Used examples of the latest version of this super-coupe are already on the market for around £2,000 off the list price

But for motorists looking for a new car, the used market has some real gems on offer.

Vijay Pattni takes a look at how to buy the best – for less.

Ford Focus ST

The 2008 Ford Focus has been launched to critical acclaim, reaffirming its position as Britain’s best-loved car, combining genuine driving dynamics, practicality and an affordable price tag.

And for hot-hatch lovers, the Focus ST takes the humble Ford by the horns and mixes it up.

Sporting a 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the Ford Focus ST provides massive performance and is a great B-road blaster.

On-the-road prices for the 2008 Ford Focus ST start at £17,995 – but we found a 2007 Focus ST 3dr with just 8000 miles on the clock for £14,000.

If the storming ST isn’t your cup of tea, you can pick up a ’07 Focus 1.8 TDCi with less than 15,000 miles on the clock for just £9,000, almost £3,000 less than the cheapest new Focus.

Mini Cooper S

BMW’s take on the Mini has been one of the British car industry’s great success stories, and the company’s production plant at Oxford has barely been able to keep up with the order books.

Injecting a healthy dose of steroids to the iconic Mini of the 60s, the new Mini offers up style, substance, and decent practicality – together with BMW’s rock-solid build quality.

Prices for the hot Mini Cooper S start at £17,085 on-the-road – we found a 2005 Mini Cooper S with 12,000 miles on the clock for under £12,000.

But if you still hanker after the original don’t fret – we found tidy examples of the first Mini for under £2,000.

BMW M3

The new BMW M3 is the benchmark for small sports saloons, and is the latest in a long illustrious line of fabulous BMW M cars.

Used examples of the latest version of this super-coupe are already on the market for around £2,000 off the list price. But settle for the previous generation M3 (E46 model), and you can bag yourself a bona-fide six-cylinder screamer.

We found a 2005 BMW M3 with just 16,500 miles on the clock for £26,995, or an earlier 2003 model with 36,000 miles for just £19,950.

However, for a less hair-raising experience, buyers can get themselves into a 2007 BMW 318d – the best compromise of driving dynamics, economy and build quality – for around £17,000, which is £6,000 off the list price.

Porsche 911 Carrera

The rear-engined Porsche 911 is infamous for its driving involvement, build quality and everyday usability – simply put, there is no other four seat coupe on the market which provides a better driving experience for the money.

And you can grab a 2005 Porsche Carrera with less than 10,000 miles on the clock for under £50,000, saving more than £10,000 off the list price.

Don’t be put off by the entry-level Carrera though – it sports a fantastic 3.6-litre flat-six engine and accelerates from 0-62mph in just 5 seconds.

But if the 911 isn’t your thing, you can always opt for its little brother – the Porsche Boxster.

Lauded by critics, the Porsche Boxster is one of the finest driving machines on earth. We found a 2005 2.7-litre Boxster with 14,000 miles on the clock for £23,995 – nearly £10,000 off the price of a brand new model.

Aston Martin DB9

The Aston Martin DB9 is a byword for sporting elegance – one of the most lusted-after bodystyles in the universe coupled to a howling 6-litre V12 engine makes this a truly epic car.

Buy one from Aston Martin and you’ll say goodbye to the thick end of £108,000. Plump for a used one however, and you’ll save yourself thousands.

We found a 2005 Aston Martin DB9 with 15,000 miles on the clock for just £69,995 – a saving of nearly £40,000.

But if this is a little out of budget and you simply must have an Aston parked on the drive, opt for the DB7 instead. A tidy one with less than 20,000 miles on the clock can be found for around £35,000.