These stories set an easy premise, ideal to help the transition from lazy lockdown evenings browsing classifieds into the seize the day new normal to follow. And if you’re lucky enough to be emerging with £50,000 to spend on a new toy (or the necessary denial to find a way to do it) here are some cars you might want to consider to both scratch the itch and – with a little luck – keep that money safe once you’ve done so.
Seven best sub‑£50k investment cars to buy now
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Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) – the Japanese 911 alternative
Yes, we included the Skyline in our £30,000 investments story. And, yes, the R34 is just the more recent version of the R32s and R33s we talked about then. But where the older cars have dragged themselves up by their bootstraps from hot hatch price levels (and often suffered at the hands of budget modders) the R34 has always been Japanese performance royalty and arguably moves in a different sphere. A small number were officially imported into the UK by Nissan, with choice Nismo upgrades specific to our driving conditions. An original one of those would be highly desirable but an import with the right modifications and provenance could also be a canny buy. Just do your research and full deep-dive geekery before committing.
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Bentley Brooklands/Turbo R – the unapologetic one
A big Bentley saloon with a 6.75-litre V8 engine a safe investment bet? Take that with a pinch of salt but if you hark back to the days of ‘proper’ Bentleys the mid-‘90s Brooklands and Turbo R models have a great deal of appeal and there are plenty around to choose from. We found a one-of-100 Brooklands Mulliner on-budget and with the mileage, rarity and history to secure ongoing value. The Turbo Rs are more powerful still and the ones to go for if you fancy humbling hot hatch drivers in your mobile stately home, stringbacks in place.
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Audi A1 Quattro – the one that makes no sense
Obviously, you’ll have to track down one of the 19 imported to the UK. And rationalise the fact it costs multiples of the near mechanically identical S1 Quattro Audi launched not long afterwards. But the idea of a collectable supermini with a punchy 2.0-litre turbocharged engine putting its 256PS to the road via a four-wheel-drive powertrain is amusing, the fact the proper A1 Quattro is rarer than all but the most exotic supercars adding to the fun. Hard to value given how few there are and how rarely they come to market but it should be on budget and one of the quirkier investment cars you could buy.
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BMW i8 – the ‘woke’ supercar
Credit to BMW for investing so heavily in its range of carbon fibre bodied ‘i’ cars and pairing the i3 hatchback with an attention-grabbing hybrid alternative to that Porsche 911. You can still buy the i3 in pure electric form but the BMW i8 is no more, which is a shame because it was arguably ahead of the curve in its styling, construction and combination of electric power and a compact petrol engine. A true head-turner, BMW actually sold over 2,000 of them here in the UK so there are more of them around than you’d think. That may harm its investment potential a little but it’s sufficiently distinctive, quirky and on-message that demand should endure as more belatedly wake to its charms.
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Ferrari 456 – the thoroughbred GT
£50,000 offers a fair spread of Ferrari options, whether it be older Berlinettas like the 348, temptingly driver focused offerings like the 360 (a manual one would be a particularly attractive and canny buy) or – our pick – the stately 456. In the age before the aggro F12 and 812 Superfast, front-engined, V12 Ferraris were meant to be the more elegant and sophisticated choice, a spirit perfectly embodied in the unadorned elegance of the 456’s classic lines. 442PS from a 5.5-litre V12 is relatively modest power by modern standards but, especially when stirred with a ball-topped, gated manual, would be plenty for making classy progress across country (or continents). Hunt out that manual, make sure the history is rock solid and you’ll be set.
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Porsche 911 GTS (997) – the safe bet
It’s pretty much compulsory all these lists feature some manner of 911. And here’s our pick for £50,000. It’s always tempting to put the rose tints on when looking at Porsches but the 997 feels a more wieldy and compact car than more recent 991s and 992s, its GTS run-out edition gathering together all the best bits into one attractive package. So, you get a widebody shell for all (Carrera 2 included), a 23PS power bump over the S to 408PS, a tasty set of wheels, sports exhaust, lower PASM suspension and lashings of Alcantara. They’re always in demand, likely to remain so and if you can track down a manual Carrera 2 GTS coupe you’ll have the one the purists will be chasing (and paying a premium for) down the line.
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Ariel Atom 3.5 – the alternative to a motorbike
There’s no kidding yourself an Atom is about anything other than the pure thrill of it, the unique skeletal look, the lack of weight and the frankly alarming power delivery of the screaming supercharged Honda engine behind you adding up to an experience unlike any other. A significant step up in performance and intensity from the Caterham you might also be considering, Ariels aren’t cheap but they are exquisitely engineered and the family firm vibe means you’ll feel like you’ve joined a club as much as bought a car. So when you’ve had your fun – or done scaring yourself – you’ll be in the right circles to pass it on to the next happy owner, likely for similar money for what you paid for it.
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