Revealed: The best used cars in every class

Rising material and energy costs, supply chain restrictions and increased equipment levels among them – and on top of that, most buyers are having to wait months between placing an order and taking delivery due to heavily delayed production schedules. The second-hand car market can provide welcome respite.

But a knock-on effect of more expensive new cars is – you guessed it – higher demand, and higher prices, for used cars. So you need to be extra quick and extra careful when perusing the classifieds. We’ve compiled a list of 10 cars in each of the market’s most popular segments, with prices ranging from £500 to £500,000, to demonstrate the variety on offer and inspire you to swap into a used car when you fancy a change. Take your pick. We start with luxury cars, chosen by Hilton Holloway:

From a classic British luxury brand taken under the German wing, the Arnage has one foot in an old-school British drawing office. It was updated and improved throughout its production run, so the later cars are probably better, especially in terms of day-to-day reliability. Its pre-Germanic roots mean that you get a properly upright dashboard, high driving position and pre-modernist styling.

Because these cars were individually specified and there were many special factory editions, choose the right one and you’ll get plenty of trad walnut, quilted leather and ‘engine turned’ trim. The best way to buy is from a specialist (they often offer their own warranties) and stick with them for maintenance. It won’t be cheap to run and fuel, but you’ll get genuine get-away-from-it-all luxury.

ONE WE FOUND: 2006 BENTLEY ARNAGE 6.8T MULLINER II, 55K MILES, £36,950

For my money, one of the finest pieces of styling of the past decade and perhaps one of the most stunning UK-produced cars ever. It’s unfairly overshadowed by the Phantom, but Ghost owners say they are happy to have a slightly less conspicuous machine and they feel they have lost nothing in terms of ultra-luxury. Much is made of the performance, refinement and isolation. If you drive yourself, it’s arguably the ultimate pure luxury car.

ONE WE FOUND: 2010 ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST, 25K MILES, £89,950

It’s arguable that trad German exec cars are much more mile-munching business machines than true luxury transport, but an A6 Quattro will cover long distances and leave its driver unflustered. This A6 has a smooth V6 diesel with huge punch. The cabin is vast. As ever, you need to find one that has been meticulously serviced. Avoid S Line (suspension unsuited to UK roads) and front-drive A6s (Multitronic CVT, which is becoming hard to repair).

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 AUDI A6 3.0 TDI QUATTRO, 97K MILES, £4750

I know a motoring hack who ran one and he says it was among his favourite cars ever. Rather than repeat the past Legend formula of a big, plush car with a peaky V6,Honda lent towards brisk handling. The petrol V6 has 295bhp and 265lb ft, which is delivered to the road via a sophisticated four-wheel drive system. The ride isn’t sublime but owners report terrific reliability and rave about these as a driving machine. Plush, thirsty, rare and cheap.

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 HONDA LEGEND 3.5 V6 SH-AWD, 89K MILES, £5995

Probably a genuine classic now, especially as the 75 arrived just as its time was gone, making it feel more ’80s than late ’90s. A very effective evocation of the classic British luxury car, but stymied by being launched into an era defined by the arrival of Germany’s tech-first, Bauhaus-influenced cars. It’s silly cheap today, even for examples that have been cared for by enthusiasts. Weak points (including the complex V6 cambelt change) are well understood by a small network of specialists. The styling is ageing very gracefully and the ride quality remains fantastic. Buy a pre-facelift V6 car that has been cared for and enjoy the 75’s unique take on luxury over apex-clipping.

ONE WE FOUND: 2000 ROVER 75 2.0 V6, 88K MILES, £1795

A car that can delivery luxury travel with main street running costs. Saloon shaped, with the option of a boot opening or full hatch access, the Mk2 Superb was based on a long-wheelbase VW Group platform and was of notably higher quality than its period Octavia sibling. It’s quiet, calm and huge inside. Choose the smooth and punchy 1.8 turbo petrol over the diesel. Just two hurdles: check the 1.8 has had oil changes once a year from birth or it may burn oil (look for sooty exhaust pipes), and you’d want to see a DSG gearbox service as well.

ONE WE FOUND: 2010 SKODA SUPERB 1.8T, 92K MILES, £6000

A used Lexus is almost always a no-brainer. There’s probably no other brand of cars that stays in the dealer servicing network as long. Twelve- and 14-stamp Lexus service histories are not uncommon. And the faith in the reliability of this brand is reflected by the dealer network, which can be seen retailing Lexus models even 16 years old. Okay, so the GS has a small boot (blame the battery pack for the hybrid system) but it remains beautifully engineered inside and out. Enjoy the plushness.

ONE WE FOUND: 2006 LEXUS GS 450H, 74K MILES, £8276

An oddball, but I will make a case for this, having driven one from Lisbon in Portugal to Fez in Morocco and back. Regardless of the hatch-come saloon rear end, what made this car so amazingly comfortable and relaxing over distance was the raised driving position and superb front seats. Rear passengers also get raised ‘cinema’ seating, a much underrated feature. It’s not the full SUV but has most of the advantages in terms of comfort. The six-pot diesel is a gem, and these are tough machines generally.

ONE WE FOUND: 2011 BMW 530d GT, 45K MILES, £14,500

True old-school Brit, which delivers another unique driving experience. The narrow glasshouse, higher floor and low roof are satisfyingly of another time, before luxury cars were packaged by numbers. Have no doubt that the Double Six is a true luxury experience. The V12 is like nothing since and the Jaguar dynamic balance allows a beautiful mix of flying carpet ride and surprisingly deft handling. Usefully backed up by a knowledgeable network of Jag specialists.

ONE WE FOUND: 1995 DAIMLER DOUBLE SIX, 32K MILES, £15,000

Another take on luxury, this time Rolls-Royce level fittings squeezed inside a tiny city car. Only 1000 of these £41,000 cars (when new)were produced and just 250 in right-hand drive. This car was inspired by the early 1960s bespoke coachbuilt Minis (famously by Radford but there were others) commissioned by stars such as The Beatles and Peter Sellers. While everyone loved the classless design and handling of original Minis, they were also very sparse and noisy machines. That wasn’t the case with the donor Mini here, but the Goodwood took things up a good many notches by being trimmed in Rolls-grade leather and other rich interior materials. Prices are currently rocketing upwards. A genuine rarity that would be worth hanging on to.

