Used sports cars: Discover the best used sports cars on Sun Motors from £200pm Mazdas to £230K Lamborghinis

SPORTS cars are the kings and queens of the road, delivering fast acceleration, high top speeds and lots of smiles.

Owning a sports car used to be a dream for most motorists, but financing options like PCP and HP mean that today, many more of us can afford a sports car.

OK, it’s not cheap to buy and own a sports car, but you can pick up a BMW, Mercedes, Mazda and Porsche sports car for the same monthly payment as a family saloon. 

Don’t believe us? We’ll take you through the reasons why buying a used sports car is best, some tips for buying with confidence and our top 5 favourite sports cars.

New vs used sports car

Sports cars are expensive and exclusive. That’s sort of the point, isn’t it? 

The average sports car loses over half of its value in the first three years, says Evo. That might sound frightening, but it’s pretty standard for used cars. 

It means that you’ll be able to pick up a bargain if you’re not worried about the plate.

If you choose to buy used, get one with a full dealer service history and do your research. Sports cars can have a hard life, with engine and component wear difficult to spot, especially for amateurs. 

Buy a well-maintained sports car and you could bag a bargain that could turn into a pretty good investment over the long term.

Why buy new? You get to create the car of your dreams, specifying the colour, specifications, internal trim and extras. Is it worth the extra cost? You can decide.

Benefits of owning a sports car

Sports cars, performance cars and luxury cars can deliver an incredible driving experience. Rapid acceleration, high top speeds and comfortable cruising are all reasons why we choose to overlook the lack of space and practicality.

Sports cars look cool. You know it, and we know it.

Owning a sports car is more than the driving experience, it’s the lifestyle. You become part of an exclusive club, in some cases, literally – with owners clubs a big part of the joy of owning a performance car for many people.

Sure, sports cars are expensive to buy and run and are often impractical, but you know all that. Buying a sports car is led by the heart, not the head.

What to look for when buying a used sports car

When buying a sports car, there’s likely to be no such thing as a bargain. Here are some of the things you should look for:

• Mileage and service history: Always buy a sports car (ideally a low-mileage one) with a full service history. This ensures the right parts have been used and that all recalls have been performed.
• Previous owners: Avoid cars that have been owned by driving experience providers, for example. (Check out this amazing video by Mat Armstrong to learn why.)
• Dealer reputation: Buy a sports car from a main dealer or performance car specialist, if possible.
• Warranty: Check out any warranty, including mileage and other conditions, before buying.
• Insurance costs: Please, please, please check out insurance costs before buying a luxury car. 
• Practicality: We don’t want to be boring, but is a sports car really suitable for your needs?

Five of the best used sports cars available on Sun Motors 

We could spend all day on this list, but we have to make a choice. So, these are five of the best sports cars available on Sun Motors today *in our opinion*. 

We all have different preferences when it comes to sports cars, so use this list as inspiration before starting your own search. 

Cheap, cheerful and cool: Mazda MX-5 1.5 SKYACTIV-G SE-L

2022 Mazda Mazda MX-5 1.5 SKYACTIV-G SE-L Euro 6

Is it a sports car or a roadster? We don’t care when it’s this fun. The Mazda MX5 has spent years topping the charts as an affordable and fun sporty driver.

Practical and sporty: Land Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0

Land Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0

It’s not a top-down, wind in your sports car, but it’s got sport in the name, so we think this 2024 model is worthy of the list.

In fact, the Range Rover Sport is a stylish, competent and capable daily driver that can switch, in an instant, into a bit of a beast.

Even better, it’s a plug-in hybrid, which means you’re cutting your carbon footprint, too.

Mid-range monster: Porsche Boxster 24V S PDK

Porsche Boxster 24V S PDK

The Porsche Boxster is a classic design that’s more affordable to buy and maintain than a 911.

This low-mileage, semi-automatic Boxster is in amazing condition and could prove a canny investment, with Porsche values holding up well over the long-term.

