BMW tries to craft its driver-focused DNA into its ever-growing lineup of crossovers and SUVs with varying success. This is a nod to classic British roadsters, forcing the driver to learn the car’s performance envelope. You see, this was a massively unit-shifting model, built to be utilitarian and affordable, and it sold in huge numbers; whereas the Corsa was aimed at young drivers who were hooked in by the finance and insurance deals, so the Vectra was aiming squarely at the fleet market. $35,630 | 460 hp | USN Performance Score: 9.1/10. You will not have to break the bank either, clean cars with moderate to high mileage can be found on CarGurus for a paltry $6,000. This car came with a naturally aspirated V6, allowing this car to produce 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. This was sold between 1998-2002 and had the 2.3-litre T5 motor putting out 237bhp, which really ain’t bad at all. Bang for your buck. Vauxhall Corsas aren’t exciting, but as the second most popular new car in the UK there are plenty around in the classifieds. Much lower. To sign up to our newsletter, please fill in your details below. The 2008 BMW 550i is a great starting point for anyone looking for a modern-looking BMW that also happens to have a great sounding 4.8 liter V8. Perhaps with the thousand pounds that’s burning a hole in your pocket, you just want to buy something with a sodding great engine? Has a penchant for the peculiar. The Miata’s agility is its defining characteristic. There’s an adage among some performance driving enthusiasts: “It’s better to go fast in a slow car than slow in a fast car.” The logic behind this saying considers that one cannot really push a supercar to its limits on the open road. Under the hood was the 4.2-liter V8 with 340 HP which sounded great and revved all the way up to 7,000 rpm. Based on reliability ratings from Which Warranty scores, the most reliable used car for under £1,000 was the 2003 Ford KA model (1,297cc engine) which sells at an average price of £684. Since then, GM has kept that tradition alive with a continual stream of affordable, big-power muscle cars like the 2006 Pontiac GTO. Top 3 mods: remap, Powerflow exhaust, K&N induction. No, we can’t fathom it either. Cheap fast cars are what we're interested in here and, crucially, we've gone in search of models that can be bought, maintained and enjoyed relatively cheaply. Our trusty companions, CarGurus and AutoTrader reveal just how much it costs to get one today. Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo Here’s one to take with a pinch of salt. Well, part of it might be the fact that Saab as a company doesn’t exist any more, so people are nervous that they won’t be able to get it serviced or find parts when it breaks. A legend on four wheels, the E46 M3 is revered by BMW fans and car enthusiasts alike. While it applies in the market for new cars, depreciation makes it even more relevant in the used car market, and the choice of some of evo’s past favourite performance cars now selling for pennies is vast. If you want the ultimate Ka, there are a number of Sport Kas available for less than £1,000. They’re not the best-driving Civic, but if ever a car was all about the engine and transmission, it’s this. Despite the acclaim and reverence, this car can actually be had for quite a reasonable price. $8,000, that is all the cash you need to get into an automotive icon. CARFAX products and … The classiest option of our cheapest trio, the 330i’s biggest bonus is ubiquity. Copyright 2020 © U.S. News & World Report. Powered by the 1.4-litre engine, this example has avoided the first-time-driver tax (new drivers push prices up of lower-powered models), and looks good for the money. This can often present an obstacle to someone looking for cheap thrills who does not have all the money in the world. An interesting alternative to a Mondeo, the 6 should prove to be reliable – but do look out for rust. Luckily, time heals all wounds, and the years have allowed once unobtainable cars to become quite obtainable. When the Peugeot 1007 was launched in 2004, it seemed properly futuristic. We’ll start with one of the most undesirable cars currently listed on Auto Trader – but bear with us. One of the most driver-focused cars on the market today, the Mazda Miata packs just as much power as it needs to be fun. For 2020, Mazda has added standard driver-assistance features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. Top 3 mods: remap, 3” downpipe, Jetex exhaust. What can you buy for £1,000? But the later, and perhaps less-loved FN2 Civic Type R represents excellent value right now as the newest of the bunch – and as the very last naturally aspirated Civic Type R. For a start, they’re reliable. These cars have undergone a serious decline in value, making this the ultimate project car for anyone looking to get one of the biggest Japanese sports car icons. If we’re including the