Here are 10 very cool used cars with great sounding engines for under £30k

Yes, this one we found has been modified – good luck finding one that hasn’t – but it’s in good condition and the mods are tasteful. Plus, it’s had a professional respray, and most importantly contains a fantastically high-revving rotary engine that just sounds brilliant.

You like oil changes, right?

Of course. As long as you’re reading TopGear.com, there’ll always be an Alfa. This subdued example looks to be in rather good condition, and bears just under 40k miles on that glorious 3.2-litre Busso V6.

Remember, you’re not a petrolhead unless…

Modern M3s sound a bit muffled when you listen to one of these wideboys fully spooled up and angry. The 3.2-litre straight six nestled in the E46 Coupe’s very-pleased-to-see-you bonnet is an absolute gem.

Get ‘em while you still can

We’ve gone for the classic naturally aspirated 6.2-litre Goliath here because it’s one of the greatest engines ever crafted – literally – by human hands. Over four hundred and fifty horses of German excellence, all wrapped up – in this instance – in the perfect package.

Look, it’s a performance V8 estate!

The name stretches back to the 1960s, though you already knew that. And it’s Italian for ‘four doors’, but you already knew that too. And so you know that 4.7-litre V8 under the long, beautiful bonnet is an absolute cracker. Everything’s better in a Quattroporte.

A bella figura, right here

In complete contrast to the honeyed tones of that Maser’s V8 comes the brutal industry that lays flat under the very vented bonnet of this Scooby. Boxers FTW.

Blue and gold!

Where the Merc offers 6.2-litres of German excellence, here’s the British riposte: five glorious litres of supercharged noise. It’s not an engine, it’s an orchestra; the last night of the Proms played through an amplifier. You won’t get anywhere in a straight line but getting from A to B without drama is so boring.

Torch your fuel budget with this white example

A multiple engine of the year award winner, the 2.5-litre five pot slung in the nose of the RS3 – and countless others, but we’ve gone for Audi’s hot hatch here - is an absolute gem. Powerful, raspy, chuntery and just plain ol’ mighty.

Here’s a red one because why the heck not

Doesn’t get going until you’re practically flogging it to absolute hell, but hoo boy when you get there this thing delivers. Again. And again. And again. Because it’s a Honda, so it’ll keep delivering long after others have given up.

Getting harder to find these now, but this one’s a minter

It’s an old Italian rally car with a lovely 2.0-litre four pot. It looks like a box with wings. It might be the best thing you ever own.

Get those pace notes ready