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The smell of petrol. The noise of a sonorous engine. The sweet satisfaction of the perfect manual gear change.
Very soon, cars like this won’t be made any more. In a world that’s going electric, the smart money will be hoovering up the last of the great analogue cars. The sort of cars you’ll want to buy now and keep for that automotive rainy day.
These are our favourite affordable driver’s cars, from hot hatches to bargain supercars:
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Ferrari F430
The F430 is one of the most evocative supercars of recent years and is the last of the manual mid-engined Ferraris, giving it instant collector status. Only 10% of F430s were sold with a proper manual gearbox and used examples start at £115,000, rather more than the ‘electro-hydraulic’ F1 version.
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Mazda MX-5
The MX-5 might lack the power and performance of some roadsters, but few come close to matching it for raw driving appeal. The MX-5 will go down in history as one of the greatest sportscars ever. First-gen models are starting to appreciate in value but bargains can be had on the Mk2, with prices starting at around £1,000.
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Lotus Elise
The Lotus Elise was an instant classic the moment it came out. In a world of cosseted luxury the Elise stuck to the guiding principle for which Lotus was renowned: lightness. Cars don’t get any more analogue and as a result the Elise is highly sought after. Prices start from £15,000 – and they’re only going to go one way.
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Caterham
Every Caterham model ticks the analogue box in a big way. The word simple doesn’t do it justice. There really is nothing more than a couple of seats, a manual gearbox and engines of varying degrees of power up front. Prices are fairly reasonable at £15,000 for a used model.
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Suzuki Swift Sport
Flat out, everywhere. That’s the basic premise with a small, nimble, low-powered car like the Suzuki Swift Sport. You can drive one of these on the edge, leaning on its great chassis, and stay relatively close to the limits of you, the law and the car. Prices start from a very modest £1,200 in the classifieds.
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Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Buoyed by Subaru’s WRC success, the first and second generation Impreza WRX STis were big hits among fans with turbo charged engines, four-wheel drive and rally-esque styling cues. Noisy, fast, and a lot of fun, prices for the hardcore STi versions start at £6,500 in the classifieds.
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Mini Cooper S
BMW did a great job reinventing the Mini, capturing the image and driving appeal of the original. The Cooper S, with its supercharged 1.6-litre engine, was a real hoot to drive, with lovely pops and bangs on the overrun, great steering and sublime handling from its wheel-at-each-corner chassis. Prices start at less than £1,000 but shop carefully as they don’t have the greatest reputation for reliability.
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Porsche 911 GT3
Any 911 is worth seeking out. Despite becoming more digital in recent years they are still hugely involving. Prices have been rocketing for older models while special 911s like the 964 RS are outrageously expensive. We’d be looking at a 996 or 997 from around £20,000, but for those who could quadruple their investment a 997 GT3 is within reach. The 997 GT3 was the last of the manuals and is hugely desirable as a result.
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Honda S2000
The MK1 Honda S2000 had a reputation as a bit of a trouble maker. With no traction control, it was liable to catch out the unwary when the high-spinning VTEC engine kicked in. But with classic roadster proportions, one of the slickest gear changes in the business and its digital rev counter, it’s now starting to go up in value. You’ll need to spend at least £7,000 and that will get you a year 2000 car.
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Audi R8
Audi’s first bona fide supercar had all the ingredients for success. A choice of a V8 or V10 engine, an open-gate six-speed manual as standard and an interior that made the R8 really easy to live with. Even now, 14 years on, it’s a car that gets a lot of attention. These days, you can pick up a first-gen R8 for under £30,000 – and every journey is an event.
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Toyota MR2
Unlike the Mazda MX-5, which had its engine over the front wheels, Toyota went for the more exotic approach of putting the engine behind your head. As a result, the MR2 is a sublime car to drive. Low-powered it may be, but it’s still utterly engaging and a testing car to drive on a slippery road. Prices start at just over a grand.
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BMW M3
Every M3 is an intoxicating car to drive but an E46 or an E90 with a manual gearbox makes a strong case for itself as a car to buy now and keep for the future. Right now, prices are reasonably affordable. The six-cylinder E46 start at £7,000 while the V8 E90 begins at £12,000 and is available as a coupe or a saloon.
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Peugeot 205 GTi
The 205 GTi may go down in the annals of motoring history as probably the greatest hot hatch ever. Prices start at a peaky £6,000 but you can be fairly confident this will go up. The 205 is a pure, unadulterated, raw driving experience that’s about as far removed as you can get from the safe, sanitised world of electric and autonomous cars.
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Peugeot 106 Rallye
Only 500 Peugeot 106 Rallyes came to the UK, and that number has since dwindled to 162 cars currently on the road. Unsurprisingly, there aren’t many for sale. We saw one at £5,000 and another at £11,000. Built for homologation, the 106 Rallye is light and very agile, with a screaming little 100bhp, 1.3-litre engine and painted steel wheels.
