My Top Thirteen 1996

1. The Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life 04-1996
2. Lighthouse Family - Ocean Drive 05-1996
3. Donna Summer - State Of Independence 03-1996
4. The Spice Girls - Wannabe 07-1996
5. Queen - Too Much Love Will Kill You 03-1996
6. The Beautiful South - Rotterdam 10-1996
7. Alanis Morissette - Ironic 04-1996
8. Sheryl Crow - Everyday Is A Winding Road 11-1996
9. Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back To Me Now 09-1996
10. Babybird - You're Gorgeous 10-1996
11. Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart 10-1996
12. Robson & Jerome - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted 11-1996
13. Bryan Adams - The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You 05-1996

And the bubbling unders:

Peter Andre Ft. Bubbler Ranx - Mysterious Girl 05-1996
The Backstreet Boys - I'll Never Break Your Heart 11-1996
The Beautiful South - Don't Marry Her 12-1996
Bon Jovi - These Days 03-1996
Boyzone - Coming Home Now 03-1996
Mariah Carey - Open Arms 02-1996
Belinda Carlisle - In Too Deep 07-1996
Crowded House - Instinct 06-1996
Celine Dion - All By Myself 12-1996
The Divine Comedy - Something For The Week 06-1996
East 17 feat. Gabrielle - If You Ever 10-1996
Eternal - Someday 08-1996
Everything But The Girl - Wrong 06-1996
Gina G - Ooh Aah...Just A Little Bit 03-1996
Whitney Houston - Step By Step 12-1996
Michael Jackson - Earth Song 02-1996
Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity 08-1996
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl 12-1996
Lighthouse Family - Lifted 02-1996
The Lightning Seeds - Ready Or Not 03-1996
Louise - In Walked Love 06-1996
Madonna - Don't Cry For Me Argentina 12-1996
Meatloaf - Not A Dry Eye In The House 01-1996
George Michael - Jesus To A Child 01-1996
George Michael - Fastlove 04-1996
911 - Don't Make Me Wait 11-1996
Ocean Colour Scene - You've Got It Bad 03-1996
The Pet Shop Boys - Se A Vida È (That's The Way Life Is) 08-1996
REM - Bittersweet Me 10-1996
The Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 12-1996
Supergrass - Going Out 02-1996
Take That - How Deep Is Your Love 03-1996
Tina Turner - On Silent Wings 06-1996
Luther Vandross - Your Secret Love 10-1996

And these are the ones people expect to see:
Baddiel / Skinner / Lightning Seed - Three Lions 05-1996
Blur - Charmless Man 05-1996
Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger 02-1996 |
Maxi Priest Featuring Shaggy - That Girl 06-1996
Prodigy - Breathe 11-1996 |
Pulp - Something Changed 03-1996
Shed Seven - Going For Gold 03-1996
Super Furry Animals - Something 4 The Weekend 07-1996

My Top 13 90s Book series/Authors

Interestingly, nearly all of these were turned into movies/TV series. I’m not numbering them, because all of these authors have been at the top of my reading favourites at one time or another, but the order reflects when I was reading them (ish).

Standalones by Jodi Picoult

For me, Jodi is the closest female author to my writing styles – her books require the reader to keep up and she doesn’t waste words. But her emotional intelligence is second to none.
Picture Perfect 95
Mercy 96
The Pact 98
Keeping Faith 99

The Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell 
I could have picked any one of a dozen different series by this man – he proper gets historical writing, and I’ve used his books as research on more than one of my stories.
The Winter King 95
Enemy of God 96
Excalibur 97

Dark Tower series (plus standalones) by Stephen King
He taught me so much about lean, mean writing, and that was before I read his phenomenal book (On Writing) about the craft.
The Stand 90
Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands 91
The Green Mile 96
Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass 97

Jack Reacher by Lee Child
Even leaner, meaner writing with a couple of bonus extras: 1. the sheer quantity of maths involved – Reacher’s a walking calculator which appeals to the engineer in me and 2. the fact that an author from Coventry can make it so big – gives me hope.
The Killing Floor 97
Die Trying 98
Tripwire 99

Standalones by Nicholas Evans

There’s something rare and magical about the quality of this guy’s writing – his characters touch you and stay for a long while after you finish reading.
The Horse Whisperer 95
The Loop 98
The Smoke Jumper 01

