Best used cars for the price of a bus pass

You’d be surprised what you can buy for the price of a bus pass. James Ruppert reports

James Ruppert

by James Ruppert

18 February 2021

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There’s a stark choice.

Either join the queue, be at the mercy of timetables and share your ride with lots of other people or do Bangernomics – the science of buying and running an old car for next to nothing.

And you can find good cars for the price of a pricey bus season ticket: £2000. Now is the perfect time to plot and research your next purchase so you can pounce as soon as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted - or even before that now that so many used car retailers have perfected 'contactless' sales.

We’ll show you how to pick a motor that’ll be safe, practical and reliable – no matter your meagre budget, circumstances or requirements. We’ll also prove that it’s possible to have fun – because if buying a banger doesn’t involve having a laugh, you’re doing something wrong:
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Lexus GS300 (2003)

Mileage: 182,000

Price: £1000

The good old LS is a cliché barge and the cheaper ones are getting really old. Instead, the more youthful GS makes sense. They’re great value at the moment. Looked-after ones rarely if ever go wrong but, when they do, you’ll need to have saved up.
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BMW 728i SE (1996)

Mileage: 160,000

Price: £1500

We have lots of love for BMW’s scaled-up 3 Series. It’s fun to drive, is always comfortable and, when maintained properly, does a hard shift between MOT inspections. Suspension takes a pounding. As with all these big old barges, buy older and mostly better.
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Mercedes-Benz S430 (2000)

Mileage: 180,000

Price: £1250

Not so solidly built from the 21st century onwards but, if you find a family-owned S-Class, it’s a big, comfy buy. Rust on the wheel arches and doors spoils the effect. Check the coolant and find out about recent work. The surviving models are much better than you think.
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Jaguar XJ 3.2 Executive (2001)

Mileage: 96,000

Price: £750

Cheap big Jags are a Bangernomics constant. It’s hard not to love these X300-series models. They can have interesting electrical issues and suspension wear is an expensive fix, but the mechanical parts are quite sturdy and nobody does leather and wood better.
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Audi A8 4.2 Quattro (2001)

Mileage: 106,000

Price: £2000

You could have a 2.8 entry-level model but there are also examples of the big V8 4.2 version around, possibly with all sorts of surprises. It’s always good to see some recent expenditure at the very least. Quattro four-wheel drive means that you’ll never be stranded. Shame it looks like a giant A4, though.
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Minibus for the price of a bus pass:

We randomly chose a First National ticket that, for £625, will get you in and around Ipswich for a whole year and allow you as far afield as the Nacton Crossroads, wherever that is. But just imagine you want to take your extended family of seven elsewhere.
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Renault Grandespace 2.0 DCI Dynamique (2008)

Mileage: 140,000

Price: £1300

These big French ’buses are so stylish and good at swallowing people. The cheaper ones have covered loads of miles so you need to be jolly careful because they are a bit flimsy. The diesel engine is great, though, and will deliver 35mpg-plus.
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Toyota Corolla Verso 2.0 D4-D (2005)

Mileage: 149,000

Price: £500

Here’s a compact car that’s huge inside, especially with the rear seats folded. Toyota isn’t known for diesels, but these are tough and economical. Reliability is good. Ideally, buy from a loving family rather than from a dealer getting shot of an unwanted part-exchange.
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Ford Galaxy 1.9 TDI Auto (2003)

Mileage: 150,000

Price: £500

The most numerous people carrier of all. There are so many out there that you should be able to find a half-decent one. Its Volkswagen sourced diesel engine is a proper workhorse. The Galaxy is nice to drive and very easy to own and fix.
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Honda Stream 2.0 VTEC (2002)

Mileage: 182,000

Price: £950

This is a proper MPV with a peach of an engine. At this price, it will have done loads of miles, but that’s just what they do: keep on going, for mile after mile. It’s certainly better than the legions of Vauxhall Zafiras that clog up the classifieds.
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Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD (2001)

Mileage: 160,000

Price: £600

Stylish old thing these days, with the 3x3 seating layout, which is better than most ’buses. And it seems to be able to take day-to-day punishment, having proved itself on the taxi rank. Find a 1.6-litre petrol for possible Ultra Low Emission Zone compliance.
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Sports car for the price of fancy trainers:

Goodness me, you can’t get fancier footwear than a pair of Christian Louboutin Spike Sock trainers, which cost £965. Trainers are supposed to make you faster and look cool on the bus. Instead of rocking these abominations, you really should buy yourself a proper sports car for the same money.
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Audi TT 1.8T Quattro (2001)

Mileage: 162,000

Price: £800

It’s incredible that these haven’t yet turned into more expensively priced classic icons. So hurry while stocks last. Coil packs fail, instrument clusters go dark or misbehave, and the suspension can be an MOT failure point, so it may need a set of bushes.
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BMW 320Ci (2003)

Mileage: 121,000

Price: £900

The best-looking 3 Series yet? It will cost relatively little to find out. There are some terribly modified ones around, but smart buyers stick to the clean, stock models that still look like an M3 without the badge. It’ll need history and a recent timing belt receipt to be a safe buy.
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Toyota Celica 1.8 VVT (2004)

Mileage: 107,000

Price: £600

Fabulous to look at and great to drive. Surprisingly quiet and relaxed on the motorway, too. The 1.8-litre 190 version is the model to buy if you want serious performance. At this stage of its life, you’ll find lots of stupidly modified ones and those in need of tyres and suspension parts, so be discerning.
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Hyundai Coupe 2.0 (2007)

