Aston Martin V8 Vantage, 2007, 37k, £34,950
Later than expected, summer has arrived. Hallelujah. And while in Britain we must always take the rough with the smooth (i.e. sleeping in a slow cooker), it is a truth universally acknowledged that the sunshine’s best accompaniment is a large petrol engine and no roof. Obviously, you can spend a lot less than £35k on that combination, but if you’re going to do it right, we’ve plucked that accommodating figure from the air - not least because it buys you a respectable-looking V8 Vantage. Not a guaranteed recipe for trouble-free ownership, perhaps, but this one has been used sparingly by two owners and is fresh from a main dealer service. And there really is nothing like an Aston under a blue sky.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (997.2), 2008, 41k, £31,900
There’s not much that competes with the sound of a flat-six drawling behind your exposed bonce either. If your response to the idea of a 997 Carrera Cabriolet is ‘I think I’d prefer a Boxster’ then that’s totally valid - the budget buys you a lovely one. But there is something about an open-top 911 that separates it into a more senior category than Porsche’s ubiquitous roadster. Especially with 350hp from the S-badged 3.8-litre motor and a manual ‘box. This one, with just 41k on the clock, is the widebody 4S and looks great in black. Admittedly the red leather won’t suit everyone - but if you’re looking to replicate the pleasure of driving up the Californian coast, there’s nothing better.
Morgan V6 Roadster, 2014, 65k, £34,995
Of course, if you’re happier replicating the pleasure of driving through the Cotswolds in something quintessentially English and classic-shaped, then you’ll be after an ash-framed Morgan. The Roadster replaced the long-running Plus 8 with essentially the same car, albeit powered by a Ford V6. Earlier versions got the old 3.0-litre Duratec unit, but this later car features the chunkier 3.7-litre Cyclone with 280hp. Not that you’ll be needing all of that: the Roadster is not meant for driving flat-out, but for cruising between village pubs. Meet a bump mid-corner and you’ll know about it. But in this Montreal Blue one with wire wheels, you’ll probably be making too many misty memories to care all that much.
Mercedes-AMG C63 S, 2016, 28k, £35,995
If the Morgan is far too old-fashioned for your tastes, the budget also buys you something much more up to the minute. Avoid looking at the infotainment and you could easily believe that the W205 C63 was launched last year. Save for the sound of 4.0-litre V8, which is very much in the model’s rearview mirror - and simultaneously the reason for buying one now while it’s still comparatively box-fresh. Without haggling, you’ll need slightly more than the budget allows to get this one in Brilliant Blue over White leather. But with 510 sonically-pleasing horsepower on offer and just 28k under its belt, it still seems like a lot of car for the money.
Lotus Elise 135R, 2003, 65k, PH Auction
While there’s a lot to be said for wielding a big V8 stick, the other way to do summery days is in something no bigger than a gnat’s bathing suit. Moreover, by beating a path to Elise ownership, you’ll also save yourself a lot of money - not just in running costs, but also outlay: the PH auction guide price for this 135R is way under budget. Which is doubly rewarding when what you’re getting is a hands-down classic. And quite a rare one, too: How Many Left reckons there are just 25 examples of the thoughtfully souped-up Elise still on UK roads. Which makes us think this one, even allowing for its hero-level mileage, is cheap at twice the price.
BMW M6, 2017, 32k, £36,750
If the Elise is a dead cert when it comes to seasonal fun, the prospect of a convertible M6 is more about relishing the novelty. PH cannot remember ever seeing one in real life, which suggests they did not fly from the dealership shelves originally. The M6 hardly enjoyed a stellar reputation when new, and we’ll admit the roof suffers a bit from ‘tramp’s hat’ syndrome - but with depreciation cleaving huge chunks from the asking price, what a thing to smoke around in seven years later? This one is said to have been treated to all manner of price-be-damned ticks and was seemingly seldom used by its single previous owner. If nothing else, it would be a stupendously showy way of waving goodbye to BMW’s unfettered 4.4-litre V8. Like the exact opposite of a Just Stop Oil protest.
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