Used Car Heroes: £1,000 - £3,000

Price category two: £1,000 - £3,000

We may have shifted up a price point in our used car round-up, but you still don’t need a king’s ransom to get your hands on one of these little stunners; saving up your pocket money for a few months should be enough.
These cars truly embody the ‘unsung hero’ aspect of our quest: there are several more obvious choices available for the cash, but for us, these are right choices. Enjoyable, interesting, and above all, reliable, we’ve brought together a futuristic German supermini, a convertible sports car delivering seat-of-the-pants thrills, and a big, luxurious V8-engined barge. Not bad for the price of a package holiday, right? Each has its own merits, so once you’ve had a chance to look through the three films, vote for your favourite in the box below or in the comments box under the video in our YouTube channel.

Audi A2

Years ahead of its time, the Audi A2 was championing ultimate efficiency way before anyone had even heard of greenhouse gases or the ozone layer. When it was released 15 years ago, its lightweight aluminium construction was virtually unheard of in the mass market, and even today, that sort of technology is reserved for much more exotic machinery. Futuristic looks, a high-quality interior and a prestige image complete the package.
Search for an Audi A2 in our classifieds...

Toyota MR2

Contrary to popular belief, the Mazda MX-5 isn’t the only convertible sports car that can be had for a song. The Toyota MR2 Roadster is every bit as reliable and as cheap to run as Mazda’s ten-a-penny drop-top, but it’s also rarer, better looking and - arguably - more fun to drive. That’s largely thanks to the MR2’s classic mid-engined, rear-drive layout. Well, if it’s good enough for Ferrari and Porsche…
Search for a Toyota MR2 in our classifieds...

Lexus LS400

Fancy a luxury limo for the price of a fancy pushbike? Well, you could get yourself an old Mercedes that’ll go wrong every five minutes and bankrupt you with repair bills, or you could get something that combines S-Class sophistication with bullet-proof reliability. The Lexus LS400 has Toyota dependability at its heart, but also delivers a spacious and sophisticated-feeling (and wonderfully retro) cabin, along with a beautifully smooth drive.
Search for a Lexus LS400 in our classifieds or search all used cars under £3000.