There are so many candidates here, but we can rule out SUVs, purists will focus only on coupes and sedans and everyone except the abnormally brave will walk away from anything with a V10 under the hood.
The best general rule with M cars is that less really is more, and always has been. These cars are cheaper, lighter and better to drive than their high-power overweight siblings.
All used cars are terribly expensive right now, but a five-year-old BMW M2 for £ 27,000 seems tempting and less than £ 20,000 is probably enough to secure an E90-generation M3, with its V8 natural aspiration calling and, crucially, the standard manual gearbox.
But if there’s one outstanding used M car, it has to be an E46 M3, built between 2000 and 2006. Powered by a scorching in-line six and with an amazing chassis balance, in terms of value for money and driving pleasure, this is the largest M car in the world today.
You can pick up long cars for just £ 16,000, but in the long run it may be cheaper to book £ 25,000 and get a low-mileage coupe and late model. And avoid the SMG gearbox …
Mike Duff: BMW M3 [E90]
While many have lost money trying to guess the market for used M cars, it is clear that the 2007 M3 is already on an upward trajectory, driven by the fact that it is, with the exception of the very rare E46 M3 GTR. , the only M3 with V8 engine.