Five great-looking sports cars that can be picked up in 2025 for under £1,000 – including modern classic Hyundai
A CAR expert has picked out five cool-looking sports cars that can be picked up for under £1,000.
Of course, purchasing a vehicle at such a low price comes with its risks, including potential repairs, running costs, and high mileage.
However, YouTuber Jonny Brighton of the channel has selected his top favourites that, if judged purely on aesthetics, few cars can rival for the price.
Hyundai Coupe
In 2024, Hyundai is renowned for its range of reliable and high-quality family vehicles, from the compact i10 city car to the premium Santa Fe, which was recently voted CarWow's ‘Car of the Year’.
However, around 15 years ago, the Korean brand made a notable attempt to enter the affordable performance car segment—years before the introduction of its N brand—with the Coupe.
First released in the late 1990s and produced until 2008, the second-generation Coupe, which debuted in 2001, is the model Jonny recommends.
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Jonny notes that for under £1,000, drivers can expect to find a late second-generation model with high mileage, though likely without the more powerful V6 engine.
Nevertheless, buyers will get some impressive features for their money, including heated seats, climate control, a leather interior, and a torque gauge.
Alfa Romeo GTV
The Pininfarina-designed Alfa Romeo GTV is a modern classic that continues to turn heads.
Once described by Top Gear legend Jeremy Clarkson as a car with "the sort of looks that make a man want to wet his pants," the GTV was produced between 1995 and 2004 and featured a range of different engine types, including a 3.0-litre V6.
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Jonny notes that the GTV has increased in price over the last few years due to its modern classic status, with £1,000 being the lowest price enthusiasts are likely to find one for.
Jonny added: “Despite Alfa’s notorious reputation for reliability, the engine in these is actually decent.
“The biggest problem, however, would be rust
Mercedes SLK
The SLK was released in the mid-1990s, as Mercedes and other major German sports car brands responded to the popularity of Mazda's affordable, lightweight MX-5.
Indeed, the SLK was specifically designed to be sporty, light, and compact—embodying everything the MX-5 championed.
Featuring sharp, boxy looks, Jonny notes that the SLK can be found for around £850 at the lower end, with a 2002 model starting at £1,000 with high mileage.
Moreover, many of these cars were considered ahead of their time in terms of luxuries compared to other roadsters, including dual-zone climate control, power seats, and electronic stability control.
Mazda MX-5
Jonny talks up the third-generation Mazda MX-5 as one of the best-looking sports cars available for under £1,000.
Known as the NC model, the third-gen model was produced between 2005 and 2015, with the sportier 2012 facelift being a particular favourite of Jonny’s.
Unfortunately, he notes that these are nearly impossible to find within the £1,000 price range, meaning drivers will have to look for the original version or the first facelift from 2008 with high mileage.
However, £1,000 will be enough to acquire a 2.0-litre iteration that produces 157 brake horsepower.
Audi TT
The recently discontinued Audi TT has become a cult favourite among car enthusiasts, with the first-generation version from 2001 in Quattro spec being a rare but possible find for under £1,000.
Jonny describes it as a “great-looking car and a potential classic,” especially in its Quattro spec, which features more aggressive alloys and a wider body kit.
Earlier this year, we spoke to a modern classic car expert who highly recommended the TT, identifying the Quattro Sport edition as a real gem of a motor.
They said: “It's got that black roof, which makes it really iconic, and not many people know about that.
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“They're a bit of a hidden gem, these cars, and of course they have Recaro seats.
“It's just a little bit special.”