Want A Cheap Alternative To Merc's CLA 45 AMG? Bag An Evo VII

So, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG. The name's a bit of a mouthful but it certainly looks like a tasty bit of kit.

Just check out those curves, and check the 2.0-litre under the bonnet, pumping out 360 efficient German horses through all four wheels. Rather potent, that. In fact, it's the most potent four-cylinder car currently on sale.

But it isn't the most potent four-cylinder production car ever. That honour goes to the Mitsubishi Evo X FQ-400. With 403 horsepower it makes a full 43 ponies more than the German effort, and at 3.8 seconds to 62 mph compared to the Merc's 4.6 it's a quicker sprinter too.

Not that the Mercedes is slow, but the FQ really is Flipping Quick (that's what it stands for, right?). The Evo's case only starts to fall apart when you look at some of the other facts and figures.

Firstly, it'd be a massive ball-ache to live with. It has service intervals of 5,000 miles, rather than the 20,000 or so of many modern cars. Secondly, however much fun you think you'd have in it, you'd soon get bored of single-digit fuel economy and an interior with plastics so crap a kid would reject it if they found it in their Kinder Surprise.

And the FQ-400 cost fifty grand brand new. We don't yet know what the Merc will cost, but if it's less than ten grand cheaper we'd be surprised. Choosing the Evo if they were side-by-side on the forecourt would be reasonable grounds for throwing you in the loony bin.

But not everyone has fifty grand. Or forty, or even twenty. But if you have ten grand knocking about, you could do worse in your hunt for a mental four-pot super saloon than bag one of the FQ-400's predecessors.

Go back a decade, for example, and you'll find the Mitsubishi Evo VII.

These faced mixed reviews when brand new, as they followed a vehicle people were rather fond of - the Evo VI. Less aggressive and more refined the VII didn't appeal to some, and its release coincided with Mitsubishi's slide into oblivion in the World Rally Championship, too. The VII simply wasn't as good on the stages as its forebear, and things like that matter when you're buying a rally-bred super saloon.

Now though, they make spectacular bargains. As little as £7,000 is enough to secure one from 2001. And you have to admit it's still a handsome beast - the base vehicle is much more attractive than the previous Lancer, even if it isn't dressed up as much.

The engine was the same as before though, so 276 bhp was still there for the playing with. And the handling was still excellent. And it'd still pass 62 mph in 5.1 seconds. And, if you're slightly lazy, there was even an automatic version, the GT-A.

So what do you need to look out for?

Damage, damage, and more damage. The Evo VII isn't as much of a rally hero as previous Evos, but its prior owners probably thought they were rally heroes and it may have had a hard life as a result.

Check very carefully to make sure everything lines up and go through its (full service) history with eagle eyes. Give it a history check too to look for previous prangs, thefts and import data - it might have arrived into the country as a grey import and feature a different spec to UK cars.

When you're looking through the history, make sure it's been well-serviced too - like the FQ-400 it needs regular maintenance, with 5,000-mile oil changes. These are strong, sturdy engines, but there's only so much Tommi Makinen-style thrashing they can take before going pop. If the previous owner considers a baseball cap suitable day-to-day attire then be wary.

Other than that, just make sure you budget carefully. Insurance and fuel costs are catastrophic.

The Mitsubishi Evo VII may not be as quick or prestigious as a CLA 45 AMG, but you'll still give it a run for its money.