CHEAP CARS BANGERNOMICS
8 APRIL 2 020 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 37
1996 BMW 735i SE
115,000 miles, £1000
We have lots of love for BMW’s scaled-up 3 Series.
It’s fun to drive, is always comfortable and, when
maintained properly, does a hard shift between MOT
inspections. Suspension takes a pounding. As with all
these big old barges, buy older and mostly better.
2002 HONDA STREAM 2.0 VTEC
176,000 miles, £500
This is a proper MPV with a peach of an engine. At this price, it will
have done loads of miles, but that’s just what they do: keep on going,
for mile after mile. It’s certainly better than the legions of Vauxhall
Zafiras that clog up the classifieds.
2005 TOYOTA COROLLA VERSO 2.0 D4-D
125,000 miles, £600
Here’s a compact car that’s huge inside, especially with the rear seats folded. Toyota isn’t known
for diesels, but these are tough and economical. Reliability is good. Ideally, buy from a loving
family rather than from a dealer getting shot of an unwanted part-exchange.
2001 F I AT MU LT I P L A 1 .9 J T D
120,000 miles, £600
Stylish old thing these days, with the 3x3 seating layout, which is
b e t te r th a n m o st ’ b u s e s. A n d i t s e e m s to b e a b l e to t a ke d ay - to - d ay
punishment, having proved itself on the taxi rank. Find a 1.6-litre
petrol for possible Ultra Low Emission Zone compliance.
2003 FORD
GALAXY 1.9 TDI
AUTO
140,000 miles, £550
The most numerous people
carrier of all. There are so
many that you should be
able to find a half-decent
one. Its Volkswagen-
sourced diesel engine is
a proper workhorse. The
Galaxy is nice to drive and
very easy to own and fix.
2001 AU D I A8 4. 2 Q UAT TRO
120,000 miles, £875
You could have a 2.8 entry-level model but there are also examples of the big V8 4.2 version around, possibly
with all sorts of surprises. It’s always good to see some recent expenditure at the very least. Quattro four-wheel
drive means that you’ll never be stranded. Shame it looks like a giant A4, though.
2001 JAG UA R XJ 3. 2 E X EC UTI V E
100,000 miles, £995
Cheap big Jags are a Bangernomics constant. It’s hard
not to love these X300-series models. They can have
interesting electrical issues and suspension wear is
an expensive fix, but the mechanical parts are quite
sturdy and nobody does leather and wood better.
2000 MERCEDES-
BENZ S430
130,000 miles, £990
Not so solidly built from the
21st century onwards but,
if you find a family-owned
S-Class, it’s a big, comfy buy.
Rust on the wheel arches and
doors spoils the effect. Check
the coolant and find out about
recent work. The surviving
1998-2002 models are much
better than you think.