ONE WE FOUND: 2013 MINI COOPER S GOODWOOD, 18K MILES, £20,000

Let’s now look at family haulers, by Piers Ward

Beloved by everyone from school-run parents to impoverished aristos, the Golf transcends lists like these: it’s just so ubiquitous that it’s the cliché that keeps on giving. Hand-me-down Mk4 hatches were popular when my mates and I were in our youth, but those in the know hankered after a Mk5 estate. Launched in the wake of the all-conquering Focus, the Mk5 was when Volkswagen realised it couldn’t just make a reliable car (remember the ad?): it had to drive well ’n’ all. This was in an era when diesel wasn’t completely vilified, so the 2.0 TDI was the engine of choice. The 1.9 diesel was a bit rougher. Most Golfs of this vintage were and remain pretty reliable, but keep an eye out for the alloy wheels because they can suffer from corrosion.

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 VW GOLF 2.0 TDI SPORTLINE, 76K MILES, £4690

The car that launched 1000 imitations. With its clever, fold-flat seats, raised seating position and flattering looks, the Volvo XC90 was to MPVs what the asteroid was to dinosaurs. Its diesel engines aren’t the smoothest and the auto gearbox desperately needs a torque lock-up to avoid the constant downchanges, but few can argue with the way the XC90 swallows family life. Even Jeremy Clarkson loves it: he’s owned several.

ONE WE FOUND: 2013 VOLVO XC90 2.4 D5 R-DESIGN, 50K MILES, £18,950

Perhaps one of the ultimate Q-cars. Since 1978, the Passat had been a byword for suburbia, but the 2001 W8 and its 266bhp 4.0-litre eight-cylinder soon sorted that out. Car spotters take note: model-specific wheels, a tiny W8 badge and quad exhausts are the visual clues to spotting one. Extremely rare, the W8 engine only ever appeared in the Passat and even that model was only on sale for three years.

ONE WE FOUND: 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8 4MOTION, 93K MILES, £5595

There’s a great video of when the Volvo 850 Estate touring car was unveiled: the looks on rival drivers’ faces alone are enough to get it on this list. The racer has a naturally aspirated petrol 2.0-litre with a six-speed sequential ’box, but the road cars got 222bhp turbo five-cylinder engines. Check the front tyres, because even with a torque limiter on first gear, you’ll be lucky to get 10,000 miles from a set. Yellow T5-Rs with the manual gearbox are the popular ones.

ONE WE FOUND: 1997 VOLVO 850 T5,102K MILES, £16,400

From when Mercs were hewn from granite. The 300 TE isn’t the most powerful family hauler on our list (180bhp and 188lb ft from its 3.0-litre straight six), but for understated cool, few come close. We had one when I was growing up, complete with rear-facing boot seats (handy for six-year-olds to blow raspberries at following traffic) and it remains the car my dad held onto for the longest – well over 120,000 miles by the time he decided to get rid of it.

ONE WE FOUND: 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 TE, 183K MILES, £5000

No list of family haulers could be complete without a fast Audi and the first RS ever is a logical starting point. The RS2 was based on the relatively suburban Audi 80. Porsche breathed on the suspension and engine, yielding 311bhp and 302lb ft from the 2.2-litre turbo five-cylinder unit. All that power was kept in check by a Torsen-type Quattro set-up. But the real master stroke was the Avant bodystyle, mixing sleeper-car cool with family practicality – a recipe that Audi still dominates today. With fewer than 3000 made, the RS2was rare even when new and is sought-after today, as prices show.

ONE WE FOUND: 1994 AUDI RS2 AVANT, 81K MILES, £65,000

The Country Squire was sold across four decades but it’s the 1979-1991 edition we’re interested in. Why? Chevy Chase. The car and the man are indelibly linked in a melting pot of ’80s nostalgia. Pace won’t be strong. Despite a 5.0-litre V8, it could muster just145bhp, but then given the body roll evident in the movies, that’s probably no bad thing. Americana comes to Amersham.

ONE WE FOUND: 1983 FORD LTD COUNTRY SQUIRE WAGON, 54K MILES, £10,000

The world’s only three-door MPV – and likely to remain that way, given how MPV sales are going. Cutting-edge production techniques (Renault used high-pressure waterjets to cut the plastic bodyshell) and genuine standout styling weren’t enough to save the Avantime. If you ever sit in one, look at the double parallel opening door hinges. The way they allow the extremely long doors to cantilever out in a tight space is a thing of beauty.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 RENAULT AVANTIME 2.0, 65K MILES, £5250

For once, BMW stuck it to Audi in the fast boot stakes. On song, and revving to 8250rpm,the 5.0-litre V10 is one of the greatest engines of the past quarter century. Reliability issues have scarred a few owners, though, so go carefully, and the engine did a pretty good impression of a diesel at idle, but for making the school run feel like a Juan Pablo Montoya outlap, the M5 brings a sense of occasion to the ordinary like few others.

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 BMW M5 TOURING SMG, 41K MILES, £36,950

Sales have dropped like a stone recently but the original Mk1 Focus will forever occupy a special place in Autocar’s heart, mainly because it makes everyday family driving rewarding. The estate lacks the hatch’s distinctive ‘New Edge’rear-end styling but gains a healthy 520 litres of boot space. Used ones are mostly super-high-milers, but the odd one crops up with fewer than 100k on the clock. They’re generally pretty reliable and rust-resistant, too.

ONE WE FOUND 2002: FORD FOCUS 1.6 LX,103K MILES, £1995

Now let’s look at some fun cars to drive this summer, by Steve Cropley.

Why a Westfield? Because it’s not a Caterham and thus not constrained by Caterham-ness: the need to compete with some pretty well-heeled, slightly snooty, marque-conscious owners. There are sophisticated Westfields, true, but I’m talking fun cars and there are plenty out there. Back in the day, I bought one and taught my kids to drive on a farmer’s field. The car wasn’t so precious that we worried about getting it dirty and it was easily mended by the local garage, not that it needed much.

Even the basic 1600cc Ford Zetec engine in an SEi has a decent turn of speed. Many have potent 2.0-litre fours, and your budget might even stretch to the V8. I drove the first-ever SEiGHT prototype in the wet and had my one and only experience of fourth-gear wheelspin. Lots of cars have the roll bars and harnesses needed for a bit of light competition, too. Hard to beat for the money.

ONE WE FOUND: 2005 WESTFIELD SEi, 11K MILES, £13,995

Crazy idea? Not at all. Here’s a chance to own a serious performance car with a 4.2-litre V8 for hot hatch money, and (if you look after it) get most of your money back. Famous for durability, great at long distances, awesome power and noise. And there’s that beautiful gear change gate to stare at whenever you don’t have your eyes on the road. What more can you ask for?