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Skoda Fabia vRS
The original Fabia vRS was a discreet hot hatch with a secret weapon: a diesel engine. It’s 1.9-litre unit pulled with gusto but was impressively fuel efficient. With the MK2 Fabia, Skoda switched to a 1.4 petrol engine and it instantly lost its mojo. Prices start at just over £1,000.
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BMW 1M Coupe
The 1M Coupe was a cut-price M3 but didn’t feel like the poor relation. With a 335bhp, twin-turbo straight-six and a slick six-speed manual gearbox, it was a thrilling little car to drive and looked suitably aggressive. Eight years on, and prices have held firm with the 1M still commanding £35,000 on the used market.
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Ford Puma
The Puma nameplate is back as a funky compact SUV but it’s the original car that’s really worth seeking out. Despite the love it or loathe it styling, this was a car built at a time when Ford really knew what they were doing in the chassis department. It drives with a sense of purpose that is just so lacking these days. Prices start at £500 for tatty models but look for a Ford Racing Puma (as pictured) from about £15,000.
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Alpine A110
Not only has Alpine started making cars again after 20 years, but it’s making one of the most highly rated sports cars on sale. The A110 is a lightweight, focused, spirited driver’s car that’s a good alternative to a Porsche Cayman. Prices on the used market start at £46,000.
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Audi TT Quattro Sport
The TT has been around for more than two decades and it’s easy to snap up a bargain. The V6 models have always been less involving to drive than the turbocharged four-cylinders but for the ultimate thrills we’d seek out the limited-edition Quattro Sport, the run-out version of the TT’s first generation. It was 75kg lighter, had the rear seats removed and front buckets installed, and more power. The cheapest we’ve seen is a 2005 car at £5,000.
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Honda Integra Type-R
Regarded as one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars ever made, the Integra Type-R is now getting on for 20 years old and it’s much in demand. With a five-speed manual gearbox, a screaming VTEC engine and a limited-slip diff, it’s a car that’s invigorating to drive. The engines are bullet proof, but watch out for rust. It’s a common issue on sills. Prices are on the up and you’ll need to spend at least £8k.
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RenaultSport Clio
Renault has been making fast Clios for years but it’s the 172 and 182 versions from the early noughties we’d seek out. They’re incredibly well balanced and powerful and are brilliant track cars. Many have been crashed, and for the few remaining, collector status means prices are rising. A 172 will start at £2,000 but don’t expect these prices to stay there for long.
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Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
Alfa Romeo managed to shoehorn its 3.2 V6 with 250bhp into its smallest car, the 147. As a result, the 147 GTA was the most powerful hot hatch when it came out in 2003. Plenty of torque steer ensued, but the 147 was a fine-handling car with a loose back end and fun mid-bend adjustment. You’ll need to spend £8,000, which might seem a lot for a 16-year-old hot hatch, but this is already a classic.
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Ford Focus RS
With 213bhp and a limited-slip differential, the first-gen Focus RS was a car with mixed reviews. Torque steer was its chief problem, and it would squirm its way down the road if you gave it too much throttle. But today, it is rawness is a breath of fresh air. Ford only built 4501 of them and today a handful exist in the classifieds from £10,000.
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VW Golf GTi
The venerable Golf GTi has been around for seven generations and a new one arrives next year. The Mk4 GTi was a bit of a dud but that all changed with the MK5: fast, involving, easy to live with - it was the ultimate sensible hot hatch. Spending £3,000 will get you into a MK5 GTi.
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Porsche Cayman
The Porsche Cayman was an instant hit when it arrived 14 years ago. Some argued that it was a better car to drive than the 911, but that’s a debate for another time. With precise steering, a sweet manual gearchange and almost-perfect weight balance, the Cayman was a driver’s delight. You can pick up a 2006 car from just under £9,000.
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BMW M2
The BMW M2 is a getting on for three years old now and in that time the earliest ones have lost about £20k. Higher mileage cars start at £25,000 but £30,000 will get you a low-mileage M2 with a manual gearbox. With a turbocharged straight six, the M2 feels every inch a proper M car.
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Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The baby Aston Martin has been around for nearly 15 years. We found more than 350 for sale at present, with prices starting at a reasonable £24,000. The V8 Vantage still looks gorgeous and it’s old school to drive with a chunky manual gearbox and muscular performance.
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Mitsubishi Evo VII
Any Evo is a joy to drive but it’s not a car for everyday use. The styling is too lairy, the exhaust is too noisy and the ride too jarring. On the right road, though, little else comes close. Evo VIs are getting pricey now, so look for a VII or an VIII, with prices starting around the £8k mark.
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Fiat Panda 100HP
The hottest Fiat Panda might have only 99bhp, but it’s a riot to drive. Light, grippy, eager, it’s a car that’s incredibly easy to drive quickly. Just watch out for the ride. The Panda 100HP’s stiff suspension means it doesn’t so much glide down the road as bounce. Prices start from a very tempting £1,500.
