Advice: Used cars - best buys

All the elements were there for success; crowd-wowing looks, an instant waiting list and celebrity endorsement. But Jonathan Ross was the celebrity, somebody not really known for his discerning taste  he wears pink suits, after all. Chrysler dealers today aren't flushed pink with Crossfire sales success, either.

Yes, like Ross, the Chrysler two-seater is brash, not to everyone's taste, but it's not without appeal. There are negatives, such as the dull steering and awful manual gearbox, but remember  this is, in essence, an old-shape SLK. So you get a Mercedes interior and Mercedes mechanicals, including a rorty 3.2-litre V6 that rocks the car from side to side when you blip the throttle at tickover. It's also quicker than it feels  0-62mph in 6.5 seconds. Bigger wheels on the rear compared to the front add muscle car cool and the interior is so comprehensively stocked, an options list barely exists. The stereo is sensational.

Really, it's the lack of appeal of the Chrysler tag on a £27k sports car that did for it. That's why you can pick up a 2003/53 model today for £13,000. For those seeking an affordable coupe, it's quite some choice; ex-demo Hyundai Coupe 1.6, or this? Tempting.

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