Five French Fancies Under £5K

French car manufacturers have always been good at building affordable, economical and comfortable cars but they are even better when they go niche – when building either iconic, quirky or performance vehicles.

As you would expect, these often sell above our £5,000 budget, which is why we won’t be suggesting an iconic Renault 4, a quirky Citroen 2CV or a performance Peugeot 205 GTI – prices are at a much higher level, sadly.

However, at Footman James, we believe niche cars needn’t cost the earth. To prove this point, we’ve browsed the classifieds for our top picks – and we are confident many of you will love this selection of five French fancies for under £5k.

Renault Twingo Mk1 LHD (1993-2007)

Credit: Renault Group

The original left-hand drive only Renault Twingo has always had a certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ about it for British buyers, who’ve been spotting them on the continent since the early 90s. Perhaps it’s the timeless and charming looks, the clever packaging from its one-box design, its affordability or the fact that like other iconic cars, it has character. You can buy one for far less than our £5k budget but finding one is more difficult. You could buy a used import already in the UK, or you could import one yourself from the EU which is complex but not impossible. Better news is that Mk1 Twingo values are rock bottom on the continent.

Citroen XM (1989-2000)

Credit: Citroen UK Limited

The Bertone-designed XM had big shoes to fill following on from Citroen’s iconic executive models, the DS and CX. The XM almost managed this, by being quirky looking, classy, supremely comfortable, and different from its competitors – but it hasn’t yet become iconic. Featuring an electronic update of Citroen’s famous ‘Hydropneumatic’ suspension, the XM’s ‘Hydractive’ suspension provided not only an excellent ride, but great handling too. With the youngest now over 20 years old, many tired examples have left the roads, meaning that prices of surviving cars are appreciating, so you need to get in quick. Excellent ownership support means that once you’ve found a rust-free and well serviced example, you can enjoy soaking up those miles in comfort and style – all for less than £5k.

Talbot Samba (1981-1986)

Credit: KGF Classic Cars

The Anglo-French Talbot marque was resurrected in 1978, when PSA Peugeot Citroen purchased Chrysler Europe, and its car range with either Rootes Group or Simca DNA. The 1981 Samba was the last Talbot passenger car launched and the only model not inherited from Chrysler Europe. The supermini was an Anglo-French effort once again: British designed, Peugeot 104-based, and built in France. Besides being a sensible supermini, it was additionally available as a classy cabriolet and as a racy ‘Rallye.’ PSA could not make Talbot a success due to its unloved car range, but the Samba gained praise from the motoring press on release. Survivors today are rare, but so is demand, which means buying even a mint example is achievable within our £5k budget.

Peugeot 106 GTI (1997-2003)

Credit: Peugeot Motor Company PLC

While the 106 GTI isn’t as beloved as the ultra-lightweight ‘106 Rallye,’ it is no longer a forgotten performance alternative, despite its conservative styling, discreet rear spoiler and GTI badges. In fact, finding one within out £5k budget is still possible. The 1.6-litre petrol unit delivers 120bhp, 107lb ft of torque, 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds and a 127mph top speed – achievable as the car weighs just 950kg. In fact, the GTI had a higher power-to-weight ratio than more powerful hot hatches such as the Mk4 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Don’t forget, the 106 GTI came from an era when Peugeot still made very competent performance cars: this meant sharp acceleration, a precise chassis and many smiles per mile.

Renault Fuego (1980-1986)

Credit: Renault Group

What was the first car to go on sale with remote central locking? That would be the front wheel-drive Renault Fuego, a coupe that was up against the Ford Capri and Opel Manta in the 1980s. The Fuego was based on the Renault 18 and used its engine range. Despite being named after the Spanish word for fire, it was more of a GT car, rather than an out-and-out sports car. While UK sales proved strong, the Fuego was axed here after six years. The very Eighties-tastic looking Turbo is the one to have today but finding any Fuego for sale will be your biggest challenge: those that do sometimes come up below our £5k budget.

Is there one you think we've missed, or have you purchased your own French fancy for less than £5k recently? Let us know in the comments below!