Having a fast and powerful car is something that many of us dream of but in these times of economic austerity the average car owner will invariably be under the impression that owning their dream motor is something financially beyond them.
This is not necessarily the case though; yes, there are some expensive, more decadent cars out there and more often than not the insurance premiums on the bigger engines, the maintenance costs and the fuel prices will be higher for them, but what you will be pleased to know is that there are affordable cars out there that can still provide the power you crave.
What follows are six examples of fast cars at reduced costs:
Six of the Best
BMW 330d (2014) – £38,000 The 3 Series is essentially the ‘classic’ BMW model now and this particular car matches style with performance. The powerful 3.0-Litre diesel engine can deliver 254bhp with surprisingly efficient fuel economy; the ride is smooth and controlled thanks to the fine German engineering and the 8-speed Automatic gearbox.
Audi TT Coupe (2014) – £28,000 The most popular model of Audi, the design has changed very little since the first generation which is a reflection of how well-made this car is. The smaller size, lighter weight and 2.0 Litre diesel engine can create 168bhp which feels incredibly quick when driving. On top of this you’ll get excellent fuel economy and comfort from the luxurious interior despite the sporty nature of the car itself.
Volkswagen Golf GTD (2012-14) – £25,000 A hatchback renowned for its speed and durability, this 2.0 Litre manual diesel is incredibly nippy (181bhp) but handles with the control and ease of a larger car. Another benefit is the decent fuel economy you can get from the finely tuned engine.
Skoda Octavia vRS (2014) – £23,500 Perhaps a surprise that a Skoda is in the ‘fast car’ bracket, but this vRS model can really pack a punch. This is due in no small part to the engine it shares with the Golf GTI, giving it unexpected power and performance, the diesel model also having excellent fuel economy.
Ford Fiesta ST (2014) – £17,000 The faster sport version of its small-car cousin the Fiesta with a very reasonable price tag. This lively 1.6 turbocharged petrol engine is accentuated by the lightweight size of the car but still drives like some of its larger counterparts. The temptation is to drive this car fast but it can be quite economical.
Subaru Impreza WRX (2014) – £16,000 Another very fast smaller car and I mean fast! The all-wheel drive 2.5 Litre turbocharge petrol engine growls out 265bhp, lower on the MPG end of the scale at 28, but the lower price overall balances this out to give you a definite speed fix.
Availability
Naturally, there are even bigger savings to be made in the used-market, but ultimately the choice will be more flexible for you with the money you will save overall, should you consider any of the cars above. Shop around though and browse what is on offer at a reliable retailer like AA Cars and soon you could find yourself the driving fast car you want at a price you can afford.
