Surprising Supercars For Less Soaring Budgets

The used car market in the past few weeks has had a bit of a long overdue ‘price adjustment’. One of results of lockdown was that demand for new and pre-owned cars far outweighed supply and as a result the prices remained high and, in many cases, actually increased for a sustained period of time. What has happened over the past few weeks is that now that the new car market and its production timelines have mostly returned to normal, the demand for used cars has also returned to pre-pandemic levels.

This has meant that for certain makes and models of vehicles, the prices have fallen quite considerably over a matter of weeks. Whilst this may mean the residual value of a car you had purchased over the past year or number of months may have dropped, it also means for those looking to purchase a used car, there are some vehicles that are much more affordable than you may have first thought.

One of the genres to have seen the largest price adjustment is the prestige and supercar market. Cars that have possibly been a little bit of a stretch for those looking for the ultimate in performance vehicles, however now they are much more affordable to potential purchasers. So if you are looking to finance a supercar and have a budget of £120,000, what are your options?

McLaren 720S

The McLaren 720S is widely considered as the best production car to come out of the McLaren Technology Centre. Futuristic in appearance, blisteringly quick, capable of beating most rivals around a race track, yet comfortable enough that it can easily handle long journeys or have the potential to be lived with on a daily basis. With a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 producing 711bhp (720PS), the McLaren 720S is one of the quickest supercars money can buy, 0-62mph is covered in just 2.8 seconds and the top speed is in excess of 210mph. Yet it is also efficient for a car of its type, with a combined consumption of almost 25mpg.

The list price of a McLaren 720S was around £227,000 before any of the expensive options had been ticked, so on the road prices were rarely below £250k and often were considerably more, especially if those options were part of the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) features. Many popular optional extras such as suspension lift system, Bowers & Wilkins audio and various carbon fibre packages or more luxurious interior choices mean that most 720S’s have desirable specifications, so it is more down to preference than anything else.

A quick Auto Trader search (January 2024) for a McLaren 720S saw no fewer than 6 examples around the £120,000 mark. Some had in excess of 30k miles covered, however this is merely a testament to just how comfortable they are. One at a fiver under the £120k threshold actually featured over £40k worth of optional extras, so there are some fantastic examples available. Another also had an expensive specification yet had covered under 7k miles, comparatively barely run-in since it was purchased in 2017.

Ferrari Portofino

Not strictly a supercar as such but the Portofino offered much more dynamism than the California that went before it. Just shy of 600bhp from a 3.8-litre V8 meant a 0-62mph time of just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 199mph means it was certainly no slouch. The hard top folding roof that dispatches at the touch of a button means it is the perfect way to enjoy coupe sportiness for the majority of the time and top-down motoring for the 5 minutes of British summer each year.

The list price for a Ferrari Portofino started at £177,000 yet thanks to ‘essential’ options can easily grow to considerably more. Items such as the Scuderia shields to the front wings, the Daytona styling and full electric function to the seats, carbon fibre trim to the interior and exterior, as well as hi-fi upgrades, surround cameras and adjustable suspension modes are often selected to ensure your Portofino isn’t less desirable than the others when it comes time to sell it. This can easily meant that most are at least £200,000 by time owners are done making the car the way you want it.

Search Auto Trader for the Ferrari Portofino with your £120,000 budget and you will find a handful of examples that are available with a maximum of 30k miles covered and come with most of the optional features many would consider are a must. Ferrari’s excellent colourways and generous servicing and warranty offers mean that you will struggle to find one that isn’t tastefully styled or that hasn’t been properly looked after by Ferrari main dealers. With the nights starting to get lighter and spring just around the corner, is now the perfect time to pick up your convertible for summer drives in the countryside.

Aston Martin DB11 AMR

When Aston Martin removed the V12 DB11 from their line up in favour of the AMG derived 4.0-litre V8 engine, they kept the larger engine going with the sharper, more enhanced DB11 AMR. Using things they learned from the DBS as well as fettling with the existing set up the AMR offered sharper handling, better steering, 30bhp more power yet offered the same comfort and luxury that a ‘normal’ DB11 did. The AMR is exactly what the DB11 needed and showed off the potential of the platform yet retained its grand touring abilities.

