£5,000 Performance Bargains

Performance cars. They're synonymous with massive repair bills and high insurance cover, and cost as much as a small house to buy, right? Wrong. Because steep premiums and above-average bills for maintenance are against them, some of the sportiest vehicles are great value for money second-hand. Sure, you might have to pay a little extra to keep them running sweetly, but think of the saving you're making over the price of a new motor and these models start to make sense.

We've put together a selection of our favourites. Here are six cars that could each be yours for GBP5,000 at most, but offer the kind of performance to rival that of thoroughbred sports machines. Go on, it's a good time to let your heart rule your head...

Peugeot 306 GTi-6
Only the earliest of these performance Peugeots falls into our price range, but they should still be fantastic cars for enthusiasts ί¿½ thanks to pin-sharp handling and a slick-action gearbox.

Although a six-speed box might not seem such a noteworthy feature these days, back in 1996 Peugeot was the only mainstream manufacturer to offer it. The GTi-6's punchy performance and five-star chassis, together with its excellent value, made the car hugely attractive to enthusiastic drivers, while a 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 140mph were astonishing for a model in its class.

Be wary of examples that have been driven hard and neglected, and check for accident damage or 'ringed' vehicles. You should be able to buy a tidy 1996 N or P-reg example for GBP5,000, and don't rule out the cheaper 306 Rallye model, which has similar performance but a more basic spec.

Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth
This Ford rally legend once enjoyed the dubious accolade of being Britain's most stolen car. That made insurance cover a problem, while owning one for long became virtually impossible.

Trends change, however, and that applies to joyriders as much as it does to cars and clothes. As a result, the Sapphire is no longer the auto thieves' crown jewel. Yes, the Sierra may look rather old hat in the 21st century, and 5,000 might seem too much to pay for a weary old repmobile, but that's missing the point. The Cosworth is an icon among performance cars and, in 4x4 Sapphire guise, a delight to drive. Needless to say, it's also quick, with 0-60mph taking a little more than six seconds. Top speed is 150mph.

But the best thing about this hot Ford today is the price. Patchy demand means you can get a mint H or J-reg car for as little as GBP4,500, but make sure it's not been crashed or stolen and get an HPI check. Also note the effect that modifications have on insurance, as many have been tweaked.

Westfield Seven
We would not recommend buying this as your only car, but if you want something rather special for the weekend or single-person commuting, it's an interesting and exciting option.

Westfields are offered with a range of different engines and many of the cars have been home-built, so make sure they're properly screwed together.

The Seven's light weight and tubular chassis result in two major advantages: stunning acceleration and remarkable fuel economy, with 50mpg not out of the question.

For GBP5,000 you can buy a decent Westie between six and 10 years old. However, do be very careful. A simple screwed-on chassis plate makes these cars easy to 'ring'. So always check the owner's credentials thoroughly and make sure that the vehicle comes with plenty of documented history.

Vauxhall Vectra 2.5 V6 GSi
What's this car doing in such accomplished company? Well, the explanation is easy enough. Despite the Vectra's flaws, and there are several, Vauxhall's V6 engines are difficult to fault. With 178bhp on tap, the GSi can sprint from 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds.

The company also tightened up the chassis dynamics on the V6, meaning it's a much better drive than the more mundane models in the Vectra line-up, with excellent handling and a well balanced chassis set-up.

Unfortunately, the driving experience is spoiled by woolly steering and a notchy gearchange, but this can be forgiven because the Vectra is incredible value for money used. A tidy V6 can be yours for GBP3,500, while GBP5,000 will buy you an S or T-reg model with 60,000 miles on the clock and a service history. The Vauxhall is the most practical car here, too, with a choice of saloon, hatchback or estate making it ideal for the family motorist.

Lancia HF Turbo Integrale
An old Lancia might not seem the most ideal second-hand buy, but this one is more than simply a rustbox.

Your GBP5,000 won't be enough to get you a roadgoing rally racer Evo model, but an Integrale HF Turbo, especially in four-wheel-drive form, is quick enough for most. You should be able to buy a straight all-wheel-driver from the early Nineties for five grand.

As well as being one of the most famous silhouettes in the history of rallying, the Integrale is an incredibly fast road car. The harsh turbo lag takes you by surprise at first, but the Lancia boasts immense grip and holds incredible speed through corners.

Most are left-hand drive, so don't expect a discount because the steering wheel is on the 'wrong' side, while known problems include gremlins in the electrics, flimsy trim and rusting bodywork on earlier models.

Jaguar XJ-S
The E-Type's spiritual successor never picked up where its predecessor left off, and was criticised when new for its lardy looks and uninvolving chassis.

That didn't stop the XJS from lasting 21 years as Jaguar's performance flagship, however, and later examples are reasonably well built and entertaining to drive. For all-out performance, the 5.3-litre V12, made between 1975 and 1993, is the best bet, giving a 150mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of 7.5 seconds. The 6.0-litre V12, produced from 1993 onwards, is even quicker, but it would be difficult to find a tidy example in this price range.

There's also a soft-top XJ-S model and the earliest examples, from 1986, just scrape into our price bracket, but don't expect one in mint condition.

For GBP5,000, you should be able to find a 1991 H or J-reg 5.3 hard-top, but make sure it has a full service history as the V12 engines are complex. Rust can also be a problem, especially in the sills and front wing pillars.