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an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Buy Low, Drive Happy: Imported Classic Cars That Are Still Affordable (For Now)
The car market is always shifting, and when it comes to imports, today's hidden gem can quickly become tomorrow's six-figure collector's car. From Japanese performance legends to quirky European runabouts and muscular Aussie sedans, values for these once-overlooked machines are quietly on the rise. Sure, the big names like the Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra have already skyrocketed, but there are still plenty of great finds if you know where to look. Just don't wait too long — with more vehicles becoming eligible under the 25-year import rule and possible new tariffs on the way, the window for scoring a great deal is starting to close. To put this list together, I looked at average selling prices from trusted sources like The Classic Valuer, Carsales, and more. The prices reflect actual sales and don't include things like import fees, shipping, or any extra costs you'd run into bringing one of these cars into North America. I've ranked them from the most affordable to the priciest. After digging through a mountain of auction data, I narrowed it down to some standout imports that hit the sweet spot between fun, rarity, character, and future collectibility. All the specs come from reliable sources like Parkers, MotorTrend, CarsGuide, and Evo, so you're getting the real deal. For some reason, the Holden Ute was never offered in the States, despite it being an American car at heart. It has all the practicality a pickup truck offers but comes with the added benefit of performance. MotorTrend says the 2001 Ute SS uses a GM-built 312-horsepower (hp) 5.7-liter V8 that spins the rear wheels. According to Australia Carsales, the average selling price for one is less than $3,000. You don't need heaps of power to have fun — the MG F is the perfect testament thereof. In CarsGuide's review of the MG F, they call it a 'great driver's car' despite having just 121 hp on tap. That's partially due to its being rear-wheel-drive, having a retractable roof, and its engine sitting behind the driver. reports that the average 2000 MG TF model sells for just over $3,000. It's not fast. It's not objectively pretty. But I can't help loving it, and I really want one. The first-generation Renault Twingo is the perfect answer for someone looking for a commuter car that'll stand out from everything else on the road. And for just a smidge over $3,100, according to it's really an affordable choice, too. says you can buy a Pininfarina-styled sports car for less than $5,000. It's called the Fiat Coupe and is just as quirky as you'd expect. Its alien-like design is equally beautiful as it is strange, and its engine choices are no different. The Fiat Coupe came with a wide range of four-cylinder and five-cylinder engines, but the most sought-after examples sport a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-five, but they came at quite a premium. Citroën has been making cool, quirky cars for as long as I can remember. Because the brand has such a rich reputation for building weird cars, most models have become excruciatingly expensive. That said, the Citroën XM still remains a relative bargain. It might not be as obscure as some of their other creations, but it still has some novelty to it — some models even came with a Maserati-derived V6 engine. Best of all, you'll only have to spend around $6,700 to get your hands on one of these French artworks Remember the aforementioned muscular Australian pickup truck? This is its sedan counterpart, dubbed the Commodore. It, too, features an American-built 5.7-liter V8 engine that sends all its power to the rear wheels. For some reason, the Commodore SS is much more expensive than its Ute counterpart, costing on average more than $7,000, as per Australian Carsales — nearly triple the price of the Ute. The first-generation Subaru Impreza is a very sought-after sports sedan, especially limited-edition models like the 22B STi, which sell for over $200,000. Fortunately, there are other, more cost-effective versions of the Impreza available, too. Take, for instance, the Impreza RB5, of which only 444 examples were ever made. It had a flat-four engine, manual transmission, and an all-wheel-drive system, yet it costs just $8,300, according to The Barchetta was Fiat's answer to the beloved Mazda MX-5 Miata. So, they built their own rear-wheel-drive, front-engined, topless sports car. Just like the Miata, all Barchetta models came with a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter engine, just enough power to keep you grinning. says you'll pay around $8,500 for this bundle of Italian fun. You can import several kei sports cars from Japan, including the Autozam AZ-1 and Suzuki Cappucino. But if I were to award the best value-for-money mini JDM sports car an award, it'd go to the Honda Beat. It uses a three-cylinder powertrain similar to the other examples but doesn't cost as much as the rest, with reporting an $8,700 average selling price. The Alfa Romeo 164 was one of the Italian brand's sports sedans back in the '90s, with the Quadrifoglio 4 being its all-wheel-drive performance version. But don't worry, just because it was the top-of-the-range doesn't mean you'll have to pay top dollar to find one. Despite its performance prowess