If you were thinking of delaying your next petrol car purchase to just before the cut-off in 2030, think again!
The clock is ticking, folks. In just a few short years, the UK will see the end of new petrol and diesel new car sales. With the 2030 deadline back on the table – thanks to Labour reinstating the original plan. While hybrids might stick around a little longer, those glorious, pure petrol-powered machines we love are slowly disappearing from showrooms.
But if you think you’ll just wait until 2029 to nab your “last hurrah” petrol car, think again. By then, the selection will be slim, and your choices might be limited to whatever’s left gathering dust on a forecourt. So, if you’re a petrolhead with a passion for thrilling drives, now is the time to act.
In this post, I’ll break down the petrol cars you can still buy today – while they’re still around (they are indeed vanishing fast even now). Whether you’re on a tight budget or eyeing something more exotic, there’s something here for every enthusiast.
Gone But Never Forgotten
Before we dive into what’s left, let’s pour one out for the legends we’ve already lost (apple juice for me though please!). Jaguar has shut up shop on its petrol offerings, including the stunning F-Type and the roaring F-Pace SVR. Lotus killed off its iconic Elise, Exige, and Evora, which still rank among the best driving cars ever made. And Lexus? Say goodbye to the RC and LC, two criminally underrated coupes.
Even Toyota appears to be axing that they only recently gave us back. There’s no GR 86 on their website anymore. Now that was a fantastic entry-level rear-wheel-drive sports car that helped countless enthusiasts learn the art of car control. If you wanted one but waited too long… well, erm… sorry?
Affordable Enthusiast Cars (Under £30,000)
1. Mazda MX-5
Let’s start with the world’s best-selling roadster. The Mazda MX-5 (or Miata, if you’re across the pond) is the ultimate affordable sports car. Lightweight, rear-wheel-drive, and available with a proper 6-speed manual gearbox, it’s a joy to drive. Prices start under £30k, making it a bargain in today’s market. It’s everything a petrolhead could ask for in a simple, honest package.
2. Mini Cooper (2025)
Surprisingly, Mini didn’t go fully electric with its latest models, and we should all be grateful for that. Starting at £23k, the petrol-powered Mini Cooper packs 156bhp, while the Cooper S brings 204bhp at £27k. Stretch to £33k, and you’ll get the 231bhp John Cooper Works version. The driving dynamics are still solid but sadly, a little astonishingly, they’ve killed off the manual transmission.
3. Suzuki Swift (2024)
Old school in all the best ways. The Suzuki Swift might not be a rocket, in fact it’s a mild hybrid (but I’ll make an exception in this round-up), however it is affordable, fun, and available with a manual gearbox. Add in a traditional ratchet handbrake, and it’s a refreshing throwback in a world of digital overload.
Hot Hatches (£30,000-£50,000)
1. Ford Focus ST
The Focus ST is on borrowed time, as Ford is realigning its product strategy and killing off smaller models. Starting under £40k, it’s one of the last true fast Fords available with a manual. If you’ve ever wanted a punchy, practical hot hatch, now’s your chance.
2. Honda Civic Type R (FL5)
At £50k, it’s fair to cry that this is hideously expensive. Nonetheless, the Civic Type R is a proper weapon. It’s only available with a manual gearbox, and its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine makes it one of the most exciting cars on sale today. It’s a future classic in the making – if you can stretch the budget, get one now.
3. Toyota GR Yaris
A rally car for the road. The GR Yaris is ridiculously fun and brilliantly engineered, but it comes with a £46k price tag and a long waiting list. If you can find one, grab it before it’s gone for good.
4. Volkswagen Golf GTI, Clubsport, and R
The Golf GTI is an icon, and the Clubsport adds a track-focused edge, while the power-hungry will only be satiated with the Golf R, for just £2k more than the Clubsport. Though that takes the price to about £45k. With Volkswagen’s electric ID.GTI due in 2026, potentially replacing the iconic Golf GTI petrol, this might be your last chance to own the OG hot hatch king.
Big Hitters (£50,000-£80,000)
1. Alpine A110
This lightweight mid-engine coupe is a masterpiece of handling and balance. But with Alpine moving to EVs by 2026, the petrol-powered A110 is living on borrowed time.
2. BMW M2 (G87)
Rear-wheel drive, a twin-turbo inline-six, and a manual gearbox option. At £66k, the new M2 is an absolute blast and a throwback to old-school M cars.
3. Ford Mustang
Still rocking a 5.0-litre V8 and available with a manual gearbox, the Mustang remains one of the coolest cars you can buy. Starting at £56k, it’s not cheap, but this proper muscle car remains an icon worth owning.
4. Mercedes AMG A45 S
Mercedes AMG A45 S has a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder with a staggering 415bhp. It’s small, angry, and brutally quick – 0-60 in 3.9 seconds.
5. Mercedes AMG CLE 63
Now I wanted to put the Mercedes C-Class AMG C63 (the old models used to be among my favourite Jekyll and Hyde cars) but it’s now a 2.0- litre hybrid, so frankly we’ll ignore that. However there is a new AMG CLE 63 coming this year, and for that they’re bring the V8 back. And this has led to rumours that the C63 might be reverted to V8 too by 2026.
6. Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman
The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are already discontinued in Europe, I believe due to new cybersecurity legislation, it’s still on sale here in the UK. Production will probably end this year, so snap up these brilliant handling mid-engine cars now.
