21 July 2023
Slide of
As manufacturers raise the bar ever further, with cars that go faster and handle better, we get to enjoy the fruits of their labours for amazingly little money.
That’s especially true when buying used because, as we prove here, you’ve got so much mouthwatering machinery within reach even if your budget is meagre.
We’ve not necessarily focused on the fastest or most powerful cars – nor even the sharpest handling. What all of these cars have in common is that they’ll bring a smile to your face whenever you drive them, whether it’s because of the grunt or handling, the soundtrack, or simply the fact that it was such an absolute steal.
Editor's note: Indicated prices are estimates based on decent examples found at the time of writing
- Slide of
MG TF - from £1000
We loved the MGF and its successor the TF when new, and while too many of them are now getting baggy there are also still a lot of really good, cherished examples out there. Don't stress too much about the possibility of a failed head gasket; many cars have been fixed by now and putting things right needn't be as costly as you think.
Plus, while many Fs have been broken because of failed Hydragas suspension, the TF got regular steel springs which are easy to replace.
We found: 2004 MG TF, 51,102 miles - £1500
How many left?: Around 4400
- Slide of
Mazda RX-8 - from £1500
We’d be the first to admit that buying an RX-8 can be a lottery because the rotary engines can be fragile, and even when in good health they don’t half get through fuel and oil. But with fabulous handling, a brilliant design and that rev-happy engine in the nose there are less sensible things to spend your money on – speaking of which, while RX-8s can be bought for £1000, budget to spend closer to £1800 to buy something that won’t expire imminently.
We found: 2006 Mazda RX-8, 62,855 miles - £1550
How many left?: Around 3017
- Slide of
Audi TT - from £1487
If you've got very little cash to spend, a TT Mk1 is a pretty good bet thanks to decent build quality, a strong engine (with 150bhp, 180bhp or 225bhp, most with standard quattro), and excellent usability whether you opt for a coupé or a roadster. If your pockets are deeper a Mk2 TT offers even more performance; for less than £7000 you can buy a 268bhp TTS.
We found: 2004 Audi TT, 225hp, 99,350 miles - £5000
- Slide of
Mini Cooper S - from £1495
Time is a great leveller. Once these Minis seemed to defy the rules of depreciation, but they’re now old and prices are at rock bottom. Abused cars are common, but so are cherished examples – although you’ll need to spend more like £2500 to get something really tidy.
We found: 2007 Mini Cooper S, 74,000 miles - £3495
- Slide of
Toyota MR2 Mk3 - from £1700
You could pick any of the three generations of MR2 and have a blast, but the Mk1 is now collectible and cheap cars tend to be rusty. The Mk2 isn't much better so you're likely to fare better if you buy a Mk3. Watch out for engine failure on cars built up to 2002 as the pre-cat could break up then find its way into the cylinders.
Practicality is rubbish but thrills come no cheaper than here, thanks to the mid-mounted engine (yes, like a supercar) and a weight of just a tonne.
We found: 2006 Toyota MR2 Mk3, 60,000 miles - £5100
- Slide of
Skoda Fabia vRS - from £1995
The idea of a diesel-engined hot hatch seemed a bit weird when the Fabia vRS arrived in 2003, but it was a formula that worked brilliantly thanks to the immensely torquey 1.9 TDi engine, a relatively light bodyshell and decent agility thrown into the mix - diesel power also ensured excellent economy into the bargain.
We found: 2006 Skoda Fabia vRS, 77,330 miles - £3995
- Slide of
Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDi FR - from £1595
Can’t find a Fabia vRS? Then try to track down a Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDi FR which arrived a year after its VW group stablemate. Ridiculously torquey and immensely chuckable, the FR has 228lb ft of torque at just 1900rpm in a car that weighs just 1190kg.
We found: 2006 Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDi FR, 102,000 miles - £2999
- Slide of
Ford Fiesta ST - from £2800
Ford has offered a Fiesta ST since 2005. In those days a 148bhp 2.0-litre engine was installed but by the time the seventh-generation Fiesta was launched in ST form in 2018 there was a 197bhp turbocharged 1.5-litre engine fitted. While you can buy one of the earlier cars for £1950 you'll need at least £5490 to secure one of the newer models.
