Smart used cars for not much cash

Brand new luxury cars are by their nature very expensive.

But if you're willing to go the used route, they quickly become much more affordable. In this feature, we've tracked down plenty of affordable luxury cars, complete with indicative pricing for both the UK and US. Prices start at just £2000 and US$2,800, in ascending order of price:

Mini Cooper S - from £1750/US$4700

The original supercharged Mini Cooper S arrived to rave reviews and charmed with its looks, pace, handling and noise. Today, thanks to the evolutionary design of the Mini hatch, a first-generation model still looks remarkably fresh and able to hold its own in the car park. Up to 2004, the 1.6-litre engine offered 161bhp and then 168bhp until it was replaced by a turbocharged unit in 2006.

Rear seat space is tight for adults in any Mini, but a panoramic sunroof is a desirable extra to brighten the cabin. Just make sure the sunroof opens and closes smoothly. The power steering pump can give up the ghost and warped cylinder heads are not unknown in cars where the electric fan has quit working.

Volvo XC90 – from £1800/US$3700

The original Volvo XC90 enjoyed a very lengthy lifespan by modern standards, running from 2002 until 2014. That was down to its enduring appeal and it still marks you out as a driver of considered taste today. When you can park that type of style on your drive from just £1800 and $3700 in the US, this seven-seat SUV is all the more attractive in its restrained Swedish way.

The D5 turbodiesel will be the easiest to find in the UK, but make sure it starts easily from cold. If not, it will need new fuel injectors that are expensive. Both the D5 and petrol T6 models need a new cambelt at 108,000 miles or six years, but it’s not too costly a job. Give the cabin a thorough look over as the seats can become tatty with age, but a well-tended XC90 is a quietly stylish way to travel.

Mercedes CLK convertible – from £2000/US$3000

The C209 generation of Mercedes CLK has aged gracefully and the convertible model offers much of its original splendour but at a fraction of the cost when new. From just £2000/US$3000 you can pick up one of these four-seat drop-tops and fool friends into thinking you’ve had a lucky windfall as this car continues to convey a sybaritic air.

Hailing as it does from a period in Mercedes history when rust-prevention was not all it might have been, you’ll need to check the wheelarches, doors, bonnet and boot for frilly metal. Also make sure every electrical component works as it should, especially the hood. Post-2007 cars gain the smooth seven-speed auto and the V6s offer the best performance without too heavy a hit on fuel economy.

Mazda MX-5 – from £2000/US$5200

Some misguided souls will poo-poo the Mk3 Mazda MX-5 as it tried to open up the roadster formula to a wider audience. This meant it wasn’t quite as hardcore as the previous models, but it makes it easier to live with today and there’s a simplicity to its style that means it’s aged very well. Take it for a back road jaunt and plenty will still look on enviously.

Surprisingly, rust should be your first concern with the 2005-2015 version of the MX-5. It can take hold in the arches, sills and around the differential, so get underneath and poke about. Everything else is very reliable and you have a choice of soft-top or folding roof Roadster Coupe, though we’d avoid the sluggish and rare automatic gearbox in any model.

BMW 7 Series – from £2250/US$5125

Love him or loathe him, Chris Bangle shook up the world of BMW styling and the E65 7 Series was the first production car to show his intentions. It still splits opinion, but one thing is for sure: this luxury saloon still oozes superiority. There’s also a whole heap of comfort to be enjoyed, whether it’s from the driver’s seat or the leather-lined rear chairs.

Most UK 7 Series of this era will be the 2.9-litre turbodiesel engined 730d while the most common model in the US is the 745i (a 4.4 V8). Both can cope with large mileages but make sure the swirl flaps in the intake have either been replaced or deleted. Masses of electrics means carefully ensuring they all work and don’t expect your modern phone to pair up with the Bluetooth as it was notoriously unhelpful even when new.

Cadillac CTS – from £2750/US$2800

We could hardly talk about affordable flash without mentioning a Cadillac. In this case, it’s the CTS that offers a surprisingly agile and cosseting rear-drive set-up. When launched in 2003, it seemed the Caddy had finally got the measure of its European rivals, but European sales didn’t back up the objective facts. So, today, the CTS is a low-cost way to ferry around yourself and three friends swaddled in leather and powered by a 2.8- or 3.6-litre V6.

Not much goes wrong with the CTS if it’s been looked after at the appointed service halts. Our biggest fear would be neglected maintenance as the car has fallen into the sort of price band where previous owners might well have skimped on looking after their Cadillac.