ONE WE FOUND: 2009 AUDI R8 V8 MANUAL, 50K MILES, £39,950

Any Mini’s fun, but the first of the ‘new’ Minis is capable, too. They’re also robust, so long as you buy on condition and heed the service records. The Cooper is the best option. You get the legendary agility and chuckability, but you can also take it on your holidays. They’re just starting to acquire classic value – which probably means that if you buy now, you’ll do okay when you sell.

ONE WE FOUND: 2004 MINI COOPER 1.6, 127K MILES, £1695

Forget the sophisticated Disco 3 and onward: we’re talking second-series Disco here – plentiful (which the original Disco isn’t) but easy to mend because it’s pleasantly crude. You used to be able to buy a V8 for buttons, if you can still afford 15mpg and don’t intend to drive to Turkey. But the 2.5 TDi is king: it works, keeps working and is a charming old car. Try some (legal) green-laning. You’ll love it.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERYTD5,150K MILES, £3750

So long as you keep an antenna tuned for signs of rust, you can almost buy a second-generation MX-5 with your eyes shut. They’re awesomely reliable, even at high mileages, and you start seeing viable cars from £1000. A healthy 15-year-old car is as much fun as a five-year-old one. Mind you, you’re probably already looking too late in the year. It’s best to buy in the dead of winter when demand’s lowest.

ONE WE FOUND: 2000 MAZDA MX-5 1.8 MANUAL, 119K MILES, £3150

Much nonsense is talked about these by people who’ve never driven one: they’re lovely old cars. Comfortable, too. Don’t confuse a B with a Caterham: it rolls on corners and isn’t quick. But it’s sporty in its own way, has one of the best exhaust notes going, and if you buy well, it’ll be strong and faithful. And you’ll be part of a large, like-minded community for which lots happens every summer.

ONE WE FOUND: 1973 MGB ROADSTER, 66K MILES, £5750

Okay, another wild card. But if cruising is your thing, this Astra-based open four-door has considerable style, if you can forget the everyman Griffin badge. Just tell yourself it was also made as a Buick, GM’s premium economy badge stateside. Top dollar will buy you a 168bhp petrol auto from 2015,with plenty of miles left.

ONE WE FOUND: 2014 CASCADA 1.4T SE, 56K MILES, £8500

Where are you going on holiday this year? Probably easier not to leave the country. If you’re clever, there are plenty of secluded UK places a family of up to five can take a VeeWee. The old air-cooled Type 2 models are still very much in vogue but dog-slow and prices are steeply inflated by classic-ness. But all VW campers, old and new, have good residuals, so your money’s pretty safe. More recent T5 examples are downright excellent to drive, too. They’re pretty quiet, are very reliable, steer nicely and ride softly (unless you plump for one of the lowered, sportified examples) and there are 4x4 models, too, though at high prices. Best of all is the view as you ride along. (You sit higher than in a Range Rover.) Well, if you’re setting out to see the world, you might as well have the best possible view.

ONE WE FOUND: 2011 VW CALIFORNIA 2.0 TDI, 75K MILES, £36,995

Bit of a weird choice, but I’ve always liked this Twingo-based two-seater. Best ones are the 1.6 VVT models based on a Twingo RS. They’re a little heavier than absolutely ideal but go quite well, have decent steering and the usual supple Renault ride. You get wind in your hair cheaply, and when you drive, you’ll never see another.

ONE WE FOUND: 2011 RENAULT WIND 1.6 GT LINE, 58K MILES, £4300

There’s no better sense of well-being than punting a large, tall Yankee-style pick-up truck. Ford’s Ranger is the coolest, and so long as you can find enough road for it, it’s a decent drive. They’re all diesels, and mostly auto. The 4x4 helps plenty in tough terrain, and there’s the one-tonne tray for shifting gear. A taste easily acquired.

ONE WE FOUND: 2009 RANGER XLT THUNDERTDCi, 130K MILES, £5795

Now let’s take a look at Supercars, by Matt Saunders.

Ferrari hit the supercar big time when it launched the 360 Modena, which is still one of the most temptingly attainable modern supercars. There are plenty about, which makes tracking one down in just the right colour and spec possible and keeps values sensible, too. The 360 M was Ferrari’s first supercar with an aluminium chassis, so it was both lighter and stiffer than the 355. It looked like a car for a new era: it didn’t have Ferrari’s old flip-up headlights or its edgy, strakey bodystyling.

It was a bold, curvy, clear-eyed step forward. But it’s also still old enough that you can buy a manual instead of an ‘F1’ paddle shift. The aluminium construction makes 360s more corrosion-resistant than earlier Ferraris, but look out for paint bubbling in the bodywork in any case – and be ready to pay stiff maintenance prices. For a typical car, expect annual routine service and upkeep to cost around £2500.

ONE WE FOUND: 1999 FERRARI 360 MODENA, 34K MILES, £61,450

This super-Merc was a £165,000 car when it was new just over a decade ago, and to think that most are still commanding similar prices is quite a compliment to how well designed and positioned it was. The gullwing doors always meet with an ovation, and the woofling atmo V8 engine sounds phenomenal.

ONE WE FOUND: 2010 MERCEDESBENZ SLS AMG, 48K MILES, £147,475

More of a supercar slayer than a proper exotic itself, but well worth considering if you want naked aggression and lots of real-world, four-wheel-drive performance. It’s mechanically complicated, though, especially in the driveline. Avoid heavily tuned examples, pay a premium for a car with a good service history and consider an inspection by a specialist.

ONE WE FOUND: 2011 NISSAN GT-R, 50K MILES, £49,995

t’s becoming increasingly hard to find original examples of Honda’s mould-breaking NSX, which upturned expectations for reliability, usability and ease of operation when it arrived in 1990. They’re delicate and understated cars but lovely, tactile and sonorous to drive; not over powered with only a 3.0 V6, but massive on ’90s charm. Expect to pay more for a coupé than a Targa-style model. Avoid the auto at all costs.

ONE WE FOUND: 1991 HONDA NSX 31K MILES, £79,990

It took Aston Martin a long time to make a better-looking grand tourer than the 2001 V12 Vanquish. Some say that the wait still goes on. Very few Aston Martins sound better than this to boot, thanks to the baleful howl of an atmospheric Cologne V12 bellowing through very little exhaust muffling. If you like your supercars traditional, front-engined, noisy and so gorgeous as to turn heads absolutely wherever you take it, the original Vanquish ought to appeal like little else. While this car’s V12-engined contemporaries from Italy and Germany have mushroomed in value to almost £200k in many cases, the Vanquish remains relatively attainable, and has long passed the likelihood of further depreciation.

