31 Mar 09
Jeep Cherokee, 1997
The 4x4: Jeep Cherokee (1997)
There's not much choice for 4x4 diehards with little cash. We found this Jeep 12-year-old Cherokee and, to be fair, this example didn't look very appealing. Dodgy looking alloys and a weird number plate put us off, but we were scraping the barrel. This 4.0-litre petrol auto was priced at a modest £1,295 and only had 87k miles on the clock. It was nicely kitted out with electric mirrors and windows, electrically adjustable leather seats, a load carrier, roof rails, radio cassette and it did have a full service history.
BMW loyalist: BMW 3-Series (1998)
Searching through the 3-Series ads yielded a ragtag bunch of cars that looked untrustworthy. This 1998 318i looked, at least, mediocre but it had 110k miles on the clock and looked just about acceptable for its £1,495 asking price. The Great Missenden dealer highlighted electric windows and mirrors, airbags and alloys as a selling point but the full service history was the thing that made this example stand out.
Skoda Fabia, 2000
Our choice: Skoda Fabia Classic (2000)
The Fabia is a great little car and we think it would wipe the floor with the 2009 Nano. We found a 1.4-litre petrol for a little under £1,500. This, we think, is a bargain, and should be snapped up straightaway. Our chosen car, from a Yorkshire dealer, had a radio cassette, power steering, airbags, 12 months' MoT, a service history. It looked fantastic in blue metallic paint - a quick trip up to Yorkshire beckons.
Reliable choice: Toyota Corolla (2000)
You want a car to go every time you start it? Well, look no further than the ubiquitous Corolla. This is the biggest selling car of all time and for good reason - it doesn't break down. The car that caught our eye was a green 1.4VVTi GS with 92k miles under its belt and a reasonable asking price of £1,700. It was based in Lancashire and the dealer didn't need to say much about it, except that it had a full service history. The Nano won't get a look in, with competition like this.
Stupid choice: MGB GT (1967)
We thought we'd try to cater for those who are after a classic, but it was always going to be a long road. We found two, seemingly identical, 1967 MGB GTs in that sort of puke-inducing, limey-green yellow and both were on offer for £1,495. One was based up north, the other in Glamorgan, but we think they'll both be long, lonely trips to purchase underpowered rust buckets that'll ruin you. Please, for the love of God, go for the Nano.
