Take it or leave it: second hand picks for 25 March
A hot Spanish supermini with rarity on its side is our pick of this week's classified car ads
Looking for a subtle hot hatch? Step forward the Seat Ibiza Cupra, the sportiest version of Seat’s supermini, produced from 2009 to 2017. We’ve chosen the range-topping Bocanegra model, which was on sale for just three years and limited to 1000 annually worldwide.
Ever seen one in the wild? If not, we wouldn’t be surprised. There are just 373 on UK roads, according to government figures, and numbers are tumbling further each year.
*Seat Ibiza Bocanegra, £6999*
The Bocanegra was a spruced-up version of the Ibiza Cupra that, for a £700 premium over the standard car, featured a bespoke design inspired by the Seat 1200 Sport of the 1970s.
The front end was encased in black (‘bocanegra’ means ‘black mouth’ in Spanish) and the foglights were incorporated into the bumper. It had a more muscular and aggressive look, which certainly helped it stand out from more established rivals like the Renault Clio RS and Volkswagen Polo GTI. It also gained chunkier wheel arches, a larger spoiler and tinted rear wheels, while ‘Bocanegra’ badging replaced ‘Ibiza’ at the rear.
It was even more distinguishable inside, with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, aluminium-clad pedals, red stitching for the sports seats and gloss black trim throughout.
As on the normal Ibiza Cupra, standard kit included cruise control, climate control, hill hold assistance and tyre pressure monitoring.
Under the bonnet sat a 178bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, yielding a 0-62mph time of 7.2sec.
While the lack of a manual option in a hot hatch will put some off, the Ibiza Cupra made up for it in other areas, thanks to considerable improvements to the supermini’s driving dynamics.
Our road testers at the time said the spicy Spaniard had “high grip levels, well-judged damping and good body control”. Minimal body roll and direct steering meant you could really push into corners, while the XDS electronic limited-slip differential kept things interesting on the exit.
We found a 2009 Bocanegra advertised for £6999 – a reasonable price, we reckon, considering its rarity. It also has a full service history, while its bodywork and interior appear to be in near-perfect condition, having seen only 59,000 miles.
*Verdict: Take it*
*Hyundai Kona Iron Man Edition, £25,000*
Hyundai made a crossover fit for Tony Stark in 2019. This is one of only 300 UK cars and has done just 15,000 miles, but it’s £25,000. That’s £3000 more than for some Konas of similar vintage and a hefty premium for matt grey paint, red accents and themed decals. Your kids will love it, though.
*Verdict: Leave it*
*BMW 6 Series 650i Coupé, £7990*
Marmite styling aside, the E63 BMW 6 Series is a great grand tourer with supple ride and excellent performance. This example is powered by a 4.8-litre petrol V8 with 367bhp for a 0-62mph sprint of 4.6sec. A sub-£8000 price is excellent value, especially given its kit, which includes leather upholstery, sat-nav and cruise control.
*Verdict: Take it*
*Nissan Leaf 24kWh (2011-2017), £9900*
The Nissan Leaf was one of the pioneers of electric propulsion, with a familiar driving experience, a comfortable ride and practicality for families. While priced fairly, the downside of this example is its small battery. It has a claimed range of just 120 miles, which might not be enough to combat range anxiety for some.
*Verdict: Leave it*