The transmission problems of early cars are easy enough to avoid now, too, with plenty of cars having had their troublesome automated manual transmissions swapped out for a manual. Ownership of any V12 Aston Martin isn’t for the faint of wallet. With this one, examine the service history carefully for evidence that the 5.9-litre engine has had plugs and coils recently; the gearbox position sensor has been replaced, if necessary; and the suspension bushes have been changed.

ONE WE FOUND: 2004 ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH MANUAL, 28K MILES, £74,950

In drop-top, 10-cylinder form, this is roundly acknowledged to be one of the best driver’s cars that Audi has ever built (even if the coupé edges it for rigidity and sharpness). The folding roof gives easy aural access to that guttural motor, which doesn’t take too much looking after, and there’s a satisfyingly snickety six-speed manual on offer, too.

ONE WE FOUND: 2014 AUDI R8 V10 SPYDER QUATTRO MANUAL,26K MILES, £59,991

This was the Audi R8’s Italian opposite number. The wedgier-looking, always V10-engined Gallardo was the first ‘baby Lambo’ of its kind and fuelled big growth for its parent company. Most are four-wheel drive, but we spotted a rarer rear-driven one. If you can find an LP 550 manual coupé, buy it, keep it forever and listen to it often.

ONE WE FOUND: 2013 LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 550-2, 5K MILES, £94,999

The Noble M12 is the kind of supercar the world no longer has house room for. It’s light, compact, grippy, nimble, surprisingly sophisticated with its body control, and epic on boost with its power delivery – not for the faint of heart, but hilarious for those who are up for the challenge. Get a higher-spec car if you can and watch out for evidence of worn suspension joints and steering bushes.

ONE WE FOUND: 2004 NOBLE M12 GTO-3R, 24K MILES, £48,999

Jaw-dropping good looks do tend to cost a few quid. The Alfa 8C certainly delivered somewhen it arrived on the scene in 2007, first in Competizione spec coupé form, and later as a spider. Built by Maserati, based on a Maserati chassis and with a wonderfully loud 4.7-litre V8,this is a rare beast and will stop the traffic all right. For a price.

ONE WE FOUND: 2010 ALFA ROMEO 8C, 10K MILES, £239,990

It’s an interesting time to consider owning an early McLaren. The paint defects the cars are prone to, covered by the company’s 10-year warranty, have begun to become an owner’s cost to sort – and that’s sure to affect values. Spot a very early 12C with good paint, though, or one still under warranty, and you’ll get an awful lot for your money.

ONE WE FOUND: 2011 McLAREN MP4-12C COUPE, 17K MILES, £89,950

Next up, we’ll look at City Cars, courtesy of James Ruppert

Giorgetto Giugiaro, as we know, is a genius – and the original, most pure of Pandas is the absolute proof. As a piece of industrial and functional design, it was simple and easy to build. After all, they did end up making 4.5 million of them. In the beginning, it was a sub-Fiat127, no-frills people’s car that could have been called the ‘Rustica’ or‘il Zero’. Instead, the cuddly Panda had flat glass, easily pressed body panels and that brilliant offset one-piece grille. Inside lived the deckchair seats and minimalist dashboard. 

There wasn’t much to it, but it was stylishly done, of course. Pulling it around was a 903cc Brazilian-built OHC four-cylinder petrol developing 45bhp. Gentrification did happen with the Super, which had conventional seats, and in 1986 it became marginally more bland, but the Fire engine made sense. It’s the greatest city car of all time despite the rust, rattly engine, oil leaks and worn wheel bearings.

ONE WE FOUND: 1984 FIAT PANDA 4x4, 36K MILES, £3500

Cheap, cheerful and all too often chopped about, the hottest iteration of the humble Saxo holds up well as an accessible driver’s car today. You’ll have to fight through some dubious bodykits, outdated liveries and rampant rust to find the real gems, but perseverance will nab you an economical and enthusiastic runaround heading for collector status.

ONE WE FOUND: 2002 CITROEN SAXO VTS, 98K MILES, £4000

The best city cars, as any Tokyo resident will tell you, are kei-sized. Built by Suzuki, designed by Mazda and sold through the Autozam brand, this pricey pint-sized supercar (shorter than a Smart Fortwo) will nip through the tightest gaps and, thanks to its gullwing doors, you’ll never be trapped inside it by a neighbouring parked car. Its mid-mounted three-cylinder turbo engine is wonderful to shuffle along as well, so you won’t see anyone driving one with a frown.

ONE WE FOUND: 1992 AUTOZAM AZ1, 43K MILES, £14,999

The legend that is the Whizzkid was badged as the Cervo in Japan and SC100 in Europe. It has a fantastically buzzy engine and sharp rack and pinion steering for haring around town, which it can do, weighing just 655kg. There aren’t many on sale and prices are on the up, because rot and indifference have killed most of them in the UK, which means it’s now ultra-cool and ultra-exclusive. Best to shop in Europe for these at reasonable classic car prices wearing the Cervo logo.

ONE WE FOUND: 1982 SUZUKI SC100 GX, 47K MILES, £5000

One of the most unlikely tie-ups in automotive history brought us one of the most unexpected cars we’ve ever seen: the Aston Martin Cygnet. A rebadged and substantially more expensive take on the Toyota iQ, this tightly packaged four-seater (3+1really) was an Aston for city dwellers who couldn’t drive their V12-engined DBS to the shops. Guess what? It didn’t sell like hot cakes, so it’s holding its value astoundingly well, even a decade later. 

ONE WE FOUND: 2012 ASTON MARTIN CYGNET, 18K MILES, £34,850

Here’s a town centre tiddler that’s something of a legend, yet it remains incredibly affordable. It’s a classic in the making, which is the best reason to buy right now, while rust has yet to get stuck in. The economy is decent, at 42mpg, but it’s the huge amount of fun you can have that will sell it to you. For as little as £650, you can have precise steering, balanced handling and excellent grip. It rides well, too, and feels pretty sporty with it. So the Ka never feels out of its depth on the open  road, when most small cars are just plain silly. There’s not much room in the back, but it’s great to drive and so slow that it is completely safe as a first car.

ONE WE FOUND: 2000 KA NOW LIMITED EDITION, 62K MILES, £950

The really cool one wears an Autobianchi badge in Europe and Japan, but fundamentally the Y10 is just a posh Panda. This brick is properly aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of 0.31, and feels distinctly plush with its Alcantara seats and LED-lit dashboard. Get the sporty (but ultra-rare) Y10 Turbo or warmed-up GT ie for driving thrills, or import the not-for-UK 4x4 model. All are super-rare and often super-rusty. Dare to be different.

