Running a car on a very low budget can be done reliably with a bit care and possibly a dose of good luck. It’s something I’ve done for many years and I’ve also helped friends and customers do it.

The smug feeling that comes from beating the system is every bit as good as the joy of having some expensive new car on your drive as long as image isn’t a major concern. No monthly payment, no expensive main dealer servicing, no worries if it catches a scuff or a dent and you’ll be carefree about where you park it. It can be truly worry free monitoring of done right.

However to list cars I’d recommend is complicated by the fact that condition is of much greater importance than make and model at this money. I wouldn’t for example walk past a tidy one owner Renault Clio with history to get to a tatty Honda Jazz that hasn’t seen spanner’s in years.

That said some are obviously better than others from the outset so if we assume similar condition, history and mileage a list of bargain bucket favourites does present itself. I’ve sold cars in this class since I first started out in the trade in 1996 and have always liked cars with character as I refer to them over cars with never-ending cost.

Let’s set the price limit of £2,000, here’s my list of favourites, cars I’ve sold and had little to no bother with. I’ll leave out performance and prestige metal plus SUV’s as these are unwise buys at this money that’ll most likely c****** any owner on a tight budget.

Best City car £2,000

Kia Picanto/Hyundai i10 jointly

Better made, more practical and cheaper than the equivalent 107/C1/Aygo. Mechanically tough and low mileage late model 2011 cars can be had for £1,500. Cheap to buy, cheap to tax and does everything you need for peanuts and thanks to the uncool image you won’t have many rivals pushing up the price. Most are kept by elderly longterm owners who look after them too. Just watch for rot underneath especially if it’s came from up north or the coast.


Best supermini £2,000

Toyota Yaris

Find one that’s solid and you can’t go wrong with one of these. Watch for slipping clutches and rot underneath but they’re no worse than anything else it’s just that little else goes wrong if they’ve been looked after. Often people do however abuse them as they’re regarded as bombproof but that doesn’t extend to neglect, they need oil every year. I’d leave the diesels at this money. The Mk I Jazz is a close second but gearbox bearings and thrust bearings are weak beyond 100,000 miles plus they’re very firm riding.


Best small family hatch £2,000

Toyota Corolla 1.4/1.6

Mechanically very tough with no real vices beyond sticking brake callipers. Resists Rot better than most and rarely falls into the hands of anyone under the age of 60 so few are abused. A perfect banger buy. The Mazda 3 is a close second and is much better to drive but rust is an issue. Get a solid one and it’ll be a great servant. Honda Civic up to 2005 is another good option but the Toyota wins it for me. If you must have a diesel then the Toyota or Honda 1.7 are the best bets. Autos are fine on all three.

Best Large family car

Honda Accord 2.0

Very pleasant to drive, ok on fuel and very long lived here if looked after. I’d favour the estate but it’s rare in good order with most abused as workhorses. The Toyota Avensis is a close second but isn’t as nice to drive but there’s loads about and they’re cheap. I’d leave the diesels here as most will be mega mile and abused plus the early Honda 2.2 diesels aren’t the most robust. Autos are fine on both.

It’s a short shortlist but I would be aiming for simple petrol engined family owned cars that’ve been with the current/last owner longterm. Forget complex turbo diesels and prestige brands. Buy on condition and history over age and mileage and get under it to look for major rot before buying. I look for cars at this money privately. Look for wealthy addresses and elderly owners who’ve had them for years. Phrases like ‘owner giving up driving’ and ‘for sale due to bereavement’ are gold when shopping for bangers.


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Left foot braking is the only way to remain fully in control of an automatic two-pedal car at all times. You have two feet. The car has two pedals. What could be more stupid than using one foot to control two pedals and leaving the other foot redundant? Why allow the car to travel for a second or two under power and out of control while you move your right foot from accelerator to brake? Even at 20mph a car travels 9 metres (20 feet) in the ‘thinking distance’ required to move a right foot from accelerator to brake. Left foot brake and you eliminate that thinking distance entirely. Every year, dozens, if not scores of pedestrians are killed by foolish, arrogant, or otherwise deluded elderly drivers who do not have the cranial capacity or co-ordination to properly control their limbs. We did some tests in a C63 AMG at Mercedes Benz World in May this year and by left foot braking I was able to brake much faster than any of the right foot brakers simply because the 'Highway Code' ‘Thinking Distance’ is completely eliminated. I'm right and I've proved it and anyone who ignores me could be the next to cause an unnecessary death

Sorry if you have read this over and over in HJ column but I must take issue with the nonsense about thinking distance being entirely eliminated with is LFB. Surely if you have an emergency braking issue both feet are connected to your brain and you react with your favoured foot to the brake peddle. Most people are right handed/right footed and you are hard wired to this. In an emergency you come off the accelerator with the right and onto the brake with the right. With HJ he does not mention what happens to his right foot! There is obviously no way to eliminate thinking distance as HJ states Read more

Hello, I am from the US and I am looking for some parts from the A33 maxima qx (2000-2004).

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Interesting article. I drive a Hyundai i10. It's small, does the job and I bought it with my own money. Most other people I know drive huge SUVs part paid for on personal contract deals. Part of what is making cars bigger is the perceived affordability of these cars. And don't get me started on the self employed Van/family car brigade...

Mike Read more