and desirability, says you can find these Italian sports sedans on sale for just over $11,000. At first, I thought the Audi B5 RS4 would be a brilliant car to import — that is, until I saw they sell for more than $36,000 on average. I soon also discovered that the average Audi RS2 sells for more than $64,000. That said, there is one Audi performance wagon that isn't entirely unattainable — the S2 Avant. Much like the RS2, the S2 had a turbocharged five-cylinder engine, but it cost a fraction of the price. According to The Classic Valuer, the average selling price for an Audi S2 Avant has plummeted so much, it sits at a third of the RS2 — $12,637. As WhichCar points out, you'll often hear people refer to the second-generation Toyota Century as the Japanese Rolls-Royce. Apart from its dashing looks, it has everything you'd expect from a luxury car, like soft-closing doors, air suspension, an opulent interior, and much, much more. Some models even came with a V12 engine — at a premium, of course. Unfortunately, many have started to import these already, inflating their prices. That said, you can still buy a 1999 Toyota Century for about $13,000, according to Typically, British carmakers make well-appointed luxury cars that make you feel like royalty. However, like with all things in life, sometimes there are exceptions. Welcome to TVR, the British carmaker that builds bonkers V8-powered rear-wheel-drive cars that belong in sci-fi movies. While there are quite a few models to import, I'd recommend checking out the Chimaera first, especially since it's one of the less expensive ones to import, with the average example selling for $23,000, as per says this little monster costs $30,000, which for a 25-year-old Mitsubishi SUV may seem crazy. But in this case, it's completely justified. Much like the Lancer Evolution, the Pajero Evolution was a homologation car, with approximately 2,500 models made. For reference, the average Lancer Evolution from the same year costs $37,000 already. If the Pajero follows in the footsteps of the Lancer, it too will become a highly sought-after JDM icon. The most expensive car in this article is a Japanese wagon with an awkwardly long name. To be exact, it's a limited-edition, all-wheel-drive performance car that uses the same RB26DETT found in the R32, R33, and R34 Nissan Skyline GT-Rs. Whereas some GTRs sell for six figures, reports that the Nissan Stagea 260RS Autech sells for $35,780 on average. In essence, the Stagea Autech is a more practical GTR with a gorgeous silhouette. Still thinking about waiting another year? That could be a costly decision. With demand heating up, inventory shrinking, and potential new tariffs on the horizon, today's overlooked bargain might be tomorrow's six-figure unicorn. The truth is, once these under-the-radar imports gain traction, prices tend to climb fast, and they don't look back. If one of these cars has caught your eye, now's the time to act. As the old saying goes: the best time to buy was yesterday. The next best time is right now.
Auto Car
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Carlton, Diablo, Skyline, Elise... these are the ULTIMATE cars from the 1990s!
Open gallery A rose-tinted spectacle: '90s cars had a more individualistic appeal MGF is agile and fun to drive; cute RAV4 sowed the seed for compact SUVs Elise meets Carlton: Hethel's output in the 1990s was nirvana for the enthusiast Raw Diablo SV is quite different from Golf-based TT, but both are very much of their era 'Iconic' is a grossly misused word, but it 's a fitting way of describing the TT's shape Close Everyone loves 1990s cars. Over the past decade their popularity has risen rapidly as the differences between them and contemporary models have become ever more distinct. What's the reason? After all, 1990s cars are now 25 to 35 years out of date. And there isn't the same love out there for the cars of the 1980s or 2000s. It's tempting to blame simple nostalgia: teenage kids of the mid-1990s are approaching 50 today. Back then they desired the cars of their era; today they can do something about it. We believe there's much more to it than that, though. Today, the cars of the 1990s are admired by a far wider cohort of enthusiasts than those teenagers of the time. There's a unique purity and originality baked into the best of them that speaks especially of the 1990s. What was so special about the era? Sociologists say our lives were simpler. The world economy boomed, the internet was in its infancy and there were no smartphones. Computers were boxy beige appliances people used only at work. One pithy 10-word summary of the 1990s speaks of 'better music, better movies, better people, better cars, better economy'. For car companies life was simpler, too. Climate change wasn't yet an issue. Government regulation of car design was a factor, but shapes and structures were limited far less than today. Dieselgate was two decades away. No one saw a need for today's vast investment in electric cars and battery tech, but car companies' economics were already greatly assisted by platform theory: distinct models built off similar underpinnings. Car companies were far more free to concentrate on creating cars people could love – and they did. This realisation, this rising interest in the 1990s, is what encouraged us recently to gather 10 of the best and most disparate 1990s cars we could find at a favourite location in