Used car deals of the week
In this week's used car deals, we've sourced everything from a SEAT Leon Cupra to a Ferrari 458 Italia
While we seem to be out from under the worst of the pandemic, its lingering effect on the global supply chain and wider automotive manufacturing means bargain second hand performance cars aren’t what they used to be.
This is something that’s been exacerbated by the world’s transition to electric cars, stoking demand for petrol-powered performance cars both in the new and used markets, leaving many short of either cash or supply.
What hasn’t changed, though, is the satisfaction of perusing the classifieds for all the most interesting used high performance cars on sale right now. This week we’ve dug up everything from a SEAT Leon Cupra to a Ferrari 458 Italia.
> Browse our used buying guides here
Alpine A110 (2019)
£37,495
Not only is the Alpine A110 one of the finest sports cars in its segment, it’s one of the greatest driver’s cars of all time. Pairing a refreshingly-low c1100kg kerb weight with a zingy 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and an outstanding chassis, it offers a distinctive and engaging driving experience. In standard form, 249bhp and 236lb ft of torque are sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, helping it reach 62mph from standstill in 4.5sec.
> Alpine's A290 electric hot hatch will be unveiled at Le Mans
A new A110 will cost you from £54,490, but after 19,129 miles and five years on the road, this Abyss Blue example is on the market for £17k less than that. While it is the standard car, it comes with plenty of desirable options including the uprated Focal sound system, sports exhaust system, a classy brown leather interior and the 18-inch diamond cut wheels.
Ferrari 458 Italia (2010)
£117,950
The 458 Italia is one of the greats, leading the way for the modern supercar and launched as the final naturally-aspirated V8 Ferrari. The Speciale is the iteration that receives most of the praise today, but the Italia also features a fantastic high-revving, 4.5-litre V8 and an exploitable chassis that make it a fantastic driver’s car 15 years on.
> Ferrari SF90 XX Spider 2024 review – on the road with Ferrari’s open-top track car
Despite its increasing desirability, the 458 is far more affordable than equivalent modern supercars in 2024. This early 2010 example could be in your garage for less than £120,000, and comes finished in Rosso Corsa with silver 20-inch multi-spoke wheels, a full carbonfibre driving zone, suspension lift system and more. It has covered 35,521 miles in its lifetime, but a recent Ferrari main dealer service should offer some peace of mind.
Aston Martin DBX (2020)
£87,500
The DBX is no longer available in entry-level form, with the new DBX707 now the only variant on sale. While the 707’s improved chassis and fettled powertrain make it a truly engaging SUV, the original remains an impressive offering with excellent build quality, refinement and long-distance comfort. Powered by AMG’s 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, power stands at 542bhp and 516lb ft of torque for a 4.3sec 0-62mph time and 181mph top speed.
> A new Aston Martin Vanquish is coming, and it’ll have an 824bhp V12
You’d pay from around £160,000 for a new DBX when it was on sale, but this 2020 car is now on the market for just £87,500. Being one of the first 500 examples to be built, it comes in limited-run 1913 Edition-spec, and has been optioned with a panoramic sunroof, reversing camera and 22-inch wheels. A 59,500-mile odometer reading is on the high side, but with a full service history and just a single owner on its books, it might just be worth a punt.
SEAT Leon Cupra 300 (2018)
£16,999
Cupra has launched its latest iteration of the popular Leon, and while a 328bhp peak output makes it the most powerful version ever, the earlier SEAT-badged cars still have their place. Powered by the same 2-litre turbocharged EA888 four-cylinder as its 2024 successor (albeit in an earlier form), 296bhp and 280lb ft are sent through the front wheels for a 5.8sec 0-62mph time and 155mph top speed. What makes these earlier cars even more desirable (beyond their affordability) is the option of a manual transmission, something this particular example is equipped with.
> New Cupra Formentor and Leon get more power and drift mode for 2024
You’d pay from around £40,000 for an equivalent new model today, but this understated Monsoon Grey car from 2018 is on the market for a very reasonable £16,999. This or a used Mk7 Golf GTI?
Honda NSX (1991)
£500,000
The original Honda NSX is an automotive icon, and as desirability increases, so are prices. This gives the NSX great potential as an investment as well as a rewarding driving tool, but it’s important to make sure you buy the right car for such a purpose. Despite a not-insignificant 39,100-mile odometer reading and an import title, this 1991 NSX is the very best you will ever find…
> Why the Honda NSX-R is one of the most significant cars of the last 25 years
This particular car was once the personal NSX of none other than Ayrton Senna, a gift from Honda for his efforts in McLaren-Honda Formula 1 cars (and for helping with the development of the car). It’s not often that the opportunity comes to bag an iconic supercar owned by one of Formula 1’s all-time greats, and as you'd expect, it does come at a steep price. Yours for £500,000.