Prices for this updated version started at £175,000 but again most were north of £200,000 by the time you had specified premium paint, fancier leather and made sure the stereo was as good as it could be. Oh and made sure there was an Aston Martin branded umbrella in the boot. It may have been more expensive to start with than the Bentley Continental GT but you can’t exactly imagine you are James Bond in one of those can you.

On Auto Trader the AMR version of the DB11, of which there are currently 7 for sale, are all within your £120,000 budget and half are even below £100,000. Not a considerable amount of money for a 630bhp sporty grand tourer that has supercar pace and Aston Martin levels of comfort and refinement. All but two have covered just 10k miles or below, not much at all for a car coming up to 5 years old and still looking as fresh as the day it was launched.

Bentley Continental GTC Supersports

The ‘Supersports’ part at the end means that this is the most extreme Continental GT model that isn’t a stripped-out racer for the road. With a little fettling of the 6.0-litre W12 engine, the end result is 700bhp (710PS), a top speed of 209mph and the ability to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. All whilst travelling in complete opulence and refinement, being massaged by the most comfortable of seats, surrounded by the finest materials and being able to lower the roof if the weather lets you.

With a £44,000 premium over the standard GTC, the list price started at £215,000 when it was introduced in 2018. Whilst the option to include a titanium exhaust system, upgrade the forged wheels, pick from an array of specialist paint finishes and add many carbon fibre extras mean that prices far in excess of £250,000 were not uncommon. Quite a substantial price to pay but surely at the time there wasn’t any way of going quicker in quite as much comfort and in such a relaxing way.

A quick search on Auto Trader shows 7 Bentley Continental GTC Supersport models available and ranging from £105,000 to around the £120,000 price range. The optional features for the majority of the models are as long as you would expect for a car of this calibre, one even has the rare X-Pack option, with two-tone paintwork and a tri-tone interior, itself a further £23,000 to add to the list price when new. The Supersports manages to offer supercar pace in a luxury car grand touring body, that also happens to be a convertible, surely the ultimate one car garage for those with a £120,000 budget.

Porsche 911

With the extensive range of trim levels in the Porsche 911 range it is little surprise that if a 911 is the car you are looking for, there is plenty to choose from for your £120,000. The latest 992 iteration is well within budget if you are looking for the well-equipped and dynamic GTS, whether you are looking for a Carrera 2 or Carrera 4 version. If style and top-down motoring is more your thing your budget will get you a 4S or GTS Targa or Cabriolet. If speed and performance is what you are looking for a 992 version might be slightly out of reach, but the budget easily includes a 991 Gen II Turbo or Turbo S, perhaps a 991.2 GT3 if you are good at haggling.

As is the way with the Porsche range, models such as the GTS might start at £130,000 when new, but by the time a few options have been included it is more likely to cost over £160,000, or more like £170,000 if you want the sought-after ceramic composite brakes. That said, it also means that if you are less fussy about the specification, you could step into a nearly new GTS or Targa for your £120,000. A 991.2 Turbo S started at £150,000 when new and could easily cost 10’s of thousands more by the time you had crafted it into your perfect car. For a late 2018 low mileage example you should be able to see some change for your £120,000, but not a lot, or none at all if a 991.2 GT3 takes your fancy.

The good news is that Auto Trader has an abundance of examples for sale thanks to the popularity and longevity of the 911 brand. Whereas a more exotic supercar may limit your choices to just a handful, you can afford to be specification specific when it comes to looking for the perfect 911 to purchase. Porsche owners tend to be more fastidious than most when it comes to maintaining and specifying their cars so careful shopping should ensure you get the perfect car you are looking for.

Lamborghini Huracan

The Lamborghini Huracan is everything a supercar should be. Loud, very fast and styled in a way that ensures people stare as you drive down the road. It may be almost at the end of its production cycle these days but the Huracan is nowhere near looking dated and constant improvements ensure the technology and interior are bang up to date. The naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine is sure to be the last of a generation that isn’t Hybrid assisted or turbocharged or both. With 640bhp on offer and a soundtrack that never disappoints, the Huracan is the very essence of why we love sueprcars.

