We take a look at some of the best cars we’ve ever owned
Some of us like to own something a little different, a car you’re unlikely to see another copy coming the other way. One way to do this is to buy a car that isn’t officially sold here, perhaps importing it from right-hand drive Japan, or from the sunnier parts of the United States, where rust doesn’t don’t bite. But first familiarize yourself with the UK aftermarket support network.
Chrysler Sebring, 1996-2000
£1800-£3000: For a lowest-priced import that’s not entirely unattractive, consider the Chrysler Sebring, the Chrysler Sebring, a special rental car for American tourists. Admittedly, its dynamic merit is limited, but with a V6 engine and the sun on your shoulders, you might care less.
One we found: 2000 Chrysler Sebring 2.7, 101,000 miles, £1,895
Nissan Pao, 1988-1991
£3200-£7000: 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 amenities. Like the more famous Nissan Figaro, it is based on the K10 generation Nissan Micra. Most are automatic, a few are five-speed manuals, and some have power cloth sunroofs.
One we found: 1990 Nissan Pao, 140,000km, £3,200
Toyota Will VI, 2000-2001
£4,000 to £6,000: Another (very) wacky Japanese machine never officially marketed here and perfect, perhaps, for someone nostalgic for the Ford Anglia and its reverse-tilt rear window. Based on the Yaris, automatic only with a column change, it sports a design strongly influenced by the 2CV and the Ami de Citroën. It seems there are only 27 WiLL Vis in the UK. This may not surprise you.
One we found: 2001 Toyota Will Vi, 3,000 miles, £3,999
Ford Mustang, 2004-2014
£8,000-100,000: Not the current right-hand-drive version, of course, but the previous generation LHD that revived the Mustang scramble. It’s not a Porsche, but it’s cheaper, it’s an American muscle car and it looks great. There are many variants – Bullitt, Shelby, Supersnake, Coupe and Convertible – all available in the UK, the cheapest being the V6s. Prices are often lower here than in the United States.
One we found: 2005 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT, 96,000km, £10,990
Dodge Ram SRT-10, 2004-2006
£10,000 to £115,000: It’s big, and it’s got an 8.3-liter Viper V10, five seats, cupholders, all-wheel drive, and stripes in case you’re worried you won’t be seen. There are many varieties of American pickups and more of these Rams (and Ford F-150s) on sale here than you might think.
One we found: 2005 Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab, 74,000 miles, £31,500
Dodge Challenger, 2008-now
£10,000 to £127,000: If you want really useless amounts of V8 power, consider the Challenger’s Hellcat Redeye mutation. That smokes 797 hp thanks to the rear tires wrapped in blistered fenders, an arrangement labeled in Ronseal style like the Widebody. A nearly new Hellcat Redeye is yours for £87,000 and more gets you the brilliantly named 807bhp SRT Jailbreak version. Import one yourself and you should save up to £20,000. Challenger hunters with real budgets can find the first V6s in the UK from £10,000.
One we found: 2020 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Widebody, 140 miles, £102,950
Lincoln MKX, 2015-now
£15,000 to £22,000: If you fancy a truly rare SUV and don’t mind left-hand drive, consider a Lincoln MKX. It’s a relative of the Ford Edge, it comes with heaps of kits and is tastefully shaped. The previous generation usually has a 3.7 liter V6, later editions a 2.0 or 2.7 liter Ecoboost engine or a V6. As of 2019 it was renamed Nautilus. Great value.
One we found: 2014 Lincoln MKX Ultimate V6 AWD, 19,000 miles, £14,995
MG RV8, 1992-1995
£18,000 to £50,000: Rover built 1,983 examples of this 1990s MGB V8, of which no less than 1,579 were sold in Japan. Many of them have since made the return trip, usually arriving in pristine condition to offer a less spotty alternative to a TVR Tuscan or Jaguar XKR convertible.
One we found: 1995 MG RV8, 1,000 miles, £50,000
Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2007-2018
£22,000 to £45,000: Inspired by early utility-focused Land Cruisers, the smartly retro FJ has a split chassis, great off-road capability, a funky interior and a bit of a thirst. It was primarily aimed at the US market and designed at Toyota’s California studios, but its success led to right-hand drive versions being manufactured for Japan starting in 2010.
One we found: 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4.0, 46,000 miles, £22,995
Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 1990-1995
£23,000 to £30,000: This is the version with the Lotus-designed 375 hp 32-valve V8 engine, which also contributed to its handling and braking. It’s fast, well equipped and collectible. Prices are going up, but the ZR-1 ‘King of the Hill’ is still great value.
One we found: 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, 86,000 miles, £23,995
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-01 23:01:24
