Fastest quarter-mile used cars from £5k

Some cars are born to put out impressive quarter-mile results each time they visit one of Britain’s seven registered drag strips (condition dependent). Here are some that we think will do the trick:

A luxury performance barge that would’ve once cost £60,000 can now be picked up for around £5000. The XJR X350 weighed 1665kg, a good 172kg less than its predecessor, the X308, but the 390bhp 4.2-litre supercharged V8 could propel it to 62mph from rest in just 5sec. Given enough room, it would barrel onto a limited top speed of 155mph. Wrapped around the 19in spoked alloy wheels were Pirelli P Zero tyres allowing the XJR to squat down and deliver a 13.3sec quarter-mile time. Decent ones are out there from £7000.

While the standard 444bhp Cayenne Turbo was impressive, Porsche then upped the boost pressure and gave the Turbo S 514bhp, 20in wheels and automatic ride height adjustment over 78mph and 131mph. Weighing in at 2355kg and measuring 4.8m long, the 4.5-litre Cayenne Turbo S could crack the 0-62mph sprint in 5.2sec, while in-gear acceleration from 50 to 75mph took 5.4sec, and the quarter-mile was dispatched in around 13sec. Power was fed through all four wheels and a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox. High-milers start from £6000.

The first 6 Series (E24) was released in 1976. The second generation arrived in 2003 and was initially offered with a 645Ci petrol engine, but 2005 saw the arrival of the 630Ci and the V10-powered M6. The M6 boasted 311bhp-per-tonne but cost £79,760; BMW then gave those who couldn’t afford an M6 another option – the 650i. Although it never had a V10 underneath, the 4.8-litre V8 produced 362bhp and 361lb ft allowing for a 155 (limited) top speed, a 5.5sec 0-62mph time and a quarter-mile of 13.4sec. Projects can be had from as little as £3800, with better examples at £7000 upwards.

The 2008 WRX STI was available in either a saloon or five-door hatch and both versions had a 1505kg weight. Subaru extracted 296bhp from the 2.5-litre flat-four and fed it through a four-wheel drive system and a planetary differential. The driver could adjust the torque split and select three throttle modes from the SI-Drive system: Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp. Although there’s no launch control, the WRX STI will charge to 62mph from a standstill in sub-5sec and cover the quarter-mile in 13.3sec. Decent ones are out there for £14,000.

If you had walked into a Mercedes-Benz dealership in 2004 and bought a new CLS 55 AMG, you’d have been £86,260 lighter. The CLS had Airmatic suspension as standard and sat on 18in alloys wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Rosso rubber. The 5.4-litre supercharged V8 fed all 469bhp and 516lb ft to the rear wheels from 2650rpm, allowing the CLS to go from 0-62mph in 4.7sec and storm the quarter-mile in 12.8sec; 25mph to 86mph was over in 6.4sec. Nice examples can be had for £8000 now.

In 2009, BMW offered the 500bhp V10-powered E60 M5 and Mercedes gave us the 507bhp V8 E63 AMG. Jaguar’s response to that was the XFR. There’ve been various cars to come from Britain over the years that have worn an R badge but the XFR boasted 503bhp from its supercharged 5.0-litre V8. If that wasn’t enough, you could opt for the 542bhp XFR-S guise. Jaguar managed to retain comfort levels with the XFR thanks to adaptive dampers and an eight-speed automatic gearbox was standard, with no manual gearboxes available. 

The XFR could light up the rear tyres and hit 62mph in just under 5sec and if launched in dry conditions, it could return a 12.6 quarter-mile time. Decent ones can be had for £9000, but keep some cash spare to spend on fuel...

Unlike M cars of old, the 135i doesn’t look like a ‘set your hair on fire’ type of car at first glance; there aren’t a superfluity of vents or swollen arches. But BMW had created an underdog with the 135i, a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six sat under the bonnet which fed all 316bhp to the rear wheels and buyers had a choice of both a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. 

Although the old 1M model had a limited slip differential from an M3, the 135i in the newer car had an open diff with optional adaptive dampers. 0-62mph took 4.6sec, 30-70mph in third takes just 4.1sec, and the quarter-mile would arrive in 13sec. Decent ones are out there from £13,000.

Most cars found at the drag strip are usually sleek and aerodynamically refined to achieve the best time possible but the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 used its 420bhp and 420lb ft to shove its 2750kg mass and achieve a 13.2sec quarter-mile time. Despite the muscular bodywork, there was lowered ride height, and also uprated dampers and spring rates in comparison to Grand Cherokees of old. 

