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Supercars are not only for the super-rich, discovers John Evans, even in the current economic climate. Just look at these 20 gems as shrewd investments…
From the price of a new Volkswagen Golf to the price of a modest detached five-bed house in Surrey, there’s a supercar for every budget.
You know all the usual suspects, so we’ve ditched the hordes of Ferraris and Lamborghinis that could have packed out our 20 slots in favour of more makes and a few surprises, all in the name of variety and avoiding duplication. Buckle up…
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McLaren 12C
2011-2014 £63,000-£100,000
Tales of poor development and unreliability plagued the 12C initially, but upgrades and fixes put most of them right. Cars from 2012 or later benefited from the start. Our find is one such example. For instance, it has the more powerful 616bhp engine, a functioning sat-nav and working Bluetooth. Just check that you can open the doors.
One we found: McLaren 12C, 2012, 35,000 miles, £69,990
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Ford GT
2005-2006 £329,000-£395,000
Jeremy Clarkson’s problems with his GT’s alarm system nearly did for the model’s rep in the UK, but last year his car was offered for sale by its second owner with 25,000 miles on the clock, so it must have been fixed. Downside is that the model is left-hand-drive only. Prices are only going one way.
One we found: Ford GT, 2006, 8000miles, £329,000
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Honda NSX
1990-2005 £60,000-£150,000
Ignore its ’90s Japanese interior and the original NSX is a deeply impressive tilt at Ferrari. Being the less-loved auto version, our spot is a useful £20,000 cheaper than the equivalent manual and more relaxing in town or on a long drive. It’s a former Honda UK car and has just had a full belt service.
One we found: Honda NSX 3.0 Targa auto, 2000, 82,000 miles, £64,000
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Lotus Esprit Turbo
1987-1993 £15,000-£35,000
The Peter Stevens-designed ‘X180’ Esprit Turbo still ticks all the supercar boxes – well, apart from the high cylinder count one, but the power output is befitting regardless. Will one leave you stranded by the roadside? Specialists swear that apart from suspension and brake niggles, Esprits have no serious issues. On top of that, our find has a good main dealer service history and fresh belts.
One we found: Lotus Esprit Turbo, 1988, 43,000 miles, £29,995
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Ferrari 360 Modena
1999-2004 £50,000-£159,000
We could have chosen any number of Ferraris, but the 360 stands out for its ease of ownership, availability, performance and value. Some parts cost a fortune, though, such as wheel bearings, so take nowt for granted. Our example is with an independent, but Ferrari dealers of fer the occasional one with a proper warranty.
One we found: Ferrari 360 Modena, 2000, 46,000 miles, £79,995
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Nissan GT-R
2007-2022 £30,000-£180,000
Supercar-slaying performance but with four seats and a tailgate: the GT-R is almost impossible to pigeonhole, which is why we’re relaxed about including it here (and next time in a rundown of great GTs). There are lots to choose from, but we would avoid any that are clumsily tuned or wrapped.
One we found: Nissan GT-R, 2014, 33,000 miles, £54,995
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Lamborghini Gallardo
2003-2008 £60,000-£80,000
Prices may be rising, but find a good Gallardo and your money will be safe. Our find’s 5.0-litre V10 is less well regarded than the later 5.2-litre version, but its manual gearbox is ample compensation. Buying privately has its risks; you can tell a lot from meeting the owner though and some are as mad as cockerels.
One we found: Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0 V10, 2005, 46,000miles, £68,500
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Audi R8
2007-2015 £32,000-£70,000
Supercar performance with Audi A3 drivability: with the R8, you really can have your cake and eat it. There are loads to choose from at all sorts of prices, but we would be wary of anything chipped or wrapped. That’s why we like this unmolested 4.2-litre V8 example in classic silver and with a full Audi service history.
One we found: Audi R8 4.2 V8, 2007, 55,000 miles, £36,995
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Noble M12
2001-2008 £35,000-£55,000
Leicester’s Ferrari-chaser combines a spaceframe chassis with composite bodywork, the lot launched down the road by a Ford V6. In our example’s case, it’s a 3.0-litre engine. From the factory it produced 352bhp, but it has been professionally boosted to 500bhp and given uprated mechanicals to match. We wouldn’t normally recommend anything that has been modified, but this looks so good.
One we found: Noble M12 GTO 3R, 2004, 50,000miles, £46,000
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BMW i8
2014-2020 £37,000-£90,000
On looks, tech and those butterfly doors alone, the i8 deserves its place here. But it goes hard, too, and keeps going with many examples now approaching 100,000 miles. Our find is an approved used car, which makes it a little more pricey but, given its complexity, is worth it for peace of mind.
