoring could be fun in a 1988 Cimarron with a five-speed and those rad digital gauges, far less so in a 1982 model with its 88 carbureted horses and its less distinctive styling touches.
1982–85 Pontiac Firebird
How can a third-generation F-body go for this cheap? That’s a fair question, as only the older examples without the Trans Am trim level can be had for less than five grand.
You will need exactly $5000 to buy a 1985 Firebird with a 165-horse 5.0-liter V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor, but a 1985 Trans Am is nearly triple the price ($13,800) with the same engine. Considering the long-term appeal of Firebirds in general, the 1985 Firebird V-8 might be one of the best bargains currently on the market.
1984–88 Pontiac Fiero 2M4
The addition of “2M4” to the title is crucial here, as it stands for “two-seat, mid-engine, four-cylinder.” We aren’t talking about the 2.8-liter, six-pot Pontiacs, just the Iron Duke examples that are currently at $4100 in #3 condition. The smaller engines clearly lacked the performance of those in later models, hotter commodities that include the 1988 Fiero V-6 Formula ($7700), and the 1988 Fiero GT ($12,300).
Consider the Iron Duke Fieros as easily approachable fun from the Rad Era, with style that’s hard to beat at any price. And whenever the lack of power becomes impossible to ignore, give V8 Archie a ring to make those pricey V-6 Fieros nothing but a speck in your rearview mirror.
1985–88 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
Much like the aforementioned Cimarron, values for the baby DeVilles do not reflect their regular updates and powertrain improvements. Numerous internal upgrades were done to the worrisome HT4100 V-8 engine in 1986, and the increase in displacement (from 4.1 to 4.5 liters) made the 1988 DeVille a rather fantastic luxury vehicle with wonderfully tidy proportions. But none of this seems to matter, as all 1985–88 Cadillac DeVilles go for an average of $3500 (up nine percent last quarter), no matter the quality of the engine.
And what of the Coupe DeVille from the same time frame? Those two-door Caddies are above our threshold, running a $5400 asking price (up 10.2 percent) in today’s market.
1985–91 Subaru XT
Perhaps we saved the best for last, as the Subaru that tried to be normal is such an eye-catching example of 1980s excess. How exactly has the most aerodynamic car not achieved the return on investment seen by cars like the Mazda RX-7 (FC) and Nissan 300ZX (Z31)?
We may never know, but it likely has something to do with Subaru’s more workaday front-wheel-drive architecture (though AWD was optional) and more limited reach thanks to lower production (around 98,000 units globally, less than 30 percent of FC RX-7 production), and a relatively small dealer network in this era. The end result is that a Subaru XT in the high-spec “GL 10 Turbo” trim level only fetches $4700 in modern times. And that’s a bit of a shame, as the looks alone should push it above the $5000 mark.
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What your saying is True “”IF”” all you intend to do is Flip the car in short order (like a shady used car salesman)—But All these cars & more (like Fairmonts ect Will go up in value with time & increased rarity —
Everything about The 80’s was Great…except for cars….
Nope, Disco sucked and still does.
When disco was in, I couldn’t stand it. Now the BeeGees disco music is some of my favorite. Go figure!
Disco ended in 1979…
The year I graduated! At my 40th, that was the theme – The End of the Disco Era.
Disco was a ’70’s phenomenon. Disco was dead by 1980 — just in time to make way for the MTV Generation.
Some of GM’s most egregious ’80s “Deadly Sins” on this list.
All of these cars on this list SUCKED! Buy a 1990 Ford Thunderbird SC if you can find one.
Every one of those listed cars were and still are shit boxes.
junk and more junk, not mentioned but GM G bodied cars from the eighties had frames that rotted before body the panels, I went to my Chevrolet dealer and ordered a 1982 Malibu for my wife with the small V6, the pistons rattled as I drove away from the dealership, I turned around and brought it back complaining to the service manager, they had it a couple of days then called and told me there was nothing they could do about the noise, I told them I didn’t want the car.
What about the first gen Acura Integra?
