Mr.BaZzAr Posted May 15, 2021 Posted May 15, 2021 If you're still unconvinced by electric power, second-hand ICEs are an option, and will be even after the UK government's ICE ban falls in 2030. The GTV is remembered fondly for its engines, which helped the Alfa Romeo scoop our 1995 Car of the Year and Best Sports Car awards. Several changes were made to this handsome coupé throughout its production run. It was offered initially with a 155bhp 2.0-litre Twin Spark engine, before the arrival of a snarling 220bhp 3.0-litre Busso V6. A decent V6 GTV in Lusso trim will cost you upwards of £3500, while a well-loved Twin Spark can be picked up for just under £3000. One we found: 1997 Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 Twin Spark 16v, 56,000 miles, £2995 Aston Martin DB9 The DB9’s interior may seem quite dated now, but the 5.9-litre V12 under its bonnet is as timeless as they come. We all know how good the DB9 looks, and the convertible version draws you even closer to its iconic hearty growl. A good used DB9 could be a sound investment, and prices are still affordable, at around £32,000 for cars with 40,000 miles on the clock. Automatics are reasonably common, but keep an eye out for a sequential manual, because they’re rising in value. One we found: 2007 Aston Martin DB9 5.9 manual, 63,000 miles, £29,950 Volkswagen Passat W8 To the untrained eye, this could pass for any other Passat. Under its bonnet, however, lies a truly unique engine: the 275bhp 4.0-litre W8. Production of the W8 spanned just four years, and the Passat was its only recipient. Used examples are rare but can be bought for £4000-£7000, or more for an estate. That’s a tempting price for a piece of motoring history that paved the way for the Bugatti Veyron’s stunning W16. One we found: 2005 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion manual, 68,000 miles, £6495 BMW i8 The i8 of 2014 was the world’s first mainstream hybrid sports car, mating a 228bhp turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine to a 141bhp electric motor. Launch cars were capable of 23 miles of electric-only driving and later editions good for 34 miles. But it’s not all about keeping your expenses down: the 0-62mph sprint takes just 4.4sec, so you can have lots of fun as well. Official figures suggest the i8 is capable of 128.4mpg, but you’re more likely to achieve 40mpg in daily use – which isn’t bad given the performance on offer. Early i8 coupés can be picked up for as little as £38,000, but expect to pay in the region of £50,000 for a facelifted example with a few thousand miles on the clock, and even more for a Roadster. One we found: 2015 BMW i8 7.1kWh, 36,000 miles, £42,988 BMW M3 (E46) The Mk3 BMW M3 remains ideal for a motorway blast, a trip to the shops or even the school run. Its 3.2-litre straight six puts out 338bhp, enabling it to hit 62mph in 4.5sec. That’s Porsche 911-baiting performance. Upgrades were made throughout the E46 M3’s production run, but the original is equally desirable as later iterations. Good examples can be found for around £20,000; just check carefully for hidden repairs and oil pressure issues before taking the plunge. One we found: 2002 BMW M3 manual, 66,000 miles, £19,995 Vauxhall Monaro VXR Built by Holden in Australia, the Monaro came to Britain as a Vauxhall. Packed with a rumbling Chevrolet small-block V8 making 328bhp, it sold so well that Luton’s VXR department wanted to get in on the action, the result being the Monaro VXR with 376bhp. Turns out one can improve on perfection. Good VXRs can be picked up for £15,000 to £20,000, while earlier CV8 models command prices of around £12,000. One we found: 2006 Vauxhall Monaro VXR 5.7 V8 manual, 63,000 miles, £11,950
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