A ‘SAVVY’ car expert has urged drivers to snap up one of these six reliable motors for under £4,000.
Petrolhead Grant, who runs the Scottish Car Clan YouTube channel, gave viewers a range of budget-friendly options, from estates to SUVs, rather than just the typical cramped hatchbacks.
You can pick up some remarkably reliable cars for under £4,000
Grant promised “no-frills, low-cost motoring” for Brits to bank on amid a cost of living crisis.
Toyota Aygo
GettyToyota Aygo[/caption]
That being said, he did start off with some smaller motors, which are usually more plentiful within the budget range.
The Aygo is a perfect little city car for a driver looking for something cheap, cheerful and easy to drive.
Toyota has dubbed it a “compact crossover” but it’s actually smaller than a Fiat 500 so won’t have trouble negotiating urban traffic.
We were able to find a 2008 model online with 111,000 miles on the clock for just £1,000.
But you can also pick up a lower mileage Aygo from 2014 for £3,995.
It’s also built on the same platform as the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107 so those are similarly top options.
Honda Jazz
CollectHonda Jazz[/caption]
Slightly larger than the Aygo, the Jazz is ideal for a small family looking for cut-price wheels.
A 2003 model with just 54,000 miles on it can be had for a very reasonable £3,000.
More recent versions are available but are likely higher mileage in the price range.
Grant said: “I’ve owned several of these personally…and they never die.
“Honestly, if you buy one of these and it’s not been serviced in like 10 years…it will still likely run well.”
However, he did warn that the Jazz has been known to struggle with rust, albeit years after its warranty period, so that’s one to look out for.
Honda Accord
GettyHonda Accord[/caption]
Moving onto the larger motors on the list, the Accord is a stylish and sturdy estate car that can stand up to the demands of a family holiday or long road trip.
Grant claimed that you can find plenty with “galactic” mileage counts simply because “they can take it”.
While he cited examples with over 200,000 miles, you can still get a 2010 Accord with just 82,700 on its odometer for £3,500.
One thing to be aware of is that the catalytic converters on Accords are quite valuable so they can make you plenty of money from the scrappers, but also potentially attract interest from thieves.
I can personally vouch for them
Skoda Octavia
GettySkoda Octavia[/caption]
Described by Grant as a “great reliable car” the Octavia can be picked up for under £2,000 at the lower end.
Some of the lower mileage ones will still slip in under budget at around the £3,500 mark.
Just keep an eye out for particulate filter issues on older diesel models as, according to Grant, these have been known to crop up now and again.
Honda CR-V
GettyHonda CR-V[/caption]
The final category on Grant’s list was the 4x4s and SUVs you can pick up for under £4,000.
These are ideal for people in rural areas who might encounter muddy or boggy tracks, or even just larger families with a similarly large dog.
Rugged, dependable and actually quite good-looking, Grant actually owned one himself, saying: “I can personally vouch for them”.
It’ll be hard to find a recent model under budget with less than 100,000 miles on it but they’re so tough that it shouldn’t be too much of a concern.
Buying a used car online: Five top tips
Try to source vehicles through reliable second-hand sites
Shop around to get the best deals
Ask to view the car before any money is transferred – even better if you can get a test drive
Check the car’s MOT history with the DVSA- this can be done online using the registration
Get a vehicle history check to see if it’s ever been written off or reported stolen – these can be purchased for as little as £9.99
Toyota RAV 4
GettyToyota RAV 4[/caption]
Speaking of rugged and dependable, the RAV 4 is Toyota’s successor to its iconic “indestructible” Land Cruiser, known for being all but bulletproof in the harshest of conditions.
While those are harder to get hold of thanks to their cult status, the RAV 4 is still plenty available.
Top-level examples will sneak in around £3,900 but if you can accept over 100,000 miles you can get it for a few hundred quid less than that.