A USED CAR FOR CHRISTMAS

It's the perfect time of year to treat yourself or a loved one to a used car. But which to choose? JOHN EVANS helps out

-  JOHN EVANS

For the car enthusiast, Christmas is a time of giving - to oneself. And what better gift than a quality used car? To kick off, we've suggested five dream motors with which to indulge yourself, but so friends and family can't accuse you of unseasonal selfishness, we've selected a further 20 cars, arranged across four categories, that should cast you in a more charitable light.

FORD MUSTANG BULLITT 2019-2020

Hollywood is ripe for car-buying inspiration, and having watched Frank Bullitt give chase through San Francisco, who hasn't lusted after a '68 Mustang GT Fastback? You'll pay around £60,000 for one today. Take the plunge but save it for fun runs, then for your daily driver blow £40k on its modern equivalent, the sixth-gen 5.0 Bullitt special. Beware worn front suspension.

We found Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 Fastback, 2019/69, 16,500 miles, £39,950

ASTON MARTIN V12 VANTAGE S 2013-2018

No doubt this Christmas you will observe, on your TV, an Aston Martin being driven unfeasibly quickly by a chap in black tie. It could be a DB5, a DBS, a Volante... But it won't be a V12 Vantage S, because James Bond never drove one. He should have, though, if only to savour its wondrous engine before Mercedes-AMG V8 power was shoehorned in. Full service history essential.

We found Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, 2017/17, 11,000 miles, £117,850

AUDI R8 GT 2022-2023

Another film likely to inspire feverish searches of the classifieds this Christmas is I, Robot (2004), in which Will Smith, driving Audi's RSQ concept car, evades a swarm of deadly robots. Three years after its release the R8 arrived, first in V8 and then V10 forms, both four-wheel drive. However, the one dreams are made of is the rear-drive V10 GT of 2022.

We found Audi R8 V10 GT RWD, 2023/23, 2000 miles, £179,995

PORSCHE 911 DAKAR

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