5 Driver-Centric Pre-Owned Cars Guaranteed to Make You Smile

How do petrolheads spend their free time? We’ll place our bets on them performing what we do on a very frequent basis - scroll through the used car marketplace on Carousell to filter and come up with a shortlist for your dream garage. There are both mainstream choices that we find desirable from a keen driver’s perspective, as well as less obvious picks that might sound ordinary, but we promise they should provide plenty of smiles per mile. Oh, and did we mention that this coincides with “Share a Smile Day” that falls on the 1st of March? Yes, it’s a day that encourages us to be more joyful, an international tradition observed annually since 1997. Petrolheads, do your part, act fast and do not let procrastination wipe that smile off you!

This Toyota / Subaru partnership exemplifies the fact that going against the grain can pay off handsomely. Brave move by the Japanese automakers in an era where brands were bracing for the numerical arms race. Skinny tyres? Check. Naturally aspirated 2.0-litre that extracts a measly 200bhp by 2012 standards? Check. Result? Beyond our wildest imagination with an extremely well balanced chassis and a cocooned seating position that encourages the driver to tackle corners with confidence. We’re keen to have a go in the soon-to-be-launched 2nd-generation Subaru BRZ, but will not neglect how its predecessor charted its own path to satisfy the needs of driving enthusiasts. This low-mileage unit could be the one for you.

Did the MkV GTI ignite the hot hatch era? Very possibly so. It does not shout fancy when placed alongside French, British and fellow German hot hatch siblings. But it is a jack of all trades, and a master of nearly all attributes. It was built well, handled confidently, and the 2.0-litre turbocharged motor excelled in a period where not all hot hatches were force-induced. Examples in the used car marketplace also showed that they have aged very well too. We reckon that a pre-owned unit driven today will garner as much appeal as when it was launched more than 15 years ago.

Yet another driver-centric option that commenced production in early-mid 2000? We’re shaking off our biases to recommend one of the best handling sedans, even till date. We could aim for a more potent six-cylinder non-M range-topper, but we suggest saving some cash to enjoy the 3 Series for its chassis that boasts superb natural balance, aided by a rear-wheel drive setup that entices the driver to attack corners confidently, along with a steering that communicates with exemplary feedback. Not bad for a 1,335kg family hauler that sits five in comfort! This 2-owner example comes with slight modifications to boost its drivability.

First thing that comes to mind? Scalpel-sharp handling and an intoxicating motor that screams way up to well over 8,000rpm. Pure, unadulterated driving adrenaline does not come much closer than the Honda Civic Type R (FD2R). Its suspension tuned for track work does not bode down well for regular road use, but no other companion comes close when you are in the mood for serious hooning down proper B roads with the driving experience enhanced by a silky, low-geared, short shifting 6-speed manual. Are we out of our mind to recommend this as a daily driver? Yes, but these memories will supply you with the last laugh. This Championship White unit looks very pristine.

Suzuki knows a thing or two about producing small cars - the Jimny and Ignis demonstrated that big fun can come in small packages. Perhaps the most popular of all will be the Suzuki Swift, and when specced with a manual and a 1.6-litre motor like this unit, it has, and will still supply plenty of smiles per mile for petrolheads, at any speed. It was the ultimate back-to-basics hatchback for enthusiasts - very interactive thanks to its high revving engine and smooth-shifting manual gearbox. A short wheelbase allows it to take on a corner with more poise and confidence, too. Admittedly outshined by more expensive and powerful European hot hatches in its heyday in mid-late 2000s, but we are certain that this spicy little pocket rocket ticks all the right boxes for the keen driver.

Credits: Gerald Yuen