Your correspondent who buys cars with high depreciation is on the right track, but I've refined the idea even further. Go to your local Lexus dealer and ask them for the name of the local independent car trader to whom they off load older, lower value cars taken in part exchange. I'm on my third Lexus IS200. They have all had a maximum of two owners, all have low mileage, are all in mint condition and all have a full Lexus service history. Less than £5000 for a £25,000 car, as cheap as a Focus or Astra. It's lovely to drive, fabulous build quality, small depreciation. It's just slightly thirsty and with highish VED, but what a joy to drive.