THE SEVEN BEST USED CARS FOR ONLY £5,000 – AND ONE TO AVOID
If you have £5,000 saved to spend on a car, don’t fritter it away on a deposit for a PCP finance deal on a new model; why not consider spending it on a cheaper used vehicle that you will own outright? You might be surprised to see just how many good-quality used cars are still available for that sum, despite a recent rise in prices.
As an example, here are seven cracking second-hand cars that you can get for the same price as that PCP deposit. All are highly recommended, useful, reliable and comfortable.
But not everything is good value, so I’ve included one slightly surprising used buy that you should steer clear of.
Best urban runaround
Volkswagen Up (2012-2023)
During its lifetime, the Up became one of the most popular small cars in Britain. It isn’t hard to see why. Its combination of smart styling, an excellent blend of ride quality and handling, a well-laid-out interior and a surprising amount of space for such a small car made it an instant hit. Today, all of that still holds true – and despite the Up’s mildly upmarket image, it’s now distinctly affordable.
Price to pay: from £2,000
We found: 2015 Move up!, 72,000 miles, full-service history, £4,995
Watch out for: rust on front wings, poor radio reception, water leaks due to blocked bulkhead drains
Best for families
Seat Leon (2012-2017)
Whether you go for the hatchback or the estate, the Leon is a sharp looker that’s instantly more appealing than the Volkswagen Golf on which it is based. Yet this isn’t a case of style over substance; the Leon is roomy inside, well equipped and great fun to drive – even with the smallest 1.2-litre engine. True, the ride is a bit firmer than a Golf’s, but the payoff is that the Leon is more agile. It’s also cheaper, which is what makes it such great value.
Price to pay: from £3,000
We found: 2014 Leon 1.2 TSI SE Technology, 94,000 miles, full-service history, £4,495
Watch out for: dodgy DSG semi-auto gearboxes, satnav glitches, condensation in the rear lights
Best for top-down fun
Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015)
The Japanese roadster is such an obvious solution that it almost feels like a cop-out to suggest it. But really, there’s no better way to spend your £5,000 on a fun convertible. However, this third-generation car isn’t the best-loved of the breed, being larger, heavier and less nimble than the Mk2. For all that, though, the Mk3 represented a huge step up in modernity and equipment – it’s the easier car to live with day to day and it’s still enormous fun on a sinuous road.
Price to pay: from £2,500
We found: 2005 2.0i Sport, 89,000 miles, full service history, £4,695
Watch out for: rusty body panels and sills, sticking brake calipers, defunct or jerky hard-tops on Roadsters, leaky diffs, noisy air conditioning
Best for low running costs
Hyundai i30 BlueDrive (2012-2017)
Diesel may no longer be as popular as it once was, but it wasn’t long ago that manufacturers were churning out super-frugal examples of their mid-range diesel hatchbacks to chase lower tax brackets and higher economy figures. The i30 BlueDrive is one such car, capable of an astonishing 78.4mpg on the official Combined cycle. Of course, running costs aren’t solely about economy; the i30’s impeccable reputation for reliability – backed up by its chain-driven engine’s fundamental dependability – should keep other bills to a minimum, too. Oh, and a VED (car tax) rate of £0 is the icing on the cake.
Price to pay: from £3,000
We found: 2014 i30 1.6 CRDi BlueDrive Active, 79,000 miles, full service history, £4,325
Watch out for: abused interiors with scuffed, scratched trim; not much else
Best for dog owners
Honda CR-V (2006-2012)
The incredibly useful CR-V (pictured above) combines an excellent reputation for reliability from tried-and-tested mechanicals with loads of space and a boot large enough for any canine companion (not to mention a sliding rear seat so that you can increase space further). What’s more, its four-wheel-drive system will help you out on muddy back lanes and rutted countryside car parks for those more remote walks.
Price to pay: from £2,500
We found: 2012 CR-V 2.2 i-DTEC ES, 73,000 miles, full-service history, £4,900
Watch out for: air conditioning not blowing cold, draining batteries, condensation in rear lights, flaking doorhandle paint
Best with seven seats
Ford S-Max (2006-2014)
If you’re after a seven-seater at this price, don’t buy an SUV – there are countless MPVs (or people carriers) at bargain prices since relatively few people want them. They do a far better job of carrying seven people than an SUV, as their lower floors afford greater interior space. The S-Max has a game stab at an involving driving experience, and looks like good value, although you might have to wade through a few neglected examples to find a good one.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 2013 S-Max 2.0 TDCi Zetec, 86,000 miles, full-service history, £4,995
Watch out for: patchy service records, beaten-up interiors, electrical niggles, damp carpets, noisy power steering
Best for style
Audi TT (2006-2014)
Are you the kind of person who’s after a champagne lifestyle on beer money? In that case, you will love the second-generation TT, which looks remarkably fresh and modern given its age. So much so that those who aren’t in the know will reckon it costs vastly more than it actually does. Rest assured, this will impress friends and bystanders, but it isn’t just a pretty face; under the skin, this TT is much better to drive than its predecessor, with a gutsy 2.0-litre turbo from the Golf GTI.
Price to pay: from £1,500
We found: 2008 TT 2.0 TFSI, 88,000 miles, full-service history, £4,400
Watch out for: high oil consumption, rattling timing chains, dodgy electric windows, saggy seat bases, condensation in headlights, ticking or knocking sounds from engine
…and the £5,000 used car to avoid
BMW 1-Series (2004-2011)
Its premium badge might tempt you, but the first-generation 1-Series is tricky to buy well, given that many of its engines suffer serious flaws. That would be bad enough on its own, but even if you get a reliable example, the original 1-Series is cramped in the back, harsh-riding and has a joylessly dark and dismal interior, with some cheap materials smattered about the place. It’s best avoided.
2024-06-05T16:31:42Z