It’s every man’s dream to have a supercar in the garage – but what’s the next best thing? Well, says Jack Rix, a secondhand supercar in the garage…
If you’re the type of man who likes to spend the same on your car as a semi-detached in the Cotswolds, then 2012 could leave you feeling a little light. Behold, and feel free to ogle, the seven hottest new cars which, let’s face it, few of us will ever be able to afford. To address this hitch we’ve compiled a list of secondhand alternatives that could turn your dreams into shiny reality. Better start thinking of an excuse for spending the savings…
The Supercar: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Price: £250,000 (est)
Engine: 6.3-litre V12, 730bhp
0-62mph: 3.1 seconds
Top speed: 211mph
On sale: Now
The F12 Berlinetta has roughly the same power as Fernando Alonso’s F1 car, and is just as happy crossing continents as it is blowing eyeballs back into heads.
The Secondhand Option: Ferrari 456GT
Price: From £30,000
Engine: 5.5-litre V12, 436bhp
0-62mph: 5.2 seconds
Top speed: 186mph
On sale: 1992-2003
The subtly gorgeous 456GT lacks firepower, but with prices currently hovering around the level of the BMW 3 Series, it’s a worthy alternative.
.....................................................................................................................................................
The Supercar: Aston Martin V12 Zagato
Price: £395,000
Engine: 6.0-litre V12, 510bhp
0-62mph: 4.2 seconds
Top speed: 190mph
On sale: Now
Zagato, the most distinctive of the Italian styling houses, doesn’t do things by halves. Body panels are rolled by hand and each car takes 2,000 man hours to build.
The Secondhand Option: Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
Price: From £135,000
Engine: 6.0-litre V12, 435bhp
0-62mph: 5.3 seconds
Top speed: 185mph
On sale: 2002
A 10-year-old DB7 Zagato looks almost as impressive as the current vintage and costs a third of the price.
.....................................................................................................................................................
The Supercar: Mercedes SL 63 AMG
Price: £110,000 (est)
Engine: 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8, 530bhp
0-62mph: 4.3 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
On sale: August
The letters ‘SL’ stand for ‘super’ and ‘lightweight’, but the current car, which weighs 1,785kg, is stretching the definition.
The Secondhand Option: Mercedes 230 SL Pagoda
Price: From £25,000
Engine: 2.3-litre inline-six, 148bhp
0-62mph: 11 seconds
Top speed: 123mph
On sale: 1963-1971
The Pagoda will make you feel more like a Sixties playboy.
.....................................................................................................................................................
The Supercar: Porsche 918 Spyder
Price: £678,000
Engine: 4.6-litre V8 with two electric motors, 759bhp
0-62mph: 2.9 seconds (est)
Top speed: 201mph (est)
On sale: 2014
By combining a race-bred V8 with electric motors, Porsche has created a hybrid hypercar with the fuel consumption of a Ford Fiesta.
The Secondhand Option: Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (996)
Price: From £25,000
Engine: 3.6-litre, 420bhp
0-62mph: 4.2 seconds
Top speed: 190mph
On sale: 2003-04
The speedy 911 Turbo will still frighten the life out of you.
.....................................................................................................................................................
The Supercar: Honda NSX concept
Price: £75,000 (est)
Engine: 3.5-litre V6 with two electric motors, 400bhp (est)
0-62mph: 4.5 seconds (est)
Top speed: 180mph (est)
On sale: 2013
With a four-wheel drive hybrid engine, origami styling and legions of fans waiting, the new NSX is already looking like a hit.
The Secondhand Option: Honda NSX
Price: From £22,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6, 270bhp
0-60mph: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 168mph
On sale: 1990-2005
While everyone else was piling on the pounds, the original NSX relied on finesse not horsepower.
.....................................................................................................................................................
The Supercar: BMW M6 CoupE
Price: £93,795
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, 552bhp
0-62mph: 4.2 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
On sale: September
Any self-proclaimed ‘M’ aficionado will tell you turbocharging is the devil’s work. But the M6’s V8 responds instantly and it soundslike a herd of angry buffalo.
The Secondhand option: BMW M635 CSi
Price: From £12,000
Engine: 3.5-litre straight-six, 282bhp
0-62mph: 6.3 seconds
Top speed: 158mph
On sale: 1983-1988
Sharky looks and exhilarating performance, particularly due to the lack of traction control.
.....................................................................................................................................................
The Supercar: Lamborghini Aventador J
Price: £2m
Engine: 6.5-litre V12, 690bhp
0-62mph: 2.8 seconds (est)
Top speed: 210mph
On sale: Sold out
Completed in just six weeks, this one-off show car has zero protection from the elements. It’s road legal, but already sold to one lucky buyer for £1.7m plus VAT.
The Secondhand Option: Lamborghini Countach
Price: From £100,000
Engine: 4.0-litre V12, 375bhp
0-62mph: 5.6 seconds
Top speed: 170mph
On sale: 1974-1990
The quintessential supercar for hairy-chested men, famed for its poster-boy looks and being exhausting to drive.
Latest
Related Reviews and Shortlists
The best Doctor Who episodes, ranked
