BMW M5 (F10)

FOR AS LONG as it exists the F10 M5 will live in the shadow of the earlier E39. Some will tell you the twin-turbocharged M5, which was replaced just this year, was actually the low point of BMW’S super-saloon dynasty, but very few cars have ever combined crushing straight-line performance with effortless long-distance comfort like the F10.

What the F10 lacks is the control and agility of those earlier M5s, making the F10 feel more like a grand tourer than a four-door sports car. Since it was introduced in 2011 values have fallen a long way indeed, so much so that you can buy one today for just 30% of its original list price. Our £25,000 budget will afford a 2012 car with around 50,000 miles behind it and a whole heap of very fast, very oversteery miles ahead of it.

ONE WE FOUND 2012 M5, 55,000 miles, £24,000