Some of the best-sounding used cars for under £20k we found this week

Let’s dive straight in with one of the few V10-engined cars you can find for under £20k, and what an engine. The E60 M5’s naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre ‘S85’ may inhale bucket loads of petrol and act as a magnet for service bills, but it exhales one of the finest symphonies ever created in exchange for your investment.

The market for GranTurismos is far and wide, so you’re certainly not short if you were to take a chance on one as a companion throughout your midlife crisis. This gorgeous all-black example has just 34k racked up on the clock by a single owner, who would’ve no doubt enjoyed its Ferrari-derived V8 while comfortably perched atop those tan leather seats.

With Merc having a bit of a bee in its bonnet about the powertrain which will propel its most hardcore C-Class moving forward, it gives us a chance to reflect on one of its greatest-ever cars: the raucous W204 C63. You know, the car which says ‘6.3’ on its side despite only being a ‘6.2’ in displacement. We even found a rare ‘Edition 125’ among this week's best deals.

The strange thing about big Jags is that they look subtle and reassuring with their 'gentleman’s express' styling… until you fill them with the very best supermarket petrol you can find and open up the taps. Then, there’s nothing elegant at all about the snarls and snorts. A classic case in point is the XFR, which owes its persona to a supercharged V8.

Let’s peel away from the really common Subies and put one of the less frequented (but still out-populating humanity itself) special editions under the magnifying glass, such as the RB320. It was built to commemorate the life and achievements of legendary rally driver, Richard Burns, and retains the glorious boxer-engined rumble with a seasoning of individuality.

It’s not one single note, but the range of tones the E92’s V8 can achieve which keeps us hooked. Coupled with the irrefutable fact that this generation M3 is one of the finest driver’s cars ever made, the writing is on the wall: this is not only one of the better all-rounders on this list, but also a stern advocate for engine warning lights.

Hot Golfs are developing a bit of an unwanted reputation thanks to the incredibly charming people who drive them, and that’s what makes us so bitter about the screaming MK5 R32. It still looks fantastic and the rounded dynamics will keep you on edge whenever you decide to stretch its legs. The R32 has stood the test of time, so now it’s a question of putting your prejudices aside and joining your brethren in arms at the most convenient McDonald's car park.
 

The second consecutive V6-powered Noughties hot hatch, and arguably Italy’s greatest alongside the Lancia Delta Integrale. 247bhp is directed towards the front of the car while a banshee-like scream travels the other way, but our favourite part is the 147 GTA can still be found in generous quantities across the web. Don’t worry if you can’t find a hypnotist, the engine note will have the same effect on you anyway. Oh, it'd help if you're friendly with a mechanic.

A hallmark of the Aston Martin ballad is a deep howl which builds into a visceral roar, and the gorgeous first-generation DB9 is a fine purveyor of this. A V12 grand tourer which sends 450bhp to the rear wheels through a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, this is a truly epic buy if you’re willing to go one bracket above the £20k budget. And then a few more brackets every year to maintain it.