Car hunter Porsche Boxster Honda S2000 Vauxhall VX220

Best buys £10,000 to spend on a two-seater future classic Entertaining to drive, holds value well Not cheap to buy, costly to run Screaming engine, lots of fun, reliable Cheap interior, lacks prestige Thrilling drive, unique looks, collectable Not an ever

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AN obvious choice for two-seater sports car fans, the Porsche Boxster is guaranteed to become a classic years down the line. And as the latest version has purists up in arms thanks to its four-cylinder turbo, the old flat-six models are now even more desirable.

They also score with their solid build quality, terrific driving dynamics and everyday usability. We found a well looked-after 80,000-mile 2005 example of the 987-generation 3.2-litre Boxster S for £9,950.

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THE Honda S2000 is something of a legend among Japanese car fans, and should prove a good future investment as unmolested models become harder to find. The key feature is the 2.0-litre VTEC engine; it’s a thrilling unit that revs to 9,000rpm and sounds great.

While the S2000 isn’t as composed to drive as the Porsche, and the cabin isn’t the best, the later, improved versions make strong buys. Our search revealed a 2006 car with 71,000 miles for £9,750.

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VAUXHALL’S VX220 is related to the Lotus Elise, and although the latter holds on to its value well, the VX is much more rare. Its 2.2-litre engine musters only 145bhp, yet a 900kg kerbweight means strong pace.

Pin-sharp handling and an immersive drive make it great fun on road and track, but the bare-bones cabin, fiddly roof and utter lack of refinement mean you won’t be using it every day. We spotted a 2003 model with 62,000 miles on the clock for £9,500.

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Years: 2013 to date Engine: 6.2-litre V8, 577bhp Ins group: 50 Official econ/co2: 28mpg/232g/km Why? The E63 takes the quiet, comfortable E-class exec and adds serious pace and a thrilling noise.

£40,995

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IF you’re looking for a performance car that can also double as a comfortable cruiser, the previous-generation Mercedes E63 AMG has to be one of the most capable models around.

Behind the classy exterior and leather-lined cabin lurks a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. The E63 produces the same 577bhp as the Vauxhall VXR8 it’s up against here, but has more torque, and as a result proves even faster.

It also has a spine-tingling soundtrack and handles better than any car of its size and weight has a right to. However, as the Mercedes is tail-happy, it can be a handful in the wet.

The cabin makes the car stand out here – it has far more of a premium feel, plus there’s lots of space. Running costs will sting, but the E63 is now around half the price it was to buy when new, and it’s more efficient than the Vauxhall.

The regular E-class finished in a respectable 44th place in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey. This hot version shouldn’t cause any problems, although it won’t be cheap to own.

★★★★★

A USED E63 is an exceptional amount of car for the money. It’ll transport four people in comfort, but will slay supercars with its pace and drama. If you can afford to run one, it will be well worth it.

★★★★★

THE VXR8 is charmingly oldfashioned and nearly as much fun to drive as the E63 on the right road. Its looks and cabin won’t be to all tastes, though, plus it’s very thirsty, rare and more expensive.

Years: 2014 to date Ins group: 50 Engine: 6.2-litre V8, 577bhp Official econ/co2: 19mpg/388g/km Why? VXR8 is a classic Aussie super-saloon, with a storming V8, racy styling and enthusiast appeal.

£52,000

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FORGET the Vauxhall badge on the bonnet of the VXR8; it’s well known the big saloon is imported from Australia, where it’s badged as the Holden Commodore. It feels more suited to the Outback on the road, too, with its huge size and fuel thirst; you’ll struggle to better 20mpg in any situation.

Still, it’s a seriously fast and capable car, and the supercharged V8 has plenty of charm. The GTS also handles far better than previous models. It’s not as well rounded as the E-class on the road, though, and the manual box isn’t the slickest, although it’s certainly engaging.

It’s inside where the VXR8 shows its more humdrum underpinnings. Much of the switchgear is borrowed from elsewhere in Vauxhall’s range, which is fine in essence, but just doesn’t result in the classy feel of the E63. There’s loads of room, however.

The VXR8 didn’t feature in our Driver Power 2016 survey due to its rarity. Its relaxed engine and relative simplicity should mean decent reliability, although consumables will cost.

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