My wife recently exposed me to the social media “deinfluencer”: a creator who discourages overconsumption and promotes more thoughtful choices. I fully support retaliating against a hype culture that puts millions of people in harmful financial positions by chasing clout. Today’s Market Monday is the first in a series of posts inspired by this idea of “deinfluencing.” For the next four articles, I’ll be featuring vehicles that challenge the notion that the only way to turn heads at a car meet is with a new (or new-ish) high-priced exotic or luxury car. Tune in for Cheap Cars that Turn Heads (Part 1): Never-Sold-Here Imports.

There are many aspects of automobile ownership that fuel our enthusiasm. The cars excite our senses, connect us with the community, and engage us with the hunt for the next acquisition. While we may be hesitant to admit it, there’s definitely a desire to have our vehicular decisions appreciated by others. Something like a Lamborghini Revuelto undeniably generates crowds at car meets and even the most humble of us crave a little of that love for our own car.

This need for adoration can be taken to extremes. Some people have done outrageous things to get clout car at meets, including engaging in some less-than-legal activities to fund such a lifestyle. Those with a higher moral fiber, but lesser means, might feel pressure to financially overextend themselves to join the club. The goal of this article series is to bring attention to a whole host of cars that — while affordable — give the Lambos and Ferraris at a car meet a run for their money, at least in terms of attention. If drawing a crowd is important to you, read on.

The criteria for all the cars I’ll be including in this series is pretty loose. First: the cars shouldn’t be so niche, nor so common-looking that the average car meet attendee walks right by — the design has to be striking. Second: the car should be affordable to acquire and reasonably cost-effective to own and maintain — under $25,000 is a target, but not a rule. Third: it is assumed that none of the cars in this list will be used as daily transportation, but could comfortably serve in that role if needed.

I have identified 4 genres of cars that meet these criteria. I’ll be doing a feature on each one over the coming weeks, starting with today’s Part 1: Never-Sold-Here Imports.

Owning a car that was never sold in North America, even one that isn’t particularly expensive, is a great way to get attention and generate conversations at car meets. You could argue that this is a pretty obvious idea, but it may also be the hardest to achieve of the four I’ll be covering. The cars in the list below might have already been imported by an enterprising American, but you’ll most likely have to work with an importer to transport one from overseas. Only cars 25 years old and older (as of 2026) can be considered for importation under current rules. This is not a category for instant gratification.

I’d expect each car below to generate some buzz at a local Cars and Caffeinated Beverages meet and all off them can be obtained for under $25,000 landed in the States (roughly):

The Citroén BX 4TC homologation rally car would be an ideal car for this list, except it’s extraordinarily rare (I’ve seen only one in person) and it has risen in value like crazy. The Citroën BX GTI 16S is the next best thing, blending distinctive 1980s wedge styling with advanced engineering and everyday usability.

Introduced in the late 1980s, it features a 1.9-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine producing around 160 horsepower, paired with front-wheel drive and Citroën’s trademark hydropneumatic suspension for an exceptional ride and handling. Lightweight construction and sharp chassis tuning give the 16S a genuine sporting feel, while its hatchback design makes it a totally practical car for daily use.

Average prices for the Citroén BX 16S hover around €12,000, and that’s for a pretty decent car. That gives you some cushion for importation costs and future maintenance. Here’s a 1990 BX GTI listed for sale in France that appears to be in great cosmetic condition and is priced at €14,490.

The Fiat Coupé might be the only Chris Bangle-designed car I’d be caught dead in. The sleek exterior design, with its distinctive angled wheel arch accents, is paired with a Pininfarina-designed interior that is unlike any other sport coupe on the road in the United States today. Introduced in the mid-1990s, it is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing up to 220 horsepower and is unmissable when finished in Giallo Ginestra yellow paint.

High mileage Fiat Coupés can be found for well under €10,000, but you probably want to spend a little more and get a good car. Yellow Fiat Coupés are pretty easy to find, but here’s a stunning low-miles red Fiat Coupé 2.0 Turbo listed by a dealer in Germany for €13,995.

Yes, this car has a pretty familiar wedge-shaped hatchback form, but it’s pretty radical for a Volvo. The Volvo 480 is a compact three-door hatchback produced from 1986 to 1995 and was the first front-wheel-drive Volvo sold in Europe. It was equipped with a range of four-cylinder engines, including naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions, and featured independent suspension at all four corners. The 480 introduced several design and technical elements for Volvo, including pop-up headlights, a glass rear hatch, and an electronic driver information center.

Built in the Netherlands, it shared its platform with the Volvo 440 and 460 and was positioned as a sporty compact model within Volvo’s lineup. The car was originally designed specifically for the US market, but never but never made it to our shores due to economic conditions at the time. Incidentally, the Volvo 480 will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year.

Prices for the Volvo 480 vary significantly by condition, mileage, engine specification and whether it’s a manual or automatic transmission. Overseas, they’re pretty easy to find under €10,000 and with reasonably low mileage. Here’s a pretty slick Volvo 480 Turbo for sale in Switzerland for €9,500.

I’ve only seen 2 of these cars in person and I get around when it comes to car events. This jacked-up off-road hatch would stand out at almost any Cars and Coffee in America. The Volkswagen Golf Country is a limited-production all-wheel-drive variant of the second-generation Golf, produced from 1990 to 1991. It was based on the Golf Syncro and featured a raised ride height, reinforced suspension, underbody protection, and a rear-mounted spare tire carrier.

Power came from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels through a viscous-coupled drivetrain. The standard Golf body essentially fits onto a custom chassis assembled in cooperation with Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria. I’ve covered this car before and am a big fan.

Prices for the Volkswagen Golf Country average around €16,000. Cheaper cars can be found, but they tend to have a lot of miles, interior wear and rust issues. Here’s a nice, low-miles example located in Brescia, Italy and offered at €16,000.

We are just a little too early to import the GTA trim level of the Alfa Romeo 156 into the United States, but in the meantime, this car would get you close. The Alfa Romeo 156 V6 is a mid-size sports sedan produced from 1997 to 2005, powered by Alfa Romeo’s 2.5-liter “Busso” V6 engine driving the front wheels through a manual or automatic transmission. The optional Sport Pack added chassis and interior upgrades, typically including lowered and stiffer sports suspension, larger alloy wheels (commonly 17-inch), wider tires, and enhanced braking components depending on market.

Interior changes for the Sport Pack generally consisted of more heavily bolstered sports seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, aluminium pedals, and darker trim details. If you can, try to find one that spots the Evo-style rear wing and you’ll stand out even more among the plethora of sports sedans at your local car meet.

Prices for the Alfa Romeo 156 V6 can range anywhere from €2,000 up to €20,000, so condition and specification matter greatly in what you spend. Here’s a nice low-miles example in blue with the Evo wing offered for sale in Switzerland for €12,700. I see some evidence of either dirt or corrosion near the side skirts, which is something to look for on these cars as they rust quite badly in this area.

I can hear the screams now: “What about the Alfa Romeo SZ! Or the Renault Clio II RS! Or the Audi RS4!” Yes, those are all awesome imports and total icons, but they’re anything but inexpensive.

The above cars represent 5 cheap cars that turn heads by being unusual imports that were never sold here. They’ll all lead to thumbs up on the road, conversations at gas stations, and a ring of onlookers at car meets.

What would you add to my list? Let me know in the comments below!

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisals, and auction services for buyers and sellers of collector European cars. If you’re interested in acquiring an overseas car, give us a call or drop a line!