ON A BUDGET OF £3,000...
TOYOTA YARIS Vital statistics
Model: 2007 Yaris 1.3 TR Co2/annual road tax: 127g/km/£110 Official fuel economy: 52mpg Insurance group: 6
IT’S the only Japanese car here, and the Yaris is renowned for its reliability. But because of its excellent reputation, asking prices tend to be a little higher than for equivalent European superminis. The Toyota offers some of the lowest insurance costs around, plus a four-star Euro NCAP rating.
Your £3,000 buys a 2007 Yaris 1.3 TR that’s done 50,000 miles. This engine is noticeably perkier than the 1.0-litre alternative while still being insurance friendly. We’d avoid the Multidrive automatic gearbox, and you need to be on the lookout for engine misfires, but there are few common issues with these cars.
MINI ONE Vital statistics
Model: 2007 MINI One 1.4 hatch Co2/annual road tax: 138g/km/£130 Official fuel economy: 49mpg Insurance group: 12
THE MINI has been a massive success for BMW and it’s easy to see why; it looks great, is fun to drive and safe, thanks to its strong bodyshell. However, prices are high, reliability can be patchy, it isn’t the most practical supermini and insurance costs can be relatively steep.
For many, these are sacrifices worth making. If you’re tempted, this budget is enough for an 80,000-mile 2007 MINI One 1.4 hatch. Earlier cars with the 1.6-litre engine are easier to find at this price, but this second-generation model is a significant improvement. Check for cracked windscreens, unreliable electrics and paintwork damage.
VOLKSWAGEN POLO Vital statistics
Model: 2009 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Match Co2/annual road tax: 144g/km/£145 Official fuel economy: 46mpg Insurance group: 4
YOU might think the Polo is out of reach, but this is the newest car here and potentially the cheapest to insure.
For within £3,000, you can get your hands on a 70,000-mile 1.2-litre version of one of the last previousgeneration models. Most Polos at this money are to E spec, but if you can find a Match, you’ll benefit from aircon, alloys and electric front windows. It’s a strong and safe car for the money, if not quite as reliable as you might expect. Check for corrosion under the window seals, listen for a whining gearbox and make sure the footwells aren’t waterlogged, as the door seals can fail.