Here are four cars that went unnoticed but may now be a good buy

Throughout the history of the automotive world we have come across a series of vehicles that, for various reasons, never achieved a resounding success. Despite being luxury saloons or genuine sports cars, they were never recognised as such by the mass public, but this does not mean they are not a great buy today. Thanks to their low demand and the fact that they were not limited-production vehicles, depreciation has meant that they now present themselves as a great option on the used market and, who knows, they may also be a long-term investment.

There are several models that fall into this category of cars that went unnoticed or did not take off well enough, but today we are going to talk about four very specific examples. If our intention is to acquire a vehicle at a relatively affordable price, with not-too-extravagant maintenance, and we want a piece in our garage that is not a collector’s item but is still rather unusual, one of these options may be your next companion on the road.

Volkswagen Phaeton: the Bentley of the people

“The Bentley of the people”: that was one of the phrases many used to refer to the Volkswagen Phaeton, one of the least appreciated flagships from Wolfsburg. That name was applied to a luxury saloon that had the tenacity to rival the Audi A8, the Mercedes Class S and the BMW 7 Series without suffering in the attempt, since it included certain features that made it a package on a par with its main competitors.

A sober and elegant design, first-class materials, powerful and durable engines and endless extras made the Phaeton a genuine luxury saloon. That categorisation was also reflected in its price, which was in line with a vehicle offering such exclusive and intelligent solutions as those offered by the German car.

However, during its fourteen years on the market it had rather discreet sales, since the Volkswagen Phaeton never had a great reception, which can be genuinely beneficial for anyone considering buying one today. This is because it is easy to find several units on the used market with a starting price below 9,000 euros, a generous offer considering the technological and mechanical sophistication that the Phaeton offers.

Citroën C6: a shark that can still stay at the top

Citroën has always enjoyed a glorious past, not only thanks to the important technological innovations its models offered and still offer, but also thanks to certain illustrious vehicles such as the DS, popularly known as the Shark. Over time we saw other names such as CX or XM carry that legacy, which was passed directly on in a not-so-distant era to the C6.

The house of the double chevrons aimed, at the beginning of the 21st century, to offer a vehicle capable not only of perfectly representing the majesty of the DS, but also of comfort and exclusivity worthy of the segment in which it competed. However, its groundbreaking design, ahead of its time, meant that there were not many enthusiasts of the French luxury saloon.

If we want a vehicle with an original design, finishes on a par with the most exclusive saloons and technology typical of a brand like Citroën, without a doubt the C6 may be your car. Today we can relatively easily find a unit priced between 3,500 and 5,000 euros, an outlay that will give us great room for manoeuvre when it comes to maintenance.

Peugeot 607: a saloon in the purest French style

The synergies between Peugeot and Citroën are known to all, and the lion brand wanted once again to have a flagship in its range. That role was filled by the 607 in 1999, the year it was launched with the aim of competing against the great German titans. It is true that its success was more notable than that of the Citroën C6, but it still falls into that group of vehicles that today can be a great option on the used market.

Without doubt one of the aspects that stands out most about the Peugeot 607 is its exterior design, which skilfully combines elegance and subtlety. To this we must add materials such as leather and wood and an interior full of technology typical of the luxury saloon segment. A wide range of both diesel and petrol engines were there to further enhance the comfort and smoothness of the French car.

Today, the Peugeot 607 is offered across a broad price range on the used market, since it is easy to find units for little more than 1,000 euros and others approaching 8,000 euros. All of this depends on the trim, engine and condition of the unit on sale.

Renault Avantime: an MPV ahead of its time

The MPV segment occupies a very special place in the automotive industry, since it was the Renault Espace that gave birth to it. Over the years, the Espace’s legacy was spread across several models from the diamond brand, such as the Scénic and the misunderstood Avantime. The latter took the form of a coupé-style MPV capable of perfectly combining practicality with elegance and sportiness.

Without doubt, this offspring of the French house was a very ambitious project but one that was ahead of its time, which meant that many people did not see its raison d’être. Among its options was a V6 engine paired with a manual gearbox, which brought out a much more sporty character, typical of vehicles of a different scale.

However, the Renault Avantime presents itself as a very good opportunity to acquire a genuinely exclusive piece, since its prices are beginning to rise on the used market. Currently, we can buy a unit at a price of roughly between 3,000 and 7,000 euros.