This week we've virtually kicked the tyres of French hot hatches, British fastbacks, and German sports cars

By PH Staff / Sunday, February 21, 2021 / Loading comments

Peugeot 208 GTI by Peugeot Sport, 2016, 37k, £10,600

While we’re yet to see a GTI version of Peugeot’s present-generation 208, the memory of this French firm’s last effort remains vivid enough. The GTI by Peugeot Sport might have been a flash in the pan as far as production runs are concerned, but there was enough magic in the range-topper to see it properly differentiated. Admittedly, I’m yet to sample one first-hand, but you need spend only two minutes (although inevitably they’ll go on for far longer) talking to either Matt or Ben about PH’s old Peugeot Sport long termer to know it is ranks highly among the best hot hatches of the last decade.

Despite that talent, used prices aren’t actually that different to the normal car. Case in point: while I was ogling this GTI for its a sub-£10k price, Matt promptly pointed me at proper PS car that’s only £605 more. It’s just one year and 8k miles older, so I can only assume the value is held back by the fact that a 208 GTI, even in Peugeot Sport guise, remains a low-key choice. It’d be far more obvious to go for a used Clio, Civic or ST. Not helping this particular car is its divisive launch-spec two-tone paintjob, but given how brilliant it handles, and the fact it’s well under half the original price, I think I could live with that. SS

Rover SD1, 1980, £145,000

Our parents have a lot to answer for when it comes to car taste. Because when you're young and impressionable, it's all too easy for their preferences to rub off. For me, even though I was born years after it went out of production, it's the Rover SD1. My old man loved them, so I grew to love them. Cheers, Dad.

Age inevitably wore that fondness down, but then I saw an SD1 race – and that changed everything. It was this race in fact, the Gerry Marshall Trophy of the 72nd Goodwood Members' Meeting, which Chris Ward and Andrew Smith won in a former Patrick Motor Group SD1. Watching the enormous old Rover thunder around the motor circuit wholly renewed my affection for it, and on those occasions where I've been fortunate to go again it's always been the touring car races – and the Rovers in particular – I've watched most eagerly.

You can imagine, then, that this SD1 has me a bit hot under the collar. It too is one of the Patrick Motor Group Rover, albeit one still owned by former PMG team principal Martin Thomas. It's recently been completely overhauled, up for sale race ready with an FIA Historic Technical Passport, meaning eligibility for Peter Auto events and – most importantly – Goodwood. Yes, it costs more than a new GT3, but it would be fair to say this old Rover race car has had me just as excited this week. Let's hope it's back racing soon. MB

Porsche Cayman S Sport, 2008, 36k, £31,995

The Porsche Cayman S Sport was always a rare car, with just 700 produced worldwide prior to the 987 Cayman's facelift. In fact, it's said that just 69 UK cars were allocated, meaning you hardly ever see them. And while it was hardly a GT4 for the 2000s, the Sport was noteworthy: power was up over the S to 303hp, lower PASM suspension was standard, Alcantara featured liberally inside and GT3 RS orange was on the paint palette.

This isn't a regular Sport, though. In fact, it's hard to know what best to call it given the parts fitted: see the carbon bucket seats, carbon strut brace, PCCB ceramic brakes, H&R springs, Autofarm carbon bootlid, 997 Carrera wheels like the Porsche Museum example… it's quite the overhaul. And if not to everyone's taste, then clearly the subject of enormous time, effort – and money. More than £10k alone has gone into the seats and brakes, so while an asking price of £31,995 puts it right at the top of first-gen Cayman values, it would cost an awful lot more to build one. And a lot more than £30k has been spent on a bespoke Porsche before… NC

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