Three used car bargains you can buy for less than £1,000

Cars are getting more and more expensive with each new model which comes out. Gone are the days where you could buy a basic Dacia Sandero for £5,995 – if you want a brand new car then the cheapest on sale today will cost you in excess of £14,000.

There are a few reasons why cheap cars are few and far between, a big one being that cars have a lot more tech on board now to meet safety and emissions regulations. But what if you just want to go back to basics? After all, the incessant beeping and bonging you get in some new models can get on your nerves eventually.

Well there are a few older cars which could fit the bill, and some can be yours for less than £1,000. We’ve found three great used offerings within this budget for you to consider.

Before we get into it though, a word of warning. Buying a car at this end of the market is unlikely to be completely trouble-free. At this price you’ll be looking at cars which are quite old and getting up there in mileage, so you’ll need to keep some cash aside for repairs and general maintenance. They’re also likely to be more expensive to tax than modern cars.

With this in mind, we’ve picked three cars which have a good reputation for reliability and should prove cheap to fix if something does go wrong. The best places to look for bargains like these are classified platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, although you need to have your wits about you when buying a used car privately to make sure you don’t get stung by a dodgy motor.

Toyota Avensis – Spacious and dependable

It won’t set a petrolhead’s heart aflame, but the Toyota Avensis is a sensible, spacious car which should be cheap to run. The 1.8-litre petrol engine is known for being pretty much bulletproof as long as it’s looked after, so make sure to look for one with good service history.

There are a few examples of the 2005-2007 Avensis floating around at £1,000 or less, although don’t expect to get mint bodywork for this price. A few battle scars are to be expected, but this is easy to ignore if all you’re after is a cheap runaround.

Fiat Panda – A characterful city car

You may not immediately associate Fiat with reliability, but the Panda is actually a dependable little workhorse which is easy to drive around town and is rather charming in a utilitarian way. Parts are cheap and readily available as well, so repair costs should be nice and low.

The Panda may not make the best long-distance cruiser thanks to a lack of refinement, but it’s great on fuel and it’s pretty spacious for such a small car. A 2010 Panda with reasonable miles can be yours for less than £1,000.

Mazda MX-5 – cheap fun, but look out for rust

The Mazda MX-5 is a great option if you want cheap top-down fun for the summer. If you plunge the depths of Facebook Marketplace then you should uncover a second-generation MX-5 for around £1,000, but these cars love to rust so be extra vigilant for any crusty metal.

Beyond the corrosion issues, the MX-5 is pretty dependable mechanically, and it’s bound to put a smile on your face every time you get behind the wheel. It won’t be ideal if you need to carry a lot of stuff though, or more than one passenger.

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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