Score a set of pre-loved wheels with scorching performance with these five second-hand bang-for-buck champions.
Audi RS3
This Teutonic pocket rocket – offered in both sedan and hatchback guises – punches well above its weight, thanks to a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbo motor that emits a delightful howl. It's not short on grunt either, as outputs of 400 horsepower and 480Nm thrust it from 0-100 kilometres per hour in just 4.1 seconds, and on to a top speed of 250kph. Drive is sent to all four wheels via a smooth-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch auto, and a beefy wheel-tyre combo provides limpet-like grip levels. Shop around and you'll get a very tidy example for under Dh150,000.
BMW M235i
You might need to hunt around a little to find one, but a spend of well under Dh150k will get you a mint-condition F22-generation M235i Coupe. This outlay earns you a rapid and entertaining rear-wheel-drive coupe that fully embodies BMW’s sheer driving pleasure ethos. Power comes from a sweet-sounding 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo engine that thumps out 325hp and 450Nm, enabling the M235i to sprint from 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds. The standard eight-speed auto is superbly smooth and responsive, and the crisp chassis is a delight.
Chevrolet Corvette C7
The C7 was a breath of fresh air when it launched here in 2014 as it represented such a quantum leap versus its C6 forerunner. Where the oldie felt unruly and archaic, the C7 came across as a taut and composed sports car that was on a par with its European counterparts. The basic formula was unchanged – big 6.2-litre V8 up front and leaf-spring suspension at the rear – but it’s all cleverly engineered and built to yield a thoroughly enjoyable driver’s car. It’s blindingly fast, too, scorching to 100kph in just 3.8 seconds.
Jaguar F-Type S
Offered in both coupe and convertible formats, the F-Type is arguably the best-looking car you can get for this sort of money. The lithe Jag is a lively performer, too, as the F-Type S is motivated by a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 that belts out 380hp and 460Nm. This enables a 0-100kph dash in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 275kph. The F-Type also grips and handles with panache, although not up to the high standards set by the Porsche 911. You’ll be able to get a top-notch example for under Dh150k.
Porsche Cayman S
This compact mid-engined coupe is in many ways just as rewarding as its bigger and far costlier 911 sibling. A superbly balanced chassis and scalpel-sharp steering response are the hallmarks of the Cayman, and that lovely flat-six engine (replaced by a turbo four-pot in the 718 Cayman that launched in 2016) is just as tantalising. The 3.4 motor pushes out 325hp and 370Nm, sent to the real wheels by a quick-shifting seven-speed PDK automatic. The 0-100kph sprint flashes past in 4.8 seconds, and the Cayman (even a pre-loved one) grips and handles better than anything at this price.
