Best used sports car 2018
carsales has announced its best used car awards for 2018; and the best sports car is...What sort of car makes life worth living on the drive to the shops?
For real motoring enthusiasts nothing beats a sports car – not a hot hatch, not a muscle car, a proper, true sports car.
No one knows quite how to define it, but there is consensus about a true sports car's constituent parts. It should be low slung, rear-wheel drive (maybe all-wheel drive at a pinch), no more than two doors and enough charisma to leave the driver grinning from ear to ear.
For our inaugural running of the carsales.com.au Best Used Car Awards, we've combined the collective grey matter of our expert vehicle reviewers and concrete market intelligence from RedBook to announce the winner in each of 10 categories.
And in 2018, the carsales best used sports car is the 2012...
Mazda MX-5 Touring
The MX-5 scored 39.7 points out of 50 from RedBook and 37.5 points from the five judges for a total of 77.2 points. According to RedBook analysis, the 2012 Mazda MX-5 Touring should sell privately for between $14,900 and $16,900. Used-car expert Cliff Chambers observes of the MX-5: "Chassis perfection, more power would be appreciated".
You can read more about the Mazda MX-5 in our launch review. At the time, reviewer Melissa McCormick wrote: "The MX-5 was wieldy and spirited around the twists of the Otway Ranges, with good balance and grip in corners and a solid steering feel that's nicely weighty at speed."
Find a used Mazda MX-5 now on carsales
Honourable mentions:
Audi TT coupe
Scored 36.6 points from RedBook and 37.5 points from the judges for a total of 74.1
Red Book value: $25,000 to $27,900
"Quirky style, very capable dynamics" – Ken Gratton
Porsche 911 Targa 4 coupe
Scored 29.6 points from RedBook and 42.5 points from the judges for a total of 72.1
Red Book value: $139,700 to $151,600
"You'd happily settle for the two-wheel drive version, but the 4 models offer such control of the 911's ability, no-one could get it wrong." – Melissa McCormick, journalist
What makes a car eligible for carsales Best Used Cars Awards?
• Less than six years old
• Standard side-curtain airbags
• Standard Bluetooth
• Standard reversing camera for SUVs
How did RedBook weight the categories for scoring?
• 10 per cent for resale
• 10 per cent for ANCAP rating
• 20 per cent for cost of ownership
• Five per cent for service intervals
• Five per cent for number of days for vehicle to sell
Read all about carsales Best Used Cars for 2018 here.
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