It’s arguably the best-value Porsche 911 right now, so here’s everything you need to know about buying a £25k 997.1 C2S. Written by Kieron Fennelly.
With the used car market remaining buoyant following unrealised predictions of a pandemic-fuelled nosedive, we present our hot picks for the year ahead. Kicking off proceedings is the amazing 968 Sport, one of Porsche’s best-handling models and yours for less than twenty grand…Words Dan Furr Photography Ade Brannan. SPORT OF KINGS UP TO £20kRediscovering the Porsche 968 Sport 2022’s Best Buys: one of the Porsche scene’s best-kept secrets.
Alfa’s 4C is an undoubted classic: an out-and-out sports car with a carbon tub and supercar pace. With prices on the rise, is now a good time to buy? And what should you be looking for? Story by Nathan Chadwick. Images by Michael Ward.
The XK140 shares the spirit of the original XK sports car but offers useful practical upgrades over the XK120. If you’ve got the funds, here’s what you need to know. WORDS: PAUL GUINNESS MIDDLE CHILD The car with all the spirit of the original XK120 but some added convenience.
The third-generation Range Rover has been with us for over 20 years now and has earned its modern classic status. Here’s what you need to know. Words: CraigCheetham. THIRD ACT BUYING RANGE ROVER L322 All the info on the stylish third generation which combined Land Rover, BMW and Ford expertise.
It’s the cheapest way into a Lotus right now – here’s how to avoid the pitfalls. Words Richard Dredge. Photography Tom Wood. Seven steps to buying a Lotus Elan M100 Buying the £6k Elan Buying Guide How to hurdle common tripwires and bag an epic Lotus Elan M100 Every generation has its ‘least-loved Lotus’, that oddball that leaves a pocket-moneysized way into the marque.
Over the years there have been countless extremely appealing fast Mercedes models that have been unleashed upon the world from both Stuttgart and Affalterbach. While not all of would have been attainable to many of us, deprecation has done its job and you can now pick up some seriously rapid German machinery for not a lot of money at all.
Our second £5k pick is the R170 SLK320. There will always be some debate about whether the 230 is the one to go for, with its smaller, lighter engine, impressive torque, potentially better fuel economy and smaller running costs, but while a supercharged four-pot is fine, a lusty V6 is just so much more desirable, let’s be honest. The idea of a large engine in a small car is always one that will put a smile on the face of any motoring enthusiast.
Doubling our virtual budget puts a lot more exciting machinery within our grasp and so the first thing we’re naturally going to jump on is a V8 – because why wouldn’t you? – and we’ve opted for the C209 CLK55. We’re not going to beat about the bush because the reason we’re here right now is the M113 under the bonnet, here in its pure NA form, and in the CLK55 it makes an impressive 367hp and a hefty 376lb ft of torque.
It’s time to throw caution to the wind and live a little and while a C215 CL600 will never, ever be even remotely sensible in any way, at this price point you’ll be able to find one that isn’t a complete basket case and we have, of course, opted for the full fat biturbo version. C215 CL600 / ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE MERCEDES BUYING GUIDE WHY YOU WANT ONEWe’re going to be honest, you have to be very, very brave to commit to a CL600 – if you are then there are a lot of reasons to want one.
There had to be an M113K-powered four-door in this guide and it came down to either the W211 E55 or the CLS55 and, as you can see, the CLS was our choice. WHY YOU WANT ONEThere are several reasons – first of all, while it may be a larger and heavier car, the CLS is also 30% stiffer than the E-Class, it’s lower and it has quicker steering for a more responsive helm, and while the W211 did eventually receive the quicker steering, all CLSs had it from the off.
We’re back with another SLK but with our rather more substantial budget we’ve been able to treat ourselves to the full-fat SLK55 and if you’re looking for full-on driving thrills, this is the machine for you. While rivals BMW and Porsche were happy putting their hottest straight-sixes into their range-topping roadsters, AMG’s engineers decided to stick a V8 into the diminutive R171 SLK and the result was completely and utterly unhinged, and that’s exactly why it’s on our list.
As if you need a reason to want a monstrously fast V8-powered super-saloon? The W212 received a couple of different engines in its lifetime, starting with the 6.2-litre M156 V8 before then being fitted with the M157 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 in 2011 and then receiving what was surely be the most dramatic facelift of just about any car ever made in 2013. Whichever engine you go for, and whether you opt for the more angular pre- or smoother post-facelift model, the W212 E63 is an awesome machine.
Even 18 years on from its launch, the R230 SL remains arguably one of the best-looking models Mercedes has ever produced. The styling is just so right, sleek, elegant, perfectly proportioned, beautifully balanced and there’s not one bad angle anywhere on this car. It looks as good today as it did when it was launched, and perhaps even better because each subsequent angular generation has only served to highlight how good the R230 truly is.
The W205 C63 had a very hard act to follow because its predecessor, the W204 C63, was so awesome and so popular, and while this was a very different car, slightly less raw and wild perhaps, it was no less impressive. Buying Guide W205 C63 AMG OVER £20K WHY YOU WANT ONEIt’s a spectacular performance saloon and there’s a lot about this machine that makes it a very tempting proposition. Let’s begin under the bonnet with the M177; yes, the 4.