We look at the best ways to get your hands on big speed for little money
Some second-hand hypercars that dangled temptingly at about £250,000 in 2012 have since jumped to half a million or more. But if you know where to look, you can pick up a car that delivers a truly epic driving experience without paying such an epic price – even in 2022.
Noble M12, 2000-2008
£38,000-£55,000: The Noble M12 is the kind of supercar the world no longer has house room for. It’s light, compact, grippy, nimble, surprisingly sophisticated with its body control, and epic on boost with its power delivery – not for the faint of heart, but hilarious for those who are up for the challenge. Get a higher-spec car if you can and watch out for evidence of worn suspension joints and steering bushes.
One we found: 2004 Noble M12 GTO-3R, 24k miles, £48,999
Nissan GT-R, 2008-2022
£40,000-£150,000: More of a supercar slayer than a proper exotic itself, but well worth considering if you want naked aggression and lots of real-world, four-wheel-drive performance. It’s mechanically complicated, though, especially in the driveline. Avoid heavily tuned examples, pay a premium for a car with a good service history and consider an inspection by a specialist.
One we found: 2011 Nissan GT-R, 50k miles, £44,995
Honda NSX, 1990-2005
£45,000-£90,000: It’s becoming increasingly hard to find original examples of Honda’s mould-breaking NSX, which upturned expectations for reliability, usability and ease of operation when it arrived in 1990. They’re delicate and understated cars but lovely, tactile and sonorous to drive; not overpowered with only a 3.0 V6, but massive on ’90s charm. Expect to pay more for a coupé than a Targa-style model. Avoid the auto at all costs.
One we found: 1991 Honda NSX, 31k miles, £79,990
Audi R8 V10 Spyder, 2010-2014
£50,000-£95,000: In drop-top, 10-cylinder form, this is roundly acknowledged to be one of the best driver’s cars that Audi has ever built (even if the coupé edges it for rigidity and sharpness). The folding roof gives easy aural access to that guttural motor, which doesn’t take too much looking after, and there’s a satisfyingly snickety six-speed manual on offer, too.
One we found: 2014 Audi R8 V10 Spyder Quattro Manual, 26k miles, £59,991
Ferrari 360 Modena, 1994-2004
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£55,000-£95,000: Ferrari hit the supercar big time when it launched the 360 Modena, which is still one of the most temptingly attainable modern supercars. There are plenty about, which makes tracking one down in just the right colour and spec possible and keeps values sensible, too.
The 360 M was Ferrari’s first supercar with an aluminium chassis, so it was both lighter and stiffer than the 355. It looked like a car for a new era: it didn’t have Ferrari’s old flip-up headlights or its edgy, strakey bodystyling. It was a bold, curvy, clear-eyed step forward. But it’s also still old enough that you can buy a manual instead of an ‘F1’ paddle shift. The aluminium construction makes 360s more corrosion-resistant than earlier Ferraris, but look out for paint bubbling in the bodywork in any case – and be ready to pay stiff maintenance prices. For a typical car, expect annual routine service and upkeep to cost around £2500.
One we found: 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena, 34k miles, £61,450
Lamborghini Gallardo, 2003-2013
£65,000-£190,000: This was the Audi R8’s Italian opposite number. The wedgier-looking, always-V10-engined Gallardo was the first ‘baby Lamborghini’ of its kind and fuelled big growth for its parent company. Most are four-wheel drive, but we spotted a rarer rear-driven one. If you can find an LP 550 manual coupé, buy it, keep it forever and listen to it often.
One we found: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2, 5k miles, £94,999
Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, 2001-2005
£65,000-£80,000: It took Aston Martin a long time to make a better-looking grand tourer than the 2001 V12 Vanquish. Some say that the wait still goes on. Very few Aston Martins sound better than this to boot, thanks to the baleful howl of an atmospheric Cologne V12 bellowing through very little exhaust muffling. If you like your supercars traditional, front-engined, noisy and so gorgeous as to turn heads absolutely wherever you take it, the original Vanquish ought to appeal like little else.
While this car’s V12-engined contemporaries from Italy and Germany have mushroomed in value to almost £200k in many cases, the Vanquish remains relatively attainable, and has long passed the likelihood of further depreciation. The transmission problems of early cars are easy enough to avoid now, too, with plenty of cars having had their troublesome automated manual transmissions swapped out for a manual.
Ownership of any V12 Aston Martin isn’t for the faint of wallet. With this one, examine the service history carefully for evidence that the 5.9-litre engine has had plugs and coils recently; the gearbox position sensor has been replaced, if necessary; and the suspension bushes have been changed. One we found: 2004 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish Manual, 28k miles, £74,950
McLaren MP4-12C, 2011-2014
£80,000-£120,000: It’s an interesting time to consider owning an early McLaren. The paint defects the cars are prone to, covered by the company’s 10-year warranty, have begun to become an owner’s cost to sort – and that’s sure to affect values. Spot a very early 12C with good paint, though, or one still under warranty, and you’ll get an awful lot for your money.
One we found: 2011 McLaren MP4-12C Coupe, 17k miles, £89,950
Mercedes-Benz SLS, 2010-2014
£135,000-£180,000: This super-Merc was a £165,000 car when it was new just over a decade ago, and to think that most are still commanding similar prices is quite a compliment to how well designed and positioned it was. The gullwing doors always meet with an ovation, and the woofling atmo V8 engine sounds phenomenal.
One we found: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, 48k miles, £147,475
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, 2007-2010
£200,000-£250,000: Jaw-dropping good looks do tend to cost a few quid. The Alfa 8C certainly delivered some when it arrived on the scene in 2007, first in Competizionespec coupé form, and later as a spider. Built by Maserati, based on a Maserati chassis and with a wonderfully loud 4.7-litre V8, this is a rare beast and will stop the traffic all right. For a price.
One we found: 2010 Alfa Romeo 8C, 10k miles, £239,990
Source: Autocar