ONE WE FOUND: 1987 LANCIA Y10 1.0 FIRE LX, 57K MILES, £3395

A Polo without all that wasted space – and with the quality to make it effectively a micro-Phaeton. Standard spec supplies the bare minimum, much like the 1.0-litre engine itself. The slightly rortier 1.4 comes in two power outputs: 75bhp and 100bhp. For 64mpg potential, nab the gentle 1.7 or more

sporty 1.4 turbo diesels. There’s even a premium-priced GTI if you don’t fancy paying £16k for the new hot Up.

ONE WE FOUND: 2002 VOLKSWAGEN LUPO 1.0 SE, 29K MILES, £2500

Delivers as a city centre assault vehicle with a 600cc turbocharged Mercedes engine mustering 60mpg potential. It is safe, too, with electronic traction and stability control to stop it from falling over and the much-lauded Tridion safety-cell-reinforced steel frame and integrated side impact struts keeping it in one piece in the event of a crash. Engine’s life expectancy is put at 80,000 to 100,000 miles, with high oil consumption and overheating plugs the most common causes of death. The clutch actuator can be sticky, too. Otherwise, Smart.

ONE WE FOUND: 2001 SMART FORTWO PASSION, 28K MILES, £2995

Delightful and oft-dented city stalwart blends clever packaging with quirky styling features, such as an asymmetric bonnet air intake, bug-eye headlights and green plastic interior details. There are even sliding, fold-flat seats, which turn it into one of the world’s smallest campervans. It was technically a Renault 4 replacement so mostly comes in billy basic spec, but air-con and a sunroof were also available when new. Take your pick of frugal 1.2-litre 8v and 16v petrol engines and get used to sitting on the wrong side. They’re all left-hand drive.

ONE WE FOUND: 2001 RENAULT TWINGO 1.2 8V, 82K MILES, £6995

Now let’s look at mile-munchers, by Mike Duff

Lexus’s hybrid luxury saloon triggered a rush of virtue-signalling company directors when it arrived in 2006. And although it no longer feels very electric by modern standards, it remains a superb cruiser; very near silent when running gently in EV mode, yet little louder once the 5.0-litre V8 fires. It incorporates such tech as active ride, an eye-tracking attention monitor and one of the first applications of self-parking. Being a Lexus means there is an excellent chance everything still works, with the 600h having proved itself capable of racking up huge mileages.

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 LEXUS LS 600H, 132K MILES, £10,950

Even with petrol pushing £2 per litre, it’s hard not to love a Range Rover, especially a late V8 supercharged one, which offers stonking value if you can stomach the running costs.

ONE WE FOUND: 2006 RANGE ROVER V8 SUPERCHARGED VOGUE SE, 80K MILES, £9999

The first all-new BMW-era Rolls-Royce has aged spectacularly well. Values are much sturdier than those of previous Rollers and depreciation is gentle enough to take the sting out of still-sizeable running costs.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM, 109K MILES, £59,990

Big Volvos have long been relaxed cruisers and the roomy, well-equipped current XC90 is one of the very best. Although the hybrid versions are cleanest and greenest, the older-school D5 diesel feels more relaxed at speed. Early ones are getting attractively affordable, too.

ONE WE FOUND: 2015 XC90 D5 MOMENTUM, 74K MILES, £24,25

We’re still mourning the XJ’s demise, but at least prices of the last, X351 generation are falling into very attractive territory. The supercharged XJR was always the pick of the range in terms of effortless performance and also delivers impressive refinement.

ONE WE FOUND: 2013 JAGUAR XJR, 79K MILES, £24,90

Once nominated as the ‘Best car in the real world’ by Autocar – the exact judging criteria for which have been lost in the mists of time – the brawnier D3-generation A8 TDI remains a hugely  capable way of covering distance. Lesser A8 diesels use a 3.0-litre V6,which feels slightly strained under rapid progress, but the larger V8 never breaks sweat. 

Launched as a 4.0-litre engine, it was upgraded in 2005 to the more muscular 4.2,which combines 322bhp, 479lb ft, 39.2mpg and a 5.9sec 0-62mph time. While this era produced plenty of brawny diesels, the V8 TDI’s standard Quattro drivetrain makes it superbly capable in slippery conditions. There are few better ways to tackle a wet motorway at speed and in comfort, even if the lack of ULEZ compliance is likely to make urban use expensive. Enjoy them while you can.

ONE WE FOUND: 2007 AUDI A8 4.2 TDI, 116K MILES, £6395

Tesla got the drop on the rest of the car industry when it came to popularising EVs and that’s equally true in the used market. There are lots of early cars to choose from, all of which offer relaxed cruising, and many early cars still have free use of the Supercharger network. 

ONE WE FOUND: 2015 TESLA MODEL S E85, 110K MILES, £30,000

The 9-5 never felt overly competitive when new, but it excelled as a long- distance cruiser, helped by superbly comfortable seats. Time (and Saab’s demise) has turned it into a very stylish banger and a well-chosen example should still be a very relaxing companion. Avoid the crude diesels. 

ONE WE FOUND: 2007 SAAB 9-5 2.3 VECTOR, 132K MILES, £1895

The W212-gen E-Class has proved much more reliable than the earlier W211 and the muscular six-cylinder diesel versions are the pick of the range, later cars even managing ULEZ compliance. Choose from saloon, estate, coupé and cabriolet versions: all take mileage well. High-spec ones are well worth seeking out.

ONE WE FOUND: 2010 E350 CDI AMG LINE, 68K MILES, £849

The Mk6 Passat is a hidden gem for those in search of cruising refinement at modest cost. There are lots of well-maintained privately owned ones out there and high-spec examples have the kit to shame a modern alternative. The 2.0-litre TDI can muster 54.3mpg, but if you prefer fast to frugal, seek out the V6 R36.

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 VW PASSAT R36, 63K MILES, £12,500

Now let’s look at Everyday Performance Heroes with Richard Lane

Billed as an ugly duckling at launch (as was the 550 Maranello, so what does anybody know anyway?), the 5.7-litre Scag is now ageing gracefully and is an opportunity to get your hands on a manual, post-millennium V12 Ferrari GT without bankrupting yourself. Admittedly, three-pedal cars are harder to unearth than their automated-manual counterparts (we could find only one for sale, at £129,000 with 21,000 miles on the clock), but either would be fine and you might actually be better off with the paddle-shift model. 

