Sporty BMW heads list of ‘most profitable’ sub-£3,000 cars

A sub-£3,000 2008-plate BMW Z4 Coupe offered the biggest profit potential at auction last month, according to Carwow.

The online marketplace looked at selling prices and identified the BMW as having the highest potential profit margin at £3,706. after factoring in £1,000 for condition, prep and other costs.

A 2014-plate Volvo XC60 with a potential profit margin of £3,100, came in runner-up position followed by a 2014 Land Rover Evoque (£2,325), a 2014 Ford Focus (£2,300) and a 2011 plate MINI Clubman (£2,295). 

A Peugeot 308 came sixth with an estimated margin of £1,980, with a Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer close behind at £1,600. MINI made a second appearance in the top 10 with a five-door Hatchback (£1,598) appearing in seventh, ahead of a Lexus RX Estate (£1,550) in ninth and a Volkswagen Passat Estate (£1,395) in tenth. 

The full top 10 is as follows:

Sally Foote, Carwow chief commercial officer - Sell My Car, said: “It’s great to see a sports car topping our list of most profitable cars bought for under £3,000, highlighting the diversity of the available stock. 

“While this top 10 doesn’t necessarily reflect actual retail sale results, it does highlight the healthy margins that are potentially available for savvy dealers specialising in this profile of stock when working retail-back.”