A CUT ABOVE THE REST

After a few years of inflated prices, used car values are sliding – which is great news if you’re shopping for something different.

- James Disdale

Everyone loves a bargain. Whether it's a 'buy one get one free' supermarket offer, a closing-down sale or unearthing a hidden gem in an antique shop, the thrill of beating the system is hard to top, and all the more so in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

It's no different when buying a used car - and the good news is that, following a few years of sticky new car supply chains forcing up the values of second-hand stock, prices are finally starting to drop.

As a result, there are some real steals to be found when scouring the showrooms or combing through the classifieds. To give you a taste of what's possible, we've picked out 48 candidates from a number of sectors, and all have one thing in common: every car costs at least half what it did when new.

HOT HATCHES

Ford Fiesta ST-3
2018, 46,000 miles, £13,600

How good is the Fiesta ST? The engineers behind this souped-up supermini reckon it was the most fun car they had built since the Escort RS Cosworth. The Ford's 1.6-litre turbo engine delivers big-chested performance, while the acrobatic handling offers laugh-out-loud entertainment. There are lots of modified and crash-damaged examples to navigate your way around, but there are plenty of clean ones too, so finding a good 'un should be easy.

BMW M135i
2013, 90,000 miles, £8450

With a snarling straight-six engine sending its prodigious power to the rear wheels, the M135i doesn't fit the usual hot hatchback template. This 315bhp machine's chassis isn't as sharp as that of a full-fat M car, but it will still put a big grin on your face, not to mention being cheaper and more reliable to run.

Mercedes-AMG A45S
2020, 65,000 miles, £30,990