My Picks Under £10k

I was asked what second-hand cars I would choose on a budget of £10k. I’ve decided to pick the main categories, and include my favourite car in that class with the reason why I’ve picked it.

Convertible

Volkswagen Eos – The intriguing folding metal roof incorporates a sunroof, so the cabin is flooded with light even when the roof is up. With insurance groups ranging from 15-36, and fuel efficiency of up to 58 mpg, it can be relatively cheap to run for a convertible. Personally, I would get the 2.0 litre TDI BlueMotion.

Coupé

Vauxhall Astra GTC – A rival to the Volkswagen Scirocco and Renault Mégane Coupé, the Astra GTC is a sleek addition to the Astra lineup in the form of a 3-door hatchback. From groups 13-27, insurance should be cheap. And running figures of up to 72 mpg are attractive too. My pick of the bunch would be the 1.7 CDTi.

Estate

Audi A4 Avant – Practical, good-looking, yet comparatively affordable, the A4 Avant will rival the liked of the C-Class Estate and the 3 Series Touring. With insurance groups ranging from 18-36, the engines will return up to 64 mpg.

Hatchback

Lexus CT200h – Offered as a 1.8 litre petrol-electric hybrid, it doesn’t have any main rivals. It shares most of its mechanics with the Toyota Prius, yet its body style rivals the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series. Despite being a hybrid, you can only get up to 78 mpg with a light foot. Bit of a shame really, considering you can get equal or sometimes better from a new diesel nowadays! And insurance will sit in groups 18-21. There are hatchbacks with much better running costs, but there’s just something about the CT200h.

Supermini

I really am torn between two great cars, both very similar yet very different.

Citroën DS3 – I love the fact that very few DS3s that you’ll see on the road are the same, and the very attractive up-market looks too. I’m sure you’ll agree with me in saying that it looks way better than the C3. Up to 78 mpg isn’t a bad offer, and insurance groups from 27 down to a tiny 9 makes it a great car to insure for a 17-year-old!

Vauxhall Adam – It has been accused of being a copy of the DS3, its personalisation and quirky looks, but so what? Vauxhall has cottoned onto a great idea to produce a popular car. It may come as a bit of a shock to you that it’ll only get up to 57 mpg, but insurance groups from 10 down to a minuscule, almost microscopic, 3!

City Car

Volkswagen Up! / Škoda Citigo / Seat Mii: I think this may be a case of brand snobbery. Sorry. The others in this class are Kia and Hyundai, the French (and Japanese) 108 / C1 / Aygo trio, the Twingo and the Panda. Don’t get me wrong, they’re all great cars in their own ways, like the rear-engined Twingo, but the Up! comes out just on top. VW is known for great build quality, it’s very refined, and spec levels are generous. Expect up to 68 mpg and groups 1-4 for insurance with the exception of the E-Up! in group 10. Incredible!

MPV

Ford B-Max – I really love the way the rear doors slide back like a larger MPV and the front doors open conventionally to create a giant pillar-less opening. Something you don’t expect from a small MPV. In terms of practicality, I think it’s one of the leaders in its class. Low insurance groups of 7-13 and a possible 70 mpg will attract any buyers, along with Ford’s low pricing and great deals.

SUV

Volkswagen Tiguan – Despite being a small SUV, you can specify it with 4WD / AWD or a more efficient 2WD whilst still retaining its off-road looks. SUVs nowadays are more of a status car than anything else, and the Tiguan can certainly tick that box for under £10k! Hopefully you won’t be promoting your status too frequently at the petrol station with fuel economy of up to 53 mpg, and sitting in groups 14-24 the Tiguan is an attractive purchase for those who are likely to have higher insurance premiums.

Saloon

Toyota Prius – Ok, I know it’s not a saloon, it’s a 5-door hatchback in the shape of a saloon, but there’s something about it. I just love hybrids, yet I don’t know why. They have a whining CVT ‘box and most modern diesels can get you further. But the opportunity to drive around town using just electric is still a futuristic thought. It uses the same 1.8 litre petrol-electric hybrid engine as in the Lexus CT200h (above). It’ll get you up to 72 mpg (slightly worse than the CT) but insurance sits in the 15-16 groups (slightly better).

Luxury

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – You say ‘luxury saloon’ to anyone and the S-Class will be one of the first cars they’ll name. A well-refined cabin will isolate you from the outside, assisted by the smooth ride. Acres of space is available for rear passengers, particularly on the LWB S-Class L models which are available for under £10k. I would get an S-Class L without a shadow of a doubt. Fourty-five miles per gallon is a pleasant surprise, but the larger engines will get you lower than 20 mpg in the real world. And don’t expect insurance to come cheap – 46-50.

My Pick of the Bunch

So from all of the above, what am I most likely to chose? Well, I’m not 17 yet. But from the point of view of a 17-year-old male as regards insurance, it’d have to be a Vauxhall Adam or VW Up! and I’d be very happy with my purchase!

What would you chose from the above list? Or, under the same £10k price bracket, would you have any different suggestions for any of the categories?