Gloucestershire. The mission was to drive and understand the rationale behind them all over again, to enjoy them and to discover, above all, whether all the love was misplaced. Here's how it went, alphabetically speaking. The Audi TT, launched late in 1998, is one of the most successful 'platform' models yet created. Not many who viewed it as a cheaper Porsche Boxster alternative would have known, without being told, that this individualistic and timeless 2+2 coupé, revealed as a concept in 1995, was really a Volkswagen Golf. When we finally got our hands on a 225bhp 1.8-litre turbo version in December 1998, we were enthusiastic about its strong performance, entertaining handling and terrific cabin. The TT lived a long life: the last of three generations was built in November 2023. But the original TT styling that emanated in VW's California studios makes a particular case for '90s cars. It is by far the most distinctive of the three TTs and destined always to be the collectors' favourite. Matt Prior instantly liked the TT, calling it 'a proper concept car made real'. Illya Verpraet was also surprised. 'It's not a sports car,' he wrote, 'but it's very pleasant and rounded to drive. "The driving position is good, the gearchange is positive, the engine is strong and smooth and there's plenty of usable grip. It's a design icon you can use like a normal car.' Not bad going for a 27-year-old (the car, not Verpraet…). BMW 5 Series BMW's E39 528i is a fine example of the purity of the Munich company's styling, before the complications set in. The meaty straight six engine, the driver-focused driving position and the unmatched clarity of the two dominant instruments say 'ultimate driving machine' as effectively as the words themselves. There's a lowness and a purity of line that speak unmistakably of a time when the revered Wolfgang Reitzle was still running the show and producing a generation of BMWs that is still much admired. This was the pre-Bangle era, when the design chief and management felt compelled to find a new styling direction. Launched in 1995, the E39 looks small today, roughly the size of today's 3 Series, but there's an authority to its shape that still identifies it as the mid-range executive model. 'Even now,' writes James Disdale, 'the 5 Series stands up to the scrutiny of modern eyes, ears and hands. The interior is spacious, the dashboard is an ergonomic masterclass and the driving position is without fault.' Then there's that creamy-smooth 2.8-litre straight six that generates more than enough energy to easily keep pace with today's traffic. It's only the slightly ponderous shift time of the otherwise slick five-speed auto that ages the car. The steering is naturally geared and weighted, the natural rear-drive balance can be exploited at sensible speeds and it's refined enough to shame many moderns. Ford Mondeo By contrast, the Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX mostly set out to impress fleet managers. This was the Blue Oval at the height of its powers, and during a period when two-thirds of Britain's new cars were bought by businesses. But with the help of legendary chief engineer Richard Parry-Jones, Ford had moved on a long way from the crummy Cortina days. When the Mondeo hit the market in 1993 it was praised by Autocar in a mighty 14-page launch test entitled 'Mondeo is king' and which was alleged to have boosted Ford's New York share price. We followed that up a couple of months later by driving a 1.8 LX 12,000 miles around Europe in a week. Verpraet reckons the Mondeo aces Parry-Jones's famous 20-metre test, because the driving position is great and the controls are easy and intuitive – both things you notice before you're out of first gear. 'It can't help feeling old because of the shape, colour, materials, low waistline and vast glass area,' he added, 'but you can row it along in ordinary traffic and feel very satisfied.' Prior is a bit worried for the Mondeo, though. 'It's showing little sign of moving from the old banger phase and into its classic time,' he said. 'I'm not even sure the Sierra, its predecessor,has managed to do that yet.' Lamborghini Diablo SV Hard to find a greater contrast to a Mondeo than a Lamborghini Diablo SV, launched in the mid-1990s as a higher-powered (but ironically slightly cheaper) version of the standard 1990 Diablo, born as the Countach replacement. Yet, like the Mondeo, it typifies the 1990s in several ways: it was completed under Chrysler ownership of the company, which came about at a time when big corporations were becoming interested in bespoke sports car manufacturers (Toyota, then General Motors, at Lotus; Ford at Aston Martin). Its design, originally penned by Marcello Gandini in his sharp-edged style, was 'softened' by Chrysler's people, a move which today indisputably ages the car. The car you see here was our original road test machine, and it definitely speaks of another era. The scissor-opening doors make ingress and egress very hard, the driving position isn't brilliant and reversing the Lambo is a guessing game because rear vision is so poor. Yet when you drive it today there's a magnificent exuberance about the engine's thrust and sound – and the all-mechanical gated gearchange – which takes you right away from the curbs and limitations of today. Once you learn its quirks, the car drives very well. Steering is heavy, but grip is still impressive. And because the weight