That’s because a 2008 update brought about numerous small improvements that together enhanced this four-seat Ferrari’s immense transcontinental appeal but at the same time did away with the open-gate gearbox. Find one with the HGTS pack –with sports exhaust, 20inwheels, revised damper rates and thicker anti-roll bars – and you’ve got a gem of an old-school Ferrari on your hands. As for the looks, the front still seems surprised to see you butthe tail has deco elegance.

ONE WE FOUND: 2008 FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI GTS, 13K MILES, £88,995

The quickest Evo VIII officially brought to British shores, the FQ-300 toted 305bhp and not very much mass, so there was never any doubt what the initials unofficially stood for. These cars are mighty in terms of traction and cross-country pace, but they’re also surprisingly deft once you’re dialled into the centre diff’s behaviour. Future classic status surely awaits.

ONE WE FOUND: 2004 MITSUBISHI EVO VIII FQ-300, 32K MILES, £23,750

With 996-era 911s,the temptation is now to find a good Turbo because prices have concertinaed for this generation and the ballistic flagship is not that much more expensive than certain lesser models. However,the naturally aspirated 4S sounds racier and it doesn’t advertise its performance quite so obviously. An enviable, usable all-round proposition.

ONE WE FOUND: 2004 PORSCHE 911CARRERA 4S, 72K MILES, £27,950

In 1988, Mercedes commissioned Porsche to help develop and construct an uber-E-class with the 5.0-litre V8 from the SL shoehorned into its nose. The very rare, very fine and thuggishly understated 500Ewas the result, and production was ludicrously indulgent by modern standards. Body parts flowed first from Sindelfingen to Zuffenhausen, where the car was assembled. It then headed back to Sindelfingen for painting, before finally returning to Zuffenhausen for final assembly and engine installation. The process took nearly three weeks for each car.

Sitting 56mm wider and 23mm lower than the donor E-Class, the 500E “catches the eye only at the second glance”, said one of the engineers on the project, and Porsche’s work on the chassis gave it both handling panache and an outstanding autobahn gait. The perfect super-saloon? Possibly, although it lacks a middle rear seat due to the size of the beastly differential housing.

ONE WE FOUND: 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E, 151K MILES, £33,995

Any E34-gen M5 – 3.4 or 3.8 – is an enchanting device and you can also find these cars in Touring form, but Alpina’s take on the ultra-quick, early 1990s 5 Series is perhaps even better. Turbocharging made the 360bhp B10 Bi-Turbo the most powerful 5 of its time and the chassis revisions, we said then, made the car “immensely satisfying to drive hard”. High pricing held the B10 back at the time but around £40k looks fair money at the moment.

ONE WE FOUND: 1994 ALPINA B10 MANUAL 4DR, 115K MILES, £31,500

Jaguar’s first (and, cruelly, last) stab at a fire-breathing V8 estate is a rare but worthy alternative to the E63s and RS6s of the world. It could only be had in range-topping XFR-S guise, which meant 542bhp and 502lb ft from a supercharged 5.0-litre petrol-guzzling behemoth, for 0-62mph in 4.6sec and a 186mph top speed. Prices aren’t horrendous, but Jaguar only ever planned to sell around 100 examples, so it’s finding one that’s the trouble.

ONE WE FOUND: 2015 JAGUAR XFR-S SPORTBRAKE, 12K MILES, £44,000

An E46-gen M3? How predictable. But for very good reason. The archetypal sports coupé is the right size, weight and shape, and it has one of the all-time great road car engines under the bonnet in the naturally aspirated 3.2-litre S54 straight-six, plus effortless handling balance. Oh, the handling. Go for the CS. It borrowed the (today eye-wateringly expensive) CSL’s brakes, quicker steering rack, coil springs and the styling for the wheels. However, unlike the SMG only CSL, the CS came in manual guise.

ONE WE FOUND: 2005 BMW M3 CS MANUAL, 80K MILES, £39,99

Damn hard to find but worth the effort, and inexpensive. The ST170 always played understudy to the wild Focus RS but in many ways it is the sweeter steer, lacklustre 171bhp engine notwithstanding. It’s the chassis that shines, with a balance and suppleness that was unheard of at the time for this kind of car, and plenty of precision in the steering. The interior dates it heavily, but the exterior remains sharp. True under-the-radar appeal.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 FORD FOCUS ST170 ESTATE, 150K MILES, £1500

The brilliance of the A110 has fired the Alpine name back into focus, bringing renewed interest in the brand’s back catalogue. We’d consider the six-cylinder, four-seat A610, which was Alpine’s answer to the 964-generation Porsche 911 Carrera but had defter handling along with lovelier cruising manners. Fabulous steering, too, despite the power assistance.

ONE WE FOUND: 1995 ALPINE A610 TURBO, 68K MILES, £24,000

The first RS6 is evolving into something of a cult car and the only reason why you can get good ones from low five-figure sums is because they are potentially ruinous to run. The Quattro driveline is sophisticated enough, but then so is the hydraulic damping system, not to mention the 444bhp twin-turbo 4.2 V8, which was developed with Cosworth. Plenty to go wrong. However, these are handsome, fast, multi-faceted cars.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 AUDI RS6 AVANT, 100K MILES, £14,895

Now let’s take a look at Eco warriors, with John Evans

We’re used to 1.0-litre three-pot petrol engines today, but it was a surprise when Vauxhall sprang one in the Corsa in 2000. Would it be gutless? Oh, yes: how about 57bhp and 0-62mph in 16sec? Still, if you weren’t in a hurry, there was 50mpg to savour. (Peppier, less frugal engines are also available.) And it’s a Corsa, so it’s cheap to buy and to run. They’re reasonably rust-resistant but the engine is a little lumpy and there can be issues with its emissions controls.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 VAUXHALL CORSA 1.0, 122K MILES, £499

My dad bought a new AX 1.4 diesel in around 1991, charmed by its quirky French engineering and seduced by its real-world 70mpg. But even the petrol versions are frugal. Our spot is a 45bhp 1.0 petrol for £900. Weighing less than 700kg, it will return at least 50mpg. Look for rust, of course, as well as sundry dents and dings and broken trim. Expect to see a little oil smoke and some drips, but at least these can be fixed. What can’t is your feet: too big and they’ll get jammed in the tiny pedal box.

ONE WE FOUND: 1994 CITROEN AX 1.0 MANUAL 5DR, 89K MILES, £900

The A2was ahead of its time and intended to be as eco-friendly as possible. Built entirely of  aluminium, it weighs from 895kg and is powered by a range of extremely efficient engines,the most impressive of those sold in the UK being the 70mpg 1.4 TDI diesel. Among the petrol engines,the 1.4 MPI will do almost 50mpg. This and the lower powered of the two 1.4 TDIs available are the most reliable buys today. Prices have been rising of late, so don’t delay.

