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Anyone can buy a car for a few quid and feel morally superior - until it breaks down.
What takes real guts is buying a high-end motor at a low-rent price. The potential of disaster is greater, but think of the fun you could have with a car that depreciated from fantasy to reality.
There are more used cars around at the start of the year as people part-exchange and get ready for the plate change and dismal weather means that buying anything right now is usually a distress purchase. Stylish coupés aren't quite so desirable, and who needs a luxo-barge if they don’t have a chauffeur? Yes it's a great time to buy a used car with a premium badge. And although used car prices have been on the rise recently, there are still bargains to be had, especially in unfashionable classes. Let's take a look at the best...
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Sports Coupés
TOP CHOICE: Maserati Coupe 4.2 Cambiocorsa
Cost new: £56,650
Cost now: around £11,000
Squeezing a Ferrari into our banger line-up would have been a bit of a stretch. The nearest we can get is the M138 V8 engine made in Maranello, a legendary badge – Maserati – and everything built in Italy.
Here’s a supercar that can be bought for around £10,000 (sometimes), although it’s probably best not to. Instead, find one with good history. The 4200GT is ferociously expensive to run. You need to change the timing belt every 12,000 miles, warning lights are a way of life (it will always cost £100 to switch them off) and there may be rust. This isn’t very Bangernomics, but it is a Maserati.
Other options:
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BMW 645ci
Cost now: Around £6000 for a 2005 example
A large, purposeful and not that pretty coupé, but the petrol V8s are now pretty cheap. Great for smashing long distances into submission in the most comfy fashion. A 6 Series is solidly reliable, provided they have been looked after. Unfashionably brutish, so quite brilliant.
Or:
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Audi TT
Cost: around £4,000 for an example from 2000
There’s a decent argument for an Audi A5, but that's just too boring. TTs, though, are currently incredible value, so let’s give another well-deserved mention to a chic sports car that still looks like nothing else on the road.
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Luxury Saloons
TOP CHOICE: Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Cost new: £55,240
Cost now: from £5000
Which breeze block shaped Vickers-era luxo-barge to go for? The natural Autocar choice would be a Bentley, so let’s fly in the face of convention. Old Rolls-Royces, like a Silver Spirit, are not that cool and have descended gracefully down the class ladder to the point where potential owners can no longer cope with the 12-15mpg.
Avoid tatty examples and aim for later Spirits with ABS, which arrived in 1989. Suspension and brakes are astoundingly expensive to put right. These are eminently fixable cars, but rust will be the financial killer.
Other options:
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Bentley Mulsanne
Cost now: from £7000
The old-school Mulsanne is available with a turbo or as an S with all the turbo trimmings, alloys and firmed-up suspension. Buyers pay a bit extra for those winged B logos, but do get a sportier luxo-barge package.
Or:
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Mercedes-Benz S320
Cost now: from £3000
Yes, proper W140s from the old days are still out there to be enjoyed. Marginal economy and excessive size mean the appeal is limited to those who appreciate the finer things in life. Build quality will never be better.
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Luxury GTs
TOP CHOICE: Aston Martin DB7
Cost new: £78,500
Cost now: from £15,000
We all secretly dream of waking up with an Aston in the drive, which probably explains why they are doing so well these days. The one that started all the fuss is really an XJS in a pretty party frock and has never been better value. They seem to have bumped to something like a £20,000 halt, and decent ones won’t ever get cheaper.
Engines are fixable, but that bodywork is the problem. Damaged polycarbonate bonnet, nose cone and boot lid can’t be fixed. The 30,000 mile service is the big one and will cost a couple of grand, which is how quickly the dream can turn into a nightmare.
Other options:
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Mercedes-Benz CL
Cost now: from £4000
This is either a handsome, two door S-Class, or a heap of trouble. They seem to be cheap for a reason: spacious, over-equipped and ready to drain your bank account at the merest hint of trouble. Otherwise it’s great, and for some may be worth the risk.
Or:
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Jaguar XK
Cost now: from £6000
Here’s the budget alternative to the DB7 and it still looks great and arguably better than an F-Type. Certainly more of a sports car than the previous heavy XK and much more sophisticated with a sublimely supple chassis. The combination of a V8 and a high level of standard kit is pretty much perfect.
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Saloons
TOP CHOICE: Cadillac CTS
Cost new: £28,000
Cost now: around £8000
Fancy a Caddy? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be something huge and wallowy with the steering wheel on the wrong side. The CTS was meant to be a sort of BMW 5 Series with an American accent, or a Yankie Saab. There was all that ‘refined on the Nüburgring’ nonsense, but the thing is, here’s a Cadillac which is easy to live with, even if it isn’t that special. But it is rare.
The V6 is the cheaper one as a 2.8 or 3.6, but there’s a V8 as well. Proper gas-guzzling engines, then, a not half-bad interior and a fairly sporty drive. Sensor failures seem to be the worst of it and they are generally dependable.