High-performance beast: 2022 Lamborghini Aventador ULTIMAE 2-Door

2022 Lamborghini Aventador ULTIMAE 2-Door

A 6.5 litre engine sits at the heart of the canary yellow supercar, powering it to almost 200 mph.

It’s very much fast and furious, with a price tag to match. If you can afford £7,950 a month in repayments, this could be yours. I mean, who needs a house? 

Dream car: Aston Martin DB11 Coupe 5.2

Aston Martin DB11 Coupe 5.2

This Aston Martin DB11 blends the classic elegance of previous models with all the stuff you’d want in a modern supercar. The DB11 is truly the stuff of dreams…

Used sports car FAQS

Where can I buy a used sports car?

Performance cars are packed full of complex technology, advanced engineering and highly-tuned engines.

If you’re an engineer or expert, you can scour the free ads for a bargain. But if you’re like the rest of us, it’s much better to buy from a trusted dealer. 

Dealers, like those featured on Sun Motors, will have thoroughly checked and serviced every sports car before it’s put up for sale. You can have confidence in the quality of the car and that it’s 100% honest and ready for the road.

Of course, sometimes things happen and cars can go wrong. If you buy from a dealer, you’re covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which provides cover and redress. 

Buy privately, and you’re on your own. Caveat emptor and all that.

What are the best used sports cars to buy?

Thinking with our heads, the lowest depreciating sports cars include the Lamborghini Urus, Range Rover Sport and Porsche 911, says Which?. So these are the best to buy, right?

The traditional measures of ‘the best’ (low cost, fuel efficiency, and so on) are irrelevant.

So, what are the best used cars to buy? It depends on you, and entirely on you.

Since you asked, we prefer classically styled and elegant cars, like the Aston Martin Vantage, Jaguar F-Type and old school Mercedes SLK. 

We wouldn’t be seen dead in a £230,000 Lamborghini Huracan (mostly because we’d struggle to get in and out of it). 

But if you love it, buy that one. That’s what owning a sports car is all about.

Should I buy a sports car?

You’re a grown-up and can do what you want with your money, but if you’re thinking about purchasing a sports car, here are a few things to consider:

• Purchase cost: Sports cars aren’t cheap. And if a sports car is cheap, it’s likely to need a lot of work. Can you afford it? 
• Running costs: Fuel, servicing and repairs are also much higher with sports cars. We’re talking about thousands of pounds, so ensure you’ve got the cash or buy a cheaper car.
• Depreciation: Sports cars can depreciate quickly and be hard to sell. Consider this before signing on the dotted line.
• Insurance costs: A sports car will cost more to insure than a family saloon. In some cases, much more. 
• Storage: It’s unlikely you’ll want to leave a sports car on the street, so off-road parking like a garage is important.
• Speed & safety: With great power comes great responsibility. Drive carefully or you could find yourself counting the costs of penalty points, speeding fines and more.
• Convenience: Sports cars are small and built for speed. There’s likely to be limited space for passengers and luggage. 

Are sports cars better for the city or outskirts?

Sports cars are at their best when they’re loaded with a full tank of fuel and a completely open road. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’ll ever find that in the UK (unless you do a track day and turn up first).

Driving a sports car in the city can quickly become a frustrating experience. You could find it challenging to stick to low speeds, driving over speed bumps might leave you praying and you’ll never want to leave it in a supermarket car park.

What is the best time of year to buy a sports car?

Sports cars are synonymous with summer, so it’s likely you’ll get a better deal in the winter. But don’t expect massive discounts, with specialist dealers often sticking to their prices. 

You can learn more about how the seasons impact car sales in this Sun Motors guide.

Is buying a sports car different from a normal car? 

On the one hand, a car is a car so it’s the same. On the other hand, sports cars are complex and costly pieces of machinery that can – and do – go wrong. The key is to do your research and ensure that you have total confidence in the car and the dealer before making a deal.