ONE WE FOUND: 2002 AUDI A2 1.4 MPI SE, 118K MILES, £1800

From its tiny footprint to its 60mpg economy, the Fortwo aims to make as little impact on the environment as possible. The ‘warm’ Brabus version betrays these ideals a little with its extra power (74bhp, up from 54bhp) and reduced economy (53mpg) but we reckon it’s worth it for its rarity and visual appeal. Don’t expect fireworks from the handling and performance and do make sure the auto gearbox changes smoothly and you’ll get along fine.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 SMART FORTWO 0.7 CITY BRABUS, 84K MILES, £2990

We knew diesel had arrived when the Golf GTI got an oil-burner version in the form of the GTI 150 PD. The letters stand for ‘pump duse’, a form of diesel injection favoured by VW over common-rail for its higher pump pressures and greater efficiency. Torque is a handy 236lb ft and 0-62mph takes 8.3sec. Expect around 55mpg. Mk4 Golfs are holding up well (the body is galvanised) while for years diesel versions in particular had a good reputation for reliability. Today, check for oil smoke, a cooked clutch, gnarly changes and worn brakes.

ONE WE FOUND: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI TDI 150,110K MILES, £1800

‘Simplify,then add lightness’ – Colin Chapman explaining his design philosophy but also the guiding principle behind ecowarriors such as the sweet-handling Elise. It’s small, light (from 725kg), economical (around 40mpg from the 118bhp launch version) and built mainly from rust-free glassfibre and aluminium. Check for speed-bump damage and ensure panel gaps are even. 

The rear subframe is one of the few steel parts so check it’s not badly rusted. On the test drive, feel for wayward handling and looseness and, back at base, check the tyres for uneven wear. The timing belt should be changed every four years/54,000 miles. Ensure that oil and coolant aren’t mixing and that the gearchanges are crisp.

ONE WE FOUND: 1999 LOTUS ELISE, 51K MILES, £20,980

It was either this or the Austin Mini but the latter are silly money. Happily, the Metro is still under the money radar – just. Rover ones feel reasonably modern and, thanks to narrow pillars and a large glass area, you’ll love the visibility. A 1.3 will cruise comfortably at 70mph and in mixed motoring return around 40mpg. The Metro is an ecowarrior because it’s light, simple and economical and, as classic status beckons, sure to be safe from the scrapper.

ONE WE FOUND: 1989 ROVER METRO 1.3, 55K MILES, £3500

Here’s another lightweight special with a loyal following who will ensure more stay on the road than are scrapped. Its chief appeal is 229lb ft at1900rpm. Give the little Fab a squeeze and between 50mph and 70mph it’ll see off much more expensive fare. Expect around 55mpgwith a steady foot. All this and it’s reliable, too, easily shrugging off 200,000 miles. That said, the timing belt should be changed every 80,000. Check the fuel pump isn’t leaking,too.

ONE WE FOUND: 2005 SKODA FABIA TDI vRS, 68K MILES, £5995

Classic Jag styling, an aluminium body and an economical diesel engine: three things that convince us this XJ is a bona fide ecowarrior that will outlast us all. The twin-turbo 2.7-litre six-pot develops 321lb ft but can muster a shade over 31mpg. All very appealing, but the Jag’s forte is its ability to convey you and your fellow golfing pals in supreme comfort. Low and sporty, it cuts a dash among today’s bulked-out SUVs, too. Check everything works and that the suspension doesn’t clonk in corners.

ONE WE FOUND 2005: JAGUAR XJ 2.7 TDVi, 69K MILES, £8995

With so many of them still going strong, the Defender is an ecowarrior because every last scrap of value is wrung from its production. In these throwaway times, that’s some achievement. It’s a crude old thing but gained a succession of increasingly efficient diesel engines, such as the Td5 of the one that caught our eye. Prize service history over mileage. Check the underside and steel body sections for corrosion and the engine and running gear for oil leaks.

ONE WE FOUND: 2005 DEFENDER Td5 XS SWB, 90K MILES, £23,995

Now let’s take a look at some interesting import choices, courtesy of Richard Bremner

If you want truly unnecessary quantities of V8 power, consider the Hellcat Redeye mutation of the Challenger. This smokes 797bhp through rear tyres packaged within blistered wings, an arrangement labelled in Ronseal style as the Widebody. A nearly new Hellcat Redeye is yours for £87k and substantially more gets you the brilliantly named 807bhp SRT Jailbreak version. Import one yourself and you should save up to £20,000. Challenger hunters on real-world budgets can find early V6s in the UK from £10,000.

ONE WE FOUND: 2020 DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT WIDEBODY, 140 MILES, £102,950

This is the version with the 375bhp 32-valve V8 engine designed by Lotus, which had a hand in its handling and braking, too. It’s rapid, well equipped and collectible. Prices are rising, but the ‘King of the Hill’ ZR-1remains terrific value.

ONE WE FOUND: 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZR-1, 86K MILES, £23,995

One of the lesser-known Nissan Pike cars, the Pao is a play on Japanese and European utility cars of the 1950s and 1960s but with modern equipment. Like the more famous Figaro, it’s based on the K10-gen Micra. Most are automatics, a few are five-speed manuals and some have electric fabric sunroofs.

ONE WE FOUND: 1990 NISSAN PAO, 140K MILES, £3200

Another (very) oddball Japanese machine never officially marketed in the UK and perfect, perhaps, for someone nostalgic for the Ford Anglia and its reverse-rake rear screen. Yaris-based, automatic only with a column shift, it sports a design heavily influenced by Citroën’s 2CV and Ami. It seems that there are only 27 WiLL Vis in theUK. You may not be surprised at this.

ONE WE FOUND: 2001 TOYOTA WiLLVi, 3000 MILES, £3999

Inspired by the early, utility-focused Land Cruisers, the cleverly retro FJ has a separate chassis, great off-road ability, a funky interior and a bit of a thirst. It was aimed mainly at the US market and designed at Toyota’s California studios, but its success led to right-hand-drive versions being made for Japan from 2010.

ONE WE FOUND: 2012 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER 4.0, 46K MILES, £22,999

It’s big and it has an 8.3-litre Viper V10, five seats, cupholders, all-wheel drive and stripes in case you’re worried about not being seen. There are many varieties of American pick-up and more of these Rams (and Ford F-150s) on sale here than you might expect.