The starting price may make the Huracan the most expensive car on this list, starting at over £160,000 before any options are added, but it is the fact that the model has been on sale for almost 10 years that means they are becoming very affordable. The many variations and special editions over the years have only added to the price, but the base Huracan still offers 90% of the thrills and can offer 100% of the supercar ownership experience. Parent company Audi’s fastidious build quality and reliability ensures that the Huracan is built to last and will start first time every time.

An Auto Trader search currently offers 6 Lamborghini Huracan examples under £120,000. All offer the much sought after front lift and only 2 have done more than 30k miles, not exactly much for a car approaching 9 or 10 years old. 1 is even a limited edition ‘Avio’ model, one of just 250 worldwide. Being Lamborghinis, there are always an array of colours available, the brighter shades suiting the car just as much as the black and greys. It may seem like a considerable amount of money for an almost 1o year old car, but once you flip open the start button gaiter and press the button to fire up the roaring V10 engine, you’ll feel it will be worth every penny.

Mercedes Benz AMG GT R

The AMG GTR is one of the most complete supercars money can buy. Almost 600bhp ensures the power and speed part are taken care of, the more voluptuous wider bodywork makes the GTR look like a supercar, and the rear wheel steering and adjustable traction control mean it can perform like one too. The flexibility of the proven 4.0-litre bi-turbo AMG V8 engine, that is used in everything from the C63 AMG at the time to the G-Wagon, that means the AMG GTR is as comfortable cruising down the motorway as it is attacking a racetrack.

The AMG GTR started at around £140,000, yet the majority have the ceramic brake option, and many have carbon fibre extras or the roll cage track pack to take the price £160,000 and above. The fact that the all-new AMG GT for 2024 looks almost identical to the previous generation is a testament to the design which remains fresh and stylish to this day. Find one in ‘The Hulk’ style Green Hell Magno satin paintwork and you’ll turn heads wherever you go.

10 of the 13 AMG GTR’s currently for sale on Auto Trader are within the £120,000 budget, with 7 of them being below £110,000. Despite the usability and cruising capability of the model, all are low mileage with some covering less than 1,000 miles per year. Most owners made sure the carbon ceramic brakes option were ticked and many include the carbon packages that add desirability to the model. The track pack with roll cage and bucket seats are a harder to find option, but whether you need that on your AMG GTR is another matter, PPF however would be advised to protect that long bodywork and deeper front bumper.

Audi R8 V10 Performance

If your £120,000 supercar is intending to be used every day or more often than the occasional weekend treat, the R8 is one of the best in the business. Supercar in appearance, performance and undoubtedly sound, yet as comfortable as a grand tourer and as easy to drive as a hatchback. Whilst most supercars make a fuss of being driven and feel like hard work if you find yourself stuck in traffic or negotiating busy city streets, the Audi R8 is no more difficult than driving a TT. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t pure supercar at heart. The naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine that is shared with the Lamborghini Huracan ensures you have over 600bhp to exploit when the mood takes you.

The Audi R8 Performance in Quattro four-wheel drive configuration starts at £160,000, with previous models such as the Carbon Black being around £5,000-6,000 less expensive. Many expensive options such as carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fibre extras and uprated sound systems are included with the R8 so unless custom paintwork or bespoke leather options are your thing, it was difficult to spend too much more on your flagship Audi. The brand’s reputation for build quality and reliability also ensures that whichever R8 you are looking at, it is likely to be better built than most supercars. The fact that it is all-wheel drive also means that it can be used all year round and in all weather conditions.

The popularity of the model ensures that there are currently over 30 latest generation Audi R8’s for sale on Auto Trader, ranging from just over £100,000 to the maximum £120,000 budget. Despite the ability to be used every day most have covered less than 10k miles and range from 2019 models to some that are not even 6 months old. With so many models available and the differentiation in the specification not much of a factor, you can easily afford to be fussy with colour options and mileage when looking at purchasing your own R8.

Oracle Supercar Finance