A second car is liberating – you don’t need to think much about practicality, running costs or a long range.
You’ve probably got a sensible car for commuting, family duties or the food shop. Motors for the mundane are all well and good, but a second car can be something impractical, fun or simply fit for a certain purpose. Something you might end up giving a name to…
Honda Super-N
We borrowed a Honda Super-N for a couple of days and it put a smile on our face whenever we drove it, looked at it, even just thought about it. It's a joyously puerile car that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The standard colour is purple! That matches the ‘boost’ button on the steering wheel, which gives you a big chunk of extra power, plus fake gearshifts and engine noise.
It’s a delight to hoon around a country lane, its narrowness makes it easy to thread though cheeky gaps and it draws attention from plenty of passers by. Being based on a kei car, it’s even surprisingly practical. The only downside is its circa-100-mile range, making this a bit of a toy.
Mazda MX-5
What the Mazda MX-5 lacks in practicality, it makes up for with delightful handling and a youthful verve. It’s a sports car that doesn’t demand any compromises – it’s perfectly sized for twisty British B-roads, it’s reliable, and it’s even quite fuel efficient. The current MX-5 has been on sale for a decade so there are plenty of used examples that won’t break the ‘fun car’ budget. With all the must-have modern creature comforts and a roof that folds down in a couple of seconds, you’ll be taking the MX-5 out on every possible journey in good weather. It might even make your sensible car become the second car.
Shop used Mazda MX-5 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Mazda MX-5 review
Porsche Boxster
The Porsche Boxster follows a similar formula to the MX-5, but in a more-is-more way. More power, more performance and more people telling you it’s the perfect sports car this side of a 911. We’ll jump on the bandwagon. Whether you pick the manual or the ‘PDK’ automatic gearbox, the driving experience is sublime with perfect balance and highly communicative handling. There’s a vast level of power under your foot, and an inimitable quality all around where you’re sitting. Go for the Boxster so you can enjoy the sunny days more than you would in the fixed-roof Cayman.
Shop used Porsche cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Porsche reviews
Dacia Spring
This is surely the first time ever a Dacia Spring has appeared next to a Porsche Boxster on a ‘best cars’ list. Both are excellent second cars but in very different ways.
The Spring is ideal for local journeys and running errands. Supremely easy to park, nippy around town and costing pennies to run, the Spring is extremely fit for purpose – whether that’s the school run or grabbing essentials for dinner. Dacia’s baby EV is cheerful and charming in a utilitarian way.
Shop used Dacia Spring cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Dacia Spring review
Mini Cooper
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Next, we go from cheap to chic. The Mini Cooper is classy and desirable, with a highly textured and highly technological interior. This is a top choice if you want a stylish second car. It’s also ideal if you want something fun to drive – even the lower-power options are delightful, while the Cooper S sticks to the recipe but with improved performance. And that’s never a bad thing. You can pick from petrol or electric options, both have an automatic gearbox as standard.
The Cooper replaced the Mini Hatchback, which is widely available, cheaper and comes with a manual gearbox option if you want that facet of the experience.
Shop used Mini Cooper cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Mini Cooper review
Mercedes A-Class
The Mercedes A-Class probably isn’t practical enough for most families to use as their main car, but it’s up to the task for days out or commuting – you just might want a bigger car than the A-Class for holidays or wallet-busting Ikea runs. The A-Class has a fancy cabin that you’ll be keen to soak into after a hard day at work, but its (mostly) economical lineup of engines makes sure that you’re not wasting all your salary on running costs.
Shop used Mercedes A-Class cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Mercedes A-Class review
Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo is exceptional in most areas, making it a superb choice if you want a very capable and sensible car. It has the assurance and solidity of a big car on the motorway, yet it’s really easy to park. If you’re a two-car household, you probably don't need a big car each, but the Polo has the quality to do most of your journeys. And, despite not being a hybrid, the Polo will return around 50mpg.
Shop used Volkswagen Polo cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Volkswagen Polo review
Nissan Leaf
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The Nissan Leaf is really good value for a family hatchback – used examples are readily available for under £10,000. Leaf buyers can look forward to a silky smooth driving experience, plenty of interior space and the ability to top up the battery for just a couple of quid on the right tariff. Its modest range and unusual fast-charging setup make it less well suited to long journeys or being a family’s main car, but those concerns evaporate if you’ve got another car for cross-country trips.
Shop used Nissan Leaf cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Nissan Leaf review
Vauxhall Corsa
The Corsa needs no introduction – it’s a staple of British roads and one of the evergreen options in the supermini class. Being so omnipotent means it’s widely available for beer money on the second-hand market, and its peppy petrol engines keep costs down if you’re not racking up tens of thousands of miles a year.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
Ford Focus
Like the A-Class, Polo and Corsa, the Ford Focus is a great car in its own right. The Focus will be practical enough to be a main car for many people, with its impressive legroom and decent boot. We’ve stuck it on this list because family buyers might gravitate towards SUVs or estate cars for their primary car, and the Focus would work well assisting a larger car or being used for one family member’s commuting needs. If you’re not too bothered about fuel costs for your second car, there’s the deliriously entertaining Focus ST hot hatch.
Shop used Ford Focus cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Ford Focus review
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