By PH Staff / Saturday, 22 October 2022 / Loading comments
If you’re going to go a bit over budget, it better be worth it. And if the challenge is fast for £20k (the price begins with ‘20’, it’s close enough) there surely won’t be many disappointed by a BMW M6. With a twin-turbo, 4.4-litre V8, an engine so mighty it’s still in production more than a decade after launch, this was BMW’s fastest-ever two-door car at launch – with the right options paid for, it would do 189mph. And that’s fast for any money, let alone £20k. Even if this one is restricted to a mere 155mph, it wouldn’t take a specialist too long (or too much) to set the big Beemer free. When not attempting more than three miles a minute, moreover, the M6 remains one of BMW’s most handsome cars of the past few years, with a smart interior as well. This one is higher mileage, and it won’t be cheap to run, but what a way to spend it… MB
You know a car is fast when nothing else in its sector ever goes much faster. The FK2 era of Civic Type R was launched way back in 2015, yet its 310hp, 2.0-litre turbo remains competitive to this day. Its successor boasted just 10hp more, and we’re not expecting huge gains for the upcoming FL5, either. The Civic remains so powerful and so fast (with a 167mph top speed) that it’s still more potent that a new Golf GTI Clubsport, Focus ST or i30 N. Only now it’s available for half its new price, with this red one having accrued 77,000 miles under its remarkably well-presented wheels. Shame the tyres are cheap – a Type R really needs proper rubber to make the most of its razor-sharp chassis. Maybe factor that into an offer – it’s for sale at £16,995. MB
Proof that low weight is just as effective as big power for going fast, the VX220 was a revelation when it launched in 2004. Having a Vauxhall built from a Lotus platform was exciting enough, then along came the one with more power than any Elise available at the time – for less than £30k. The reality was as exciting as the promise, too, the Turbo scooting to 60mph in less than five seconds and boasting genuine 150mph potential. A bit too exciting for some it turned out, as the press launch for the Turbo infamously saw rather few cars return than were sent out. Its exhilarating nature, plus a good few years of cheap VXs being available, has seen values rise. Still cheaper than an Elise, though – this 2005 Turbo has had a lot of recent work, and is for sale at £19,950 with 55,000 miles. MB
There are many contenders for the best hot hatch ever, but whichever way you sway on the matter the Renault Megane RS must be in the running. Especially when it comes with a little more than standard. This one’s been treated to a few choice upgrades that turn it up from the standard 275hp to 300hp, thanks to a KTR eco remap, KTR exhaust and sports cat. Is that too much for a front-driver to handle? No. The Megane RS’s brilliant chassis can almost certainly deal with that. It’s got adjustability and epic body control wedded to the tenacious traction of that locking diff. And you can feel everything that’s going on up front through steering that sizzles away describing every detail. You have to put up with a few iffy bits, like the dark-ages infotainment and a driving position that needs some forgiveness, but those mega Recaros help to assuage the latter. And that’s the word to finish on: mega. JH
This may have Brave Pill written all over it, but I can’t see a Gransport up for £20k and ignore it for the purposes of this list. It’s one of my all-time favourite cars because it’s given me plenty of pleasure over the years, and few cars at this money get you so close to supercar thrills. If your head is shouting ‘settle for the 911’ but your heart yearns for a Hollywood-style romance, then go for it. The Gransport will tickle you pink in most respects, but the absolute clinchers include quick-witted steering, an astute but playful rear-drive chassis that oversteers easily and predictably, with a 4.2-litre V8 that makes one of the richest off-beat growls going. It both soothes and screams depending on which side of 4,000rpm you are. ‘What about the gearbox?’ some will say. It won’t suit everyone, true, but never entertain the idea it’s an auto. Just use the paddles and work it like a manual, bleeding the throttle between changes, and you’ll find interaction that DCTs can’t match. JH
If there was any guilt about promoting a Maser (which there isn’t) then the Golf R wagon is here to dilute it. When it comes to easy speed with a practical bent, this is it. It also adds four-wheel drive dependability to counter the potential torque steer of a 300hp front-driven Megane and the out-and-out sidewaysness of a Gransport. Indeed, not much can match the Golf R’s clawing traction and whatever-the-weather cross-country credentials. Throw in a quick-shifting DSG ‘box and it can deal ably with your everyday commute should that involve snarled-up traffic. Does that make it boring? Well, it might not be as extreme in the chassis department as the other choices, but boring it isn’t. Not when 300hp translates to a 0-62 time of whisker over five seconds. I chose the wagon specifically, because the extra dimension of a fast estate is always cool. On paper at least, that makes this one of the most complete packages out there. JH
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