Mileage: 120,000

Price: £750

Squint and you might think that it is a Jaguar or Aston Martin – seriously. That’s reason enough to buy. The other is that Hyundai equals reliability. So you get a good-looking sports car that can be run for i30 money. Target the few-owner examples and you’ll be fine.
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Alfa Romeo GT 2.0 (2006)

Mileage: 111,000

Price: £550

Old Alfas are always a cause for concern, but a buyer’s bravery will often be rewarded with a proper driving machine. This one is a pretty and purposeful little car that will put a smile on your face. The less complicated petrol is the sensible way to go.
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Off-roader for the price of the new Defender’s Off-road Pack:

We’ve all sat and specced ourselves one of those new-fangled Land Rovers. For £1405, you can get black roof rails, a domestic plug socket, an electronic active differential and some off-road tyres. Or you could, of course, get a complete 4x4.
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Toyota RAV4 2.0 D-4D XT3 (2003)

Mileage: 104,000

Price: £900

Here is something that’s Defender sized. It may not be as square, but its diesel engine is tough and its build quality is great. The 2003-06 model is relatively fixable compared with later versions. It’s just like a high-up car and the perfect used compact SUV.
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Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XE (2003)

Mileage: 109,000

Price: £950

The Sorento is a grown-up 4x4. It’s the equal of a Land Rover Discovery but far cheaper and much less likely to break down. XE models have a manually selectable 4WD system activated by a button on the dashboard. It can cope with pretty much all muddy and watery eventualities.
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Subaru Forester 2.0 Turbo (2006)

Mileage: 179,000

Price: £700

A slightly pumped-up estate car but what a magnificent machine. It’s good to drive and powerful, with a decent boot, but the rear seats are slightly cramped. Parts can be very expensive if all is not well with the 4x4 system.
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Daihatsu Terios 1.3 Sport (2002)

Mileage: 92,000

Price: £1200

These are worth finding. The 2000-07 model is a box on wheels that really can get down and dirty. Pay top money and get a well-equipped little thing that’ll be all the 4x4 you’ll ever need. Most important, these are bombproof.
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Jeep Cherokee 2.5 TD Sport (2003)

Mileage: 93,000

Price: £900

Cherokees have bags of character, look the part and, unlike most off-road softies, can mix it in the mud. The plasticky interior spoils it for some and overall it isn’t very sophisticated, but that’s a big part of its charm. It has decent standard kit, too. Tyres and suspension are expensive to replace, though.
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Roadster for the price of a posh umbrella:

Spring is now here and you always need an umbrella, especially when getting off the bus. But instead of a Dolce & Gabbana brolly at £975 (it has an eagle head), get the wind in your hair in a posable drop-top.
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Mercedes-Benz SLK 230 (2001)

Mileage: 153,000

Price: £1000

Better than a tired CLK, the SLK is slowly gaining classic status, but without prices being tugged into the stratosphere. It has an insanely complicated roof, of course. It’s still possible to find quite tidy ones with a complete service history, but there are sometimes rust and electrical issues.
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Smart Fortwo Cabrio (2005)

Mileage: 121,000

Price: £695

Basically, an umbrella on wheels. It’s a clever town car that makes an awful lot of sense and can be bought for buttons. The engines won’t do big mileages, so if it has done more than 100,000 miles, it has either been rebuilt or will soon go pop. Check the roof for leaks and that the gear changes are smooth and it should be okay.
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Saab 9-3 1.8i (2005)

Mileage: 106,000

Price: £800

When you need a proper four-seat drop-top with some style and value, it has to be a Saab. Some criticise the body wobble, but really you’re using this to waft, not to roll around a track. Check for oil and coolant leaks.
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Ford StreetKa (2004)

Mileage: 94,000

Price: £640

There are a colossal number of these in circulation – and that’s reason enough to go and pick a good one. You might look daft in one, but they are cheap to buy, fun to drive and easy to fix. Rust has always been a Ka issue, but overall it was built quite well by Pininfarina.
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Mazda MX-5 (2003)

Mileage: 122,000

Price: £800

Mk2 MX-5s are now the entry level, because the Mk1s are terminally rusty or being restored. It’s the easy choice, but they’re perfect for the budget buyer who still wants entertainment. Corrosion is becoming an issue, as are dodgy brake calipers, peeling paint and sticky windows.

What about some family carry-all cars? Read on
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Saab 9-5 Estate (2006)

Mileage: 119,000

Price: £700

Saab may be gone, but it shared a badge with Scania. The closest it got to a people mover was the exceptional 9-5 Estate. Even the old model still looks stylish. It’s satisfying to drive and has bags of room, but the diesel engine can be smoky and leaky and the turbo can fail.
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Renault Grand Scenic 2.0 VVT Dynamique (2004)

Mileage: 65,000

Price: £750

There are lots of Scenics in circulation at the moment and the Grand version has a few more centimetres to play with. The petrol ones are especially cheap and worth finding because they’re more reliable. This isn’t the most solid of vehicles and its electric windows and dashboard can go on the blink.
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Volvo V70 2.4 D5 SE (2004)

Mileage: 150,000

Price: £850

It’s impossible to go wrong with what is the consummate load hauler from the Swedes. It has the legendary flat load bay and there are seven-seat options for maximum family flexibility. The petrols are good but the diesel suits it perfectly. The V70 will take huge mileages and still look fresh.
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Mercedes-Benz R-Class 320 CDI SE (2006)

Mileage: 130,000

Price: £1600

Overlooking the silly little Vaneo and dodging the great big V-Class van, the poshest bus Mercedes made is the old R-Class. It never caught on, but it’s well equipped, useful and, above all, comfy. The alternative is a musty E-Class Estate.

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