We found: 2009 Ford Fiesta ST, 97,000 miles - £2800
- Slide of
Volvo S60 T5 - from £2395
We'd be lying if we were to say that the S60 is the greatest driver's car ever made, but we’re a broad church here at Autocar and the S60 shows that you can have a dose of serious performance with economy and safety in a family-friendly spacious bodyshell. Early cars got a 250bhp 2.3-litre five-pot but from 2004 a 260bhp 2.4-litre unit was fitted to give 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds.
The steering is pretty lifeless but find a car with the Four-C chassis and you can have some fun for peanuts.
We found: 2002 Volvo S60 T5, 81784 miles - £2490
- Slide of
RenaultSport Clio - from £2000
There have been so many heated-up Clios over the years that whatever your budget there's something within reach. The fun starts with the Clio 172 but the 182 is a better bet as it’s newer and that bit more zesty. While the former starts at just £2000 you need at least £2500 to secure one of the later cars – or for just £3200 you can have a Clio 197...
We found: 2005 RenaultSport Clio, 84500 miles - £5900
- Slide of
Ford Mondeo ST220 - from £3500
If you’ve got to cart a family around or you simply prefer big cars but you also want something that’s fun to drive and quick, the 224bhp Mondeo ST200 might just fit the bill. The running costs are out of proportion to the purchase costs because of fuel and road tax bills. On that note, make sure you buy a car registered before 23 March 2006 (that’s most of them) so your annual bill is £315 instead of £540.
We found: 2005 Ford Mondeo ST220, 88,000 miles - £3995
How many left?: Around 1159
- Slide of
Mazda MX-5 - from £1595
It's the car that kick-started the affordable roadster market at the end of the eighties, and since then the MX-5 has endured where rivals have not. You've got three generations to choose from but good Mk1s are becoming costly, too many Mk2s have significant rust problems which leaves the Mk3 as the one to go for, thanks to its improved build quality and low purchase prices.
We found: 2006 Mazda MX-5, 85,570 miles - £2495
- Slide of
Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk5 - from £2350
The Mk3 Golf GTi was unbelievably disappointing after the brilliant Mk1 and Mk2. The Mk4 was no better in 2.0-litre form although the 1.8T was a bit more deserving of the GTi tag. So when the Golf GTi Mk5 arrived in 2005 it was great to see that VW had rediscovered its mojo with a car that was fun to drive, fast and frugal but as practical as ever.
We found: 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk5, 110,000 miles - £3400
- Slide of
Subaru Impreza Turbo - from £4950
Any cherished Impreza Turbo is worth a punt, whether it's the original car or the bug-eyed version that arrived in 2000. Seemingly capable of defying the laws of physics, the Impreza has to be driven to be believed, but most early cars are baggy, badly modified or pricey because they’re a new-age classic.
That’s why the bug-eyed car is such a good bet; they’re still the cars that offer the most bang for your buck – but be wary of over-modified examples.
We found: 2003 Subaru Impreza Turbo, 109,554 miles - £2495
How many left?: Around 1426
- Slide of
Nissan 350Z - from £4700
When Nissan developed the 350Z it focused on the stuff that matters, like a 276bhp V6, rear-wheel drive and a limited-slip diff. It didn’t stress about the refinement levels or quality of the interior plastics too much, so your money is going where it matters – on something that’s an absolute blast to drive.
Coupés and roadsters are much the same money but if you want driving thrills rather than a mobile posing pouch, stick with the fixed-head.
We found: 2006 Nissan 350Z, 99700 miles - £8795
How many left?: Around 3400
- Slide of
Porsche Boxster S - from £3295
When you drive a really good early Boxster S it seems ludicrous that values are so low. But such are market forces; even the Mk2 Boxster S is now decently affordable with prices starting at under £10k. If money is tight though, don’t buy a ropey Boxster S – find a decent 2.5 or 2.7-litre car instead; prices start at around £6500.
