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Mike Brewer's column
What's the best secondhand car to buy? Good question...
I’ve been a TV presenter for more than 10 years, and have worked on a wide range of motoring programmes. But there’s one question I get asked more than any other by fans. No, it isn’t: “Do you use fake tan?” – that’s the second most common. Rather, it’s: “What’s the best second-hand car to buy?” And you know what, it’s a tricky one to answer – even for an expert like me.
Well, it all depends on an individual’s needs and their budget. In Issue 940, together with the Auto Express team, I listed some of my favourites from a limit of £6,000. The brilliant Mazda MX-5 MkII came top. But what if you’ve only got a couple of grand to spend? After all, there are more used cars in this bracket than any other.
With such variety, making the right choice can be daunting. Most people tend to default to the obvious models, and end up with something like a Ford Fiesta, VW Golf or Vauxhall Vectra. I’ve been searching through the small ads for alternatives that don’t cost the earth, and offer a whole lot more in terms of style and desirability.
First up is one of those cars that seems to have been completely overlooked in recent years: the Ford Cougar. Its distinctive shape has aged like a fine wine. If you ask me, it’s a bit of a looker. But it’s amazing how much you can buy one of these for.
I found a few for sale, and most had been owned and cared for by professional people, which is always a good sign. I scouted a 65,000-mile 2000 2.5 V6 24V in good nick for only £1,995 – cheap for a car that still cuts the mustard on the road.
Want more? How about a vehicle that cost £47,000 in 1996, but will now set you back only £2,000? That’s how much I spotted a Lexus LS400 priced at. This is a steal for a model which is practically bombproof. Even older ones, with tonnes of miles, drive like new.
The tidy example I found had a mere 70,000 miles on the clock, and was an ex-chauffeur car with a full service history. Yet the champagne-coloured machine looked a million dollars. I’d have bought it myself if I hadn’t spent all my cash on a new sunbed! It’s hard to believe this luxury model, which comes with a lusty V8 engine and more toys than Hamleys, is available for Vauxhall Astra money. Which would you prefer?
Even a similar vintage, £50,000 BMW 7-Series can be yours for around £2,000! And if you’re tempted to buy something different, there’s more good news. Cars like the ones above usually have quite a following, which means there are websites and magazines devoted to them. And as owners are generally enthusiastic, they take great pride in fettling and looking after their vehicles.
Now, I can hear you all shouting: “But Mike what about the running costs?” Well, if you go with an independent garage, servicing on a Lexus or BMW shouldn’t be much more than on a Ford Mondeo. Yes, fuel costs will be higher – a big V8 is not as frugal as a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. But the bills may not be quite as bad as you would think, just do your homework first.
Really, it doesn’t matter what kind of car you go for, whether it’s a two grand Fiesta or a similarly priced Lexus LS400. Just make sure you check its history, and if you can afford it, get a mechanical inspection before handing over your cash. It’s especially important to examine the service history on a big exec, and trace any work back to the garages which carried it out if possible. Other than that, it’s only the same as buying any £2,000 car. So go on, be different, I dare you!
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| It’s hard to believe that a Lexus LS, which has a lusty V8 and more toys than Hamleys, is available for Astra money | |
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Well, it all depends on an individual’s needs and their budget. In Issue 940, together with the Auto Express team, I listed some of my favourites from a limit of £6,000. The brilliant Mazda MX-5 MkII came top. But what if you’ve only got a couple of grand to spend? After all, there are more used cars in this bracket than any other.
With such variety, making the right choice can be daunting. Most people tend to default to the obvious models, and end up with something like a Ford Fiesta, VW Golf or Vauxhall Vectra. I’ve been searching through the small ads for alternatives that don’t cost the earth, and offer a whole lot more in terms of style and desirability.
First up is one of those cars that seems to have been completely overlooked in recent years: the Ford Cougar. Its distinctive shape has aged like a fine wine. If you ask me, it’s a bit of a looker. But it’s amazing how much you can buy one of these for.
I found a few for sale, and most had been owned and cared for by professional people, which is always a good sign. I scouted a 65,000-mile 2000 2.5 V6 24V in good nick for only £1,995 – cheap for a car that still cuts the mustard on the road.
Want more? How about a vehicle that cost £47,000 in 1996, but will now set you back only £2,000? That’s how much I spotted a Lexus LS400 priced at. This is a steal for a model which is practically bombproof. Even older ones, with tonnes of miles, drive like new.
The tidy example I found had a mere 70,000 miles on the clock, and was an ex-chauffeur car with a full service history. Yet the champagne-coloured machine looked a million dollars. I’d have bought it myself if I hadn’t spent all my cash on a new sunbed! It’s hard to believe this luxury model, which comes with a lusty V8 engine and more toys than Hamleys, is available for Vauxhall Astra money. Which would you prefer?
Even a similar vintage, £50,000 BMW 7-Series can be yours for around £2,000! And if you’re tempted to buy something different, there’s more good news. Cars like the ones above usually have quite a following, which means there are websites and magazines devoted to them. And as owners are generally enthusiastic, they take great pride in fettling and looking after their vehicles.
Now, I can hear you all shouting: “But Mike what about the running costs?” Well, if you go with an independent garage, servicing on a Lexus or BMW shouldn’t be much more than on a Ford Mondeo. Yes, fuel costs will be higher – a big V8 is not as frugal as a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. But the bills may not be quite as bad as you would think, just do your homework first.
Really, it doesn’t matter what kind of car you go for, whether it’s a two grand Fiesta or a similarly priced Lexus LS400. Just make sure you check its history, and if you can afford it, get a mechanical inspection before handing over your cash. It’s especially important to examine the service history on a big exec, and trace any work back to the garages which carried it out if possible. Other than that, it’s only the same as buying any £2,000 car. So go on, be different, I dare you!
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