Although there were no manual options, the SRT-8 had a five-speed automatic and four-wheel drive as standard. SRT-8s can be sat on your drive from £11,000.

When released in 2011, the C63 was offered in a two-door coupe, an estate and a saloon, all equipped with the 457bhp, and 442lb ft, 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8; an optional Performance Package offered 507bhp and 450lb ft. And while there was no limited slip diff (the Sport pack was required for this), all power was fed to the rear wheels through a three-stage ESP system and a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox. 0-62mph arrived in 4.6sec and if you keep your foot flat to the floor, 100mph would arrive in 9.7sec; the quarter-mile would be done in 12.4sec. Well used examples are out there from £12,000.

A high-mile 911 Carrera 4s can be had for around £13,000 but consider the 986 Boxster S which offers a 13.8sec quarter-mile time from its 260bhp 3.2-litre flat-six and rear-wheel drive layout. The Boxster was marketed in both a 2.5-litre and 2.7-litre, but the flagship 3.2 offered similar performance to the 911 (996) cabriolet. Each 986 S had a galvanised monocoque chassis and Porsche later uprated the MacPherson strut suspension with firmer Bilstein dampers and stiffer springs. 

Earlier cars were equipped with a five-speed manual but in 2003 they gained an extra cog; buyers could also opt for a five-speed Tiptronic. Cars are £5000 and up.

The RS4 has moved swiftly away from naturally aspirated V8 powerplants and back to twin-turbo V6s in recent years and prices for both the B7 and B8 variants have come down. Released in 2012, the B8 RS4 was sold solely as a load-lugger. Its 4.2-litre V8 produced 444bhp at 8250rpm and drove all four wheels, with a torque split of 40/60, through an S-tronic dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. 

Like other Audis, you had the option of an Individual, Comfort and Dynamic mode; Dynamic added weight to the steering and hardened the suspension. Enable launch control and the RS4 will hit 62mph in 4.7sec and cover the quarter-mile in 12.5sec. Desirable, you'll have to spend £20,000 on a good one.

It’s the norm for BMW to give us performance diesel variants of their saloon or coupe cars, providing those who need a mix of performance and long-distance economy with more options. Offered in both a five-door Gran Coupe and a two-door coupe, the 435d was another step up from the 258bhp 430d, and although it used the same 3.0-litre engine, it was tuned to produce 309bhp. 

In standard form, the 435d fed its power through the four-wheel drive xDrive system allowing it to crack 62mph from rest in 4.7sec and cover the quarter-mile in sub-13sec in coupe form. High mileage cars can be had for £11,000 but we spotted a fine 2014 example with 89,000 miles for £14,000.

Stealing the limelight from the Boxster and Audi TT was the Nissan 350Z. It wasn’t quite as nimble in the corners as its rivals, but it still retained an “old-school muscle car for a grown-up" title. The naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 produced 276bhp and was offered in both a roadster and coupe form. In 2007, the 350Z received an 80%-new engine versus the old model and produced 309bhp allowing 0-62mph to be dealt with in 5.7sec and a sub-14sec quarter-mile time. 

Due to its large tuning abilities and an array of accessible parts, people have managed to extract 400bhp-plus thanks to supercharger and turbocharger options. One can be sat on your drive for £3550, but watch out for the hefty annual VED bill.

Available in either a saloon, Sportback or convertible, the S3 initially offered 296bhp from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine but was revised in 2017 to produce 306bhp. While the six-speed manual Sportback was the lighter of the trio at 1500kg, there was an option for an S-tronic which would add 20kg but would lower the 0-62mph sprint from 5.2sec to 4.9sec. 

While Audi claims a 13.4sec quarter-mile time, owners have witnessed 12.7sec from stock S3s. Later facelifted  cars are a bit more expensive, but earlier 296bhp models can be had for around £12,000. 

Ford has been able to retain our attention with their fast RS range since the 70s. In the early 2000s, a tamer ST range was conceived with the Focus receiving its first treatment in the ST170 guise. Fast forward to 2005 and a new Mk2 Focus ST was set to challenge the Golf GTI. Under the bonnet was a 2.5-litre turbocharged 221bhp engine capable of firing the front-wheel drive ST to 62mph in 6.8sec, covering the quarter-mile in 14.9sec. 

Buyers could choose between the basic ST-1 which had cloth Recaro seats, the ST-2 with its xenon headlights and ESP, and the ST-3 boasting leather Recaros. A lot of cars have been remapped to produce north of 250bhp. Earlier cars can be had for just £3000.

