3 great used cars you should buy for £10,000 – and one you shouldn’t

Buying a used car is a great way to grab a bargain because the first owner has already taken a big depreciation hit. You may not get the same satisfaction as driving away in something brand new, but the savings can make it a worthwhile sacrifice.

With a budget of £10,000 there are loads of great options, but we’ve picked three which really stand out. There’s also one very cool car you could buy for this money, but it’s probably best avoided unless you’re willing to pour thousands of pounds into maintenance.

Renault Zoe – the electric choice

• We found: 2022 GT Line with 39,000 miles
• Saving over new: £24,000

If you’re looking to switch to an EV on a tight budget, the Renault Zoe is a great place to start. There are loads of well-equipped examples for £10,000 and under, and it has a claimed range of 238 miles. In reality you’re looking at closer to 200 miles though.

It’s not the most spacious car in the rear seats, and the interior feels a bit cheap in places. It does come loaded with standard equipment though. The GT Line model we found has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cruise control, leather seats and automatic air conditioning.

Dacia Duster – SUV practicality on a budget

• We found: 2019 Comfort with 52,000 miles
• Saving over new: £6,000

The Dacia Duster has a long-standing reputation as one of the best-value SUVs you can buy. You get loads of interior space, a good amount of standard equipment and a fuel-efficient range of engines. We found a 1.3-litre petrol which should return around 45mpg.

You do get a fairly basic interior, and this generation of Duster won’t thrill you on a country road, but if it’s good, honest motoring you’re after then this car is hard to beat. The Comfort model comes with cruise control, smartphone mirroring and a reversing camera as standard.

Ford Fiesta ST – the fun one

• We found: 2016 ST-3 with 57,500 miles
• Saving over new: £10,000

If it’s smiles per mile you’re after, the Ford Fiesta ST is hard to beat. It is simply one of the best-handling hot hatchbacks ever made, and the ST-3 version we found comes with plenty of luxury features like heated seats and keyless entry.

You’ll have to live with very firm suspension, and you’ll have to choose your ST carefully to make sure you don’t end up with one which has been neglected – these cars tend to be driven hard by enthusiasts. Pick a good one though and you’ll have a grin on your face in no time.

Maserati Quattroporte – very cool but steer clear

• We found: 2008 Quattroporte 4.2 V8
• Saving over new: £67,000

The Maserati Quattroporte is one of the only ways of getting a Ferrari engine for less than £10,000. The 4.2-litre V8 in this Italian saloon car comes from the Ferrari F430, and it makes a glorious sound when you put your foot down.

Buying an old Quattroporte is almost guaranteed to end in tears though, unless you have thousands of pounds set aside for maintenance and repairs. These are not cheap cars to run or fix when they go wrong, so approach with caution. It’s very pretty though.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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