Buy them before we do: second-hand picks for 23 November

Prices for a new GT86 start from £27,285 before discount. It’s a hard pill to swallow given the Mazda MX-5, an equally delightful car to drive, starts at £18,995 and the RF hard-top version £22,595. 

The GT86 has rear-drive thrills aplenty up its sleeve but, if it feels like a stretch too far, let us help out by suggesting you check out a used one. 

Something like the 2014/63-reg GT86 we found with 40,000 miles on the clock for £12,480, for sale at a specialist dealer. The one-owner car has full Toyota service history and, judging by the photos at least, looks to be immaculate. 

It’s a great saving on the list price and an excuse for us to harp on about what to look for when buying a used GT86. Checking for crash damage (off-road excursions come easily to a poorly driven GT86) and that it has a full service history are obvious but also check for an oil weep from the right-hand cylinder gasket and listen for a sound like a cricket. It’s caused by faulty positioning of the plunger stopper inside the high-pressure fuel pump. Alternatively, if it makes a clacking sound, it’s okay. You just have to know your clicks from your clacks. 

Find a used Toyota GT86 on PistonHeads

It’s a sports car so check the gearbox, especially second gear engagement when cold. If it’s particularly graunchy, a change of fluid might help. A rattle from the gearlever above 4000rpm was a warranty issue. 

Check what tyres it’s wearing. Michelin Primacys give good tail-out action. Finally, expect some cabin rattles from the rear seats, parcel shelf and lower dash. Tweeter and engine covers like a good shimmy too. All good? Then buy it!

Citroën C2 VTS, £1495: This little Citroën carried on where the delightful Saxo VTS left off. Launched in 2004, its 1.6-litre engine produced 125bhp. It had a close-ratio ’box, a quick steering rack and thick anti-roll bars. It was great fun new and the 62k-mile 2005 example we found looks like it could still provoke a grin. 

Mercedes CL500, £6500: Finished in Obsidian Black, this 302bhp 5.0-litre V8 CL has everything from AMG alloys (freshly refurbished) and tinted windows to the optional Comand infotainment system. The 2001-reg car is in superb condition, has done just 86,000 miles and comes with a full service history. New it cost more than £85,000. 

Ford Mondeo, £4999: Back in the noughties, diesel was all we drove. One of the best oil-burners was the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Mk3 of 2007-14. The six-speed automatic was overlooked in favour of the manual but it’s a really sweet ’box. Bag this 2009 example with 57,000 miles and full service history before some cabbie does. 

Land Rover Discovery pick-up, £6950: No, it’s not a spy shot of the new Defender but a 134,000-mile, 2000- reg Disco with a crop top. It’s a bit of an ugly duckling and unlikely to grow into a swan but, that said, it has a bespoke aluminium body, a side-exit exhaust and leather chairs so it’s not for want of trying. Think about it…

Auction watch:

Fiat Panda 4x4: This little beaut made £1870. It’s a 1985 Panda 4x4 that’ll give a Landie a run for its money, as long as its detuned 48bhp has the lungs. I remember, back in 1988, selling a new one to a scruffy chap in tatty jeans, long before ripped strides were fashionable. It was the easiest sale of my short career. He just pointed to one in the brochure, chose a reg number and paid a deposit. Deal done. I glimpsed him leaving in a red Ferrari 308 that he’d parked round the back. Moral of the story: never judge a punter by his trousers. 

Get it while you can:

Vauxhall Cascada, price new £29,185, price now £21,981: Steve Cropley recently paid tribute to the Vauxhall Cascada, now jettisoned from the car maker’s model range. However, he tells how a friend observed that “if I really cared about the car, I’d own one”. Well, now’s your chance, Steve. PistonHeads is advertising a nearly new 2018 1.4 T Elite with delivery mileage for £21,981 or around £7000 less than list. But before spending that, it’s always sobering to look at the other end of the price spectrum where you can pick up a 2014 example with 27,000 miles for £11,500… 

Clash of the classifieds:

Brief: Find me a city car for £8000 that is fun to drive and won’t leave me red-faced when my mates see it.

Hyundai i10, £7377: The Hyundai i10 – particularly this Premium SE example – has lots of ‘pub-ammo’ to tell your mates about over a cold one. Some may scoff, but this top-spec i10 comes with loads of luxuries and the 86bhp 1.2-litre petrol is pretty powerful for a city car. There’s plenty of grip for when you need to get a wriggle on, and you can even ferry your fellow patrons home after last orders because no other city car is more accommodating. Plus, the spare £633 might come in handy when it’s your round. Max Adams

Abarth 500, £7227: Phwoar, this is a bit of alright! If you’re looking for a city car that will be enjoyable to drive and turns heads without causing offence to anyone’s sensibilities, then this Abarth 500 is the car for you. Under its cute bonnet is a 135bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that’ll propel this little peach from 0 to 62mph in just 7.9sec, and on to a top speed of 130mph. It’s got loads of kit, too, and a great badge, and this one-owner car has been well looked after. i10 or icon? I think we all know the answer to that one… Mark Pearson

Verdict: I respect Max’s thinking but it’s got to be that naughty little Abarth 500. Where do I sign?

John Evans

Read more

Used car buying guide: Toyota GT86​

Abarth 595 review​

Vauxhall Cascada dies as remaining stock is sold