With a whole series of seasons of the Barrelbrigade behind us, we have seen many occasions of less than € 500 pass by at the editorial office. While some managed to find eccentrics for next to nothing, others made more sensible choices. With the latter in mind, today we dive into the wonderful world of used cars that should cost no more than € 500.
Kia Rio 1.3 RS (2003) – € 300
The RS addition in the name suggests that this Kia Rio is a very sporty boy. That image is reinforced by the extremely sporty wheel covers! Now we have to disappoint everyone, unfortunately, because the RS was in 2003 on the Kia price list the just-not-bare-bones version. This is also reflected in the black mirror caps and ditto handles. The 74 horsepower under the hood, with which the Rio sprints to 100 km / h within 14.3 seconds, will not get their hands on each other with many enthusiasts. In terms of reliability, however, it is a completely different story, because the first Rio is known for a few minor flaws, including a weak windshield wiper motor. This copy is the newest on the list and brought in € 10,245 in 2003, the seller now asks only € 300. In addition, the MOT will only expire in June next year!
Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6 Classic (1997) – € 395
A piece of Dutch history in this top 5. In the mid-1990s Mitsubishi developed the Carisma especially for the European market and it was to be built here too. By here we really mean here, because the Carisma left the band in Born. He shares his genes with a Swedish car that rolled from the same Nedcar production line: the Volvo S40 / V40. With the 1.8 GDI, the Carisma entered the books as the first mass-produced European passenger car with a direct-injection petrol engine. That is nice of course, but ‘unfortunately’ has this copy the entry-level engine: a 90 hp 1.6. For € 395, this apparently pretty neat 1997 Carisma is yours. According to the seller, the air conditioning still works well, the middle part of the exhaust has recently been renewed and you get new windscreen wiper blades in addition to a towbar!
Citroën Saxo 1.1 (1998) – € 395
Among all the Asian violence, a European should of course not miss. We fish this Citroën Saxo out of the wide range of excellent ‘barrels’. Not the best choice in terms of safety, but in terms of appearance and reliability a great candidate for this top 5. The range of Saxootjes is large, but not all copies have such a relatively low (NAP) mileage of 166,000 km and a mischievous upholstery with yellow stitching and a gear knob in the same color! During the test drive, pay attention to the rear axle, as there is sometimes some play in the bearings. The head gasket with these blocks is also something to pay extra attention to. Another point of attention: the APK of this Saxo will expire very soon, but that offers extra negotiation possibilities!
Toyota Starlet 1.3 XLI Limited (1995) – € 450
In a list like this one should of course not be missing: the Toyota Starlet. Indestructible due to its basic technique. However, that has not gone unnoticed, because Starlets are popular occasions. Fortunately, it is possible to buy this Starlet for € 450! For that money you certainly do not have the youngest (1995) or the one with the least experience (298,136 km), but you do have a real Starlet with tow bar. Also look through the faded paint on the roof and the duct tape on the driver’s seat: that’s character! The seller is not talking about a new MOT, but this may be negotiable.
Subaru Vivio 0.7 GLI (1998) – € 490
In terms of size, we stay in the small corner, because this Subaru Vivio is just within our budget with its € 490. The four previous owners together drove just over 200,000 km with the little ‘Soeb’, but treated her with great love, because look at her neatly shiny. The road tax of up to € 39 per quarter is of course a hoot, as is the consumption of the 44 hp 0.7-liter four-cylinder. Driving fast will be a challenge (0-100: 16.0 seconds, 138 km / h at the top), but you shouldn’t want that at all in this roguish thing. The Subaru mud flaps make up for the kiss on the right corner of the rear bumper.