Range Rover L322 – from £3000/US$3500

Land Rover turned the concept of a luxury car on its head when it launched the third-generation Range Rover in 2002. This L322 model provided all of the off-road ability and more that you’d expect, but it could waft with the best of them across continents. It also handled well for such a large car and, to this day, has a presence that only a ‘full fat’ Range Rover delivers.

At this price, you have a choice of 4.4-litre V8 petrol motor or in Europe, a Td6 turbodiesel. The diesel makes more sense if you need to cover miles, but make sure the swirl flaps have been serviced or removed. In Europe, a better bet might be a V8 with an LPG conversion and there are plenty around, so make sure it comes with a certificate to prove the work was carried out professionally.

Porsche Boxster – from £3000/US$5990

A Porsche at a bargain price is always an alluring prospect, but when it’s the fine-handling Boxster with a flat-six engine the appeal is ramped up. You can get these cars even more cheaply, but £3000/US$5990 is where you’ll find decent cars, though you’ll need to sift through some stinkers too. Find that good example and it will be a joy to use on any road, and it will hold its value.

Besides the condition of the bodywork, paint, upholstery and hood, you need to inspect the engine from underneath. Any oil leaks point to big bills and a worn clutch is pricey to replace also. However, budget for this work to replace the notorious intermediate mainshaft bearing, rear main oil seal and clutch and you’ll have a future-proofed modern classic to enjoy.

Renault Avantime – from £3500

Patrick Le Quément’s bold Avantime was misunderstood at its launch in 2001, both by Renault and potential buyers. As a consequence, a mere 8557 were sold worldwide, most finding homes in France. The upside to this is it’s now a cult machine that cuts a dash wherever it goes, which also keeps values of low mileage examples well above our entry point of £3500.

That lower price doesn’t mean settling for a thrashed Avantime, but you will need to be sure the cambelt has been changed at 72,000-mile or five-year intervals. This is especially important for the turbo 2.0-litre petrol engine, though the V6 also needs it too. Rear wheel bearings are another weak spot, so listen for grumbling, and the silver-painted roof sections can suffer from rust bubbles. Never available in the US.

Porsche Cayenne – from £4000/US$5499

Porsche purists recoiled in horror when the Cayenne arrived in 2003 and it wasn’t just the brash looks. Everything about it seemed at odds with the delicate 911, yet this SUV sold in droves and now offers used buyers a lot of flash for their cash. Avoid any Cayenne that’s been pimped with aftermarket alloys, bodykits or exhausts. Stock standard models now speak gently of wealth you can fool other drivers with.

For this sort of money, you’ll be looking at the 4.5-litre V8 model which is brisk. Many have replacement engines due to cylinder bore wear issues, so this shouldn’t put you off. Look for oil and coolant leaks under the car and a smooth-shifting automatic gearbox. Check the air suspension works keenly between different settings as a new pump is £1600/US$2080.

Audi S4 – from £4500/US$7495

A big V8 engine in a compact body is always a recipe for fun and the 2003-2005 B6 generation Audi S4 encapsulates this perfectly. Not quite as desirable as the B7 that followed it, B6 prices are consequently lower and the more numerous Avant estates start from £4500, and this generation was available in America (unlike recent successor models), with prices from US$7495. 

A similar mileage and condition sedan will be around £500/US$650 more, but both offer 0-60mph in less than six seconds, 155mph top speed and a glorious sounding 4.2-litre V8 engine.

The engine itself is very strong, but look for evidence the timing chain has been replaced as specified. Coil packs can also play up and the clutch is a weak spot as it deals with a lot of power and keen drivers. Look for broken glovebox hinges too as this is a common fault.

Mercedes S-Class – from £5000/US$2990

Pull up outside any fancy restaurant in a W221 Mercedes S-Class and you’ll be shown to a good table. It’s a car that gives off a warm feeling of contented luxury, even though you can now bag a high miles but sound one from £5000/US$8000. Inside, there’s space for four to travel anywhere in comfort, while the most common V6 turbodiesel version does a fine job of balancing the books between economy and performance. The V8 petrols might cost more to run, but they are smoothly silken. In America, you're looking mainly at the wafty S550, a 5.5-liter V8.

It’s best to sidestep the lunar mileage ex-limo hire W221s out there and look for one that’s been pampered with full Mercedes and specialist stamps in the book. There are plenty out there, but make sure the electrics all work and there’s no damp in the passenger footwell caused by a blocked drain hole in the engine bay.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit – from £6000/US$10000

Depending on your definition of flash, a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit is either aging gently into maturity or a wedding hire car cast-off. Look past that and you’ll find a car that serves up acres of space, wood and leather for you to lord it over other traffic. You also get a high-perched throne to give a commanding view to the Spirit of Ecstasy, with a 6.75-litre V8 tucked away between the two.

