10 cool used cars for the same price as an Audi A3 – including a supercar
October 31, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
The Audi A3 is a great choice if you’re after a posh hatchback, but there are some seriously cool used cars out there for the same money.
Us Brits love a premium hatchback, and the Audi A3 is one of the best-selling cars on sale today. It’s a great all-rounder, offering decent practicality, loads of tech, fuel-efficient engines and it’s comfortable to drive as well.
The thing is, it’s a bit pricey for a family hatchback. It starts from around £30,000, rising to £35,000 once you’ve gone for the right engine and a nice spec. If you throw your sensible hat away for a second there are loads of cool cars you could have for that sort of money – from thumping V8 supercars to rare Japanese performance saloons.
We’ve found 10 cool cars for enthusiasts on the second hand market with a £35,000 budget. Now these aren’t necessarily the most sensible choices, a lot are definitely heart-over-head purchases, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming from time to time.
- Jaguar XF
- Mercedes-AMG C63 S
- BMW 8 Series
- Skoda Octavia vRS
- Porsche Macan S
- Audi e-tron Sportback
- Volkswagen Golf R
- Subaru WRX STI
- Ford Mustang
- Audi R8
1. Jaguar XF
Let’s start off strong with a slice of British luxury. The Jaguar XF not only looks great on the outside, it also has a properly posh interior and it’s fantastic to drive – managing to be both comfortable on long journeys and good fun on a twisty road.
The petrol engines are pretty thirsty, so if you’re looking for fuel economy you’ll want the 2.0-litre diesel. We found a 2024 Jaguar XF with 7,300 miles on the clock for £34,995, and it’s the sporty-looking R-Dynamic model.
2. Mercedes-AMG C63 S
If you’ve taken complete leave of your senses and want a whopping great V8 instead of the A3’s sensible 1.5-litre petrol engine, you can get a Mercedes-AMG C63 S for the same money. This is a blisteringly quick car with a glorious soundtrack, all wrapped up in a stylish coupe body.
This isn’t a car for the faint of heart though, because it’s rear-wheel drive and pretty lairy through the bends. That 4.0-litre engine won’t win any economy contests either, but that’s not usually a huge priority for AMG buyers. A quick browse through the classifieds unveiled a 2018 C63 S Coupe ith 53,000 miles on the clock for £29,995.
3. BMW 8 Series
If you’re planning a road trip across Europe, there are few cars better-suited to the job than the BMW 8 Series. This luxurious grand tourer is comfortable and quick, and the interior is a lovely place to spend time as well.
You won’t want to carry rear passengers across continents because the back seats are pretty cramped, but for just you and a significant other it’s a great mile-muncher. We found a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol example from 2021 for £34,990, and it has just 29,000 miles on the clock.
4. Skoda Octavia vRS
Let’s bring things back down to earth for a second, because the Skoda Octavia vRS is actually a great alternative to an A3 for a few reasons. For the same price as an entry-level Audi you get Skoda’s flagship performance hatchback, offering a cavernous boot and impressive performance.
It’s not as nimble as other, more focussed hot hatchbacks, but the Octavia vRS is a great choice if you’re looking for something which can handle the family’s daily needs while still looking and feeling nice and sporty. Our £35,000 budget will get you behind the wheel of a nearly-new example, but £30,000 can get you a vRS which is just a couple of years old.
5. Porsche Macan S
What if you’re after an SUV which can put a smile on your face? Well the Porsche Macan S feels like a hot hatchback to drive but also has the jacked-up ride height a lot of buyers are looking for. Powering the S is a potent 3.0-litre V6 engine which is plenty powerful enough to put a smile on your face.
It’s not the cheapest car to run thanks to a pretty hefty thirst for petrol, but there aren’t many cars which offer useful practicality and this sort of performance in one package. A £35,000 budget will get you a 2018 example with reasonable miles.
6. Audi e-tron Sportback
Maybe you fancy switching to an EV? Well for the same price as an A3 you could waft away in Audi’s flagship electric SUV. The e-tron is a smart-looking thing with a futuristic interior, and it’s super-comfortable on longer trips.
It doesn’t have the best driving range in this class, and it leans a bit through the corners, but if you’re after an EV with loads of tech and spacious rear seats, this is it. For £35,000 you can get a 2022 e-tron with low miles.
7. Volkswagen Golf R
Hot hatches are hard to beat when it comes to bang-for-your-buck. You get lots of power and sharp handling in a practical and well-priced package, and the Volkswagen Golf R is one of the best around.
The interior tech may be a bit fiddly, but it’s easy to ignore this while you exploit the 300hp engine and grippy all-wheel drive system on a back road. It’s also just as spacious as the standard Golf, and you can get behind the wheel of a 2023 example within our budget.
8. Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Subaru only sells forgettable family SUVs these days, so it’s easy to forget that it was once a class-leader in rally-bred performance saloons. The WRX STI looks totally bonkers on the outside, and all those wings and vents aren’t just for show either.
It has a 2.5-litre six-cylinder engine with 300hp and all-wheel drive, so it has enough grip for you to exploit it in all weather conditions. Just don’t expect stellar fuel economy or comfort. A 2016 WRX STI can be yours for less than £30,000.
9. Ford Mustang
American muscle cars are few and far between here in the UK, and the Ford Mustang is the only one you can buy over here with right-hand drive. You get a big ol’ 5.0-litre V8 under the bonnet sending power to the rear wheels, just as it should be.
It’s not as refined as some of the German competition, with interior quality falling short of an Audi’s, but there’s something about the allure of a muscle car which just makes them desirable. A 2019 Mustang GT can be yours for between £30,000 and £35,000.
10. Audi R8
Got some brave pills handy? For £35,000 you can get a full-blown supercar in the form of the Mk1 Audi R8. It’s powered by a mid-mounted naturally-aspirated V8 engine with a sonorous soundtrack, the low-slung bodywork just looks exotic.
Obviously you’ll need to tread carefully with a 16-year-old R8 as maintenance will be expensive – things are likely to go wrong and when they do your wallet will suffer. Still, it’s nice to dream every once in a while.
Looking for an easy way to change your car? Then Carwow is the place to go. You can sell your old car for a great price, and get the best deals on a new one. All through our network of trusted dealers and all from the comfort of your home. Tap the button below to get started today.