Six cylinders for £6,000 | Six of the Best

Nothing if not versatile, the six-pot engine. V8s are fantastic, of course, if hardly the thing for a hot hatch. Similarly, we all love a fizzy four-cylinder, though it doesn’t suit an executive saloon. A six, on the other hand, can do all that and more, in flat, vee and inline layouts, so we felt that needed celebrating; especially with half a dozen great sixes available on PH for £6k (and a bit, in one case). Six appeal, indeed. We’re kicking off with a Jag XJ6; perhaps not the most iconic six-cylinder ever, but proof that less can be more even in luxury cars. And good enough for a Rocketeer MX-5, don’t forget. Because of this X350’s aluminium construction and a light engine, it only weighs around 1,700kg, meaning both 145mph and more than 30mpg ought to be possible. This 2003 Sport has tonnes of Jaguar history, presents really smartly and rolls on four Pirellis. Quite the way to spend £5,499.

Something to get the blood pumping a little more after the automatic Jag. As the definitive 21st-century Zed car (because the 370Z was never loved quite so much), the 350 is now garnering quite the following. Especially with Nissan’s apparent lack of interest in doing anything fun for Europe going forward. The Zed still looks great more than 20 years after launch, the chassis should offer up some hairy-chested rear-drive fun, and the venerable VQ V6 has always provided plenty of performance. The 350 was the Zed perfectly reimagined for the 2000s: handsome, fast, six-cylinder and good value. With the passage of time and many a Nissan sports car sacrificed to the drifting gods, good 350s seem thin on the ground. This smart, manual GT has 13 services to its name, those fabulous Rays wheels and – would you believe it – a PH sticker in the rear glass. Must be a good’un.

Yes, it is still possible to get a Golf R32 – and access to the glorious narrow-angle V6 – for less than £6,000. £5,495, in fact, which is quite the turn-up, especially as a manual three-door in the good blue and with a very smart set of wheels. That price is possible because of 150,000 miles, and the leather is a tad saggy in places; however, we’ve all surely seen far worse-looking cars with fewer miles. As a later model with the costlier tax (plus the thirst of the 3.2-litre engine) there’s surely a deal to be done for those more excited by the R32’s six-cylinder sonics than the GTI’s sharper handling. Especially with the MOT looming. One to experience while the affordable opportunities are still out there, and check out the underbonnet pic – that honking great Forge intake should ensure sound coming in just as sweet as that leaving the twin pipes.

No list of great six-cylinder engines, cheap or otherwise, would be complete without a BMW straight-six. There really is nothing to rival the smoothness, sound and character of its trademark layout, which is probably why they’ve found such happy homes in everything from hot hatches to SUVs and sports cars to sumptuous saloons. This time around we’ve plumped for the M54 3.0-litre in the front end of an original E85 Z4, because there’s nothing much to rival an inline six with the roof down. And how good does this Bangle baby still look? Definitely one that was ahead of its time. The mileage is low, the condition seems nice – the black over red is a classy touch – and the auto will play to its cruiser qualities. The private plate could probably go to an X6 owner, and three of the four most recent MOTs haven’t had an advisory. Indeed it hasn’t failed one since 2010. Life in the old Beemer yet.

Speaking of iconic sixes, let’s not forget the God-like Busso, even if getting hold of a good one (with a good car around it, too) for not too much money is becoming harder and harder. But there’s still hope for those craving one of the great six-cylinder experiences – the Type 916 GTV. Never the best-driving sports car in the world, sure, but better looking with every passing day, which is some achievement for a fairly humble front-drive coupe launched 30 years ago. This one is properly nice, in fact, with the teledials, silver paint and red leather. Just 64,000 miles have been covered since 1998, plus the ad says that it has enjoyed a recent ‘extensive mechanical rejuvenation for peak performance’, which included a cambelt and water pump. All very encouraging – so hopefully getting a new MOT is a breeze.

A bit more than the allotted budget here, yes; should be worth it for getting what looks like a brilliant Boxster. Some of these around £6k look really good; some less so. You’d like to hope a bit of negotiation could get this 2002 S down to six thousand and something pounds, which we’ll call close enough. And what a car on offer in return: a superb mid-engined chassis, 160mph potential from a rich, sonorous, 250hp 3.2-litre flat six, and a look that’s ageing really nicely (despite mismatched lights front to rear). The seller of this one says this 74,000-mile example as ‘the most comprehensive service history I have seen in my 30 years in the motor trade’, which must be a good thing, and a few stamps from JZM is great to see on what remains the cheapest Porsches. A wonderful way, surely, to celebrate mid-engined sports cars, Porsche handling – and a great six-cylinder engine.