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RenaultSport Twingo
Fast, fun and affordable, the RenaultSport Twingo might not boast the power outputs of some hot hatches but with deft handling, a playful chassis and an eager little engine that loves to be worked, the Twingo is a great device for discreet B-road blasts. Prices start at around £2,500.
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Porsche Boxster
The Boxster sold in huge numbers and there’s an abundance for sale in the classifieds. Time and uncaring owners have taken their toll and you’ll want to avoid the very cheapest cars sub-£3,000. Find a good one though and you’ll discover that the Boxster is a delight to drive with a lovely flat six and a manual gearbox.
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BMW Z4 Coupe
Z4s are a classified bargain right now. A couple of grand will get you into an E85 roadster, sold between 2002 and 2008. But it’s the rarer E86 coupe we’d seek out. Prices have dropped to £5,000 for a car with around 100,000 miles and a 3.0-litre straight six engine and a manual gearbox.
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Land Rover Defender
Now that there’s a new Defender in town, the iconic previous version, a design that barely changed in decades, is becoming a cult classic. You’ll pay £5,000 for a tatty one but prices go up to £175,000 for customised versions. A Defender is a safe bet for a future analogue classic.
It’s hard to lose money on a Defender, one of the most enduring British cars ever made. The Defender represents the end of an era and is one of the most enduring cars ever made.
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BMW E39 M5
It’s getting on a bit now the E39 M5 but this is the car that kicked off the whole German super-saloon power war. With 394bhp from its 4.9-litre V8, a six-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential, the M5 knew how to party. But it could also be sensible too, with room for the family. Prices start at £7,000 in the classifieds.
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Honda NSX
The NSX name lay dormant for a decade until a new one was launched in 2016, but it’s the first-gen car we’re interested in here. With fighter-jet styling, Ayrton Senna development input and a screaming V6 VTEC, the NSX is highly sought after and is already a future classic. You’ll pay at least £35,000 for a leggy automatic.
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Ford Fiesta ST
Aside from the XR2i, fast Fiestas had never really warmed our cockles. At least until the ST came along. That peaked with the MK7 version, a turbocharged 1.6-litre Ecoboost with a slick six-speed manual and the sort of chassis balance that makes it a proper supercar hunter on a British B-road. Prices start at £5k in the classifieds.
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Toyota GT86
With skinny tyres, a naturally aspirated 197bhp engine and no clever tech spoiling the fun, the GT86 is one of the most refreshing sports cars of the modern era. You have to work the engine hard to make progress, but that’s part of the appeal, while a wet road and a three-stage traction control system means fun is easy to come by. There’s even seating for four. Prices start at £8k.
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Fiat Barchetta
The Barchetta never sold in the same huge numbers as the MX-5, so there’s much less choice. Prices reflect this. The Fiat roadster starts at £3,500 and we only found five cars for sale. It isn’t the most engaging car to drive either but it’s a fun alternative to a MX-5, MR2 or Z4 for the price.
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Renault Clio V6
The barmy Clio V6 was a spiritual successor to the Renault 5 Turbo. It was based on the standard Clio, but shared few parts. The rear seats were removed and replaced with a 3.0-litre V6 and a wider body to give the Clio a menacing, track-focused look.
That engine and layout made the Clio V6 heavy, so in a straight line it wasn’t much quicker than a 172 Cup, but it made a great noise and had a significantly higher top speed at 146mph. It’s already a classic. Prices start at £20,000 but this should be a safe place to invest your cash.
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Vauxhall VXR8
Inspired by fast Australian utility cars, the VXR8 is a sensible-looking and spacious saloon car with a Corvette engine up front. Power is huge and it’s a car that’s big on sideways thrills. The VXR8 is the last of a breed, and with prices starting at £14k, should be a safe place to put your money for future fun.
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Morgan 3-Wheeler
The 3-Wheeler is a recreation of Morgan’s founding model and it’s as bonkers as it is brilliant. It not a car for everyday use, but for a weekend blast it’s a lot of fun and will bring with it attention like very few other cars. It’s pricey, though. From new, the 3-Wheeler starts at a smidgen under £40k and even used it starts at a hefty £25,000.
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Honda Civic Type-R
Honda started getting serious about hot hatches from the sixth generation of the Civic. The Type-R from this era is starting to look a little old now, but it’s still one of the rawest, purest driving experiences you can get for the money. Prices start at £2,500 but for £1,000 more you can get into the later model (as pictured). It’s still a riot to drive but looks more modern and is easier to live with.
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Nissan 350Z
With used prices starting at just over £3,000, the 350Z looks too good to be true. Even 17 years ago when it launched, the 350Z was great value for money, offering big performance from its V6 engine and real-wheel-drive chassis. We’ll not see cars like this again, which makes the 350Z look like a fantastic future investment at this price.
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Ariel Atom
The Ariel Atom is the closest thing to motorbike thrills on four wheels. With a screaming Honda VTEC engine and a couple of seats surrounded by scaffolding, it makes a Caterham look sensible and practical. Prices are punchy: the cheapest we found was £30,000 but you won’t lose money on one.
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