One of the great benefits of buying a used car rather than a new one is being able to get some classic luxury vehicles for a fraction of their original price. While a brand new Mercedes-Benz or Audi might be outside the price range of many buyers, lots of people are able to afford used BMWs every year.
James Bond has always been at the forefront of defining luxury and style, with the naming of a new Bond car typically enjoying just as much attention as the naming of a new Bond girl. Thanks to the reduced prices of the used car market, fans of the British superspy can now own some of his famous cars without paying the huge prices that they commanded when they were first introduced.
Cars.com looked at the top 10 vehicles to ever serve as Bond cars, and many of them may fit in the price range of modern car buyers.
Two of the Pierce Brosnan-era vehicles made the list, and both were BMWs. Bond used the 1997 BMW 750iL in “Tomorrow Never Dies,” where he drove it on a high-speed chase through a multilevel parking garage. Although the spy’s 750iL came equipped with rockets, tear gas, spike strips and magnetic flash grenades, drivers can likely find a used BMW with a few less options at an auto auction or used car lot.
Bond got a little more stylish for 1999, where he switched to a BMW Z8 for “The World is Not Enough.” This two-seater V8 coupe might move almost as fast as a missile, but most models unfortunately don’t come with the ground to air warheads that Bond had in his vehicle.
Some of the more classic cars on the list will likely be a bit rarer and tough to find. But if drivers find a 1975 Lotus Espirit from “The Spy Who Loved Me” or a 1961 Sunbeam Alpine from “Dr. No” they should try to snatch it up. The true classic, however, is the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from “Goldfinger,” which took the top spot on the list.
These vehicles might have been among the most expensive in the world back in their heyday, but their prices have likely fallen quite a bit in the past few years. Drivers looking for a used BMW should keep their eyes peeled for a 750iL, Z8 or even a Z3, which was used in “Goldeneye.” The top spy cars of yesteryear can become the bargains of today.