Make them an offer they can't refuse: six used Alfa Romeos, and what to pay

At this money, it’s likely to have a 1.9-litre diesel engine which grumbles to 62mph in 9.6 seconds. Underneath it’s a mishmash of 147 hatch and 156 saloon. So, twice as many cars to source spares from. Stretch the budget to £4k, and you’ll get one with the legendary 3.2 litre V6.

Nowhere near as easy to find a cheap Spider as it was when the telly show bagged a GTV, 75 and a classic Spider for £2,500... but armed with a £2k budget it’s doable. We found one with a mere seven owners and 115k miles with £50 to spare! Watch out for oil pumps which sabotage the engine. But is there a prettier used car for £2k?

The Giulia is one of the cars that built the Alfa legend: an affordable, great-driving family saloon equipped with rorty engines. For less than a base modern Junior crossover, we found a rare 1 of 50 (apparently) imported South African ‘Rallye’ example – basically a ready-made competition car with 125bhp and an LSD. Proper Italian motorsport pedigree, for less than a soulless 21st century box? What could go wrong?

The 4C was deeply flawed, no question. But with prices creeping into the £30,000s, you might have some budget to sort out the rear axle’s wayward passive rear steer, the steering’s catastrophic tramline hungry geometry and the droning sports exhaust. Right all of Alfa’s factory wrongs, and, well, it still won’t be as good as a Boxster. Special, though. And rare... with good reason.

In 2007, an 8C was £110,000. In 2025, one of the 500 coupes will set you back almost a quarter million. And yes, when you get turned away from the Alfa service centre because this GranTurismo in disguise can only be worked on at Maserati dealerships, it’ll feel like you paid over the odds for the inconvenience. But just look at it. Very possibly the best-looking new car of the 21st century, with a cackling V8 soundtrack. The head says buy a Maser. But the heart?

Actually, an 8C is a bargain. The original 33 Stradale was the world’s most expensive car in 1968 – two million lira more than a Lamborghini Miura. But these days the prices have more digits than an Alfasud owner’s rust-proofing invoice. Naturally, with only 18 made, you’re not exactly tripping over them down the local car auction. In fact, our top tip is to watch out for the 1930s and 1950s classics – as their admirers pass away, prices are beginning to stutter.