Other options:
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Audi A6
Cost now: Around £4000
Those after a mid-size luxury saloon have plenty of choice when it comes to Audi. Fairly anonymous but with a reasonably economical petrol engine, here’s all the comfy car you could ever need. Build quality and cabin are outstanding.
Or:
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Saab 9-5
Cost now: around £3000
Badges don’t come much more exclusive than Saab, on account of there not being any new ones. The last 9-5 was a lovely piece of industrial design. Not unrelated to a Vauxhall Insignia but unarguably cooler.
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Sports Cars
TOP CHOICE: Porsche Boxster
Cost new: £33,950
Cost now: from £3000
Bargain basement Porkers are now Boxster-shaped. Some suffered from porous liner syndrome, which sucks up the coolant and won’t be noticed on the test drive. Early models should have a proper pressure test. Whether you go for a 2.5, later 2.7 or top-line 3.2S, you want to see, hear and drive a smooth-running engine. Ignition coils and air mass sensors are the usual culprits.
If a Boxster is leaving puddles on the drive the crankshaft oil seal is responsible. Higher-mile models may have crashing/knocking front suspension, which means the anti-roll bar drop link needs replacing. Skipped servicing means thin discs, noisy wheel bearings and unrepaired paintwork on door bottoms and nose.
Other options:
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Mercedes-Benz SLK 230
Cost now: from £1000
Many would say this isn't strictly a sports car. It is a Mercedes, though, and it has a trick roof, which, if it is working, means you get the best of all worlds, whatever the weather. Now very affordable, although some of those really are very scruffy, so be prepared to search.
Or:
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BMW Z4 3.0i
Cost now: from £3000
Here's a proper sports car. Find the largest six-cylinder engine you can and enjoy. The styling has certainly matured well. There are lots around and values are falling away for the earliest models. That roof is pretty nifty and does its stuff in 10 seconds.
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Super Saloons
TOP CHOICE: Mercedes-Benz E55
Cost new: £55,140
Cost now: from around £10,000
Fancy a Mercedes? How about one of those three-letter ones? Supersaloons were nothing new at the time, but the E55 got it right with its sledgehammer of a powerplant and comfortable fixtures, fittings and overall ride. Hand-built supercharged 5.4 V8 engine surrounded by the roomy E-Class exterior seemed like the perfect combination. Shame that it was on that rust-prone body, which can finish off the whole car if not sorted out.
Rusty wings are the most common, also sills and door bottoms. The interior is tough old-school Mercedes, though. The V8 needs looking after. Overheating will cause problems if maintenance has been neglected and waterways get blocked. The proper tyres are very expensive and sorting out the brakes usually involves a computer.
Other options:
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BMW 545i SE
Cost now: from £2000
An M5 would be nice, but here’s the next best thing - and all wrapped up in the increasingly handsome E60-era body as well. Those BMW V8 engines are great and give you 333bhp to play with. Provided it hasn’t previously been slammed into a wall, it's a sublime choice.
Or:
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Jaguar S-Type R Plus
Cost now: from £8000
Here’s the performance Jaguar that is very much under the radar - maybe because it doesn’t look cool, just a bit odd and dated. However, it comes with a whopping 400bhp and massive Brembo brakes. You'll come across some shabby cheap ones, but they must be avoided.
Or:
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Luxury Wildcards
TOP CHOICE: Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Cost new: £117,500
Cost now: from £10,000
True bargain-basement Bentleys are the rectangular ones, but the Spur is effectively a four-door Continental. It's a VW Group bitza but still a comfy limo packing a twin-turbo W12. Regular servicing keeps the engine running and you wouldn’t want to hear any nasty noises or see smoke. Water ingress can kill the ECU, and some cheap prices are explained by peeling lacquer and paint wear caused by polishing.
Accident repairs are very expensive because of bonded and laser-welding construction. Marginal brakes and unbranded tyres suggest neglect.
Other options:
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Lexus LS430
Cost now: from £2500
It's impossible to go wrong with any Lexus at almost any price point. They can cost a lot to sort out so it's important to make sure there is a full history. Everything is standard along with almost complete anonymity. Some buyers might appreciate that.
Or:
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Volkswagen Phaeton
Cost now: from £2500
Not the badge you might aspire to but it is much cheaper. Others will just think you have a premium Passat, but if you care about comfort and having lots of toys to play with, it works on all those levels, and is magnificently over-engineered.
Or:
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Luxury Roadsters
TOP CHOICE: Lexus SC430
Cost new: £50,850
Cost now: from £3000
The upside for buyers of premium used cars is that it's impossible to fault Lexus on the grounds of quality. So yes, the SC is beautifully built, but that just isn’t enough at the luxury convertible end of the car market, which explains why one of these isn’t as desirable as a Mercedes SL.