is lower than many today – at 1570kg – the SV doesn't even feel excessively large or heavy, although it did at the time. Lotus Elise 'Dated' really isn't a description you should apply to the Lotus Elise, a car many agree always looked best in its original form. In fact, it looks modern and well-proportioned enough to be made today. The Elise also embodies some of the most important values of 2025 affordable car design: chassis rigidity, light weight and a corrosion-free bonded structure, in this case made from extruded aluminium. The Elise appeared soon after Lotus's unsuccessful dalliance with a front-wheel-drive Elan, and it took the company right back to the Chapman era of compact, rear-drive simplicity. The Elise was conceived in the early 1990s and launched in 1995, and at the time we reckoned it 'really is the new Seven'. About that we were half right: it was more civilised and somewhat heavier than a Seven, but like the Caterhams it utilised brilliantly components that were common and cheaply available. For yours truly, the original Elise is a reminder of why I've owned two of them – and why I sold them. They were quick for the power, agile and terrific fun to drive, and quite reliable for a marque not known for it. But entry is problematic and the hoods are terrible. Still, once you're installed, they always feel special: they remind you why power steering, for the purest cars, simply isn't needed. If cars such as the original Audi TT and Lotus Elise are lasting icons, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class will always be a curiosity: a novel car whose launch was interrupted by its highly publicised failure of the elk test, an extreme examination in swervability invented by Car of the Year jurors in Scandinavia. Hatched during an era when premium manufacturers were finding new ways to steal sales from mainstreamers like Ford and Renault, the A-Class is shorter than a Ford Fiesta and very boxy. Disdale was pretty enthusiastic about our A140 Elegance. 'Take a spin in the A140 and you'll wonder why it didn't spark a revolution,' he said. 'It sold in decent numbers, but few other manufacturers were willing to follow Mercedes' bold, engineering-led approach. No doubt the A-Class cost a fortune to develop, but the result is a car that packs a remarkable amount of space into a compact footprint, and its clever sandwich-section floor was designed to swallow the engine in a frontal impact. 'There's SUV-like elevation to the driving position that combines brilliantly with excellent visibility, while on the move the A-Class feels far more agile and secure than that infamous elk test would have you believe.' MGF While Lotus was at work on the Elise, Rover Group, which had spent the 1980s using its MG badges to distinguish assorted, not-very-good Rover saloons, decided to use its new K-series engine, plus various Metro suspension parts, in a new mid-engined roadster called the MGF, an answer to the many calls for another two-seater after MGB production ended in 1980. The F hit the market just as BMW acquired Rover, but when BMW departed five years later it became part of a management buyout (by the infamous Phoenix Four) that formed MG Rover. It was a decent little car whose styling was the work of Gerry McGovern, JLR's design chief today, and it sold well for a while even against the Mazda MX-5. But indifferent build quality and corporate uncertainties weighed against it. Still, even today it's a well-founded, practical and good-looking little car, available at bargain prices. Matt Saunders rated the F as 'not quite as entertaining to its core as a Mazda MX-5', but praised it for its responsiveness, agility and pliant, Hydragas ride. 'It's a carefree sports car you wouldn't feel obliged to drive the wheels off and could enjoy at any speed,' he added. Nissan Skyline For a bewildering array of generations, models and specifications, look no further than Nissan's array of Skylines, a breed that began in the 1960s at Prince Motors before that defunct marque was acquired by Nissan. Happily for UK buyers in the 1990s, the key car was the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, a byword for expensive, high-tech Japanese performance, what with its four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and meaty 276bhp 2.6-litre straight six, fed via two turbochargers. Skylines were rare and very often augmented with wheel and bodywork mods and huge power increases; they were such a means to a performance end that standard cars like the example we have here are now extremely rare. 'Years ago it was impossible to drive a Skyline GT-R without it bearing an enormous weight of cultish hype,' said Saunders. 