6 Heroic GT Cars You Can Buy For Under £10,000

1. BMW 850Ci

The BMW 8-Series was a technical revolution when it was released in 1990. With a host of innovations including stability control, speed-sensitive power steering and an early form of damper control (EDC), the Bavarian brute allowed BMW to demonstrate its technical nous. BMW also went to town on the exterior design with pop-up headlights, a low drag, computer-designed body (novel for the time) and incredible pillarless doors.

Unfortunately, despite the technical innovations, the car wasn’t well received by the automotive press or the general public. The price of the vehicle, its unconventional styling and the economic uncertainly of the 90s certainly contributed to the car’s poor sales. But really, the fault lay squarely with the 850i’s dynamics. With a colossal 5.0-litre V12, buyers expected Porsche 928 levels of performance, but instead they received a 296bhp, 1975kg (4354lb) luxury barge.

Thankfully, time has been kind to the 8-Series, with the design now being recognised as something of a classic. There are plenty of examples available for sale, but we would recommend the later 850Ci (over the earlier 850i). The Ci received the M73B54 V12 engine which produced a much more respectable 322bhp. This example looks to be in good nick, and for £5,900, it looks like a bit of a steal - as long as that V12 doesn’t develop any problems that is…

2. Maserati 3200 GT

Released in 1998, the Maserati 3200 GT was a tempting proposition. With an exotic twin-turbocharged 3.2-litre V8 with 370bhp, 62mph could be reached in a Porsche 996-rivalling 5.1 seconds. And with a top speed of 174mph, the GT could give most performance coupes of the period a run for their money.

On top of all this, the 3200 GT was a beautiful design. The earlier cars (1998-2002) with their gorgeous LED boomerang rear lights were the prettiest models, helping to show off the svelte but muscular waste line of the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Italian GT. The cabin was equally attractive, which is probably why it remained relatively unchanged for the entire life span of the model.

Unfortunately the handling of the car left something to be desired with a highly sensitive steering rack and floaty suspension. Over the years these problems were slowly ironed out leaving us with the brilliant Maserati Gran Sport, but those cars command a serious price tag. Ultimately if you want to have a budget Ferrari for under £10,000, you’re going to have to look for an early 3200 GT. With the brand doing better than ever, GT prices are now starting to rocket, so buy one before it’s too late.

3. Jaguar XKR (X100)

The XKR X100 was a very important car for Jaguar. After the disappointingly unreliable XJS, the 1998 XKR had to deliver in the performance stakes in order to pull buyers away from rivals such as BMW and Mercedes. Thankfully, Jaguar’s R&D department delivered, and the 4.0-litre, 350bhp XKR has gone down in history as a success story.

Over the years the model was updated, with the engine receiving a notable overhaul in 2002. To keep pace with the competition, the supercharged V8 units were enlarged to 4.2-litres, upping power to an Aston Martin DB7-rivalling 400bhp. To back up the added power, the car also received a new front-end, more aggressive wheels and a new boot spoiler.

In terms of reliability, the Jag was fairly bullet proof - apart from early XK8s which were known to suffer from engine failures due to the slightly dodgy Nikasil cylinder bore liners. Nevertheless, second hand buyers tend to steer well clear of these British brutes (XKR included) due to worries about expensive repair bills. As a result, prices have been pushed well below £10,000. For example, you can buy Jaguar designer Ian Callum’s personal company car for just £7450. Brilliant.

4. BMW 650i

The E63 6-series was released in 2003 and received a positive response from the automotive press. After the shock of the Bangle-designed E60 5-series, the 6-series was at least a step in the right direction, moving away from the ‘flame surfacing’ design of old. The most popular engines available were the 630i and 645i, but our choice for a second-hand buy would be the full fat 650i.

Unfortunately, the 650i was one of the first BMWs to suffer from ‘fake moniker syndrome’. Instead of packing a 5.0-litre V12 under the bonnet, like the E38 750iL of old, the 650i betrayed its badging, making do with a 4.8-litre V8 instead. Then again, it’s hard to get too upset with 362bhp and 360lb ft of torque under your right foot. I mean, 5.7 seconds to 62mph isn’t going to set your pants on fire, but it’s certainly quick enough for a long distance cruiser.

If you want a smooth and reliable 155mph autobahn blaster you’d be hard pushed to do any better, and early model iDrive system aside, the interior is lush. At the time of its release the 650i was an eye watering £53,965, making it all the more incredible that you can buy clean examples for well under £10,000. Where’s my chequebook…

5. Mercedes-Benz SL500 R230

If the E63 6-series is just a bit too bland for your liking, you might prefer the universally praised Mercedes-Benz SL500 R230. The 306bhp SL500, sat between the lukewarm SL350 and the frankly bonkers SL55 as a well balanced continent crusher. At £67,610 back in 2002, the SL500 was by no means cheap, but you got a whole lot of car for your money.

With an elegant design, innovative (albeit heavy) hard-top roof, and luxurious interior, the SL was a huge success for Mercedes. Even 13 years later the design still looks fresh. In fact, we’d go so far to say that the restrained and curvaceous lines look better than the boxy and bulky 2015 model.

Being a top-of-the-range model (not including the AMGs), the SL500 came with Mercedes goodies such as a BOSE soundsystem, a GPS COMAND unit and keyless go (impressive for the early 2000s). We believe that V8 SLs have reached the bottom of their depreciation curve, with plenty of examples available for under £10,000. So if you like your GT experience with the wind in your hair, then this Mercedes is a strong contender.

6. Porsche 911 996

It’s safe to say that the Porsche 996 is the most unloved 911 variant of all time. According to Porsche purists the car committed two major sins. One, it killed off air cooling by introducing the 3.4-litre flat-six water-cooled motor, and two, it took Porsche in a new design direction - yes we’re talking about the ’fried egg’ headlamps.

However, we don’t feel that the 996 deserves the hate that it gets. The 300bhp, flat-six, 3.4-litre engine wasn’t a bad motor, and 0-62 in 5.2 seconds was impressive for 1997. Granted, the engine suffered its fair share of problems with the intermediate shaft (IMS) and rear main seal (RMS) failing on earlier models, but the majority of owners have rectified these problems.

When buying second hand we would advise you to check with the current owner to see if any key engine components have been updated and replaced. If they haven’t, companies like RPM Technik can upgrade the IMS for £660 + VAT. It’s also important to be aware that replacing the RMS is an engine-out job, so make sure you look for signs of an oil leak before you buy.

The chassis, body and interior all tend to age well, but it’s important to keep in mind that these cars have usually had hard lives; testament to the everyday usability of the 911. People are starting to wake up to the fact that the 996 is actually a cracking buy - mainly because all other 911 variants are currently unaffordable. Prices are increasing quickly, so buy a good one now before it’s too late. Even if it might cost slightly more than the £10,000 budget.