A MOTORING expert has shown how you can be behind the wheel of your dream car, for less than £3,000.
Gareth Herincx said that prestige cars that once were just a dream to be able to afford can nowadays be picked up for “second-hand hatchback money”.
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He said the cars still had plenty of life in them despite being used and some could go on to be the classic cars of tomorrow.
However, writing in the Admiral magazine, he warned buyers also needed to be aware that buying an older, second-hand car will likely mean you have to spend more on servicing and maintenance and they will use more petrol than their equivalent models today.
But he said due to the low purchase price as well as a high build quality should make up for it.
The expert scanned used car sites such as Auto Trader and eBay to select 10 classy cars that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to be behind for £3,000 or less.
Herincx advised to avoid a car which could be an expensive money pit, and pick one with the lowest mileage possible, a full service history and a reasonable number of owners.
He said it was worth paying for a thorough inspection and HPI check and if you’re buying from a dealer, get a decent warranty.
Mercedes-Benz SLK (1996-2004)
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According to Herincx, the first generation SLK has “aged well” and remains one of the most attractive luxury roadster and comes with a cool, folding roof.
However, the car, which was Mercedes’ answer to the Mazda MX-5 and BMW Z3 did have issues with rust so Herincx advised to always get a potential purchase thoroughly checked out.
While he said models can cost as little as £1,000, he advised it was better to spend more like £2,000 and plump for a post-2000 model.
Lexus IS (1998-2005)
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Lexus introduced the IS as a rival to the BMW 3 Series and Herincx said the car was still swift and good to drive, making a “great left-field alternative used car buy”.
He thought it was best to plump for either the IS 200 or IS 300, with the later arriving in 2001.
He warned though to avoid high-mileage options which started at less than £1,000 and gof ro a later IS 200s which would set you back at least £2,000.
Volvo S80 (2006-2016)
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Volvo brought in the S80 to try to get a slice of the mid-sized luxury saloon sector, dominated by the German manufacturers and Herincx believes the car is worth a look.
While he said the second generation S80 might have been a “bit dull” it was still well-built and comfortable with lots of space.
He did warn there are a lot of high mileage S80s available so you had to keep your eyes peeled for one with a low mileage and advised it was best to go for a 2.4-litre five-cylinder diesel, especially if you do a lot of motorway driving.
Jaguar X-Type (2001-2009)
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Herincx said that while Jaguar enthusiasts often turned their noses up at the X-Type due to it having a lot in common with the Ford Mondeo, it has aged well.
He said it was plush inside and there was a good selection of solid petrol and diesel engines available which were still going strong.
Buyers should steer clear of the early models due to “dodgy build quality” and go for the highest spec possible, and choose between economy – the 2.0 diesel – or performance with the 2.5 V6 petrol.
BMW 7 Series (1994-2001)
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Anyone looking to grab a big, luxury saloon at a bargain price should give the rival to the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 a look, according to the expert.
The third generation 7 Series has handsome styling with a superior build quality and you have a choice of a straight 6, V8 or V12 petrol engines or two large diesels.
Herincx’s personal preference was the 728i but warned about the large repair bills if anything went wrong.
They can cost as little as £1,000 but a decent model could be bought for around the £2,000 mark.
Citroen C6 (2005-2012)
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Citroen made the C6 as an executive car to rival the Germans and harked by to the French manufacturer’s previous DS, SM, CX and XM models.
The C6 offered a smooth ride, with the best-selling model being powered by a 3.0 HDi V6 engine.
When it was in production, some models cost just under £40,000 but now can be bought for as little as £3,000 although they are hard to find.
Herincx advised it was worth spending a bit more to get a well-maintained model.
Alfa Romeo Brera (2005-2010)
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The Brera coupe was one of Alfa Romeo’s prettiest makes ever and great fun to drive, according to Herincx.
While the 3.2-litre V6 version would break the £3,000 budget he said the 2.2-litre diesel option was a good option.
While models with a high mileage could be bought for under £2,000 the expert said it was best to stretch your budget if possible and factor in a safety net should anything go wrong.
Rover 75 (1998-2005)
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Produced when BMW owned Rover, critics sneered at the model, saying its styling was “retro” and suggested it had been designed with an older driver in mind.
That older driver though has meant that many surviving models were cherished and loved.
Herincx rated the car, which is also available as an estate that came with some BMW engineering and sold well.
He advised to opt for the top-of-the-range Connoisseur trim, if you can, and go for either the V6 petrol or 2.0 CDTi diesel.
Volkswagen Touareg (2003-2010)
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Herincx describes the Touareg as being “luxurious, refined, well-equipped and surprisingly competent off-road” and was developed alongside the Porsche Cayenne.
He warned potential buyers to avoid the 5.0-litre V10 diesel and go for either the 3.0 V6 TDI or the 3.2 V6 petrol.
While models with high mileage on the clock can be picked up for as little as £1.500 he thought it was better to spend nearer £3,000 to back yourself an “epic SUV”.
Audi TT (1998-2006)
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The original Audi TT couple is already on its way to achieving classic car status, according to Herincx.
It is also available as a roadster and with quattro four-wheel drive.
While there are a number of engines available he thought it was best to go for a 1.8 turbo.
Some TT models are available for under £1,000 but he said it was best to pay at least £2,000 for one with lower mileage and a full service history.
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