Used car deals of the week
Here's what caught evo’s fancy this week on the second hand car market
The used car market can be a fickle and intimidating place to find your dream performance motor, but dig deep enough and there’s plenty to take even the most picky buyer’s fancy. Britain’s second-hand market is full of fascinating used buys that are often available for a fraction of their as-new price.
There’s also the added fun and excitement of finding something just that little bit special, in both rarity and the capability they can provide for the money. As such we feel it is our duty to do some of the hard work for you, digging out our favourite second-hand buys every week.
> Browse our used buying guides here
Best used car deals of the week
Below are our best used car spots of the week...
Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive (2013)
c£900,000
With Rimac in the final stages of development for its C_Two and the Lotus Evija not far away, the all-electric supercar is just around the corner. However, you may remember that Mercedes-Benz got there before either of those contenders, way back in 2013 in fact, with its SLS Electric Drive. Powered by four electric motors, there’s 740bhp and an impressive 738lb ft of torque sent to all four wheels for a quoted 3.9sec 0-62mph time and 155mph top speed. Despite its 560kg weight disadvantage, this makes it just three tenths slower to 62mph than the SLS Black Series.
> Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive review
You’d be right in thinking that a near-£1m SLS isn’t a particularly good deal, but given the industry’s impending shift to electric power and the increasing desirability of the combustion-engined SLS, the Electric Drive could well be a worthwhile investment. Around 100 examples were initially planned to be produced, but it’s believed that only nine ever made it out of the factory, making it an exceedingly rare machine. Finished in the trademark AMG Green Electric paint, this particular car has only 2360 miles on the odometer too.
BMW M3 (E92, 2012)
£32,995
Powered by BMW’s motorsport-derived S65 4-litre naturally aspirated V8, the E92 M3 is becoming more attractive by the day. OK, so 420bhp and 295lb ft of torque aren’t headline-making figures in 2021, but equipped with the dual-clutch transmission the 4.6sec 0-62mph time and 155mph limited top speed are plenty enough for public roads.
> BMW M3 Competition and M4 Competition xDrive models detailed
As is the case with most high-end German cars, depreciation has worked away at E92 values ever since the model’s launch, bringing prices down to hot hatch levels in many cases. Unfortunately, though, this means that unmolested, low-mileage examples are becoming harder to find, but if you’re willing to spend a little more cash, you can go one step further… Coming with 36,000 miles on the clock, the desirable Competition pack and accompanying wheels, a full BMW service history and more, this BMW Individual Java Green example is something you certainly won’t see often.
Bentley Continental GT Supersports (2017)
£112,950
The all-new Bentley Continental GT has finally gained a more focused Speed variant, bringing more power and a honed chassis to the luxury GT. With just 650bhp on tap though, it’s still no match for the range-topping Supersports of the previous generation, with its 6-litre twin-turbocharged W12 sending 700bhp and 750lb ft of torque to the ground for a 3.4sec 0-62mph time and 209mph top speed.
> 2021 Bentley Continental GT Speed review - Ultimate GT set to take on DB11 AMR V12
After a handful of years and 13,319 miles on our roads, this striking blue example is already available at just over £110,000, almost half its original value.
Maserati GranTurismo Sport (2016)
£46,999
The Maserati GranTurismo was never quite a class-leader, but with charming looks and a glorious powerplant, it was a GT offering we couldn’t ignore. In late Sport form, its Ferrari-derived 4.7-litre naturally aspirated V8 produces 454bhp and 384lb ft of torque, enough for a 4.8sec 0-62mph time and a healthy 185mph top speed.
> Maserati Levante Trofeo 2021 review – fettled super SUV returns with bite
An early example with a patchy maintenance history can now be had for under £20,000, but for just a little more than the price of a new Volkswagen Golf R, this rare, low-mileage yellow car is within reach. Just one owner is said to be on its books, and with satin black 20-inch Sport wheels, the dual oval exhaust exits, sports seats and more, we know where we’d put our money.
Audi RS6 (C7, 2014)
£39,995
The Audi RS6 is one of the benchmark performance estates, becoming a hugely popular do-all family car thanks to its unique blend of performance and practicality. Under the bonnet is the same 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 you’ll find in many hot VAG products – in this instance producing 552bhp and 516lb ft of torque for a 3.9sec 0-62mph time and 155mph top speed.
> Audi RS6 review - return of the king
Though the new C8 model has made big leaps in the driving department, the C7 is still a deeply desirable car, especially when you consider the amount you’ll save by going second hand. This 46,000-mile car comes with a panoramic sunroof, the aluminium styling package, a Bose sound system, full Audi service history, sports exhaust and more, yet it’s available for under half the price of a brand new C8.
Mercedes-AMG GT R (2017)
£98,999
The sharpened GT R Pro and Black Series models might have stolen its thunder, but the standard AMG GT R is still a hugely capable supercar in 2021. Built as Affalterbach’s answer to the 911 GT3, it boasts an increase in power over the standard GT, chassis setup changes and fettled aerodynamics.
This 22,206-mile example could be yours for over £60,000 less than list. Painted in the GT R’s trademark Green Hell Magno paint, it also packs the optional set of 19 and 20-inch staggered forged wheels and exterior carbonfibre package.
