Fiat Cinquecento v Ford Mondeo v Daewoo Nexia v Peugeot 106 v Porsche 924

Used buying on a £1,000 budget

Five ways to part with £1,000 and get on the motoring ladder

Auto Express Car Reviews

November 2002

With the budget set strictly at ΂£1,000 we're well into first car territory, and what could be better than Fiat's Cinquecento? Dinky proportions and a sporty look combine to provide a real sense of fun, and with a thrifty 54bhp 1.1-litre powerplant under the bonnet it's relatively cheap to insure.
The baby Fiat should cost peanuts to run, too, as long as you steer clear of thrashed or dented examples. Interior space is obviously limited, but it's comfortable and well equipped for the price. A great car for young and old alike.
Model: Sporting Year: 1995 M Engine: 1.1-litre 4cyl Value: ΂£1,000

Ford Mondeo
Back in the days of the Vauxhall Cavalier, Ford launched a car that set new standards in the family car market. The original Mondeo was a huge leap forward from the ageing Sierra, and is now possibly the biggest bargain on the market. OK, so the MkI is looking dated, but it's a thoroughly usable and capable form of transport for next to nothing. Oversupply means the second-hand market is flooded with all specifications and trim levels, so you can afford to be picky.
Model: LX Year: 1995 M Engine: 1.8-litre 4cyl Value: ΂£1,000
Daewoo Nexia
At this end of the used car scale, depreciation is non-existent as long as condition is first rate. So you could get a tidy 11-year-old MkII Vauxhall Astra, or an equally clean five-year-old Daewoo Nexia, which is essentially the same car. We'd pick the Daewoo for the sturdy reworked 1.5-litre engine and to save six years' worth of wear and tear. Parts are cheap and Daewoo filled the Nexia with equipment, so you should get airbags, ABS and air-con.
Model: GLi Year: 1997 P Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl Value: ΂£1,000
Peugeot 106
Here's another youth-friendly motor. It's feeling a bit dated, but it still looks good and enjoys a strong image. The 106 was introduced in 1991, so if you want a higher spec than that of the basic XN, there are plenty of older models to choose from. As with all ageing superminis, avoid high-mileage examples and check the service history. The 60bhp 1.1-litre engine falls into insurance group four, but there is also the option of a 45bhp 1.0-litre engine, which is in group three.
Model: Graduate XN Year: 1994 L Engine:1.1-litre 4cyl Value: ΂£1,000
Porsche 924
You think we're joking? We're not. It's hardly the pride of Stuttgart, but the 924 is the cheapest way to get the keys of a truly evocative marque. Performance from the 2.0-litre engine isn't stunning, with 0-60mph taking 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 125mph, but the 125bhp unit should return around 28mpg. Be very careful, though - if you get a major fault, costs will soon exceed the value of the car. But who can complain? It's a Porsche for the price of a PC!
Model: Two-door coupί¿½ Year: 1976-1988 Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl Value: ΂£1,000