Used choice: VW Passat

Don’t make a bogey – buy an old Volkswagen Golf! According to price guides, resale values of the previous-generation hatch have begun to slide, and it’s all because of the volume of ex-fleet cars now available.

If you need something bigger, a pre-facelift Passat (image) – which would have been built between 1997 and 2000 – offers fantastic value. We spotted a 1999 1.8 T with 60,000 miles for only £3,000!