Author: Nathan Chadwick
Photography: Manufacturers
There’s something wonderfully decadent about a front-engined GT – the looks, the power, the performance and the luxury.
Even if the reality of cross-European travel is beset by roadworks, speed cameras and mule-train lorries hanging around in the overtaking lane, it’s still a hell of a lot more enticing than being herded through a budget airport at 5am.
We’ve come up with a selection of GT cars hailing from the 2000s that offer a taste of the exotic for less than £30,000, but yet are modern enough to be usable on a semi-daily basis. Of course, these cars will cost more to run and fuel than a normal car, but if you’re working from home most of the week why submit yourself to those boring runs to the office in an automotive fridge. You’ll also have to weed out a whole heap of dross – many have been bought and run on a shoestring, with maintenance taking a back seat to questionable visual modification.
Find a good one and you’ll love it, however. Sure it’ll cost you more, but each time you plant the throttle on the dual carriageway, you’ll feel every inch the continental man about town. Here are a few suggestions to have you eyeing Eurotunnel prices…
Porsche 997 Carrera
For many the default practical sportscar, the 997 is arguably the peak point of the watercooled 911 era – small enough to be nimble, but with enough modern amenities to make commuting and long distances anything but a chore. Our £30k budget will get you into a sub-90k miles manual 3.8 S, with PDKs coming in at 90k+ miles for around that figure. Push the budget into the £30ks and you’ll be able to find several PDK models. Tiptronics are the cheapest available (sometimes below £20k) but the technology is really starting to feel its age against the PDKs.
Bentley Continental GT
The consummate big bruiser is now reaching almost classic status now, yet it still offers truly modern levels of forward thump. While not the last word in cornering dynamics compared to the Porsche, the refinement, damping, fit and finish and overwhelmingly agreeable vibes of the Continental make it a car that’s finding its feet as a cherished modern classic. It’s not cheap when it goes wrong, but the key is to find a car that’s had the expensive work done – most notably the suspension. Don’t be tempted by sub-£10k cars, aim to spend at least £18k+ on early cars, which should bag you a nice tintop or convertible. The top end of our price range will get you into a 2011/2012 facelift W12 or V8.
Aston Martin DB9
The DB9 was a hugely popular car when it was new, and reinvigorated sales even beyond that of the DB7. As such, many were sold, which means they represent magnificent value for money. Not quite as refined as the Bentley nor as capable a sports car as the 911, it’s easy to forgive when it looks this beautiful and sounds this great. Prices start at around £20k for early-model cars, while the top of our budget should bag you either a 2007/2008 car or a 2005 Volante.
Maserati GranTurismo
The Maserati might seem like the exotic option here but it’s surprisingly rational – only the Bentley is able to offer similar levels of interior space, with genuine room for four. And while the Maserati can’t quite compete with the Continental’s torque, its naturally aspirated Ferrari-derived V8 provides the most gorgeous soundtrack. We’d avoid the early 4.2-litre cars and go for a 4.7-litre model. Depending on how much you want to cruise or have a sporty approach, choose your gearbox wisely. The top of our budget will get you into a good facelift model from 2011-2015, though a good 4.7-litre S model is great value in the early £20ks.
Jaguar XKR XK150
If any of the cars on this list are rational, it’s perhaps the Jaguar XKR. It’s got great spares support and lots of knowledgeable specialists. And of course, for the irrational reasons, it’s spine-tinglingly pretty and has a magnificent V8 engine with enough wallop to keep up with all the cars here. You should be able to pick up a 5.0-litre XK150 model from as little as £20,000 for a 50k-miler – it really is great value for money for a car that offers so much. If your budget is a little less, an early 4.2 XK150 is better value still at £15k and up.
BMW 650
Traditional wisdom would be to place the screaming V10 M6 here, but while technically impressive and certainly exciting, the bills can make Maserati ownership look positively inexpensive. It’s also not quite as capable a GT car as the 550i V8, which is far cheaper. In fact, you can pick up a 2017 example for £24k. However, we feel that the original E63 is coming into its own as a design classic and you can pick a good one for as little as £6k.
Mercedes-Benz CL (C216)
The concept is simple – take the S-Class, remove two doors and present to the world in a swoopy two-door body. The result is the CL, which has been tempting the luxury-minded bargain hunter for many a year. However, the 2007-on cars really ramped up the luxury over the early 2000s cars and represented almost Bentley-rivalling thrust and luxury. Just £15k and up will see you into a vast variety of engines, from smooth V8 and V12s (CL500 and CL600) to riotous AMG-badged machines such as the CL63 and the vanishingly rare CL65 V12.
Vauxhall Monaro VXR8
Snobs might sniff at the Vauxhall badge but it takes just one full-blooded launch for the Monaro to command respect. This Aussie export isn’t as luxurious as the other cars here but it’s dripping in swagger and comfortable too. You can get into an early Monaro for as £10k but we’d hold out for a 6.0-litre manual – such as the silver VXR model we found for a smidge under £20k.
Do you own any of these noughties GTs? We would love to hear your story at hdc@hagerty.co.uk