We found: 2001 Porsche Boxster S, 75600 miles - £7690
- Slide of
Peugeot 205 GTi - from £8005
One of the greatest hot hatches of all time is still eminently affordable if you don't care about owning something that's less than mint. Crashed 205s are all too common though, so watch out for rubbish repairs; the Pug specialises in terminal lift-off oversteer. Focus on condition rather than spec; a tidy 1.6 will be far better to drive and own than a tatty 1.9, while the open-topped 205 CTi can provide a budget option if you’re not fussed about ultimate handling.
We found: 1990 Peugeot 205 GTi, 108,000 miles - £14,995
How many left?: Around 919
- Slide of
Honda S2000 - from £6750
Just like the Impreza and the 350Z, the Honda S2000 offers stupid amounts of driving fun in return for small amounts of cash, without any inherent unreliability issues as long as the servicing schedules are adhered to. Values of good S2000s are already on the rise thanks to restricted supply and steady demand – the latter because of the Honda’s revtastic V-TEC engine, rear-wheel drive and fabulous handling.
We found: 2001 Honda S2000, 96,100 miles - £8,495
How many left?: Around 2700
- Slide of
Mercedes SLK32 AMG - from £5490
OK, we admit that it's not the sharpest drive out there, but with its supercharged 3.2-litre V6 putting out 354bhp you can still have a lot of fun with one of these pint-sized sportsters. You get coupé-cabrio practicality and decent build quality; these AMGs aren't as badly built as most Mercs of the time.
We found: 2002 Mercedes SLK32 AMG, 48,450 miles - £9500
How many left?: Around 135
- Slide of
Honda Integra Type R - from £12,250
One of the best front-drive cars ever made, the Integra Type R's brilliance is no secret which is why values have already started to climb. But don't let that put you off; any decent example will prove a sound investment and once you've driven one of these cars the way they were designed to be driven you'll soon see that £20k is a bargain, never mind the £15k that a really superb example commands.
We found: 2001 Honda Integra Type R, 90,000 miles - £14,995
How many left?: Around 590
- Slide of
BMW M3 (E46) - from £8995
The original M3, the E30, is now big money for anything good. The E36 that followed is stronger value but it's the E46 that we'd steer you towards as it's much more potent than its forebear and it's top value, even if rock bottom happened a little while ago. With a 343bhp straight-six up front, rear-wheel drive and the most magnificent soundtrack, if you don’t buy one of these soon, in a few years’ time you’ll regret it, once prices have gone silly.
We found: 2003 BMW M3 (E46), 103,000 miles - £10,950
- Slide of
Vauxhall Monaro - from £10,949
There aren't many Monaros to go round and values are already on the rise, but when you consider that you can still buy one of these V8 coupés for just over £10,000 you can see why it's worth seeking one out. Even the weediest Monaro has 329bhp but quite a few have closer to 400bhp - the most potent pack a 493bhp punch but you'll need to spend at least £12,000 to secure one of these. Which is still a bargain.
We found: 2006 Vauxhall Monaro VXR, 73,900 miles - £14,995
How many left?: Around 326
- Slide of
Toyota GT86 - from £9500
Proving that you don’t need loads of power to create a brilliant driver’s car, the Toyota GT86 burst onto the scene six years ago and the oldest cars still command a decent amount of cash. However the earliest models can be had for under £10k, which is still a steal for a car that’s sublime to drive if not searingly quick; this Toyota coupé is the very embodiment of why you don’t need lots of power to have tremendous fun.
We found: 2012 Toyota GT86, 50,000 miles - £10,000
How many left?: Around 6565
- Slide of
Jaguar XKR - from £5500
The original Jaguar XKR is now a bona fide classic and values of good ones are starting to firm up. But the second-generation car, with its aluminium body, is still depreciating and it's a far better car; much more enjoyable to drive, more agile, better packaged and better built. And with a 420bhp supercharged 4.2-litre V8 (later cars got a 503bhp 5.0-litre unit) it’s scorchingly rapid too.