McLaren 650S (2014)
£87,900
Spanning between the 12C to the 720S, the McLaren Super Series represents McLaren’s growth more than any other. Despite problems like inconsistent build quality, each model boasted performance that many rivals struggled to match. The 641bhp 650S was no exception, offering tangible upgrades in performance than the 12C with its 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 firing it from standstill to 62mph in 2.9sec and onto a 207mph top speed.
> McLaren 650S review, price and specs
As you’d expect from an all-out mid-engined V8 supercar, you required at least £200,000 to buy one new, but after 16,600 miles and seven years on the road, this 650S has lost a fair chunk of its value. Though it’s equipped with the Sport Exhaust system, a carbonfibre upgrade package and more, you could have it on your driveway for just £87,900 – that’s over half its original value.
Jaguar F Type R (2014)
£40,865
The Jaguar F Type quickly became a sports car staple following its 2013 launch, thanks to its head-turning design and of course, the exhaust note from its 5-litre V8. In R-form, 542bhp and 502lb ft are sent to the ground for a 4sec 0-62mph time and a brisk 186mph top speed.
> Jaguar F-type R-Dynamic Black revealed – special edition priced from £64,495
An entry-level four-cylinder example will set you back just over £50,000 new, but this 35,000-mile R from 2014 could be yours for just a smidge above £40,000. A full service history, panoramic sunroof, uprated Meridian sound system, 20-inch diamond cut wheels and even carbon ceramic brakes are all equipped, making this a particularly high specification.
BMW M4 GTS (F82, 2016)
£76,897
The M4 GTS took BMW’s M car formula to the next level, with Munich’s engineers lifting power from its 3-litre S55 straight-six to 493bhp through the use of a trick water injection system. Meanwhile its chassis tweaks also markedly changed its dynamic ability, making it significantly more aggressive and exciting than the standard version.
> BMW M4 mule with aero mods caught in testing
There’s no hiding that it was a divisive car at its launch, as although it was highly exclusive, a £120,000 price tag felt a step too far for some. Thankfully though, depreciation has taken hold even on such an exclusive model, making this 11,129-mile Alpine White example just £897 more than a new G82 M4 Competition…
Caterham Seven 310S
£28,495
If there was a car that embodies the thrill of driving more than any other, a strong argument could be made for the Caterham Seven. The ever-present yet constantly evolving Seven might look relatively similar across the range, but the experience each variant offers is slightly different, and appeals to very different audiences.
The 2018 310S here is what many might call the Goldilocks of the range, powered by a 152bhp 1.6-litre Sigma engine that gives the 310S its 310bhp/ton output. With that power-to-weight ratio, the 310S makes great progress on road and track, but without the violence of the significantly more expensive 410 and 620 models.
> Click here for our review of the Caterham Seven 310R
The S in this example’s name also signifies its relative road bias, with leather seats in place of plastic buckets, a gentler setup to the suspension and the relative luxury of things like a windscreen and doors, it makes it arguably the best road-biased Caterham you can buy. And with such resilient second hand values, this 2600-mile example should continue to depreciate more slowly than just about any new car
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S (2014)
£86,950
Limited-run specials aside, for many the V12 Vantage S is a pinnacle of modern day Aston Martin. Boasting a 5.9-litre naturally-aspirated V12 with a 565bhp output and a design to make anyone go weak at the knees, it’s no surprise that values are steadily on the rise.
> Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition revealed – new Coupe and Roadster derivatives
This Chiltern Green V12 Vantage S could be yours for over £55,000 less than the new F1 Edition Vantage, and does without the questionable carbon additions. This example is fitted with the 7-speed semi-automatic transmission, Parliament green leather, the desirable 19-inch 10-spoke wheels and more.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R (2016)
£79,850
The Mustang is rarely considered a track day machine, but the GT350R took a page out of the Camaro Z/28’s book, sharpening its dynamics and adding an exotic new power plant. A 5.2-litre naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8 lies at its heart, sending 526bhp and 429lb ft of torque to the rear, the most of any naturally-aspirated Mustang.
> Shelby Super Snake Speedster takes 812bhp muscle car open-air
Ford officially offered the GT350 in the UK, but this example has been privately imported, covering just 3011 miles since it hit UK soil. Finished in the appropriately named Lead Foot Grey with a black ‘race cloth’ interior, it comes with a limited-slip differential, Recaro sports seats with contrast stitching and those 19-inch carbonfibre wheels.
Peugeot 208 GTi (2015)
£8750
In both standard and later Peugeot Sport forms, the 208 GTi was a highly entertaining hot hatch. While some thought the Fiesta ST provided a little more for the driver, the Peugeot’s superb 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder was arguably an even sweeter unit, and sent a very healthy 208bhp and 221lb ft to the front axle for a quoted 6.5sec 0-62mph time and 143mph top speed in PS form.
> Peugeot 208 GTi and GTi by Peugeot Sport review - a return to 205 GTi form?
42,100 miles and six years after it left the factory this white example could be yours for just £8750. Future variants are set to feature some form of electrification, so perhaps now is the time to bag yourself the final pure-combustion GTi from the French marque…