'Today, though, you can just let this car's driving experience wash over you. Or rather swallow you whole, after you've let the boost build fully. I was surprised how compact, lightweight, tactile and old-school analogue this car felt. Still quick, too, even by modern standards, and it still has that competition-firm body control and natural rear-wheel-drive cornering poise. I loved it.' Toyota RAV4 Given all the 1990s action above, it's probably no surprise that this fruitful era can also claim to have hatched the now universally desired compact SUV – via the launch of the Toyota RAV4. Born as a concept in 1989, it popped up in three-door form in the UK in June 1994 and as a five-door a year later. As many SUV pretenders now do, Toyota drew bits from existing models: a Corolla platform, a Camry engine, Celica GT4 suspension and about the cutest original shape going. Of course, it was wildly successful. Mind you, a glance at our original three-door and the latest like-the-others RAV4 of 2025 suggests – once again – that the 1990s was indeed an era of inventiveness and purity in car creation. Saunders said: 'Full disclosure: if Land Rover's Discovery Mk1 had been available, this Toyota might not have made the cut – but I'm glad it did. I'm convinced there would have been no Freelander, Qashqai, CR-V and the rest without a RAV4 to prove the public appetite for small, cheap, higher-riding cars. "It feels like some better-mannered Series 1 Land Rover on the road: compact, upright and quietly agile, with great visibility, cheery looks and lots of charm.' Big performance, not cuteness, was the major criterion for the remarkable 1990 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, an outcome of General Motors' seven-year control of Lotus between 1986 and 1993. The Hethel company had been successful with the Lotus Cortina and Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, so why not a hot-shoe version of the straight-six-powered Vauxhall Carlton? With chassis mods plus a 377bhp twin-turbo engine, the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton could run a 5.1sec 0-60mph time and reach 176mph – which made it officially the world's fastest four-door. Autocar asked Richard Noble, then the world land speed record holder, to run a top speed, but he couldn't beat the official mark. 'I came of age reading about the Carlton's top speed,' writes Richard Lane. 'Having driven one now, I see there's much more to the experience. There's a sumptuous cockpit with the kind of visibility alien to modern counterparts. And because the ride is pliant, it's a lovely thing just to stroke along 98% of the time. For the other 2% it's a riot. It has a power-to-traction ratio you don't see in modern cars. Torquey six, manual 'box and limited adhesion? It's a super-saloon that can be steered on the throttle anywhere, any time.' Verdict There's no winner here. The whole decade of 1990s car design and engineering is what earns the accolade. This sample of cars launched in the 1990s contains a wonderful array: timeless icons that were better than their replacements (Elise, TT), important trend-setters (RAV4, MGF), volume cars done at a new, higher standard (528i, Mondeo) and performance cars that progressed the genre in new ways (Diablo, Skyline, Carlton). That leaves only the Mercedes A-Class, whose makers never saw fit to take it very far along the bold technical path on which it started out. Which is ironic: if our view of the future tells us anything, it is that small, space-efficient car designs are what the world will surely need. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
GMADA in deep slumber as 15 illegal colonies sprout in Mohali
Despite the Punjab government's repeated claims of cracking down on unauthorised colonies, nearly 15 illegal colonies have cropped up in Mohali in areas governed by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) over the past eight months — in brazen violation of land-use norms, right under the nose of the authority. Worse, the illegal settlements have been blossoming even after a state-level directive to monitor such activity using satellite imagery and submit quarterly reports on enforcement. These colonies — spread over about 50 acres in Sectors 120 to 123, covering villages like Daun, Raipur, Behlolpur, Barmajra, Tarauli and Jhampur — have been carved out of agricultural land, bypassing the mandatory Change of Land Use (CLU) process, which involves high fees and government permissions. Property dealers have bought fertile agricultural land and divided it into plots ranging from 100 to 150 square yards, selling them to unsuspecting, and in some cases well-aware, homebuyers. GMADA, otherwise strict in enforcement in urban sectors, appears to have turned a blind eye in these rural belts as home dreams are being built on shaky ground. Shockingly, colonies are coming up brick by brick without any interruption — despite these villages being within the notified Mohali Master Plan area where any construction without approval is illegal. Buyers, many of whom have poured their life savings into these plots and house construction, now face the threat of demolition. Some may have knowingly taken the risk, in anticipation of regularisation by future governments, but many have been misled and now stand to lose both property and peace of mind. 'We have already planned a demolition drive but haven't been able to proceed due to lack of police force. We are hopeful of launching a major operation soon to demolish these illegal colonies,' said Harinder Pal Singh, district town planner (Regulatory), GMADA. A senior GMADA official added, 'We are aware of these unauthorised colonies. There are no basic amenities, and the plots cannot even be registered in the buyers' names as the colonies are not approved.' The official further stated that such unauthorised colonies lead to significant revenue loss for the government in terms of external development charges, land use fees, licence fees and the social infrastructure fund—amounting to nearly ₹1 crore. Even private developers with large land holdings in these areas, including MGF, Emaar, Marbella, and Jubilee, have