Astra, it’d be rude not to consider a Ford Focus as well. That said, finding a decent six-cylinder Z4 for well under $10,000 should be no problem And since all of these models are electronically limited to 155 mph, why bother with the more expensive ones anyway? They need regular oil services and chains and tensioners can be problematic, but once sorted the engines can pretty much go on forever. The 2000 model year Z3M Roadster made 235 horsepower and 197 pound-feet of torque. If you are interested in a cheap, American tuner, this is the car for you. That's right, a V12-powered supersedan capable of 155 mph for $10,000 What more could you ask for? Once you’ve found the right vehicle for you, be sure to use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the best deal in your area. The SS trim provides a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. Used Jags have always suffered the same issue when it comes to residuals – they’re expensive to run, maintain and buy parts for, and the potential for big bills keeps sale prices low. It’s awful in most areas but, with just 39,000 miles on the clock, we bet this example has had the archetypal one elderly owner from new. Throw in this generation 6’s propensity to rust, and some can look quite sorry for themselves too. In that time, it has accumulated a reputation as a fantastic platform to build on, whether that be a weekend track weapon or a fun drift car. On the other hand, some classic sports cars that are no longer in production, such as the Honda S2000 only picked up in value in the last few years. That 4.2-liter V8 helped the S4 produce 340 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque, which even today is a healthy amount of power. Still, if you buy a good one, you’re in for a hell of a ride. That is to say down, way down. And at less than £1,000, every single one is very much a half-price hero. The GT Fastback routes power to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters. This is terrible news for supercar owners but amazing for an average Joe looking to buy a fast car. Check for signs of a hard life – it might have been ragged by a boy racer who couldn’t afford the real deal. Again, like the regular Ka, they love to rust – so give the sills a good prod and don’t dismiss any bubbling as ‘light surface rust’. Oh, and ask about the category C write-off marker… with a car of this value, it could have been written off by relatively minor damage, but you’ll want evidence that it’s been repaired properly. > Best cars to buy for £5000 – evo garage. AutoTrader has many of these going for between $5,000 and $7,000. The Subaru WRX is every car enthusiast's sweetheart and has been for quite a while now. Consider it then more of a shopping list – a selection to tempt you when you want to park something a little more exciting alongside your financed diesel family wagon, or if you’re ready to take the plunge into ownership of your first proper evo car. You don’t need a lot of horsepower to have a good time, and as you’ll learn, there’s more to being the fastest than just power. Firstly, the maximum mileage we’re interested in is 100,000, and we’re only looking at cars 10-years-old or younger. SRT has garnered a good reputation for fun, fast, high-horsepower cars, and their rendition of the Dodge Charger is no different. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This coupe came with a 4.0 liter V8 that produced a healthy 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Being a 4-door sports sedan, the G-37 was a Japanese alternative to the inundation of European luxury sedans. We called it 'well worth a look' on its 2006 launch (issue 075), and if you can find a cared-for example, it remains worth a look today. Not insane numbers, but when you factor in the car's sub-3000 pound curb weight, you see just how great a proposition this car is. A Chevrolet Matiz will never set pulses racing – but it’ll be incredibly cheap to run and, with five doors, it’s ideal for first drivers. Exhaust, induction and remap gets you up to about 230-240bhp; whack on some Yellow Stuff pads and Eibach springs, strip out that interior (it’s horrible anyway), and enjoy some cheap-as-chips horsepower. 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Set yourself an upper limit of £10,000 – about the same price as a new Dacia Sandero Stepway with a coat of metallic paint – and you’ll find everything from V8 muscle cars to turbocharged rally legends and slick sports saloons, with top speeds in excess of 150mph and 0-60mph figures beginning with fives and sixes. Mint ones are £6k+, but slightly less good ones are often sub-£1k. As with the Civic Type R further up, the Mk2 Ford Focus ST’s appeal lies largely in its engine. The key facts are that there’s a beautifully revvy 2.0-litre 16v motor in there, a fabulously poised chassis, and the potential to go faster than you ever thought possible in a rattly little Clio.