7. Toyota Supra Manual
Toyota GR Supra (Manual), or rather that was the car I was planning to put here on the list, especially as only last year Toyota endowed it with a manual gearbox! Even the BMW Z8 the car is based on, doesn’t come with a manual! However, checking the website, the Supra is no longer on there. This is very alarming as it says that it is “currently unavailable to order”. Just when it got good? Toyota, c’mon bring these cars back (the GR 86 too), and hurry up withe rumoured new Celica.
8. Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Land Cruiser – I was not going to put any SUVs, and a diesel at that, on this list, but it occurred to me that as we’re taking about potentially “the last petrol car you ever buy,” so it might be something that will be durable and everlasting, capable of going anywhere, anytime, than the only logical vehicle than can indefatigably ascribe to that brief is the Toyota Land Cruiser. There is a new one, and unfortunately it’s rather costly at £72k. However if it’s your forever car…
Sports Cars and Sports Saloons (£80,000–£100,000)
1. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
The Italian BMW M3 rival. With a Ferrari-derived V6 and a chassis honed for driving thrills, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is as passionate as it is precise. It’s one of the most underrated performance saloons out there, and at £80k, it’s still competitive. Better yet, you can find used 2017/18 examples for under £30k. A bargain for a car that makes your heart race every time you fire it up.
2. Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Fancy an SUV that’s almost as fun to drive as its saloon sibling? Enter the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. With the same Ferrari-inspired V6, it’s one of the most engaging SUVs on the market. Like the Giulia, used examples can be had for around £30k – making this a proper performance bargain for the family man or woman with a need for speed.
3. BMW M3 and M4
The current M3 and M4 are still the benchmarks for German super saloons and coupes. They’re powerful, fast, and surprisingly practical. However, no manual option is available in the UK, which might disappoint die-hard enthusiasts. If you can overlook that, these cars deliver incredible performance with that unmistakable BMW precision.
4. Lotus Emira
The last internal combustion Lotus, the Emira, is an absolute beauty. Opt for the Toyota V6 version to enjoy a manual gearbox – a rare treat these days. Lotus claims this is their final petrol car, and while there are whispers of a potential reprieve, the Emira is a future classic you don’t want to miss.
5. Maserati Ghibli V8 – £90k
One of the last true Maserati V8s, the Ghibli combines Italian elegance with brutal performance. With 580bhp under the bonnet, it’s a proper petrolhead’s car. It might be overshadowed by other big-name rivals, but that exclusivity only adds to its appeal.
Exotics and Dream Machines (£100,000+)
1. Aston Martin Vantage V8
Timeless looks, a roaring V8, and unmatched British charm. The Vantage V8 is everything an Aston Martin should be. It’s a car for those who appreciate sophistication, style, and the glorious howl of a petrol engine.
2. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 V8
Big, brash, and brutally fast. The V8 is alive and well here – for now. The AMG GT 63 is as much a luxury grand tourer as it is a bruising performance machine. If you want an AMG with a proper V8, this is one to get before they all go hybrid.
3. Porsche 911
What more needs to be said? The 911 is a legend. The fact that you can still spec certain models with a manual gearbox makes it even more special. It’s likely to stick around in some form until 2030, but don’t assume the pure petrol version will be available right up to the end. If you want the ultimate driving icon, get one now.
Boutique Builders: Caterham and Morgan
Smaller manufacturers, selling less than 2500 cars a year in the UK, like Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Caterham and Morgan are exempt from the UK’s ZEV mandates until 2030, allowing them to continue producing petrol-powered cars for now. But even these petrolhead favourites will have to embrace electrification come the eve of the end of the decade.
Some companies have already successfully converted Morgans to electric proving there’s life in the classic-style roadster yet. Meanwhile a Caterham 7 is simplicity itself, a car designed to fit almost any engine. It’s only a matter of time before they go fully electric, but Caterham is already working on Project V, a lightweight EV with a 250-mile range, priced around £80k.
However, if you’re thinking about getting a Caterham 7 kit to build a petrol-powered car post-2030, think again-ICE sales bans will apply to complete kits as well. Although, theoretically you could buy an EV Caterham 7 and then swap in an older petrol engine. This might spark a booming trade in used ICE engines, scavenged from scrapyards by determined enthusiasts. It’s a lot of work, but for die-hard petrolheads, anything is possible.
End Game
We’re living through the final chapter of the petrol car era. Whether you’re after a high-performance saloon, a boutique roadster, or an all-out dream machine, the time to act is now. These cars won’t disappear after 2030; they’re vanishing already, slowly but surely. Procrastinate on your purchase too long, and you might miss out altogether.
So, which one will be your “last hurrah”? Will it be an Alfa with Italian flair, a Porsche icon, or a boutique masterpiece from Caterham or Morgan? Let me know in the comments – and don’t forget to share this post with your fellow petrolheads. Spread the word: time is running out!
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funny that leaded gasoline stopped in 1974 and cats became the norm in1975 on the exhaust with unleaded gas . I have 4 classic cars on the East Coast. It’s somewhat of a story because people take them out not too much as everyday driver’s. How much effect is it on the air we breathe? In California who takes old cars out in their heavy traffic? Plenty of non-conjested area’s iam sure. Gasoline will have to be made for certain machinery in the future. Could be a step too far. Feeling for all the homeowners who lost antique vehicles in all the fires every year! Taken our fun away and putting them in museums seems crazy.
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