Harry Potter (and the) by J. K. Rowling
I will admit to struggling with the first couple of pages of the first book – took me a while to get into her writing style. But once I got over myself and the expectations garnered from having people critique my own stories, I couldn’t get enough. One of my favourite memories is sitting outside the beer tent on gala day while my kids roamed around the stalls at our local football club’s annual extravaganza. My mission: to re-read all the previous books before the latest HP hit the bookshelves. Top fun!
Philosopher's Stone 97
Chamber of Secrets 98
Prisoner of Azkaban 99

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
This guy’s imagination and ability to make a fantasy world seem absolutely real are excellent. He writes for kids as though they are mini-adults – brilliant!
Northern Lights 95
The Subtle Knife 97
The Amber Spyglass 00

Hannibal Lecter by Thomas Harris
Big cheat here because the 1st 2 were 80s and I actually saw the movies long before reading the books. Despite the horrific subject matter, his writing is compelling and so recommended.
Red Dragon 81
The Silence of the Lambs 88
Hannibal 99

French Trilogy by Sebastian Faulks

Beautifully crafted, captivating stories, credible characters and the bonus of being whizzed back to a France I know and love.
The Girl at the Lion D’Or 89
Birdsong 93
Charlotte Gray 98

Alternative histories by Robert Harris
Utterly readable, minutely-researched, gripping stories.
Fatherland 92
Enigma 95
Archangel 98

A Song of Fire and Ice by George R. R. Martin 96
I thought Game of thrones was the best historical fiction I’d read since Bernard Cornwell, and I loved the strong main characters. But as the series went on, I became less enamoured with the cast of millions and the way even the most minor one had to be introduced with a lengthy description of his siguls, only to be killed off a few pages later. Far. Too. Much. World-building. The HBO series was very watchable, tho’ and I loved the strong female leads.
A Game of Thrones 96
A Clash of Kings 98
A Storm of Swords 00

Bridget Jones books by Helen Fielding
Quirky, fun chick lit. Biggest grouse is how come they had to use an American actor in the movies when we have so many fabulous British ones?
Bridget Jones’s Diary 96
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 99
Bridget Jones’s Baby 17

Legal Thrillers by John Grisham
I like a courtroom drama as much as the next person, but these dug behind the legal profession’s glamour to turn their dirty laundry into thrillers.
The Firm by John Grisham 91
The Client 93
The Rainmaker 95

A special mention for this non-fiction series which had a massive influence on me, but not until several decades later.
The Celestine Series by James Redfield
The Celestine Prophecy 94
The Tenth Insight 96
The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight 99

And a whole bunch of other books turned into movies/TV shows - some of which are my favourites:
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 90
The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum 90
Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose 92
Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab 93
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh 93
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres 94
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 95
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks 96
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 96
The Beach by Alex Garland 96
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt 96
About a Boy by Nick Hornby 98
The Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier 99
Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden 99
Chocolat by Joanne Harris 99
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 99
Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks 99

1990s Books

This has been a tricky one to call, because most of the lists I can find are extremely USA-centric. I’ve tried to compromise by considering a stack of different sources, but the final choice is my own, based on books I've read. The USA list gives Publishers Weekly list of bestselling novels in the United States for that year.

1990

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The Stand by Stephen King
Sharpe’s Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell
The Tiger in the Well by Philip Pullman
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
In USA
1. The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
2. Four Past Midnight by Stephen King
3. The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow
4. Memories of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon
5. Message from Nam by Danielle Steel
6. The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
7. The Stand by Stephen King
8. Lady Boss by Jackie Collins
9. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
10. September by Rosamunde Pilcher

1991

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands by Stephen King
The Firm by John Grisham
The Eagle has Flown by Jack Higgins
The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
The Famished Road by Ben Okri
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
In USA
1. Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
2. The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
3. Needful Things by Stephen King
4. No Greater Love by Danielle Steel
5. Heartbeat by Danielle Steel
6. The Doomsday Conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon
7. The Firm by John Grisham
8. Night Over Water by Ken Follett
9. Remember by Barbara Taylor Bradford
10. Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark

1992

Fatherland by Robert Harris
Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose
Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
Sharpe’s Devil by Bernard Cornwell
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker
The Queen and I by Sue Townsend
In USA
1. Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
2. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
3. Gerald's Game by Stephen King 4. Mixed Blessings by Danielle Steel
5. Jewels by Danielle Steel
6. The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon
7. The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
8. Mexico by James A. Michener
9. Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
10. All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark

1993

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
In USA
1. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
2. The Client by John Grisham
3. Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend by Robert James Waller
4. Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
5. Nightmares & Dreamscapes by Stephen King
6. Vanished by Danielle Steel
7. Lasher by Anne Rice
8. Pleading Guilty by Scott Turow
9. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
10. The Scorpio Illusion by Robert Ludlum

1994

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
The Tin Princess by Philip Pullman
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
In USA
1. The Chamber by John Grisham
2. Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy
3. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
4. The Gift by Danielle Steel
5. Insomnia by Stephen King
6. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner
7. Wings by Danielle Steel
8. Accident by Danielle Steel
9. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
10. Disclosure by Michael Crichton

1995

The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans
The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult
Enigma by Robert Harris
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
What a Carve Up by Jonathan Coe
The Ghost Road by Pat Barker
In USA
1. The Rainmaker by John Grisham
2. The Lost World by Michael Crichton
3. Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel
4. The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
5. Lightning by Danielle Steel
6. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
7. Rose Madder by Stephen King
8. Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
9. Politically Correct Holiday Stories by James Finn Garner
10. The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

1996

Mercy by Jodi Picoult
Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
The Green Mile by Stephen King
Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell
The Third Twin by Ken Follet
Anita and Me by Meera Sayal
The Beach by Alex Garland
The Tenth Insight by James Redfield
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
In USA
1. The Runaway Jury by John Grisham
2. Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
3. Desperation by Stephen King
4. Airframe by Michael Crichton
5. The Regulators by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
6. Malice by Danielle Steel
7. Silent Honor by Danielle Steel
8. Primary Colors by Anonymous
9. Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell
10. The Tenth Insight by James Redfield

1997

The Killing Floor by Lee Child
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
Sharpe’s Tiger by Bernard Cornwell
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
In USA
1. The Partner by John Grisham
2. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
3. The Ghost by Danielle Steel
4. The Ranch by Danielle Steel
5. Special Delivery by Danielle Steel
6. Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
7. The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon
8. Pretend You Don't See Her by Mary Higgins Clark
9. Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
10. Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cornwell

1998

Die Trying by Lee Child
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Loop by Nicholas Evans
Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulkes
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
Archangel by Robert Harris
About a Boy by Nick Hornby
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
In USA
1. The Street Lawyer by John Grisham
2. Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
3. Bag of Bones by Stephen King
4. A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe
5. Mirror Image by Danielle Steel
6. The Long Road Home by Danielle Steel
7. The Klone and I by Danielle Steel
8. Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell
9. Paradise by Toni Morrison
10. All Through the Night by Mary Higgins Clark

1999

Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
Hannibal by Thomas Harris
Tripwire by Lee Child
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
The Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding
The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight by James Redfield
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
In USA
1. The Testament by John Grisham
2. Hannibal by Thomas Harris
3. Assassins by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
4. Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks
5. Timeline by Michael Crichton
6. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
7. Apollyon by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye
8. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
9. Irresistible Forces by Danielle Steel
10. Tara Road by Maeve Binchy

1995 Top Thirteen

1. Paul Weller - You Do Something To Me 07-1995
2. Meat Loaf - I'd Lie For You (And That's The Truth) 10-1995
3. Scarlet - Independent Love Song 01-1995
4. The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You 08-1995
5. Guns 'N' Roses - Sympathy For The Devil 01-1995
6. The Lightning Seeds - Lucky You 10-1995
7. Mike & The Mechanics - Over My Shoulder 02-1995
8. Cher - Walking In Memphis 10-1995
9. Des'ree - You Gotta Be 03-1995
10. Robson & Jerome - Unchained Melody 05-1995
11. Michael Jackson - Earth Song 12-1995
12. Simply Red - Fairground 09-1995
13. Take That - Back For Good 04-1995

And the bubbling unders:

Bon Jovi - This Ain't A Love Song 06-1995
The Boo Radleys - Wake Up Boo! 03-1995
Boyzone - Father and Son 11-1995
Mariah Carey - Fantasy 09-1995
Cher/Hynde/Cherry With Clapton - Love Can Build A Bridge 03-1995
Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You 06-1995
Del Amitri - Driving With The Brakes On 04-1995
Celine Dion - Tu m'aimes encore (To Love Me Again) 09-1995
Eternal - Power Of A Woman 10-1995
Iron Maiden - Man On The Edge 10-1995
Kylie Minogue - Where Is The Feeling? 07-1995
Prodigy - Poison 03-1995
Pulp - Common People 05-1995
Queen - Heaven For Everyone 10-1995
R.E.M. - Strange Currencies 04-1995
Tina Turner . Goldeneye 11-1995
Luther Vandross /Janet Jackson - The Best Things In Life Are Free 12-1995
Wet Wet Wet - Julia Says 03-1995

