Honda NSX
A classic supercar with modern reliability
The NSX arrived at a time when supercars were considered to be fragile weekend toys with handling characteristics that could easily catch out the unwary. Equipped with a reliable 276 bhp 3.0-litre V6 and vice-free handling, it soon had the established supercar players playing catchup.
Prices for well-used but clean examples start at £40,000 with perfect low-milers costing more than twice that figure.
These cars were produced from 1990 all the way up to 2005 with a number of changes along the way, we say that you should stick to the manual derivatives and don’t worry too much about the mileages as long as the service history is present.
Porsche 997 Turbo
Searing pace with space for the kids
The air-cooled 911s have long been on an upward pricing trajectory leaving the first two generations of water-cooled variants to fend for themselves at the lower end of the market.
Yet, the 997 is a markedly better car than any 911 before it and the 997 Turbo in particular still offers mental performance without the engine issues of the early Carreras.
High-milers start at £40,000 however even the best late model Gen II cars are no more than £85,000. Considering that the best 993 Turbos command up to £250,000 these newer cars are sure to appreciate in value over the coming years too.
Aston Martin DB9
Elegant and luxurious with timeless lines
The DB9 was first introduced in 2004 and while it may have looked somewhat similar to the DB7 it succeeded, it was actually an all-new design. The 5.9-litre V12 engine was loosely based on a pair of Ford V6 units and power gradually grew from 450 bhp in the first cars up to 540 bhp for the last ones.
With the DB11 having taken over as the flagship model in 2016, there are plenty of lovely DB9s out there at very attractive prices. The entry point is around the £27,000 mark, not much more than you would pay for a DB7, and top out at £100,000.
You don’t need much more than £40,000 though for a great example of this beautiful modern classic.
Ferrari California
A grand tourer and sportscar in one
The California may be derided by hardcore Ferrari fans as the soft alternative but when viewed as an alternative to premium German convertibles it is about as sharp as the segment gets.
The early cars come with a 453 bhp 4.3-litre V8 capable of launching the California to 60mph in 4.0-seconds and topping out at 193 mph. Updated California T models arrived in 2014 and these have a twin-turbo 3.9-litre V8 with an even more impressive 553 bhp.
Equipped with a folding metal roof and two smallish rear seats, these ‘soft Ferraris’ have a dash of practicality too. A 2008 California starts at £70,000 which is a veritable bargain in Ferrari terms. The earliest 2014 California T models are currently hovering around the £110,000 mark. With the Portofino replacement starting at around twice that, these are the ones to get for the supercar buyer on a budget.
TVR Sagaris
Manic and mad in all the right ways
The Sagaris was the last and best model made by the long beleaguered TVR. These cars have already started picking up in value and with the imminent arrival of the second-generation Griffith, interest in the marque is sure to pick up once again. The Sagaris meanwhile remains a superb example of a futuristically styled hooligan of a supercar.
Its 406 bhp straight-six and Ford Fiesta-like kerb weight gives it ferocious performance that is all the more scary thanks to a complete absence of ABS and traction a stability assistance systems. These things are rare too, most are already worth more than their original £50,000 selling price, which is still a veritable bargain for what is surely going to become a very valuable collector’s item.
Nissan GT-R
The budget supercar
The GT-R is an anomaly among supercars, for one it is priced like a sportscar but its performance clearly puts it one category above this segment.
It has also been in production since 2008, an absolute age in performance car terms yet constant tweaks have ensured that it remains relevant. That does mean that older models do feel slightly less sharp to drive.
Watch out for overly modified examples too, these cars can take a lot of punishment but too much boost can mean big repair bills down the line. You will find good 2009 model year cars starting at £30,000 and £50,000 will net you a low-mileage 2011 car.
Power outputs range from 480 bhp on early cars to 600 bhp for the latest NISMO variants and there are plenty of specialists that can add a lot more power if you like. A new one will set you back over £80,000 or £151,000 if you want the track-prepped NISMO trim.
Ferrari 360
Quick and still stunning to look at
The 360 may not have had the universally stunning looks of the 355 that came before it but technologically it was a notable step forward.
It was also one of the last Ferraris to be offered with a manual gearbox (There are a handful of F430s with manuals too) and it had an aluminium spaceframe chassis that made it lighter and stiffer than the all-steel 355.
Power was up marginally to 400 bhp and the 0-60mph time was down to 4.5-seconds. When new, the 360 started at £100,000, that makes the current £45,000 starting point seem rather tempting indeed. Especially considering that the cheapest 355 is around £60,000.
Lamborghini Gallardo
Both reliable and exhilarating, a desirable supercar trait
The Gallardo was designed under parent company Audi’s watchful eye and the result was a supercar that went and looked like an Italian thoroughbred but was as reliable as a German saloon.
It remained in production for ten years, starting in 2004, and spawned a number of variants along the way. There is not much wrong with an early car, fitted with a sonorous 5.0-litre V10 it offers 500 bhp and the all-wheel-drive setup means that it is far more forgiving over slippery road surfaces than rear-wheel-drive rivals.
A convertible (Spyder) variant was also introduced as well as numerous special edition models, the V10 grew to 5.2-litres over the years with power outputs reaching 562 bhp. Manual cars are rare and desirable although the more common E-Gear transmission is a capable if slightly rough gearbox, especially compared to newer dual-clutch units.
You can find the older cars for just under £60,000 with the last-of-the-line LP570-4 special edition models reaching £200,000. Best stick to the earlier cars then and try to find one with the six-speed manual.
McLaren MP4-12C
The one that started the modern McLaren supercar era
McLaren have only really been in the modern supercar game for seven years, their game-changing F1 supercar was released way back in 1993 and after a limited 106-unit production run they did not make another road car until 2011. This was the technologically advanced MP4-12C, a 590 bhp twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 supercar that immediately set a new performance benchmark.
What it lacked was some soul, to rectify this the kitchen appliance-like name was soon shortened to just ‘12C’, and numerous modifications (offered at no cost to existing 12C customers) were carried out.
This car then spawned the superb 650S and its basic underpinnings and running gear have been developed for use in several new models since. You can find one of the earlier upgraded models for around £80,000 and even the newest 12C Spider with low mileage is no more than £120,000. With the latest 720S starting at over £210,000, that makes the 12C a performance supercar bargain in our books.
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