Audi RS4 Avant (B7, 2006)
£25,990
Exceptional handling, a purposeful design and one of the world’s greatest naturally-aspirated V8s have made the B7 RS4 an icon. It remains a stunning practical performance car in both saloon and estate forms nearly two-decades since it launched. A 415bhp output is no match for today’s supersaloons, but the sound, response and power delivery of its 4.2-litre unit makes it a truly great driver’s car.
> Audi RS4 (B7, 2006 - 2008): a V8 supersaloon benchmark
Despite a 92,925-mile odometer reading, this Sprint Blue RS4 Avant is one of the best on the market, in excellent condition and with the desirable Recaro wingback seats, full service history and commonly-fitted Bilstein coilovers. Its engine was even replaced at 29,256 miles by an Audi main dealer, making it fresher than the mileage would suggest – it’s also had the all-important engine decoke within the last few years.
Porsche 911 GT3 (991.1, 2014)
£93,850
The latest 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 is a stunning road and track car, but its 991 predecessor is certainly no slouch in 2024. In original 991.1-form, its 3.8-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six produces 468bhp and 325lb ft for a 3.5sec 0-62mph time and 196mph top speed, with class-leading dynamics making it one of the greatest driver’s cars of all time.
> Manthey Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Touring loses weight and gains aero
A decade and 17,082 miles since it rolled off the dealership forecourt, this classy Agate Grey example is now on the market for £93,850. It comes equipped with plenty of optional extras too, including the highly desirable Sports Chrono Package, Porsche Dynamic Light upgraded headlights and more.
Audi R8 (2008)
£34,989
A sleek, timeless design, that tactile manual gearbox and performance exploitable on virtually any road make the Audi R8 V8 an evo favourite. Powered by the same 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 found at the heart of the RS4 of the time, it produces 414bhp and 317lb ft of torque, enough for a 4.6sec 0-62mph time and 187mph top speed. While these figures are in line with those of a hot hatch in 2024, the original R8 takes some beating in terms of outright engagement.
> Audi R8 4.2 FSI V8 quattro (2007 - 2015): review, history and specs of an icon
Prices seem to have picked up a little over the last year or so, but they still haven’t risen too far – this unmodified, two-owner car is currently on the market for just £34,989. While it has covered 67,000 miles in its lifetime, that low owner count and a full Audi service history should give you some peace of mind.
BMW M5 (E39, 2000)
£23,995
The E39 M5 is the benchmark performance saloon, its modern successors are undoubtedly more powerful and faster but the old stager’s analogue charm is hard to match. With 400bhp and 369lb ft of torque produced by its 4.9-litre naturally-aspirated V8 might be hot hatch outputs by today’s standards, but it's expertly honed chassis and controls make it a driver’s car through and through.
> BMW M5 (E39, 1998 - 2003): review, history and buying guide
There are very few E39 M5s on the market with what you’d consider low miles, and while that might be a deterrent for some, it’s a great sign that they stand the test of time – this particular example has covered 91,800 miles, putting in the middle of the road in terms of E39 mileage. Painted in stunning Silverstone Metallic paint, it comes with a full main dealership and specialist service history, the Memory Package and a panoramic sliding sunroof. Yours for £23,995.
Renault Sport Clio 172 (Phase I, 2001)
£5450
Small dimensions, a playful chassis, low weight and a gutsy naturally aspirated engine make Renault Sport’s Clio 172 one of the finest hot hatches to hit our roads. While it was launched over two decades ago, its 2-litre F4R four-cylinder still produces a very respectable 172bhp, pushing it from standstill to 62mph in only 7.2sec and onto a 137mph quoted top speed.
> Why the Renault Clio 172 is one of the most significant cars of the last 25 years
Given their desirability, both Phase I and Phase II 172s have seen some appreciation in recent years, but even this restored 2001 example is on the market for under £6000. Having recently received a full respray, new arches and a complete suspension overhaul, this car looks to be one of the best you’ll find, despite its 102,133-mile odometer reading. It’s even been owned by the seller for the last 17 years, and is equipped with some very tasteful (and subtle) modifications.