ONE WE FOUND: 2005 DODGE RAM SRT-10 QUAD CAB, 74K MILES, £31,500

If you fancy a properly rare SUV and don’t mind left-hand drive, consider a Lincoln MKX. It’s a Ford Edge relative, comes with heaps of kit and is tastefully shaped. The earlier generation usually has a 3.7 V6, later editions a 2.0 or 2.7-litre Ecoboost motor or a V6. From 2019, it was renamed Nautilus. Great value.

ONE WE FOUND: 2014 LINCOLN MKX ULTIMATE V6 AWD,19K MILES, £14,995

Not the current right-hand-drive version, of course, but the previous LHD generation that reignited the Mustang stampede. It’s no Porsche, but it’s cheaper, it’s a US muscle car and it looks great. There are many variants – Bullitt, Shelby, Supersnake, coupé and convertible – all available in the UK, the cheapest being the V6s. Prices are often lower here than in the US.

ONE WE FOUND: 2005 FORD MUSTANG 5.0 GT, 96K MILES, £10,990

For a rock-bottom-price import that’s not entirely without appeal, consider that US tourists’ rental special, the Chrysler Sebring. True, it is of limited dynamic merit, but with a V6 engine and the sun on your shoulders, you might manage to care less.

ONE WE FOUND: 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING 2.7, 101K MILES, £1895

Rover built 1983 examples of this 1990s born-again MGB V8, of which no fewer than 1579 were sold in Japan. Many of those have since made the return journey, usually arriving in pristine condition to provide a lesser-spotted alternative to a TVR Tuscan or Jaguar XKR convertible.

ONE WE FOUND: 1995 MG RV8,1000 MILES, £50,000

Now let’s look at 4x4s, with Matt Prior

There are never more than a handful of Forward Control Land Rovers for sale in the UK so this is a bit niche, but as one of your author’s current fascinations, here it is. The 101, or the ‘one tonne’ (after its supposed payload), was designed as a gun carrier for the British army in the late 1960s, produced in the 1970s and decommissioned by the 1990s. They were never sold new to the public, but they’ve made their way into private hands since. 

Most of them seem to still keep their original 3.5-litre V8s; and while they’re pretty agricultural to drive, there’s a thriving ownership scene to help keep them on the road. Originals were canvas roofed but later came with ambulance or radio truck bodies, too, and there’s a real diverse mix of them around today. They make great overland campervans, if you can tolerate the driving experience.

ONE WE FOUND: 1976 LAND ROVER 101, 10K MILES, £16,000

Why is a pick-up truck here? Because it’s the Toyota Hilux, the original go-anywhere, haul-anything and last-forever wagon. In this instance, we’re looking at a fifth- or sixth-generation model. (Newer ones are great but they’re not classic territory yet.) You can still get parts for them easily enough and they’ll do whatever you ask of them.

ONE WE FOUND: 1998 TOYOTA HILUX 2.4 2DR, 280K MILES, £5700

Exceptionally trusty cars, these. The XJ-series Cherokee was made in the US from 1983 but didn’t arrive here until much later and didn’t sell in big numbers. Owners love them, though, and there are always a few around to choose from. Thirsty engines but they will do a million miles.

ONE WE FOUND: 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE 4.0 ORVIS, 21K MILES, £21,99

No UK 4x4 guide would be complete without one. The Defender name was adopted a long way into the Land Rover’s life. Immediately preceding it was the 90/110. But if you want one, the year/name is less relevant. Updates were gradual and the late 2.2 diesel was only a little more refined than earlier models. They can be expensive to run but there are lots around and they hold their value.

ONE WE FOUND: 2011 DEFENDER 110 SVX SPECTRE, 2K MILES, £265,000

A wicked alternative to an early Land Rover 90/110,the J70-series Land Cruiser entered production in 1984 and is still made today, largely for sale in Africa. That there was a troop carrier variant gives an idea of its dependability but it comes in myriad versions. Most likely here, though, in a cool period colour and nicely looked after. A rare and real niche but lovely choice.

ONE WE FOUND: 1993 LAND CRUISER 2.5 TD 3DR, 131K MILES, £39,911

The car that spawned half a dozen Volkswagen alternatives based off of its platform has always had a good reputation around the car industry, making it a must-have benchmark for engineers from other manufacturers. It’s attractive and reliable in its first-generation form. Sensible, too. Unless you want the V10 diesel or W12 petrol. Which you do, right?

ONE WE FOUND: 2007 VW TOUAREG 6.0 W12, 31K MILES, £27,995

For a proper battle bus with kerb appeal and go-anywhere credentials, look absolutely no further than this raised and rugged take on VW’s microbus. It’s rare now, and expensive, but the variety of bodystyles – van, camper, microbus and pick-ups with single and dual cabs – make it a real do-it-all workhorse. Best keep the MIG welder on standby, mind.

ONE WE FOUND: 1987 T3 SYNCRO 1.6 TURBO DIESEL, 189K MILES, £16,000

One of the best-looking cars in the world, by your author’s reckoning. The Geoff Upex-designed Discovery 3 still looks the part today because it was designed entirely for its purpose as an adventure vehicle. It’s also beautifully relaxing to drive and on its way to being a great classic. Not always costless to run, but wonderful when on form.

ONE WE FOUND: 2009 DISCOVERY 2.7 TDV6 SE, 55K MILES, £13,975

The Land Cruiser is a brilliant 4x4. But there aren’t many around, and at the ‘modern classic’ time we’re thinking of here, there were two J100-series models: the Colorado and bigger, full-fat Amazon. Many have been modded but it’s a hobbyist’s car so don’t let that put you off. It should hold its value. And if the apocalypse comes, it’s the place to be.

ONE WE FOUND: 2001 LAND CRUISER AMAZON 4.7 VX,159K MILES, £10,950

The Suzuki SJ 410/413/Samurai is a Jimny by another name, and it’s becoming hard to find today, but it’s well worth the effort. They’re small, light and low geared, and thus will probably go as far offroad as any other car you can think of – particularly if modified, like a lot of UK cars have been, and which you’ll most likely spot caked in mud and grime at the end of a weekend. They’re mechanically simple and very durable, too, but knowing how to weld could be an ownership advantage. They are old cars, built simply, so may want some looking after. 

But, hey, they’re classics, right? And as classics go, there are few better ways to head out for a picnic on a sunny Sunday with the roof down than in a SJ, taking in a few green lanes on the way, being small and innocuous enough not to annoy anybody. A car to smile at and from.

ONE WE FOUND: 1987 SUZUKI SJ413, 82K MILES, £3700