Cheap exotic performance cars for Christmas

BMW’s M2 Pure is the benchmark affordable rear-wheel drive sports coupe for under $100,000 – no question.

But what if you want to inject some presence into the Christmas presents for yourself? What if you want speed with indulgence and an exotic badge?

Step this way, then, to a selection of five special coupes. A decade ago these five exotics asked between $230,000 and $380,000 new. And now this atmo V8, supercharged V8, V10 and V12-powered cohort can be purchased from just $50,000 … err, plus servicing costs.

And the winner of the more substantial level of depreciation award goes to (drum roll) the 2007 Mercedes-Benz AMG CL63. Far more stately and luxurious than a little M2, this B-pillar-less five-metre four-seater has sunk from $383,000 new to $67,900 with circa-100,000km on the clock.

Yes, the mighty rear-wheel drive 6.2-litre V8-engined coupe, with 386kW at 6800rpm and 630Nm at 5200rpm, has retained just 17.7 per cent of its value.

A relative of the M2 comes a close second. The 2007 BMW M6 started out as a $270,000 proposition and can be purchased now from around the same price as the CL63. Or even cheaper if you’re happy to take an older version of the 5.0-litre V10-powered two-door, given that a 2005 example is currently listed for $43,500 with 100,000km – for retained value of just 16 per cent.

With 373kW at a soaring 7750rpm, the only downside is the ‘SMG’ single-clutch automatic – although it’s still the clear driver’s pick over the above AMG.

Don’t want a BMW or Benz badge?

Note than a 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage manual can be purchased for $87,900 and with under 100,000km showing. Only just replaced by a new-generation, this 4.3-litre V8-engined coupe develops 283kW at 7300rpm and only 410Nm at 5000rpm, but its 1580kg kerb weight is hundreds of kilograms down on the above duo.

It was $236,300 new, or the same price an R8 that remains in six-figure territory. That’s right, an Aston outgunned by an Audi.

In a babushka-doll analogy, though, both Aston and Audi resale values have outstripped that of a 2006 Bentley Continental GT.

Its majestic 6.0-litre W12 takes the cake for depreciation-per-cylinder here, with the 2350kg two-door delivering 411kW at 6100rpm and 650Nm at just 1600rpm, all for $89,900 – just a quarter of the $375,000 sticker price new.

Only 25 per cent of the price also remains on a 2007 Jaguar XKR automatic, the 4.2-litre supercharged V8-powered contender sending 306kW at 6250rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm to the rear wheels only. Forget the 5.2-second 0-100km/h claim because this blown unit offers an epic mid-range (and, okay, burnout response, Sir). New? $227,000. Used? $59,000.

Of course these prices are only set to further fall. Take an Italian marque we haven’t mentioned here so far: Maserati. A 2008 GranTurismo – incredibly, the generation of which is still on sale – was $292,800 new and the 4.2-litre V8 rear-driver with 298kW at 7100rpm, and 460Nm at 4750rpm, is now $89,900 used.

Take its five-years-older predecessor, though, and a 3200 GT is now a $29,900 proposition. And that’s the GranTurismo’s fate right there…