And the ones everyone expect to see
Blur - Country House 08-1995
Annie Lennox - No More 'I Love Yous' 02-1995
Oasis - Wonderwall 11-1995
Pulp - Disco 2000 12-1995

Motoring in the 90s

The 1990s was the era in which the widespread adoption of fuel injection, ABS, power steering and air conditioning improved dependability, safety, usability, and comfort.
Registration plates for the first 9 years of the decade run from H in 1990 to S in 1998 (no I, O or Q).
Notable events:
1990: Skoda becomes the latest firm to be assimilated into the Volkswagen Group of brands, after SEAT and Audi.
1993: Aston Martin launches the DB7, a new sports GT created with resources from Jaguar and funds from Ford. It’s seen as a watershed moment for the British luxury brand.
1994: Six years after taking control of Rover Group, British Aerospace elects to sell its 80 per cent stake in the firm to BMW. Honda soon offloads the remaining 20 per cent.
1994: McLaren launches its first road car – the F1. Designed by Gordon Murray, and powered by a BMW V12 engine, it’s the fastest car in the world.
1995: The Pass Plus scheme was introduced in November 1995 to help newly qualified young drivers gain valuable driving experience and reduce the risk of them being involved in an accident.
1996: A separate written theory test was introduced on 1 July 1996. It replaced questions asked about The Highway Code during the driving test. Candidates now have to produce their driving licence for their test. The theory test pass mark was raised from 26/35 to 30/35 on 1 October 1996.
1998: Bluetooth integration appears in cars for the first time. It let drivers use their mobile phones without holding them to their ear.
1999: March 1st – number plate prefix letter (T) changed twice a year to try and flatten the peak of sales in August.
1999: The newly revised Highway Code was published in February 1999, with current advice and up-to-date legislation for all road users. From 6 April 1999, cars being used for a driving test must have a front passenger seat belt, head restraint and rear-view mirror. Changes to the driving test on 4 May 1999 included extending the length of the test, randomising the emergency stop manoeuvre and failing candidates for committing 16 or more driving faults.
1999: Photocard licences were introduced from 1 July 1999 for both first time issues and licence renewals.

Here are some of the bestselling and most sought-after cars:

1. Ford Fiesta
Although the Mk1 was first sold back in 1976, the 1990s saw the Fiesta knock its big brother – the Escort – off the number 1 bestseller spot to become the top-selling car of the decade. It’s retained its status as Britain’s most popular car ever since, thanks to a comprehensive range of engines and trim levels, enjoyable dynamics and everyday practicality. Plenty of '90s Fiestas are still on the road and hot versions like the XR2i are the most desirable, but still have relatively low values.

2. Ford Escort
Throughout the 1990s, the Escort wasn’t too far behind the Fiesta in terms of sales – not that Ford will have minded having so many popular models. Despite being replaced by the Focus in 1998, the Escort soldiered on alongside its more modern counterpart until 2000. The scrappage scheme removed plenty of tatty examples from UK roads, so relatively few are left – and most of those are showing their age.

3. Vauxhall Astra

The Vauxhall Astra was a stalwart in the top ten sales charts throughout the 90s, and despite being a fairly drab car it was a perfectly acceptable family runabout. 163,678 are still taxed and on the road – a higher number than its arch-rival, the Ford Escort, which sold substantially more through the 90s. The Astra has always chased the Escort and latterly the Focus for sales, but it has never quite managed to catch up. The 1991-'98 Astra Mk3 line-up did feature some desirable models, including the GSi and convertible, but it's remembered for being worthy but dull. The fast ones were powered by the legendary 2.0-litre XE 16v engine, but they weren’t quite as lairy or exciting as the '80s GTE 16V predecessor. 1998 saw a new generation of Astra which was produced until 2004.

