Currently reading: James Ruppert: the most comfortable cars under £3800

Take a load off by choosing a used car with cossetting chairs - the most expensive amongst these is just £3795

Bad back? You’re not alone according to my research, accrued from 30-plus years of helping motorists with their used car conundrums. If I had a quid for every time someone asked me to suggest a car to help cope with their back issues, I’d have a brand new Porsche 911 GT3.

So here’s a fairly typical query, and I hope it proves that these medical issues can be tackled in a frugal fashion. The latest patient was the survivor of three serious operations and who suffered from middle and lower back pain. She had sold her Lexus because the seat was positioned too low down. She found she could eliminate the pain in the middle of her back using the Japanese car’s electronic adjustments, but her lower back pain wouldn't go away.

We love a Lexus, even if it only half-cures a problem, and buying an LS is always great thing to do. Fixing one can potentially cost you dear, but a tidy 2001 LS430 with a solid sixfigure mileage is less than £1500. She was advised, and I don’t think it was me, to buy an SUV, which is the default back cure position. Getting in and out is easier and that highrise driving position is supposed to help. Well, the Nissan Qashqai she bought didn’t help at all. Indeed, she regretted saying goodbye to the Lexus, because the Qashqai’s seat was of only average quality.

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That is the point: luxury cars tend to have decent, or at least very adjustable, seats as standard. We’ve mentioned Lexus, but what else could we buy with a posh badge and multi-adjustable electric seats? I have always rated the seats of a Mercedes S-Class and we could consider a 2004 350L with quite a few miles and fancy programmable chairs for £3795.

Another option would be to find an orthopaedic seat and bolt that in place if possible. Recaro make such seats, but they aren’t cheap. I saw a ‘Topline’ model for £2500. A cursory look around the interweb turned up some quite weird covers which cost only £100 but which look like someone has gaffer-taped a Puffa jacket to the seat. Otherwise a few hundred quid can get a second-hand example from a breaker’s yard, or you could scour one of those sites where people are selling off granny’s old stuff before she's moved into a home.

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Otherwise a bargain option is a Saab. I used to travel huge distances in the larger models and found their seats to be brilliant. 9000s are getting more rare by the day and a 2.3T Anniversary from 1997 is just £1795. It’s an automatic, which is important because not having to stir the gears can lessen back stress. If none of these options work, we’re back to square one – pun intended.

What we almost bought this week:

BMW i8

Our drive of the new BMW i8 Roadster recently got us thinking about the coupé, which is now available from around half the as-new price. The good news is that most have covered less-than-average mileages and are therefore in great condition. We found this 2015 example with just 25,000 miles on the clock for £53,513.

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Tales from Ruppert's garage:

Volkswagen Golf - Mileage: 39,330

I might have written recently that the Ruppert family Volkswagen Golf, also known as ‘Gordon the Golfer’, is no bother whatsoever – and that continues to be the case.

The Queen’s Highway, though, is littered with obstacles, and one that could not be avoided due to heavy traffic was this important part of a trailer, which got wedged underneath.

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The errant wheel punctured the plastic engine cover, but I managed to pull it out. Cable ties have stopped the cover from flapping around for the time being and nothing important seems to have been snagged. We will investigate further.

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Reader's ride:

BMW 330ci Clubsport

Alan Horsman has so enjoyed some of the stories on these pages recently he was inspired to submit his own: “I’ve purchased a BMW 330ci Clubsport, manual on 52 plate, 97,000 miles, FSH in Estoril blue for £5200. And there are only about 400 left on the road. It looks amazing and classy. They sure built them well in those days. With this type of car, it is best to purchase while it is still relatively affordable.” Wise words from Alan. Buying at the right price at the right moment is the key to used car satisfaction. 

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Readers' qustions:

Q: Is there any essential equipment I should take with me when I go to inspect a used car? John Webber, Torquay

A: There’s usually a long list of things, but the one we’d recommend over all others for everyone from an expert to an amateur is a torch. Armed with that and pairs of eyes and hands, you can see and touch a lot of the bits of a used car that might set alarm bells ringing. Whether you have the knowledge to know that what you’re looking at is potential trouble will depend on your level of experience, but the basics of rust and decay should be obvious. JH

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Q: I want to go as bargain basement as I can. Where’s the best place to find cars that cost hundreds, not thousands, of pounds? Jason Harry, London

A: The force of Bangernomics is strong in you, Jason, but first we must offer a cautionary line about not breaking any laws, and always being certain that the car has no outstanding finance and is owned by the person selling it. Once you’ve checked that, we’d recommend steering clear of the high-profile websites and either walking your local streets or pulling up a chair in the local pub and letting it be known what you’re after. Both can be great sources of decent under-priced motors. JH

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valeriereiland190 15 March 2019

I think you should keep fit. 

I think you should keep fit. 

JoCoLo 7 September 2018

Rover 75

Rover’s designers cleverly built the 75 for comfort not sporty handling, the seats are like armchairs and very comfortable. The ride is also impressive.

Werve 25 February 2019

You realize that it is

You realize that it is important to look in a car not only at beauty and fashion with age. I also have back problems and it is important for me to take into account all the nuances inside the cabin of the proposed model. 3800 pounds is not quite a big price for super top brands with a high probability of getting back support, but you can find not a new model, but the sale of old ones left at the factory. If there is not enough money, then I would advise you to buy a salon that is less safe for the  body,  but to get special compression belts.

jason_recliner 5 September 2018

1,500 for an LS430?

Shut up and take my money!!!