Buy them before we do: second-hand picks for 4 January

Most importantly, because body repairs are so expensive, inspect the sills behind the body kit for rust, caused by trapped water. The wheel arches are prone to the dreaded tin worm too. Finally, make sure to try the windscreen wipers. They like a day off from time to time.

MG Midget, £7995: Here’s a 1973 Midget with Rostyle wheels and built just in time to avoid the following year’s ugly US-compliant rubber bumpers. The seller fitted a 1275cc A-series engine and gearbox four years ago. “Drives exceptionally well,” he says

Mercedes A45 AMG, £28,695: Remember when everyone was in a flap about the A45 AMG costing over £42,000? This 2015 example with 31,000 miles is now less than £29,000, although that’s still new Golf R money (after a discount) or a 2017 Ford Focus RS with 5000 miles. 

Porsche Panamera, £19, 989: Take one exotic 400bhp sports saloon with FSH and two keepers, add 127,000 miles – then suffer sleepless nights. This Panamera 4.8 V8 4S cost over £84,000 new, and although it’s now under £20k it will still cost £84k-car money to run. But even so… 

Skoda Superb estate, £5457: Superb by name, superb by nature. This 2010 2.0 TDI Elegance auto estate has space and pace aplenty, plus heated leather seats and alloys. The catch? It’s done 120,000 miles, so check its particulate filter is clean or risk falling out with this big Czech.

Auction watch

Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9: Our used buyer’s guide star is always popping up in the classifieds and at auctions. This 1990 example is due in the ring soon, and it’s estimated to make between £5000 and £7000. Not top money by any stretch but then it has done 136,000 miles, has part-service history and is in average condition. On the upside it’s just been through the workshop, where it was given a new head gasket, water pump, cambelt and radiator. It has leather and a sliding sunroof. As a comparison, one dealer is advertising a 1991 1.9 GTI with 145,000 miles in ‘fantastic’ condition for £8995.

Get it while you can

Bentley GTC V8 S, price new £164,800, price now £139,950: News of next year’s all-new GTC V8 (there’ll be a V12, too) means time is running out to grab a nearly new run-out model and save yourself a bob or two. We spied a one-owner, 2018- reg GTC V8 S Mulliner with 1000 miles for £139,950. Shame it’s in wedding white, though. So how about this alternative: a fully loaded 2018/18 example with, would you believe it, a matching 18 miles on the clock, in regal blue for £147,495? Surely an Autocar reader of your means won't miss the extra few thou’.

Clash of the classifieds

Brief: Find a future classic to make me money in 2019

Jaguar XJ-S V12, £7950: Now that the E-Type has flown well beyond the reach of us mere mortals, the next sleek Jaguar that the smart money will be snapping up is the XJ-S. This 1990 example has led a pampered existence in Japan, where they don’t salt the roads, and therefore rust shouldn’t be an issue. It has only done 57,000 miles (and yes, the speedo is in mph!), which is exactly what investors are looking for. For only £7950, this immaculate XJ-S is a guaranteed winner for next year. Max Adams

Honda Integra Type R, £5400: Is anyone going to make any money in 2019? Well, let’s be optimistic and satisfy John’s itchy palms with this stunning, totally original Integra Type R, a car on the cusp of classic status and already a legend (no pun intended) in petrolhead circles. There’s a high-revving and wonderfully reliable 188bhp 1.8 VTEC engine, a sublime chassis and steering that betters practically any front-driver before or since. The history is good, the mileage is reasonable and its modest price is only going to go one way, world economic collapse or not. Mark Pearson