4. Ford Mondeo
The first Ford Mondeo was introduced in 1992 to replace the ageing Sierra. Ford elected not to continue the Sierra name for its 1990s saloon, severing its ties with the past, giving its clean-sheet front-wheel drive replacement a new name - Mondeo. It featured the latest generation of Zetec engines, well appointed interiors, good ride quality and enjoyable handling – a recipe for success. Consequently it outsold its nearest rival – the Cavalier – and later the Vauxhall Vectra.
Originally dubbed the ‘Mundano’ by the press, the Mondeo went on to become a huge success with hundreds of thousands of Mk1 Mondeos sold in the UK. The popularity of the car led to the term ‘Mondeo man’ being coined by Tony Blair in 1996, a label used to encapsulate the sort of everyman voter Blair’s concept of New Labour wanted to target. Blair’s victory in 1997 is cited by many as the moment which kicked off the ‘Cool Britannia’ movement good and proper, securing the original Mondeo’s status as arguably the most 90s car of all. It was heavily facelifted in 1996 and replaced by the Mk2 in 2000.

5. Rover 200
While the 1970s and '80s best seller charts were smattered with UK-built cars, this list shows just how much British car manufacturing had declined. Two generations of Rover 200 were sold in the 1990s – those sold until 1995 shared a lot of Honda components while the smaller car sold from 1995 was much more of an in-house effort, that was designed to compete with smaller cars like the Ford Fiesta, but at a hefty price premium.

6. Vauxhall Cavalier
This was the last iteration of Cavalier, sold until it was replaced in 1995 by the Vectra. The fact the Cavalier was only sold for half of the 1990s and yet still appears on this list is testament to its popularity – they were incredibly ubiquitous company car choices. Perhaps because of that fact they were viewed as disposable and not worthy of preservation, and consequently there are very few left on the road.

7. Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa is a popular used car for first time drivers – it’s cheap, abundant and simple to fix. That simplicity – and a ready supply of spares - might well have contributed to the amount that survive on the road. It might also explain why the car was sold in various strange forms across the developing world until the late 2000s. The Corsa replaced the Nova in 1993, and sold well throughout the 1990s. While a lot of '90s cars have been scrapped or otherwise destroyed, there are plenty of early Corsas still in everyday use, thanks to their simplicity, durability and cheap repair costs. Despite being a distant memory in the UK, Far Eastern and South American markets still sold relatives of the Corsa until very recently.

8. Volkswagen Golf
The Mk3 Volkswagen Golf maintained Volkswagen’s reputation for solidity. It wasn’t even half as popular as the Ford Escort in the 1990s and yet there are almost 40,000 more 90s Volkswagen Golfs than Escorts still on the roads in the UK today. That’s testament to the cars longstanding reputation for durability – and to its’ owners desire to keep them going. The Mk2 Golf was sold in the UK until the Mk3 arrived in 1991. The latter was larger and heavier than its predecessor, and featured modern engines including the troublesome VR6 and Umwelt TDI diesel. Solidly built, the Golf maintained Volkswagen’s reputation for quality - although it was probably unfounded in this generation. The most sought after models are GTIs and VR6s, but neither of them is particularly sprightly or exciting compared to contemporary rivals.

9. Nissan Micra
The Nissan Micra was at its most popular through the 1990s – the bubble shaped second generation car sold well and was used by driving schools and families alike. Many of the Nissan Micras first registered in the 90s are still going today, thanks to simple mechanicals and cheap repair costs. They’re also extremely cheap to buy, making them ideal first cars. Perhaps the most long-lasting car in this top ten, the simple, cutely styled British-built K11 Micra is still a common sight on UK roads. Engines were reliable, frugal and offered sprightly performance for such small cars while insurance was affordable – it’s easy to see why the Micra sold so well. Later generations weren’t quite as cute, nor have they been as popular with buyers.

10. Renault Clio

The Clio nailed the supermini brief of being just about big enough for a small family, relatively cheap to buy and run, and comfortable enough for everyday use. Unveiled at the start of the decade as the follow-up to the Renault 5, the first-gen Clio is widely credited as being the car which saved Renault from the deep funk it had gotten itself into during the late 1980s. Built around the ethos of creating big car refinement in a compact package, the Clio scooped the 1991 European Car of the Year Award despite not having even been released at the time.
French cars never ranked highly on UK sales charts, but being well-packaged, well-priced and stylish it had all of the ingredients required to be a buyers’ favourite. Its credibility and desirability was compounded by the 143bhp Clio Williams model, widely regarded as one of the finest hot hatches ever produced. Through brilliant use of TV advertising campaigns like ‘Papa & Nicole’ and Thierry Henry’s famous ‘Va-Va-Voom’ campaign, it became one of the most popular cars of the decade and helped spur on the supermini boom.

