36 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 8 APRIL 2 020
BANGERNOMICS
OR BUS
here’s a stark
choice. Either
join the queue,
be at the mercy
of timetables and
sh a r e y ou r r ide w it h lot s of ot he r
p e ople or do Ba n ge r nom ic s – t he
science of buying and running
an old car for next to nothing.
And you can find good cars for
the price of a bus season ticket.True, this isn’t the time for going
out and buying a used car, but
it ’s t he p e r fe c t t i me t o plot a nd
research your next purchase
so you can pounce as soon as
Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
We’ll show you how to pick a
motor that’ll be safe, practical
a nd r e l i a ble – no m at t e r y ou r
meagre budget, circumstances
or requirements. We’ll also
pr ov e t h at it ’s p o s si ble t o h av e
fun – because if buying a banger
doesn’t involve having a laugh,
you’re doing something wrong.
T
You’d be surprised what you can buy for the price of
a bus pass – or even a pen. James Ruppert reports
2003 LEXUS GS300
110,000 miles, £990
The good old LS is a cliché barge and the cheaper ones
are getting really old. Instead, the more youthful GS
makes sense. They’re great value at the moment.
Looked-after ones rarely if ever go wrong but, when
they do, you’ll need to have saved up.
MINIBUS FOR THE PRICE OF A BUS PASS
We randomly chose a First National ticket that, for £625, will get you in and around
Ipswich for a whole year and allow you as far afield as the Nacton Crossroads,
wherever that is. But just imagine you want to take your extended family of seven elsewhere.
A LUXURY MOTOR
FOR THE PRICE OF A
BENTLEY FOUNTAIN PEN
The thought of a pukka Bentley ink pen with a part-ebony wood finish
is very appealing, but we can’t help thinking that, with £1050 to spend,
we could get something that has a big engine and leather instead.
2008 RENAULT
GRAND ESPACE
2.0 DCI
DYNAMIQUE
187,000 miles, £625
These big French ’buses
are so stylish and good
at swallowing people.The cheaper ones have
covered loads of miles so
you need to be jolly careful
because they are a bit
flimsy. The diesel engine
is great, though, and will
deliver 35mpg-plus.