written to GMADA multiple times urging action, but the authority remains in deep slumber. Ironically, in August last year, while scrapping the requirement of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for registration of land and property, the Punjab housing and urban development department had directed the chief administrators of regional development authorities across the state to ensure that no illegal colonies are allowed to come up. Authorities were instructed to monitor recent Google satellite images to identify illegal constructions and take prompt legal action against violators — none of which seem to have been implemented in Mohali. In the same policy shift, the Punjab government had announced a one-time exemption from the NOC requirement for property owners who could prove the genuineness of their sale deeds executed before July 31, 2024.
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Best British used cars to buy for under £10k in 2025 revealed including iconic Jaguar and soft top roadster
THE best British used cars to buy for under £10,000 in 2025 have been revealed in a definitive list. The guide, compiled by experts at Autocar, included motor icon Jaguar among other big name brands as it gave Brits the best options when purchasing second hand cars. Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged (2009-13) 7 This luxury performance SUV boasts a great price when bought second-hand. The Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged is the most powerful of the first-generation Sport models. It can sprint from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds - while also being a comfortable ride with its cozy and first-class interior. The model can be picked up for just under the price limit, with the lowest used car being priced at £9,990. Shoppers should look for supercharger noises, a broken water pump, irregular tyre wear and underbody damage when searching for the car in a used condition. Jaguar S-Type R (2002-07) This stunning rear-wheel-drive motor can also be picked up for a bargain. The Jaguar S-Type R (2002-07) boasts 395bhp and can reach up to 155mph. It was originally Jaguar's answer to the domination of German super-saloons in the early 2000s. It is a worthy competitor of the E39 BMW M5 - the prices of which start where the Jaguars leave off. Its subtle looks come with serious power and can be found at a reasonable price of just £8,795. Punters should look out for rotting sills, faulty electrics or supercharger rattles when trying to find the best deal. MGF (1995-2002) Another second hand bargain comes in the form of this affordable mid-engined rag-top. The MGF (1995-2002) is known for its engaging handling and soft riding experience. It got a new makeover in 1999, offering 110bhp, 118bhp and 145bhp outputs. The iconic driver went on to become one of Britain's best-selling convertibles - and can now be seen priced at just £1,250. Bargain -hunters should look out for hydragas suspension and head gasket leaks, underbody corrosion, or steering issues when getting the best offer. Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006-15) This roadster boasts a strong, practical as well as comfortable design for drivers looking to get a great deal. Used models of the Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006-15) are one of the best deals UK car-shoppers can go for. Its practical features allows drivers to try off-road terrain, and also has high-tech chassis systems. These include on-demand four-wheel drive and its handy Terrain Response. Punters should look out for 2012 models as the ideal ones to pick up second-hand - and they should also look out for wonky steering and underside damage. They can be picked up for as low as £8,500. Lotus Elan SE (1989-92) 7 This retro convertible is yet another great deal for Brit car-shoppers looking for an amazing used vehicle offer. The Lotus Elan SE (1989-92) boasts 163bhp in its turbo version, packing a punch despite its sleek appearance. The model also has an S2 form from 1994-1995. A classic British roaster with a front-wheel-drive layout, this Lotus model can get from 0-60mph in around 6.5 seconds and reaches top speeds of 137mph. The underrated car can be snagged for just £5,975 at its cheapest, and shoppers should look out for a worn-out composite body and interior. Mini Paceman (2013-16) 7 This ambitious design by Mini is a three-door, coupé style version of the Mini Countryman. The Mini Paceman has a chunky design and sporty features which looked to draw in style-conscious shoppers. The focus on style meant less headroom in the rear, as well as a smaller boot than the Countryman. It has sharp steering and a go-kart feel, similar to other Mini models - but its limited demand meant it was axed by 2016. Now it can be picked up second-hand for just £6,450 - and punters should keep an eye out for missed oil changes, worn brakes and peeling decals. Mini MK1 (2001-06) 7 And this extra Mini model has also proved to be a great deal when bought used. The Mini MK1 (2001-06) is size-wise, closest to BMC's original design. The new version of the classic car is a bold reinvention, still featuring go-kart handling and a premium feel. The Cooper S is the best version of this car, so shoppers should look out for this one if possible. They should also look for cabin damp and gearbox noises when scouting for the model which can be priced at just £4,500.
