A CAR expert has picked out a handful of motors that boast good looks for bargain prices.
YouTube star Jonny Brighton of the channel Cars With JB has urged petrolheads to seek out a selection of models that look “insanely good” but cost under £8,000.
That includes a Maserati model that can be picked up for half the price of the UK’s cheapest new car.
However, Jonny’s first pick is the little-known Brabus Roadster – a rare tiny sports car with just 208 examples registered on the roads in the UK.
Built by Mercedes as a tuned-up version of the original produced by Smart, the Roadster is described by Jonny as a “tiny car with a tiny engine but some with super cool looks to go with it”.
It comes with a 0.7-litre engine that’s turbocharged to hit 60mph in 9.5 seconds, and the whole car weighs just over 800 kg in Coupe Spec.
Despite their rarity, Jonny says these start “at around £4,000” while £10k would be enough to pick up an example with just 80,000 miles on the clock.
On the other end of the scale and for those looking for more refinement, the Jaguar XJS is a great option that could steadily rise in value.
Jonny said: “Prices of the best examples are getting pretty aggressive.”
The XJS comes with multiple engine options including a 6.0-litre V12, although as a luxury grand tourer the focus is less on speed and more on “waftiness”.
Running from 1975 to 1996, many different iterations are available to buyers and Jonny says £5,000 is around the lowest you’ll find them available.
Fans of hot hatchbacks might prefer the Abarth Punto Evo – a high-performance version of the evergreen Fiat supermini.
Available for less than £4,000 – if you’re lucky enough to come across one – the Punto Evo combines Abarth-levels of sportiness with everyday useability.
Jonny added: “These set a lot of the standards for the Abarth that we see on the roads today – just rarer and I would say cooler.”
However, drivers can also find a hatchback with the characteristics of a coupe with the Volvo C30 R-Design.
The stylish Swedish motor, produced from 2006 to 2013, can be found for as little as £2,000, according to Jonny.
He added: “It’s got a very different design language to most other cars on the road, helping it to stand out.
“In R-Design, it gets a bunch of extra flare to help it look even more aggressive.”
Volvo’s C30 R-Design is certainly a fashionable small car, and should be on any petrolhead’s radar – whether they’re looking for a hot hatch or a coupe.
With the R-Design, the C30 gets upgraded side skirts and front and rear spoilers along with tasty 17-inch alloys, as well as the usual Volvo design motifs – including a tall glass tailgate, with windows that gradually curved toward the rear.
Indeed, with its head-turning looks, the C30 R-Design attracted a new segment of buyers to the Volvo brand – with the ‘R’ in R-Design standing for refinement, bot racing.
For something completely outrageous, the heavily depreciated Maserati Coupe – or 4200 – can be found for half the price of the UK’s cheapest new car – the £12,925 Dacia Sandero.
Jonny reveals that the Italian sports coupe can be found at used dealerships for as little as £6,000.
With a top speed of 177 mph and the kind of interior class you’d come to expect from a brand like Maserati, it truly is a great bargain.
This comes as Maserati recently revealed that two of their most iconic models are being discontinued.
The move will end a 65-year tradition after the firm did away with the third model in the set earlier this year.
Elsewhere, Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson is selling his classic Peugeot 205 — as he has barely driven it.