One we found: BMW i8, 2016, 28,000 miles, £50,590
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Porsche Taycan Turbo S
2020-present £120,000-£190,000
Its performance alone is sufficient to earn this electric four-door a backstage pass to the supercar class. When we tested it, only the Bugatti Veyron Super Sports and Porsche 918 Spyder had been quicker. Our fully loaded, approved used car is £12,000 cheaper than a standard new model.
One we found: Porsche Taycan Turbo S 93kWh, 2020, 24,000miles, £129,990
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De Tomaso Pantera
1971-1992 £85,000-£200,000
The Pantera looks like the real Italian deal, but under that sleek bonnet is a Ford V8 and at the back is a German transaxle, while most of the cars were sold in the US by Lincoln dealers. Still, good ones, such as our restored 1974 US import, are rare and desirable alternatives to the usual fare.
One we found: De Tomaso Pantera V8 5.8, 1974, 21,000 miles, £99,995
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Aston Martin DBS
2018-present £150,000-£290,000
We know it’s really a GT, but among people who adore Astons, the DBS (formerly DBS Superleggera) is a supercar with the swagger to brush Ferraris off its lapels. For the record, it has a 715bhp V12 and can crack 0-62mph in 3.7sec. Our example is an approved used car in, appropriately, Divine Red.
One we found: Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, 2019, 5000 miles, £163,990
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Maserati MC20
2021-present £230,000-£255,000
At last, a Maserati that delivers on its promise. It’s a shame that it has taken a £190,000 supercar to do so (it’s more expensive used), but you’ve got to start somewhere. The 621bhp 3.0-litre V6 delivers 0-62mph in 2.9sec. For some reason, our car bears the signature of Maserati’s vice-president of design.
One we found: Maserati MC20, 2021, 2000 miles, £229,995
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Spyker C8
2000-2012 £230,000-£325,000
Neither as fast as rival supercars (it’s powered by an Audi S4 engine) nor as good looking, this Netherlands native is nevertheless a special car and, once you’re strapped in, a very special place to be. Our find is a right-hand-drive limited edition inspired by Spyker’s GT2 race cars.
One we found: Spyker C8 LM85, 2010, 950 miles, £299,950
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Bugatti Veyron
2005-2011 £1,000,000-£1,500,000
We said ‘every budget’, and here it is: your Surrey five-bed on wheels. Still, even at more than £1 million, it’s nice to know that dealers still push for that last 90 quid. Don’t forget to put aside £25,000 for annual servicing and a little extra for re-gluing the tyres to the wheels every 18 months.
One we found: Bugatti Veyron 16.4, 2007, 2000 miles, £1,174,990
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Saleen S7
2000-2009 £500,000-£850,000
The world’s your lobster with this much money. Five used Ferrari 488 GTBs, anyone? So, blinded by the bright lights of choice, we’ve gone for that all-American supercar, the Saleen S7. Its 7.0-litre Ford V8 produces 550bhp and 0-62mph takes a little under four seconds. It’s super-rare, and our find will need to be imported from the US.
One we found: Saleen S7, 2003, 7000 miles, £810,000
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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
010-2015 £130,000-£190,000
The letters ‘AMG’ guarantee that whatever wears them will be challenging to drive. With those three applied to the back of something as purposeful as the SLS, you had better ready your medication. Its 6.2-litre V8 makes 563bhp, but it’s the way it spoons it out that stays in the mind. Expect no bargains.
One we found: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, 2011, 20,000 miles, £181,950
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Jaguar XJ220
1992-1994 £375,000-£550,000
Is there anything more supercar than the XJ220? Don’t answer that, but for anyone who was around when this thing emerged (come on, it was only 1992), the XJ220 is the real deal. There was a bit of bother over its changed specification at launch, but everyone is over that today, as prices attest.
One we found: Jaguar XJ220, 1993, 8000 miles, £399,850
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How to buy a used supercar
Follow these simple steps to avoid coming a cropper:
Stick to your budget: Nothing turns the head or empties the wallet like a supercar, so put all your effort into remaining collected.
Research your costs: Be sure you can afford the insurance, servicing, consumables and garaging.
Know the market: In addition to knowing what’s a fair price, find out what specification, colour and extras are popular so that when the time comes to resell it, you won’t be stuck with an orphan.
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How to buy a used supercar
See loads of them: Compare prices, how they drive, condition and aftersales care.
Check it thoroughly: Ideally you should hire an expert for this, but if you’re going alone, at least make sure it drives as it should. Ensure alloy wheels have been properly repaired and that the interior is free of damage. Check that all the tyres are to specification.
Check its history: Be sure it’s clear of finance and that it isn’t a write-off. Many supercars wear cherished plates, so cross-check the data using engine and VIN numbers.
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