Top 5 Sleeper Cars of the 90s: Fast Cars That Look Boring

The "Sleeper" is the ultimate undercover weapon. These are the cars that look like they belong in a grocery store parking lot but pack enough heat to leave sports cars in the rearview mirror. Here are our top 5 picks from the golden era of sleepers:

Volvo 850 T-5R: The ultimate "Flying Brick." A yellow wagon that could outrun almost anything on the highway.
Lotus Carlton: A Vauxhall sedan tuned by Lotus. It was so fast that the UK government once tried to ban it.
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4: The precursor to the Lancer Evo. It had the 4G63T engine and AWD but looked like a standard commuter car.
Nissan Stagea Autech 260RS: Essentially a Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 disguised as a family station wagon. 26JZ power in a box!
Ford Taurus SHO: A sensible American sedan with a high-revving V6 engine developed by Yamaha.

Did we miss your favorite sleeper? Which car from the 90s surprised you the most on the highway?

Share your "sleeper stories" in the comments below!

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Why Every Modern Classic Owner Needs a $20 OBD2 Scanner (And How to Use It)

Owning a car from the late 90s or early 2000s—the "Modern Classic" era—is a rewarding experience. You get the mechanical soul of a driver's car with just enough technology to keep things interesting. However, there’s one thing every owner of a BMW E46, a Toyota 4Runner, or a Honda Civic from this era eventually faces: The dreaded "Check Engine" light. In the past, this meant an immediate trip to the mechanic and a $100 fee just for a "diagnostic scan." But if you are part of the DIY generation, there is a better way to handle this. The Power of the OBD2 Scanner Most cars manufactured after 1996 feature an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD2) port. By plugging in a simple, inexpensive scanner, you can "talk" to your car’s computer. Why is this a game-changer for owners aged 35-50? Avoid "Part Cannon" Mechanics: Know exactly what is wrong before you step into a shop. Peace of Mind: Is it just a loose gas cap or a serious misfire? Now you kn...

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How to Safely Clean Your BMW E46 Engine Bay (Without Throwing a Check Engine Light)

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