We found: 2005 Jaguar XKR, 84,300 miles - £11,500
- Slide of
BMW Z4M - from £12,250
The Z3M coupé and roadster are now getting very collectible and while Z4Ms aren’t available for give-away prices, they're unlikely to ever be this cheap again. For your money you get a 343bhp 3.2-litre straight-six mated to a six-speed gearbox and pushing those horses to the rear wheels.
Build quality and equipment levels are excellent and the driving experience is superb; the Z4M coupé is even better, but prices for those start at £17,000.
We found: 2006 BMW Z4M Roadster, 45,500 miles - £16,995
How many left?: Around 610
- Slide of
TVR Chimaera - from £10,500
There's nothing like the sound of a barely silenced V8 to get the adrenalin flowing, and TVR used to be the master of the throaty eight-pot. When you consider that the Chimaera is essentially a Griffith with added usability and at around half the price, if the Chimaera isn't a bargain we don't know what is.
Even the entry-level 4.0-litre models are a blast; find a top-notch 4.5- or 5.0-litre example and you can pay closer to £20k for it. And it’ll never be worth less than that.
We found: 1997 TVR Chimaera, 22,600 miles - £17,000
How many left?: Around 1984
- Slide of
Lotus Elise S1 - from £15,000
Few cars offer the driving purity of the original Lotus Elise. It's a car that's surprisingly rare; production lasted just four years before the series 2 arrived in 2000. Values are already climbing for S1s but don't let that put you off; if you can afford a good one you'll love every minute of driving it and when you come to sell it's bound to be worth more than you paid for it. What's not to like?
We found: 1999 Lotus Elise S1, 60,000 miles - £17,995
- Slide of
Infiniti Q50 hybrid - from £10,995
Looking for a family car that's fast, innocuous and that little bit different? If so, the Inifiniti Q50 hybrid should tick every box as it packs a 302bhp punch, will accommodate four or five and can streak from a standing start to 62mph in just 5.1 seconds. It's a bit sterile to drive admittedly, but it's seriously well equipped, comfy and shouldn't cost much to run.
We found: 2015 Infiniti Q50 hybrid, 38,500 miles - £15,990
How many left?: Around 240
- Slide of
Maserati GranTurismo - from £16,500
The GranTurismo is everything you’d expect of a Maserati; fast, beautiful, aggressive and luxurious – and not devoid of character (ie, it’s flawed). But when you can buy a 460bhp 4.7-litre V8-powered coupé that looks as gorgeous as this (although most cars for this money are 395bhp 4.2-litre examples), you don’t mind the odd ergonomic glitch. Check the service history, be forensic with your test drive and have a contingency fund – then get out there and enjoy it.
We found: 2009 Maserati GranTurismo, 51,420 miles - £25,498
How many left?: Around 1102
- Slide of
Lexus IS F - from £15,000
If the IS F was as brilliant as Lexus likes to think it is you wouldn't be able to pick one up for around £17,995. But the gearbox should be better and the suspension would benefit from some recalibration. However, the 417bhp V8 gets the IS to 62mph in under five seconds, it sounds fabulous, the equipment levels are ludicrously generous and reliability is superb.
So it's not hard to forgive the Lexus for being less than perfect dynamically.
We found: 2010 Lexus IS F, 62,000 miles - £21,950
How many left?: Around 182
- Slide of
Aston Martin V8 Vantage - from £21,995
We've included the V8 Vantage here because it looks so sensational, is fabulously quick and is brilliant to drive. But it can be a nightmare to own because of reliability issues, so be very careful before handing over your folding; prices have dipped to within a whisker of £22k at the bottom of the market but aim to spend at least £30k on an early car that's been cherished.
We found: 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, 68,785 miles - £30,000
If you enjoyed this story, sign up to Autocar’s newsletter for all the best car news, reviews and opinion direct to your inbox. Click here to subscribe.
Close
