Porsche Cayman

£19,950

If you’ve got around £15,000 to £20,000 and a yen to spend it on a Cayman, go for a second-generation 987-series one (2009-12) – the standard model with the 2.9-litre f lat six (Gen 1 cars had a 2.7) producing 265bhp. It’s a great improvement over the Gen 1 and better, even, than a Gen 1 3.4 S. The new PDK auto was popular at the time but go against the grain and f lush out a manual version for a more connected experience. Porsches are often optioned to the eyeballs but the extras you should aim for on a 987 Gen 2 Cayman are 19in wheels, active ride suspension, which, ironically, removes a lot of the harshness from those larger wheels, a sat-nav, a Bose sound system and heated seats.

We found a 2011-reg Gen 2 with 75,000 miles and full Porsche history, finished in Basalt Black Pearl. It has the extended leather pack and a sat-nav. No luck on the 19in wheels but, in any case, it’ll ride well enough on its 18s.

It’s from a specialist and comes with a comprehensive, six-month warranty. Even so, whoever you buy it from, it’s as well to know that around one in 10 Caymans is a serious money pit requiring lots of remedial work but also that there are some simple checks you can make to keep clear of trouble.

Such as checking that the oil has been changed every year, that the front-mounted radiator, condenser and hoses are sound, that the gear cables feel taut, that the clutch isn’t slipping through overly gentle use and that the tyres are N-rated. And then go and enjoy one of the best-handling sports cars £20k can buy.

DRIVER FOCUSED FUN

Volkswagen Passat W8 £2595 Peugeot 306 GTI-6 £1995 Vauxhall Calibra £6995 Proton Savvy £2695 WELL WORTH THE W8 Father of Phaeton, grandfather of Bentley Conti GT, great-grandfather of Bugatti Veyron: that’s the Passat W8. The 4.0-litre engine (271bhp, 273lb ft) was a test bed for a new family of W engines. This 131,000mile 2002-reg is an historic bargain. It may have been a tarted-up Cavalier but we loved the Calibra, especially in turbo four-wheel-drive form. This one is the more down-to-earth but reliable 115bhp 2.0-litre 8v cooker. It’s an immaculate 1996 car; one female owner, full Vauxhall service history. PRISTINE 1990s COUPE With prices for nice 205 Gtis off the scale, here’s an alternative. The GTI-6 was powered by a 165bhp 2.0-litre four-pot attached to a closer-ratio six-speed gearbox. Our find is a rustfree, 2000/W-reg Phase 3 model with 92,000 miles. To a certain buyer, the name would be reason enough to buy one, hinting, as it does, at good sense. This 2009 car has a 75bhp 1.2 with 38k miles, full service history, rear parking sensors and two female previous owners. What’s not to like? WILD CARD SWEET HANDLING HATCH