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CHEAP CARS BANGERNOMICS
2002 ROVER 75 TOURER
2.0 CDT CONNOISSEUR
180,000 miles, £995
We’re stretching it a bit here, but Ashok
Leyland is still using the sinkhole logo
and making buses in India. Rover is the
distant relative and the 75 Tourer isn’t
the biggest, but it’s so wonderfully trad.
Plus that BMW diesel engine seems
to go on forever. It’s becoming rather
desirable now, too.
2003 MAZDA MX-5
115,000 miles, £995
Mk2 MX-5s are now the entry level, because the Mk1s are terminally rusty or being restored. It’s the easy
choice, but they’re perfect for the budget buyer who still wants entertainment. Corrosion is becoming an
issue, as are dodgy brake calipers, peeling paint and sticky windows.2005 SMART FORTWO CABRIO
121,000 miles, £695
B a s i c a l l y, a n u m b r e l l a o n w h e e l s. I t ’s a cl eve r tow n c a r
that makes an awful lot of sense and can be bought
for buttons. The engines won’t do big mileages, so if it
has done more than 100,000 miles, it has either been
rebuilt or will soon go pop. Check the roof for leaks and
that the gearchanges are smooth and it should be okay.
2004 FORD STREETKA LUXURY
80,000 miles, £850
There are a colossal number of these in circulation – and
that’s reason enough to go and pick a good one. You
might look daft in one, but they are cheap to buy, fun to
drive and easy to fix. Rust has always been a Ka issue,
but overall it was built quite well by Pininfarina.
2005 SAAB 9-3
2.0 LINEAR T
109,000 miles, £995
When you need a proper
four-seat drop-top with
some style and value, it
has to be a Saab. Some
criticise the body wobble,
but really you’re using
this to waft, not to roll
around a track. Check for
oil and coolant leaks.
2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R-CLASS 320 CDI SE
88,000 miles, £2450
Overlooking the silly little Vaneo and dodging the great big V-Class van, the poshest
bus Mercedes made is the old R-Class. It never caught on, but it’s well equipped,
useful and, above all, comfy. The alternative is a musty E-Class Estate.