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Outrage and awe greeted the Testarossa when it was launched in 1984 – feelings have never subsided since Report by Chris Rees. Photography by Michael Ward.

The market supply of used 3 Series Saloons continues to grow rapidly, and that means just ten grand now bags a whole host of appealing second-hand E90 examples; with both high performance and super-efficient models around in substantial numbers. And that means discounts – big ones. So whether you’re buying privately, or at a dealership, don’t be tempted to pay anything like the asking price on these top three 3 Series buys.

At the ‘Ring at the end of last year my friend Ravi was hot on my heels driving the VLN E46 M3 race car fitted with slicks and my E92 just couldn’t match his speed in the tight sections. On these parts of the track my car tended to understeer – sometimes dangerously – but most of the time I just had to brake earlier and wait to get back on the throttle. Aside from the sticky slicks, the extra 250+kg my car was carrying didn’t help the cause – there is only so much the wide 285 section Cups can take…

It might be 20-years-old but the E39 is still a great machine. Lauded in its day for being the ‘Best Car In The World’ the E39 Five can still be an excellent used buy whether you’re after a cheap 520i to use as a runaround or a last-of-the-line 530i Sport to covet. Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: BMW.

For the first time since 1965, you can buy a Bentley that doesn't look like a Rolls-Royce, though you’ll need £175,000 to spend. The Continental R Coupe combines turbo V8 thrust with stately-home splendour. Richard Bremner drives it. Photographs by Tim Andrew.

Senior citizens. The Ferrari 412i and the Jaguar Sovereign V12 are totally different animals in many ways, but they have two major features in common which make them saloon car cousins of the most exclusive kind - they both have classic V12 engines and they both have the performance and sporting character of four-seater supercars. Kevin Blick tried these two last bastions of the earlier V12 generation, back-to- back, and found two ultimates. Try both for just £100,000.