11. Volkswagen Polo
For the first half of the 1990s Volkswagen sold its Mk2 Polo in facelifted form before replacing it with the Mk3 Volkswagen Polo in 1994. That car soldiered on until 2002. It offered the typical Volkswagen solidity buyers seem to love and, despite missing out on a spot in the top ten 1990s bestseller list, more remain than many more popular cars.

12. Peugeot 306
The Peugeot 306 was quite a success for Peugeot, selling in fairly large numbers. It was engaging to drive and was available with frugal diesel engines. There are still a good few on the roads in the UK but numbers are falling by around 15% each year, so it’s worth saving the desirable models like the Peugeot 306 GTi-6 while they’re still reasonably affordable.

13. BMW 3 Series
Nowadays the BMW 3 Series often outsells the Ford Mondeo, but that wasn’t the case in the 1990s. However, despite the fact the Mondeo was a bigger seller in its day there are slightly fewer of them left these days. Perhaps people think more prestigious cars are worth maintaining, while more common cars are treated as disposable.


And some of the bubbling unders:
1991: Volvo 850
Were your parents really your parents if they didn’t own a boxy Volvo estate? Launched in 1991, the 850 was Volvo’s most advanced model to date and came with a range of safety technologies like ABS, dual front airbags and side torso airbags. It also went on to become one of Volvo’s best-selling cars around the entire world, while its build quality and hardiness means that, even today, it’s still not all that uncommon to see them knocking about the roadways.

1992: Subaru Impreza Turbo
Prior to the release of the Impreza Turbo, for many all you needed to know about Subaru was that the badge read “U R A BUS” in your rear view mirror. But the Japanese brand’s dowdy image was instantly shattered the moment a certain Mr McRae won the 1995 World Rally Championship in his Impreza. Britain went rally mad, to the point that waiting lists for special-edition Imprezas like the P1 stretched back 18 months or more, and the country was flooded with an influx of blue-and-gold turbocharged road weapons. The Impreza Turbo offered limitless grip and sports car-beating performance for a tiny fraction of the cost and has given birth to a whole range of cars that have thrilled enthusiasts and scared pensioners for nearly 30 years.

1992: Peugeot 405 Mk2
The original 405, similar in appearance to the Alfa Romeo 164, was launched in the same year (87) and also styled by Pininfarina. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1988 by the largest number of votes in the history of the contest. The 405 was one of Europe's best selling larger family cars, particularly in France and Britain. After improvements to the dashboard, boot and rear lights, the Mk2 was the eighth best selling car in Britain in 1992 and 1993.

1995: BMW 5-series E39
Best handling, most comfortable and strongest performing model in its segment, wrapped up in a spacious, handsome body.

1996: Lotus Elise
The Elise was supercar fast in its day, and its astonishing handling – as adept on B-roads as on a track – made it a firm favourite with driving enthusiasts.

1996: Porsche Boxter
Despite initial Gremlins, topped the comparison tests for over two decades.

1996: Audi A3
This neatly finished three and five-door hatchback used humble mechanicals – its platform was shared by the likes of the Mk4 Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon – but a more upmarket cabin and better refinement meant that many customers bought into the idea of a premium badge on a smaller car.

1996: Alfa Romeo 156
European Car of the Year and Auto Express’ best compact executive car.

1996: Ford Ka
A desirable supermini which borrowed the gearbox and suspension from the Puma – heaps of fun and endlessly charming.

1997: Toyota Prius
This first mass-market hybrid vehicle melded the two systems in an elegant design way ahead of its time.

1998: Mercedes S=class (W220)
This luxury saloon brought in air suspension, keyless entry and ignition, ventilated seats, radar-assisted cruise control and even cylinder deactivation.

1998: Audi TT
With sensational driving dynamics, it brought cutting -edge technology to the masses, and elegance from Bauhaus, a German design school.

1998: Ford Focus Mk1
Replacing the Escort, it saw a huge upgrade in quality, agility and engineering sophistication.



Many thanks to the following sites for doing all the legwork on this one.
https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/top-10s/top-10-selling-cars-of-the-1990s
https://www.desperateseller.co.uk/guides/most-popular-90s-cars
https://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/the-greatest-and-most-definitive-cars-of-1990s-britain
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/104728/the-best-cars-of-the-1990s