Renault Sport has built a few special cars but amongst the most popular are the Meganne RS and Clio RS. The Clio 172 was unveiled in 1999 and was later released in 2002 in a stripped-out 172 Cup variant and the 182 followed in 2004. Over the standard 172, the 182 received a tubular exhaust manifold and a new catalytic converter to free the additional 10 trapped horses while a 12mm wider front and 16mm wider rear, combined with stiffer springs, aided handling. 

80% of the 182’s 148lb ft was available from 2000rpm and could scramble down the quarter-mile in 15sec. Prices are on the rise; 2005 cars can cost £5000.

Once billed as the ‘Ultimate Golf’, the Mk7 R was offered in a three or five-door hatch and an estate guise, and although it shared the same EA888 engine and running gear with the Audi S3, it was slightly cheaper. Buyers could either opt for a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with flappy paddles while the 4Motion four-wheel drive system came as standard across the R range. 

296bhp was enough to propel it to 62mph in 4.8sec (5.1sec for the manual), 30-70mph was achieved in 4.3sec for swift overtaking, and a 13.4 quarter-mile time was registered. The 2.0-litre engine accepts tuning rather well and cars can easily see 400bhp. 2014 cars go for £17,000 or so.

When the Colt CZT was released in 2004, it cost just £9450 and although it had less power, it still had enough oomph to worry the current era Focus ST170. The 1.5-litre four-cylinder produced 148bhp and 155lb ft, but with only 960kg to shift, the CZT could cross the quarter-mile in 15.5sec and scamper to 62mph from rest in 8.0sec. High-milers can be had for around £2000 but we noticed a 2007 car with 98,000 miles for £3000.

What is probably considered one of BMW’s most iconic M division cars can be picked up today for the price of a new Dacia Duster. In October 2000, people were still getting over the E36 M3 and then BMW released the 8000rpm E46 M3, available in both a convertible and coupe form. Its double-VANOS 3.2-litre six-cylinder produced 342bhp and was available in either a six-speed sequential or six-speed manual allowing for a mid 13sec quarter-mile and a 0-100mph time of 12.5sec. 

M3s are usually cherished and most can be found in reasonable condition nowadays. We found a 2002 convertible with 89,000 miles for £13,000.

Ford had just released their Mk2 Focus ST and Volkswagen had the desired Golf GTI, as Vauxhall enforced their Vauxhall Racing series starting with the Astra VXR, closely followed by the Corsa VXR. The Astra VXR produced 237bhp which trumped the EP3 Type R, the Golf GTI and the Meganne Renaultsport, making it one of the most powerful hatchbacks of the era. 0-62mph was over in 6.2sec and a 152mph top speed was in sight, if given enough room, while the quarter-mile was covered in 14.6sec. People keen to extract more from the Z20LEH engine could see upwards of 300bhp. Decent ones can be had for £5000.

Although £19,000 doesn’t get you a GR, it does get you a GRMN which was the quickest in the model line-up until GR recently took the throne. Its supercharged 1.8-litre VVT-iE engine churned out 212bhp to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and a Torsen limited-slip differential. This meant 0-62mph in 6.4sec, 30-70mph in 5.4sec and reach the quarter-mile chequered flag in 14.7sec. 

Only 600 GRMNs were built (400 for Europe and 200 Vitz GRMN for Japan), making them quite scarce; we spotted a 2018 car with just 14,500 miles for £18,500.

What was once Mini’s maximum in 2013, can be had today from £14,000. Mini had taken the range-topping JCW and given it bigger exhausts, adjustable coil-over suspension, new four-spoke 17-in rims, 330mm vented discs and lashings of red accenting throughout the interior. The turbocharged 1.6-litre churned out 218bhp but had just 1160kg to shift which meant it scrambled to 62mph in 6.3sec and it could crack the quarter-mile in 14.3sec. 

No mechanical limited-slip differential was offered but instead a ‘GP Mode’ which would lock any spinning wheels mid-corner. Only 2000 were made, with 459 examples making it to the UK, resulting in them being quite rare. 

Autocar previously described the FK2 Type R as “probably the most capable front-wheel drive car in production today, with only limited edition specials getting close”. While time has been kind to Type Rs of yesteryear, Honda opted to drop the naturally aspirated engine and use a turbocharger which made the FK2 appeal to those who wanted a hot hatch daily driver. 

All cars came with a six-speed manual gearbox, a mechanical-slip differential to manage its 306bhp, and a transmission oil cooler. The quarter-mile is covered in 13.5sec. 

