A popular automotive YouTuber has shared his picks for the best compact cars drivers are able to buy for no more than £3,000.
As the cost of motoring continues to rise, many have found that there are fewer cheap cars being sold on the second-hand market.
However, Matt, who runs the YouTube channel High Peak Autos, noted that buyers on a budget can still choose from a wide variety of Fiat 500s with money to spare.
He explained: “Don’t laugh now because what I’m suggesting now requires a little bit of creativity. What I’m suggesting you do is buy a Fiat 500, just a basic one for about £2,000, and spend your change making it look like an Abarth.
“So, Abarth wheels, stripes, coloured wing mirrors, you could completely transform your standard 1.2 Pop into an Abarth replica. I think that would be a really cool first car.”
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In the video, Matt notes that the sporty Abarth variant is not widely available for under £3,000, instead advising drivers to buy a standard Fiat 500 and spend some extra money to make it look like the hot hatchback.
The YouTuber also noted buyers always look over the vehicle in person, checking for any oil leaks and listening for any whining noises coming from the gearbox.
Motorists should also ask the seller if the cambelt has been changed if the vehicle is over ten years old, noting that buyers could be faced with a costly repair bill if a worn-out belt snaps.
Later in the video, Matt suggests that drivers with £3,000 to spare on their next car should buy a Ford Fiesta, once the best-selling car in the UK.
He advised: “This one is quite conventional, it’s the Ford Fiesta. For £3,000 you’ll get a nice high-spec, low-mileage Mk6, one of those post-facelift ones with the bug-eyed headlights, they’re great cars. Or you’ll get a higher mileage, lower spec Mk7, and they’re even better.
“They’re good to drive, quite reliable, quite insurable, cheap to repair when they go wrong. You’ll need something like the 1.25 petrol, that should be the cheapest to insure because that’s the slowest.”
Finally, the YouTuber talks about the Toyota Aygo, stating it is the best used car that motorists can buy on a budget due to its reliability.
He continued: “This won’t surprise you because it’s probably the most sensible first car on the market, it’s the Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107.
“They’re the ugliest and most predictable cars on this list but they’re worth considering if you’re on a tight budget because you really can’t go wrong with them. They’re cheap to tax, cheap to run, cheap to insure, parts are cheap to buy. It’s the cheapest way for somebody to get from A to B.”