SCs are, however, bought by wealthy types who like their cars, so expect a full service history. Anything scruffy or blingy should be avoided. There shouldn’t be any problems, but if there are it'll be roof sensors seized through lack of use and maybe underside corrosion.
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Mercedes-Benz SL350
Cost now: from £5000
A more stylish coupe-cabriolet than the Lexus but slightly more likely to have an electrical issue or two. Otherwise, a wonderful way to show off - provided it's straight and tidy.
Or:
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Jaguar XK8 4.0 Cabriolet
Cost now: from £4000
A brilliantly old fashioned way to go topless. It weighs a lot but the point is to be seen and it rumbles around with real purpose. Prices are now on the up for these, and it's easy to see why.
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Posh 4x4s
TOP CHOICE: BMW X5 V8
Cost new: £44,005
Cost now: from £2000
Arguably the most handsome and iconic of the prestige sports SUVs, and the first decent one. The X5 is a high-rise 5 Series, which means it's great to drive despite the bulk.
You don’t need the 4.8iS, but you do need to be careful. Early examples can leak oil and if there's valve stem wear you'll see blue smoke. With all big engines, coolant leaks need to be investigated. The automatic gearbox has ‘lifetime’ fluid but it really needs changing at 70-80,000 miles. Suspension and brakes take a big beating and need to be in good health for the car to handle properly. A fresh MOT should tell you whether the bushes and boots are up to the job, and is much cheaper than a full inspection.
Another option is:
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Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML500 Sport
Cost now: from £4000
A Hummer is too expensive and a G-Wagen is too cool and pricey, so the realistic choice is a big-engined M. The 500 Sport works well, especially a facelifted one. Inevitably there will be some AMG trimmings, such as alloys.
Or:
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Porsche Cayenne 4.5S
Cost now: from £5000
Here's an astoundingly capable vehicle which makes all the right noises with the V8. Running costs are eye-watering and if parts and servicing are needed they will add at least a couple of grand to the asking price. Plenty to choose from but be careful.
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Premium Saloons
TOP CHOICE: Jaguar XJR
Cost new: £60,970
Cost now: from £4000
Jag's Pace products are the future, but the old-school XJ still has head-turning cred. Here is a muscular, low-lying and quintessentially Lyons-like body with a 390bhp 4.2-litre supercharged V8 that’s good for 0-62mph in 5.0sec and 155mph.
The X350 Series has still got it, and this has 40% less weight and is 60% stiffer, plus there's realistic room for three in the back. The more complicated air suspension has more fragile parts, starting at the rear with bushes and air spring units, which can all fail at a higher mileage. Interestingly, some of those parts are VW Group ones. Like many old Jags there may be rot on the doors and bootlid.
Other options:
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Audi A8 4.2 Quattro
Cost now: from £4000
Sensational value, especially the big-engined ones. What it lacks in Mercedes-style presence the A8 makes up for with a ton of toys and a really quite big boot. Fun to drive hard thanks to quattro back-up.
Or:
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BMW 760Li
Cost now: from £5000
A huge car with a huge spec and a lot to worry about if things go awry. A properly large limo with variable suspension, Night Vision and massaging seats. You need a brave pill to take on an old V12, we admit.
So those are James Ruppert's top premium bangers - but what about the used cars to avoid...?
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Premium Bangers to avoid
Not all previously costly cars remain good a few years down the line. We’re not so sure about Land Rovers, or more specifically the Range Rover breed. It's the sort of vehicle that has all the premium cues but constantly and consistently tops unreliability surveys. There are lots of issues in just about every single area, especially the battery.
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Premium Bangers to avoid
The combination of 4x4 underpinnings and American build quality doesn’t seem to do much for Jeeps. The diesels seem to be the worst affected and it also seems that lack of attention causes suspension to wear out. Heritage-wise a match for Land Rover, but Jeeps can have a lot of tedious problems just like they do.
On the other side of JLR, the Jaguar XJ saloon struggles against Lexus and all the Germans (although we like the XJR, pictured). Again, electrics relating to engine operation, cause grief.
Now, just before you go ahead and purchase your next premium banger, here are a few more cars you should consider:
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Sub-£1k premium cheapies
There are many four and five-figure price tags in our selection, so in the true spirit of Bangernomics, let’s see what a grand or less can buy while still impressing the neighbours.
Mercedes-Benz S-Classes are not getting any cheaper, and the days of 20-year-old S320s being flogged for £750 are long gone; these are now more like £3000. The three-pointed star seems a nice decoration for any cheapy, and older CLKs are still fairly commonly available.
BMWs are as common as, er, Benzes these days, with older 7 Series prices starting to spike. Not sure that a 3 Series seems that premium anymore, but an E46 coupé remains a reliably interesting buy at three figures, though we'd look at spending around £1500 on a 318Ci from that era.
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