9:57 am, July 20, 2026
He is best known as TV’s resident Wheeler Dealer and with more than four decades in the motor trade behind him, Mike Brewer knows a thing or two about buying and selling used cars.
In a long and varied career stretching back four decades, Brewer has bought hundreds of vehicles – but that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t sometimes let his heart rule his head.
Speaking exclusively to Car Dealer Magazine, the 61-year-old has now revealed which used cars he loves the most – but admits they’re also the models buyers should think twice about owning.
From an Aston Martin DB9 to an Audi RS6, Brewer admits he’s still drawn to some of the biggest performance bargains on the used market – even though he knows exactly how expensive they can become.
With eye-watering servicing and maintenance bills, wallet-busting repairs and sky-high running costs, these are the most desirable used cars that you should steer clear of…
Aston Martin DB9
Brewer says: ‘That is a really cool car. I absolutely love an Aston Martin DB9. My heart says, “Go and buy an Aston Martin.” In fact, I am going to buy an Aston Martin DB9. There’s one on its way.
‘But your head says, when you buy an expensive car that’s become cheap, you still have to pay for expensive servicing and maintenance. You don’t get cheap servicing and maintenance with it. So really, your head should tell you, no.’
Bentley Continental GT
Brewer says: ‘I’ve had a couple of those. Great cars, and they’re as cheap as chips. Now you can buy yourself a very decent GT for under £20,000.
‘But remember, you’ve got Bentley servicing, Bentley tyres, Bentley brakes and Bentley oil to maintain it and look after it. It might cost you more than the purchase price over the time that you own it!
‘It’ll be a pleasure to own—your heart will be bursting with pride — but your head will be taking you straight to the bank and slapping you on the wrist.’
BMW M5 V10
Brewer says: ‘Those things are insane. They go like the clappers, they sound amazing, and it’s an M5 — one of the greatest performance saloons of all time.
‘However, you’ll have every specialist on the planet chasing you down the road trying to get your credit card out of your wallet, because that’s what it’s going to cost you to keep it running.’
Audi RS models
Brewer says: ‘Okay, where do I begin? It all started with the RS2. Insane car — absolutely love it. Then the RS4 and the RS6, which is basically Tom Hardy on wheels. I love those cars. I just love them. I love the RS models.
‘But I know that when you buy an RS, you’re not buying a standard Audi. You’re buying an Audi Advanced Plus Plus. So again, it’s the servicing items — brakes, clutches, tyres, wheels—all those things cost a huge amount of money to run an RS6.
‘So your heart’s going to say, “Yeah, go out and get one.” Your head’s going to say, “Yeah, you made the right purchase,” but it’s going to sting when you come to look after it.’
Classic Range Rover
Brewer says: ‘I mean, who doesn’t like an old Range Rover? We all do. There’s something about a classic Range Rover that’s evocative. It’s stylish. It’s timeless.
‘It’s a car that anyone can drive — from the late Queen, or the King if you like, all the way down to your plumber or your next-door neighbour. Everyone would love a classic Range Rover.
‘But owning one comes with a lot of pain. So your heart’s saying, “Yes, have one,” but keeping one on the road is a little bit painful.
‘There is good news, though. There’s a whole industry that’s sprung up around keeping them on the road because they’re so unreliable. You’ve got plenty of specialist workshops, engineering companies and parts suppliers with an abundance of parts just to keep those things going.’
Used Car Awards 2026
Later in the year, Brewer will once again be joining Car Dealer as the host of the Car Dealer Used Car Awards.
Voting is now underway but to be in with a chance of a trophy, our nominations form needs to be completed.
The process couldn’t be any more straightforward! All you need to do is select the category that you’d like to nominate yourself or someone else for on the form and supply the requested details.
From there, all entries will be judged by our Car Dealer experts, who will whittle them down to a nominations list.
With the form now live, here are the other key dates for your diary:
- Nominations close: Monday, September 28
- Nominations (long list) revealed: Monday, October 5
- Shortlist revealed: Monday, October 19
- Awards night: Monday, November 30
Speaking about the event earlier in the year, Brewer said: ‘I’ve spent my life around cars and the people who sell them, and I know just how much hard work goes into running a great dealership.
‘That’s why I love being part of the Car Dealer Used Car Awards — they celebrate the real stars of the motor trade.
‘I am really looking forward to getting back on stage for 2026, meeting the finalists and hearing their stories. If you think you’ve got what it takes, get your nominations in — I can’t wait to see who’ll be taking home the trophies this year!’