If you cover thousands of miles per month, you might well be wary of swapping into a potentially unreliable older car. But buy properly and you can have a comfy, quick and capacious ’bahn stormer for supermini cash.
Saab 9-5, 2007-2010
£500-£3000: The 9-5 never felt overly competitive when new, but it excelled as a long-distance cruiser, helped by superbly comfortable seats. Time (and Saab’s demise) has turned it into a very stylish banger and a well-chosen example should still be a very relaxing companion. Avoid the crude diesels.
One we found: 2007 Saab 9-5 2.3 Vector, 132k miles, £1895
Volkswagen Passat, 2005-2009
£1300-£20,000: The Mk6 Passat is a hidden gem for those in search of cruising refinement at modest cost. There are lots of well-maintained privately owned ones out there and high-spec examples have the kit to shame a modern alternative. The 2.0-litre TDI can muster 54.3mpg, but if you prefer fast to frugal, seek out the V6 R36.
One we found: 2008 Volkswagen Passat R36, 63k miles, £12,500
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Calendar playing up again? Another April 1st article accidentally released on the wrong day. So funny!