The best used coupés, from less than 5,000 to more than 20,000 €
When you don’t have a car seat to install in the back, never a washing machine to move, and automotive aesthetics pushes us towards grace and purity of lines (OK, there are exceptions.. .), the choice of a second-hand coupe can be quite appropriate.
Unless it’s a second car for the weekends, or simply a pleasure car alongside another more practical one.
Still, the coupes gain in elegance, charisma, driving pleasure, which they lose in practicality. But they now represent only 0.3% of new car sales. The second-hand market is not the one that is the most supplied of course. But you can find some nuggets there.
We have decided to make a selection of the most interesting models, whether in terms of performance, price, cost of use, but also reliability, an essential criterion when buying second-hand, and more. for low prices, which corresponds to the oldest cars.
So let’s start with the smallest budget, less than €5,000 (and we’ve limited it to a maximum of 200,000 km), before increasing the prices on the following pages.
Less than €5,000: a meager choice but nothing is impossible
Alfa Romeo GT
There was a time when Alfa Romeo sold very nice coupés, of which this GT is one. So of course, for this budget, it will not be the models in competition condition and with few kilometers that are offered. Neither did the terrible 3.2 V6 model. But you could come across 1.9 JTD 150 or 170 diesel models from 2004 to 2007, running around 180,000 km. Fortunately, a relatively reliable engine. A few 2.0 JTS 165 petrol models are also on the market, offering even fewer kilometers (sometimes less than 110,000 km), and for 4,000 euros just over 150,000 km. It will be necessary to generally monitor the wear of the running gear (suspension arms, silent blocks. But overall, this GT, based on the 147 sedan, is not costly in maintenance and repairs. And for the reduced budget, we has something very nice, and offers a nice and dynamic behavior.
Mercedes CLK
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Yes, you can buy a Mercedes coupé for less than €5,000. Not the latest in fashion certainly, but the first generation of CLK (1997-2002), with very reasonable odds, you stretch out your arms. This large 4-seater coupé is spacious, with a boot allowing you to go on vacation without worry (420 litres). Its quality of realization is of high level, but the presentation is honestly dated today. We will console ourselves with a level of reliability above the lot, whether for the 2.0 atmospheric 136 or the 2.3 with compressor 230 Kompressor, the two engines most present on occasion. We can expect more than 400,000 km by taking care of good maintenance. So, for just under €5,000, you can negotiate a 200 or 230 K model, less than 200,000 km, year 98 to 2001. Some CLK 200 models even have less than 150,000 km.
Peugeot 406 coupe
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The king of Peugeot coupés, with a classic and timeless line, signed Pininfarina. Its success on occasion is undeniable, so much so that the odds are quantified. A real collector. Spacious, comfortable, not too badly equipped for the time with, on certain finishes, heated and electric seats, automatic lighting of the headlights, JBL sound system, traction control, electrochromatic interior mirror, controlled suspensions… Enough to compete with the German models of the time. On the engine side, for the budget, we stay on the 2.0 petrol 137 hp. The highly sought-after 193/210 hp V6 models in good condition are now well over €5,000. But the 2.0 is enough to move this coupe with a little dynamism, without consuming too much.
Be careful, if the overall reliability of this block and of the car is very good, some body parts are starting to become untraceable (bumpers), and some mechanical parts are rare (clutch, power steering pump, etc.). To be purchased in excellent condition. And to keep, given the value it takes year after year.
Renault Megane 3 coupe
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The third generation of Mégane existed, like the first two, in coupé bodywork, which differed from the sedan by a more pronounced roof drop, different bumpers and of course, the disappearance of the rear doors. But the habitability remained that of the sedan, either in the average at the level of the seat, and above this level chest.
For €5,000, don’t expect to get an RS version, of course, but more classic 1.5 dCi 105, 1.9 dCi 130 (180,000 km, year 2009) and even 2.0 dCi 160 hp, already performing well (2009, nearly 200,000km). The reliability of the Mégane 3 is well above that of its predecessor, we will still monitor the 1.5 dCi at the level of the connecting rod bearings. Moreover, we direct you rather to the 1.9 and 2.0 dCi, more reliable. Petrol models, which are also reliable, are extremely rare for this budget.
Other good choices: Renault Megane 1 Coupe, Opel Astra Bertone, Opel Tigra, Honda Accord 6, Ford Cougar, etc.