Underrated, misfit sports cars | Six of the Best
What's better than a perfect sports car? A wonderfully imperfect one
BMW Z3 M Roadster, 2000, 14k, £32,500
Flaws tend to create character. When everything’s perfect, when it all goes to plan, there's nothing to recall. But when there are quirks and idiosyncrasies to work around - be that in a person, a trip, or a car - everything tends to be more memorable. Usually for the better. And with cars veering ever closer to device territory these days, so those rough diamonds of the recent past start to look all the more interesting. Especially when they have two doors, two seats, and rear-wheel drive. For one reason or another, all these sports cars came in for some criticism when new; now they appeal because of their imperfections, not despite them. And nothing encapsulates the charm quite like an M Roadster, the drop-top sports car that used lots of M3 bits - including the S54 straight six in later ones - to be… not as nice to drive as an M3. But don’t be at all surprised if one look at those dishy rear wheels wins you over completely. Low miles and big money for one of these, though surely one of the best.
Aston Martin Vantage AMR, 2019, 33k, £85,990
These are interesting times for the manual gearbox. Make it the exclusive option and charge a fortune - like the Aston Valour, for example - and they sell out in days. Go to the effort of re-engineering a Mercedes V8 to accept a seven-speed manual for a 911-rivalling sports car, however, and... well, when did you last see a turbo Vantage with a dog-leg? While far from a bad manual, complete with rev-matching tech plus ‘a nice weight and obviously mechanical feel to it’ according to the PH review, it wasn’t the best either. Mike D concluded that the auto was probably still the way to go, that’s what buyers did, meaning the manual didn’t last long at all. But what a cool prospect these days, the only car pairing that monster AMG V8 with a clutch pedal and rear-wheel drive. Just be prepared for an even busier cabin with a gearlever sprouting out of the dash…
Porsche 718 Cayman T, 2019, 7k, £43,500
As the preeminent mid-engined junior sports car of the past 20 years, the Porsche Cayman was not an obvious choice to feature here. But you can probably guess why it does. The introduction of flat-four turbos in 2016 was met with howls of protest. Never mind that these were bespoke units for the 718 range of sports cars, with all sorts of clever features to make them rev and minimise lag. Never mind, either, that they still drove with all the panache that had come to define the Boxster and Cayman experience. For some, they would never be good enough. So Porsche returned a flat-six for the more senior models a few years later, and the flat-fours aren’t discussed anywhere near as much. But nowadays, who can argue with 150hp per litre and a six-speed manual? This Cayman T was as good as the four-cylinders got, with some useful standard kit to elevate it above a standard 2.0-litre. It's definitely nowhere near as bad as you’ve been told - probably quite nice, in fact…
Mercedes-AMG SLK 55, 2014, 67k, PH Auction
Another classic of the genre, even if we do say so ourselves. Back when the SLK 55 was new, in both R170 and R171 generations, in fact, it was often criticised for not lacking the finesse of lighter, nimbler rivals with smaller engines. Probably only right when objectively assessing sports cars - but massively missing the point of an AMG like this. What we wouldn’t do for a car of the SLK’s ilk in 2025, with an enormous V8 engine powering a tiny roadster; the finer points of ride and handling don’t really matter with 5.5-litres, 421hp, and a wonderful exhaust sound. Helps, too, that this was the best looking of the SLKs, perhaps never better than in blue over beige with the five-spoke wheels. This PH Auctions lot has spent its life with just two owners, has recently been serviced, and even gets a sunroof with the folding hard top. Snazzy. Not that the roof will ever be raised, of course…
Alfa Romeo 4C, 2017, 10k, £45,495
Never has a verdict on a car changed so much from the original European launch to the UK first drive than with the Alfa 4C. Reviews from Balocco raved about it, leaving those experiencing the car here on the public road to wonder if they drove the same car. The turbo four was laggy, the steering heavy yet somehow vague as well, and the brakes didn’t inspire confidence. But even then, even as a brand-new car that wasn’t as good as a Lotus, it was worryingly easy to overlook the 4C’s issues. Because it looked like nothing else, it had a carbon tub, and it was an Alfa Romeo. Nowadays, with the brand on the brink of an EV-led rebirth, the 4C looks like it’s from another planet entirely. Like so many Alfas of days gone by, the aftermarket has dealt with lots of 4C problems, and this one benefits from Alfaworks geometry plus a fruity exhaust. Looks cool with the extra carbon, too. Not that that bit of the 4C’s appeal needed any help whatsoever.
Jaguar F-Type V6 S manual, 2015, 24k, £28,000
There are many good reasons why a used Jaguar F-Type might appeal, but it's unlikely to be rarity; Jag sold a good few over a decade, unless we're talking about the limited-edition Project 7. Or the six-speed manual, as this one is. The overwhelming majority of Fs used the ZF eight-speed auto, which was a great fit for the car and all the powertrains offered. However, in a (laudable) attempt to court some more enthusiasts, its maker fitted a six-speed manual - also a ZF unit - to both 340hp and 380hp V6 models in 2015. The reasoning was sound, because Porsche still sold a decent amount of flat-six manuals, but the execution wasn’t perfect; the shift was fine, just your relationship with the pedals and lever wasn’t quite right. Still, when all new Jaguars are now going to be electric, it’s hard not to be intrigued. Especially in a spec that looks straight from the motor show floor, and at less than £30k…
It's a Z3M, that one extra letter makes a huge difference.
Tiff was quite taken by the M version.
https://youtu.be/6q5SVHpN_CU?si=xJBSmHE0UEPWIVKR
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