Best performance bargains for under £18k: Used Buying Guide

See Audi TT for sale on PistonHeads

You can have your TT in coupé or roadster form, with front or four-wheel drive and with a manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox. For absolute speed, there’s the rip-snorting TT RS. Pay about £15k for a good 2012 model. 

3. BMW M135i (2012-present)

Never judge a book by its cover. The 1 Series may look about as exciting as a pair of slippers, but this hunkered-down M135i version goes like a hare out of a trap. It’s also a truly lovely thing to drive.

Up front is a rorty 315bhp 3.0-litre straight six engine. Put your foot down and it’ll sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.9sec and on to a top speed of 155mph; within that speed range are huge reserves of instantly available power.

See BMW M135i for sale on PistonHeads

A rear-drive chassis means the M135i steers with precision and handles superbly; it’s tremendous fun on a twisty back road. Inside, there’s an excellent driving position and room for kids in the back. You can now buy a 2013 example in three or five-door form for about £17k. 

4. Toyota GT86 (2012-present)

Driving pleasure isn’t all about straightline speed or cornering on rails, as the GT86 proves. It’s a low-slung, rear-drive hipster, powered by a crisp 197bhp 2.0-litre flat four, and it’s good for a decent 140mph and 0-62mph in 7.4sec.

See Toyota GT86 for sale on PistonHeads

However, the fact that it’s quite quick, reasonably cheap and not bad to look at is almost completely irrelevant. This car is all about feel, driver involvement and cornering — mostly sideways, which it does at the slightest provocation. Dab a brake or punch the throttle midcorner and, thanks to its well-sorted chassis and low-grip tyres, you can take known corners at almost any angle. The steering is linear and accurate, too.