DRIVERS in the market for a seriously good-looking set of wheels that won’t break the bank are in luck.
A YouTube star Jonny Brighton of the channel Cars With JB has picked out a handful of low-priced second-hand motors that look “incredibly good” for £2,000 or under – including a rather nice Mercedes convertible.
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Honda CR-Z
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The stylish Honda CR-Z combines good looks with hybrid fun, and examples can be found for bargain prices in 2024 – with all models dipping in price in recent years, according to Jonny.
In fact, the car fanatic said an example from 2011 can be bought for just £2,000 – although expect that to come with high mileage.
Known to petrolheads as the spiritual successor to the CR-X, the CR-Z even reflects its older brother’s design motif.
Built between 2010 and 2016 (but retired in Europe in 2014), the CR-Z aimed to be a more sporty version of the fabled hybrid Toyota Prius – turning the philosophy of the pioneering motor into a sports coupe.
Even former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson was a fan, describing it as “odd in a pretty way” in a review in 2010 as he favourably compared it to the old CR-X, a car he admits he “liked very much.”
Volvo V50 R-Design
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Volvo are well known for their fast estates, with the V50 R-Design perhaps the most famous of the lot.
The sporty iteration of the highly-practical family motor comes with an “aggressive” body kit and five-spoke alloys – making it look seriously good.
Jonny added: “It looks super clean, and it’s also obviously practical.”
Amazingly, these can be found for around £1,000, while a high-mileage example from 2010 can be bought for just double that.
Hyundai Coupe
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The modern classic Hyundai Coupe is a bargain in 2024, with Jonny claiming these can be found for as little as £1,200.
He said: “For the money this really isn’t bad looking, and it’s something that I’ve seen young drivers get as their first or second car.
“They’re certainly a bit different to a [Vauxhall] Corsa or [Renault] Cleo.”
According to AutoCar, the Coupe caused “quite a stir at launch” due to its apparent resemblance to the Ferrari 456 GT with its long nose and curvy flanks.
Looks aside, the Coupe is well equipped – regardless of which one you pick up – and they’re known for being reliable.
Toyota Celica
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The iconic seventh (and final) generation of the Toyota Celica is one of the best loved sports cars of the early 2000s – and made sure the famous nameplate finished with a flourish.
Designed to be a sporty, affordable car with a practical interior, the Celica boasted an aggressive design and a tasty 1.8-litre engine, capable of hitting a top speed of 127 mph.
Jonny said that £1,000 is enough to get into a Celica, while £2,000 will buy you a 2004 model with high mileage.
Mercedes SLK
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The looks of the baby Mercedes SLK can be deceiving – as it somewhat resembles the very cool Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
The SLR was born from Merc’s long-standing relationship as engine supplier for the McLaren Formula 1 team – and is considered a highly-desirable sports car.
Jonny said: “The SLK is probably the closest looking Mercedes to the McLaren SLR… it really does look like a baby SLR in the right spec and at the right angles.”
The reason for this likeness is that the car’s designer was the same man that designed the SLR, although the SLK doesn’t quite come with the same amount of power.
The SLK features a 1.8-litre motor that has a 160 bhp kick – taking it to 60mph in 7.6 seconds.
In terms of looks, Jonny stressed: “Make sure you got on with the AMG stylings; it makes them look so much more striking.”
This comes as Jonny recently reviewed the very cool Kia Stinger GT – a stylish super saloon with a 167mph top speed – and even highlighted a selection of cars that are set to rise in value in the next few years.
Elsewhere, a little-known car brand has launched in the UK with two budget motors – including the UK’s second-cheapest EV.
