Five air-conditioned used cars for less than €700

The scorching summer heat of earlier this month is still fresh in our minds and August is just around the corner, so of course you want to be well prepared. An air-conditioned car is not a superfluous luxury if the mercury may soon exceed 30 degrees again. You don’t necessarily have to dig deep into your pocket for that, because from the 90s, air conditioning became more and more common in the lower segments. In 2022, there are therefore quite a few simple and dirt-cheap used cars with air conditioning for sale. We took a selection from the AutoWeek second-hand range, ignoring export cars, cars without a valid MOT and the all-too-problematic models.

Citroen Xsara (2000) – €599

We will of course kick off with the cheapest car from this list. That is a real Citroën Xsara Coupé, to a certain extent a somewhat forgotten model. So you don’t drive too standard and the Xsara itself is a comfortable car (at least for its age). At the time, it was anything but self-evident that he has air conditioning. This certainly applies to the ‘wood’ on the dashboard. So here someone has been ticking off the options list 22 years ago to give the Xsara just that little bit extra. Yet it is not all you of it, because with a mileage of 271,000, the 1.6 already has quite a bit of experience and the MOT also expires in August. Just try to arrange a new MOT and drive. He will probably survive this summer.

Opel Corsa (2004) – €650

For just a little more, you can go to a private person for an Opel Corsa that is four years younger and has run 60,000 km less. It also looks a lot more modern than the Xsara. Let’s be honest, the Corsa C has aged quite well in itself, right? This copy also seems to look pretty neat, although you have to take the somewhat dull and yellowish headlights into the bargain. With its 75 hp 1.2 it is not such a sporty rascal as the wheels might suggest, but hey, you have air conditioning and that’s what it was all about, right? The MOT is still valid until November, so at least you don’t have to worry about that this summer.

Volvo S40 (1997) – €699

The oldest car with air conditioning in our selection is this Volvo S40 from 1997. After all, air conditioning first became common in the higher segments, so it is not surprising that the more compact cars with air conditioning in our selection are a bit younger. The S40 is indeed seven years older than the Corsa above, but of course you have a lot more car. In terms of size, comfort and engine, then, because it has clearly had more life. Also, the aftermarket hubcaps are probably not to everyone’s taste, but hey, you can pull them off in no time. In any case, it looks like a neatly kept maintenance book and it does not need to be inspected again until March. Just don’t be fooled about ‘indestructible Volvo technology’, such an S40 has really reached its peak with 2 tons on the counter.

Seat Ibiza (2000) – €699

This Seat Ibiza can above all be a direct alternative to the aforementioned Opel Corsa. A direct competitor, moreover with the same power. In the nose of this Ibiza is the relatively simple 75 hp naturally aspirated 1.6, so you don’t have to worry about the engine problems that the Ibiza later had to deal with with the TSI engines. For its time, the Ibiza had quite a modern-looking climate control with a fairly large screen. That no longer works completely flawlessly, but you can still make it nice and comfortable in the car. You just have to learn to live with the not-too-fresh finish.

Ford Focus (2001) – €699

Finally, for the same asking price, there is this Ford Focus as an option. Obviously a much more practical and also more comfortable alternative, but this is also the car that is clearly the least tidy. If you can live with that, then you have a nice driving and quite reliable car that you can take on the road with the whole family in all coolness this summer. It has a tow bar, so you can also take the caravan with you. For a long time you were thrown to death around this time of year with such Focuses on your way to the sunny south, why couldn’t you do that with them now? Well, with 246,000 km on the clock, the freshness of the appearance is gone and that also applies to the technology. But hey, he who doesn’t venture, doesn’t win!