Lifestyle | Motors

Hypercars – pre-owned dreams

This is going to be your year, so what car will you buy when you hit it big?
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
Graham Scott
10 January 2016

As the new year gets underway, some will have the dream that this year it’s going to happen. They’re going to be picked for the top team. They’re going to win the lottery. Their invention is going to hit the market and make them millions. It could be true, it could be you.

So, if it is, and you don’t want to splash literally millions on a new hypercar, what could you buy pre-owned with ‘sensible’ money? We line up a mouth-watering five stars for your delectation.

1. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (2007-2009)

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (2007-2009)

We thought we’d start at the bargain basement end. For just £300k you could have a really sound example with under 15,000 miles under its expensive tyres. That gets you a 5.4-litre V8 with five-speed auto box although it does have to power quite a bit of weight. You also get 617bhp, razor-sharp steering, interesting braking and a most wonderful sound from those sidewinder exhausts. Add in the kind of looks that make people stop and stare, a 0-60mph time of just 3.8sec and you’re a bona fide hypercar owner.

2. Saleen S7 (2000-2006)

Saleen S7 (2000-2006)

For a bit more, well, okay, about half a million quid more, you could have something much rarer. This American car, engineered largely in the UK, has power, aerodynamics and looks all going for it. Power? If you get the later version, post-2005, you get a 7.0-litre Ford V8 with twin turbochargers and 750bhp. It’s a classy bit of kit using top components and materials. Aerodynamics? They’ll help you up to 248mph, passing 60mph just 2.8sec after launch. Handsome, well made, rare, very fast – hyper enough for you?

3. Pagani Zonda F Clubsport

Pagani Zonda F Clubsport

If you’re looking for a mint, low-mileage version of this hypercar you’ll need to find about £1.5m. Only 25 coupes were ever made, so it’s likely this would be a sound investment as only a handful were the Clubsport. Revel in the 7.3-litre naturally aspirated V12, with its 641bhp. That’s good for a 0-60mph time of 3.8sec. It’s beautiful inside and out, with immense presence and detailing. They’re reliable too, so it might be worth looking in your local paper’s classified column to see if you can find one.

4. Maserati MC12 (2004-2005)

Maserati MC12 (2004-2005)

If you want to put the hammer down in the MC12 you’ll need about £1.2m. On the other hand, since this is based on the Ferrari Enzo, and is about £300k less than one of those, this is sort of a bargain. They built about 400 Enzos, but only 50 MC12 road cars, so you gain exclusivity too. With a socking great non-turbo V12 producing 623bhp, and a 0-60mph time of 3.8sec, you’re gaining a race-bred Italian hypercar for the road. And virtually all of them will have been garaged and pampered all their lives, so you should find some perfect examples.

5. Koenigsegg CCR (2004-2006)

Koenigsegg CCR (2004-2006)

Here’s an interesting pair of facts – they only made 14 of these hypercars, yet you can get one for a relatively paltry £650,000. For a company still going forward, that could prove a wise investment. And, while it may make you money in the longer term, in the shorter term you can enjoy the 4.7-litre V8.

For the CCR version over the earlier CC8S version, they added two superchargers so you have a monster 805bhp under your foot. With great aerodynamics, that offers a tope end of 242mph and a 0-60mph time of only 3.2sec. You’ll be reassured to hear they upgraded the brakes too. This is rare, extremely potent and just that bit different. And this Koenigsegg could be your golden nest egg.