In 2013, Mercedes’ new A 45 AMG boasted 355bhp and was the most powerful hot hatch on sale. Audi responded in 2015 and Mercedes were forced to revise the A 45 by giving it 376bhp, the revised variants fetch just north of £20,000 today. Four-wheel drive was standard as was the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and cross-drilled ventilated disc brakes. 

While the RS3 took 4.6sec to reach 62mph, the A45 achieved this in 4.2sec and would cover the quarter-mile in 12.6sec. High milers start at £16,000.

Having been on the go since 1992, the Evo has seen various visual and mechanical changes over its 10 generations. All Evo Xs came with bi-xenon headlights, a large rear wing, twin exhausts, Brembo calipers and 18in wheels.

The engine was subsequently updated over previous Evos to a 4B11 unit which, in base form, was offered with 291bhp and Mitsubishi’s newest Super-All-Wheel Control; 0-62mph could be dispatched in 4.7sec and it could blitz the quarter-mile in 13.4sec. 

Buyers had an option between a twin-clutch automatic gearbox similar to Volkswagen’s DSG unit, or a five-speed manual, which is quite rare nowadays. Cars can be had from £13,000; we spotted a 74,000-mile 2011 automatic for £15,000.

The Chimaera was described by Autocar as “a practical, usable and a fine long-distance GT, but it’s still a thunderous V8-powered missile with head-turning looks in true TVR style”. It was produced from 1992 to 2003, and those willing to deflect from the appeasing visuals of the Lotus Esprit S4 originally had the choice between two Rover V8s: a 240bhp 4.0-litre and a 280bhp 4.3-litre. In 1995, TVR built 500 of the 340bhp 5.0-litre variants and in 1996 a 4.5-litre arrived producing 285bhp. 

The 4.0-litre covered the quarter-mile in 13.5sec and the 5.0-litre in 12.5sec - the same time as a 2021 BMW 440i Gran Coupe. Exemplary cars fetch around £24,000 but we saw a 4.0-litre 1999 car with 48,500 miles for £18,500.

Its natural habitat may be on a race track with more corners than long straights but the Elise S2 uses its rear-wheel drive and 726kg weight advantage to launch to 62mph in 5.6sec. It’ll cover the quarter-mile in 15sec although owners have claimed that a low 14sec is achievable in the right conditions. 

The base Elise offered 122bhp from the 1.8-litre K-series engine and was tied to a five-speed manual transmission, while the 116S arrived in 2002 and offered 160bhp. There are a few category write-offs around but clean examples start at £15,000. We clocked a base 2003 car with 47,000 miles for £16,500.

Newer R300s come with Ford’s 175bhp Duratec 2.0-litre but these sit closer to the £30,000 mark. Earlier 2003 cars came with an MG TF 1.8-litre K-series which produced 160bhp meaning that the 500kg R300 produced 325bhp-per-tonne - around the same as a Noble M12 GTO 3R from the same era. The R300 would light up the rear wheels and cover the quarter-mile in 12.4sec, 0-62mph in 4.7sec and 0-100mph in 10.4sec. We spotted a 2004 1.8 Superlight R300 with just shy of 19,000 miles for £26,000. 

Although the Stinger GT has now bowed out to make way for the EV6 GT, many clean examples of Kia’s dynamic saloon are still around. Its long body measured 4830mm and cars were equipped with 18in alloys, wrapped in 225/45 ContiSport Contact 5 tyres. Kia dropped the petrol and diesel guises from the line-up, leaving the car available as a petrol V6; the twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre fed 361bhp and 376lb ft through all four wheels. 

This resulted in a 167mph top speed, 0-62mph in 4.7sec and a 13.1sec quarter-mile time. The Stinger GT S cost £40,495 when new. Today, prices sit closer to £30,000 but we saw a 2017 car with 70,000 miles for just £21,000.

Both Japan and the US received the MR2 Turbo, but unfortunately, they were never sold in the UK, although many found their way onto British shores via importation. On offer was a two-seater, rear-wheel drive mid-engined coupe. Earlier turbo cars were Rev1 which gave 220bhp; Rev2 cars came in 1992 and although power was unchanged, it was more manageable thanks to an optional limited-slip diff. 

Rev3 was more sought after and came in 1993, offering 241bhp, and could be differentiated from other revisions by its round brake lights. The Rev3 was capable of a 5.7sec 0-62mph time and a sub-14sec quarter-mile time. Today, Rev1 and Rev2 cars are harder to come by in Britain but we spotted a 1996 car with 88,000 miles for £15,000.