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Best British used cars to buy for under £10k in 2025 revealed including iconic Jaguar and soft top roadster
THE best British used cars to buy for under £10,000 in 2025 have been revealed in a definitive list. The guide, compiled by experts at Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged (2009-13) 7 Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged (2009-13) Credit: Pistonheads This luxury performance SUV boasts a great price when bought second-hand. The Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged is the most powerful of the first-generation Sport models. It can sprint from 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds - while also being a comfortable ride with its cozy and first-class interior. The model can be picked up for just under the price limit, with the lowest used car being priced at £9,990. READ MORE MOTOR NEWS Shoppers should look for supercharger noises, a broken water pump, irregular tyre wear and underbody damage when searching for the car in a used condition. Jaguar S-Type R (2002-07) 7 Jaguar S-Type R (2002-07) Credit: Alamy This stunning rear-wheel-drive motor can also be picked up for a bargain. The It was originally Jaguar's answer to the domination of German super-saloons in the early 2000s. Most read in Motors It is a worthy competitor of the E39 BMW M5 - the prices of which start where the Jaguars leave off. Its subtle looks come with serious power and can be found at a reasonable price of just £8,795. Punters should look out for rotting sills, faulty electrics or supercharger rattles when trying to find the best deal. MGF (1995-2002) 7 MGF (1995-2002) Credit: Alamy Another second hand bargain comes in the form of this affordable mid-engined rag-top. The MGF (1995-2002) is known for its engaging handling and soft riding experience. It got a new makeover in 1999, offering 110bhp, 118bhp and 145bhp outputs. The iconic driver went on to become one of Britain's best-selling convertibles - and can now be seen priced at just £1,250. Bargain-hunters should look out for hydragas suspension and head gasket leaks, underbody corrosion, or steering issues when getting the best offer. Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006-15) 7 Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006-15) Credit: Alamy This roadster boasts a strong, practical as well as comfortable design for drivers looking to get a great deal. Used models of the Land Rover Freelander 2 (2006-15) are one of the best deals UK car-shoppers can go for. Its practical features allows drivers to try off-road terrain, and also has high-tech chassis systems. These include on-demand four-wheel drive and its handy Terrain Response. Punters should look out for 2012 models as the ideal ones to pick up second-hand - and they should also look out for wonky steering and underside damage. They can be picked up for as low as £8,500. Lotus Elan SE (1989-92) 7 Lotus Elan SE (1989-92) Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd This The Lotus Elan SE (1989-92) boasts 163bhp in its turbo version, packing a punch despite its sleek appearance. The model also has an S2 form from 1994-1995. A classic British roaster with a front-wheel-drive layout, this Lotus model can get from 0-60mph in around 6.5 seconds and reaches top speeds of 137mph. The underrated car can be snagged for just £5,975 at its cheapest, and shoppers should look out for a worn-out composite body and interior. Mini Paceman (2013-16) 7 Mini Paceman (2013-16) This ambitious design by Mini is a three-door, coupé style version of the Mini Countryman. The The focus on style meant less headroom in the rear, as well as a smaller boot than the It has sharp steering and a go-kart feel, similar to other Mini models - but its limited demand meant it was axed by 2016. Now it can be picked up second-hand for just £6,450 - and punters should keep an eye out for missed oil changes, worn brakes and peeling decals. Mini MK1 (2001-06) 7 Mini MK1 (2001-06) Credit: Supplied And this extra The The new version of the classic car is a bold reinvention, still featuring go-kart handling and a premium feel. The Cooper S is the best version of this car, so shoppers should look out for this one if possible. They should also look for cabin damp and gearbox noises when scouting for the model which can be priced at just £4,500.