Dumbest article ever
In the 1980s, GM produced many cars which looked good on paper, compared to the competition, but were not nearly what the competition was offering when it came to refinement and nice to be seen in. Unfortunately, the Cim fit that description perfectly, plus the Olds Achieva, too.
GM was big on comparison charts which showed their vehicles were competitive in features and specs. If the GM 4cyl was .1L bigger than a Hondas, it was “Advantage GM”. So the customer went to drive the GM and then the Honda, and discovered the Honda engine was “a sewing machine” by comparison, so that’s what they bought.
When the Cims were used cars, with all of the “stuff” the Cadillac needed that a Chev did not, they could be maintenance nightmares. FEW people would even want to touch them, as a result, even at elevated labor costs. Even if you bought one at a cheap price used, many used car dealers might offer much less as a trade-in as nobody wanted them. A sad situation for anything, much less a “Cadillac”. Back when that name really meant something. The bad thing was that as much as Cadillac needed a more economical car, everybody knew it was a Chevrolet, which was good and bad. The “bad” would be the scorn of somebody paying a high price for a Chevy with leather! Power windows could be a plus, though.
Reatta touch screens were “industry leading” at their time. There were a few places from which re-man touch screens could be had. There is a very strong following for these cars in the Reatta Division of the Buick Club of America. The former Reatta Club, which was very active and engaged with these cars, back then.
The early Gen II F-bodies will always pale when compared to the similar V-8 models, even the initial Cross-Fire Injection 5.0L V-8s. A 4 cyl Camaro was a joke, back then, and worthless. The V-6 was better for daily use, moreso with the 5-speed and upgrade suspension. The V-6 really came into its own with the later Buick V-6, when 0-60 times of about 7 seconds happened. Add-on superchargers, too.
The DeVille with the HT4100 engine was a good looking and nice car, just the engine was troublesome. These issues had been ironed out by the time the later and larger versions were produced.
You couldn’t have picked a better list of loser cars to represent the ’80s. These are the ones at the top of the pile………… at the junk yard.
I would have thought at the bottom of the pile at the junk yard, lol.
I’m a fan of ’80s Toyotas. I have 6 plus a parts car. The nice ones are ’81 Corolla Liftback, ’81 Cressida, ’83 Celica GT. I’m the second owner of those. The others are ’84 Celica ice racer (if winter ever shows up), ’86 C&C dually truck (in process) and ’87 MR2 (next project). Parts are cheap and available but not often required – they’re Toyotas. I’m a fan of their squared off bodywork and the nice ones draw more fans at Cars & Coffee than Ferraris.
Yes, I smile when I drive any of them.
Calling any one of these 8 cars “classic” is just plain wrong. Unless “classic” really means “I’m not car savvy. I have lots of money. I don’t have any sense of car style. I like to spend money on cheap vinyl and plastic. It’s ok if my car doesn’t run. I like large paperweights.” Perhaps a better title would be “8 ’80s Cars To Avoid At All Costs Unless You Have Lost Your Mind.”
Actually the Fiero v6 Firebirds with V8 are doing pretty well. Few other cars are worth what they were new from this era. I regularly see the Fiero GT models $16k to 20k. The 4 will never be worth much.
The V8 birds always do well. Often they also were cared for.
Same on Mustang V8 vs V6 cars. They do well and no one wants a 4.
One nice thing is these cars were not 3800 to 4000 pounds like many cars today.
Please keep publishing these lists as the best part of these articles are the comments. “These cars are great!” “These cars are trash!” “I loved my 1980 whatever!” “My 1980 whatever was the worst car of all time.” “Your opinion is wrong!”
You guys must be looking for comments.. the Cadillac really? They were and still are the worst car made by them. Classic car guys. Do not even consider them a car. Please be smart about what you put on this.
Please preserve us, and your reputation, from this sort of advocacy for the irredeemable. We all understand value, as for instance getting a Firebird V8 instead of the TransAm for 1/3 the price. But frankly both versions of that car were awful when new, which makes them a truly terrible decision when old. I grew up in the ’80’s and am involuntarily attached to anything of the era, but allow these automotive mistakes to drift into history please. Do not suggest they might be good ideas for purchase merely because they’re cheap. Bad is bad.