Performance for pennies: 5 fast cars for £5,000 (or less)

From athletic grand tourers to rabid hot hatches, these five depreciated performers prove you can still enjoy driving thrills on a budget. But should you take the plunge?

Whether it’s due to supply shortages, the cost of developing new technologies, or just good old-fashioned inflation, new car prices continue to skyrocket. Don’t believe us? A new Honda Civic Type R now starts from £50,000 — a model which was just £30,000 a decade prior. 

However, there is a solution: buy used. Thanks to the wonders of depreciation, you can bag some genuinely engaging machines for the price of a few optional extras on their contemporary counterparts. 

From V8s to flat-sixes — there’s even a turbo five — these five sub-£5,000 contenders offer irresistible bang for your buck. Just make sure you’ve got a little extra cash squirreled away in case something goes bang…

Porsche Boxster S (986)

Sure, it’s a little predictable, but how can you ignore a mid-engined Porsche for under £5,000?  

Unfairly titled the poor man’s 911 by many when it debuted back in 1996, there’s nothing poor about the Boxster’s driving experience. Straight out the gates you’ll notice the 986’s superb agility and well-weighted steering, but it’s that howling 256-bhp flat six and precise six-speed manual ‘box that’ll keep you coming back for more. 

And the cost? £5,000 buys a tidy, sub-100,000-mile example with a full service history. Now that’s what we’d call value for money.

Mazda RX-8

Forget £5,000, Mazda’s high-revving RX-8 can be had for as little as £2,000, but for a very good reason: that infamous rotary engine.  

Utilising triangular rotors instead of traditional pistons, the RX-8’s 1.3-litre powerplant is remarkably potent (228-bhp) for its compact size. It’s also incredibly smooth, responsive, and spins all the way to 8300 rpm. However, what the rotary gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. A prodigious thirst for petrol and oil means the RX-8’s running costs are more akin to a V8 supercar than a lightweight sports car. And then there’s the questionable reliability which, if strict usage and maintenance protocol isn’t followed, can see engines with fewer than 50,000 miles fail. 

Still, buy a well-maintained example with a strong history, and the RX-8 is a true performance bargain. Yes, the engine lacks torque, but that just means you need to stir the tactile gearchange to get the best from it. Plus, a near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution makes this one of the best handling cars at any price point.  

Mazda’s 3 MPS might be a more practical and reliable option for thrills on a shoestring, but when was being sensible ever fun?

Volvo C30 T5

If notions of failed apex seals and voracious fuel consumption had you running for the hills, Volvo’s C30 T5 hatchback looks like a much more rational purchase. For starters, the C30’s turbocharged five-pot is not only much more flexible in terms of power delivery, but it’s also comparatively bulletproof. And, while it’s hardly frugal if driven hard, a combined 32.5 mpg is respectable given the performance on offer. 

It's not dull, either. Producing just shy of 220-bhp with only 1400 kg to propel, 0-60 mph is cracked in 6.2 seconds. Oh, and that throaty off-beat warble is seriously addictive. Which begs the question: why not just buy the MK2 Focus ST which shares the same engine? For one, the Ford’s popularity on the tuning scene can make it tricky to find an example that hasn’t led a hard life. To our eyes, the Volvo is also the more handsome car, and that exclusivity factor could pay dividends for future resale values. If you can find one, expect to pay between £3,000 and £5,000.

Audi S5 4.2 FSI

Is Audi’s first-generation S5 the finest handling car ever? No. Will you care once you fire up that RS4-derived 4.2-litre V8? Also, no. Designed as a spicier version of Audi’s executive coupe GT, the 2007 S5 boasted 354-bhp and an unflappable (if slightly benumbed) Quattro all-wheel drive system. 

But what its chassis lacks in dynamism, the S5’s drivetrain makes up for with an exceptional turn of pace. 0-60 mph is ticked off in a mere 5.1 seconds while the top speed is limited to 155 mph. Hard numbers to beat for £5,000, especially when wrapped in such a premium-feeling package.

BMW 335i (E92)

It’s not an M3, but it is the next best thing: a 335i. Representing the peak of the conventional 3 Series coupe range, the E92 335i features a muscular twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six that’s renowned for its ability to produce huge power with very little effort. 

Not that it needs any tweaking to go quickly. As standard, the N54 engine pumps out over 300-bhp and fires the 335i to 62 mph in a scant 5.7 seconds. And, while it might lack the limited slip differential of the thoroughbred M car, the Bimmer’s rear-drive setup makes it far more entertaining to hustle down a sinuous road than the equivalent Audi S5. 

What’s the catch? Well, that powerful six-pot can be plagued with its fair share of wallet-draining gremlins, so do your research before taking a test drive.

Hero image credit: Audi