When checking out a Silver Spirit, the first place to start is the cabin as the cost of repairing the interior can easily outweigh the purchase price. Listen for noisy differentials, rust in the arches and rear spring pans, and make sure the brightwork is still shiny. Lastly, look to see if the correct mineral oil has been used for the brake and suspension hydraulics.

Daimler Super V8 – from £6000/US$5500

Imagine all the pace of a Jaguar XJR with the added pomp of Daimler’s luxury cabin: that’s the Super V8. You get a fabulous 370bhp supercharged 4.0-litre V8 motor that spirits the car from rest to 60mph in around five seconds and on to 155mph, yet it’s always in complete luxury. Most Super V8s were long wheelbase models, so you also have added rear legroom.

As with the XJR, the only real reliability concern is the timing chain tensioner needs to be replaced at 60,000-mile intervals. Early worries about the Nikasil cylinder linings are no longer a problem as the engine will either have been replaced or not suffered from this issue. Note: Model known as the Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas in the US

Jaguar XJ – from £9000/US$15,000

It’s a testament to how timeless the X351 Jaguar XJ’s lines are that it still looks as good as the day it was revealed in 2009. If anything, it appears even more elegant as our eyes have become accustomed to its sharp-suited lines. With early cars on offer from £9000/US$14888 with reasonable mileages, the XJ is a hugely tempting way to waft away those hours behind the wheel in comfort and style.

There’s not a lot to worry about with this XJ so long as it has a complete service record. Make sure the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel has had its belts and tensioners changed on the dot and listen for rattly sunroofs. Don’t write off the V8s, either, as they can be less harsh on your wallet than you might think when driven with some decorum - and in America, they were the only game in town.

Maserati Quattroporte – from £9000/US$15,000

Maserati’s fifth incarnation of the Quattroporte struck a chord with luxury car buyers looking for an alternative to the obvious options from Germany. That still holds true today and the Quattroporte is a fine looking saloon that seats four in splendour while also giving the driver plenty to smile about when the road starts to twist and weave.

The S model with its 4.7-litre V8 engine is the one to have if your budget stretches that far, but the 4.2-litre models are still entertaining. Make sure the records show the motor has been serviced every 6000 miles. The DuoSelect transmission can be heavy on clutches, so budget £1500/US$1950 to sort this. Suspension bushes wear quickly like on any heavy saloon, but you also need to feel for any slop in the steering that points to a failing steering rack or pump.

Hummer H3 – from £10000/US$12,500

For anyone keen to be noticed, there are few more flamboyant ways than driving a Hummer H3. It might have been the baby of the Hummer line when launched in 2005, but it’s still a big, brash SUV. With prices now starting at £10,000/US$12,500 for used examples, it’s a temptingly affordable way to convince the neighbours you’ve become an apocalyptic survivalist.

Few H3s will ever have ventured off-road, which is good news, and being based on the Chevrolet Colorado means replacement parts are cheap and plentiful. The 6.0-litre V8 is bullet-proof, but the early four-speed auto wasn’t up to the job, so the later six-speeder is preferable. Other than that, just make sure you can park the H3 as it’s a big car, which is also key to its appeal.

Bentley Continental GT – from £17,500/US$37,500

Bentley got the Continental GT formula spot on from the start, so it’s not changed much in style over three generations. That means the original car from 2003 looks box-fresh so long as it’s been looked after inside and out. Luckily, most owners have the wherewithal to fund the necessary servicing, repairs and running costs.

Look for any signs of scuffed alloys and leather that point to a corner-cutting previous owner. A lumpy idle is probably a faulty coil pack, but any signs of smoke from the exhaust should have you running away as new head gaskets are vastly expensive to fit.

Aston Martin DB7 – from £19,000/US$30,000

What could convey more driveway flash than parking an Aston Martin on your home turf? The DB7 remains the most affordable way to own this British brand, though prices are strengthening as the model finds increasing favour with classic car enthusiasts. That makes this a good investment as well as a hoot to drive. For this money, it will be a six-cylinder car with automatic gearbox, but that’s no hardship.

You need to look for a thick history file with lots of servicing evidence. Listen for any noise that indicates a cracked exhaust manifold and check for oil leaks under the car. Rust can appear on the sills and arches, while the electrics can be troublesome, especially where the loom chafes between the gearbox and body. Failed air con is annoying and pricey to fix as it’s a dash-out job.