Buying a used car is usually a significant drain on the savings account for the average Dutch person and the rising prices are not making it any better. Yet there is still plenty to be found at the lower end of the market. What can still be achieved today with a budget of €1,500? Let’s go looking!
A lot for little
Suzuki Wagon R++ 1.3S Limited
2003
90,217 km
€1,350
The Suzuki Wagon R+ seems made for the older fellow man who longs for a high entry, for the good house man or woman who is looking for a shopping car. But this Suzuki is mainly for people who don’t care what others think and who can appreciate the great qualities of this small MPV. Affordable, great performance, good reliability and plenty of space. This budget car makes it all come true and it is therefore not surprising that this Wagon R+ and its German counterpart, the Opel Agila, have been such a success. We came across this beautiful gray copy, which shows its sporty aspirations with beautiful wheels and a spoiler for extra downforce. Furthermore, this Limited version has front fog lights, air conditioning and electrically operated windows. The Japanese has an MOT until July 2022 and has had only two owners.
Shortened 3 Series
BMW 316i Compact Executive
2000
149,187 km
€1,450
A BMW with more than twenty years of life experience and an expired MOT is not the wisest buy. But as a counterbalance to the extremely rational Wagon R+, we still take this Dreier Compact with us. This is the cheaper, shortened 3-series, but it still has all the fun that the big brother has to offer, so rear-wheel drive, good road holding and a sporty appearance. This copy is a 316i Executive with a healthy 105 hp and 165 Nm of torque. The option list is nice and clear and includes an automatic transmission, air conditioning, central locking, power steering and electrically operated windows and mirrors. It is an original Dutch car and only two owners are mentioned. As far as we’re concerned, a new MOT would be a hard requirement when negotiating
super mini
Seat Arosa 1.4 Stella
2002
72,932 km
€1,445
Behold the Volkswagen Lupo, but with a Spanish-Italian sauce over it. This Seat Arosa is the twin brother of the German ‘supermini’ and is designed by Walter de’Silva. Exactly, the Italian top designer who is responsible for, among other things, the Alfa Romeo 145, 146 and 156. It is a well-smoelen A-segmenter, which drives quite mature and is still equipped with a 1.4-four cylinder. Think about that again with today’s A-segmenters. You sit well in the front and you quickly get the impression that you are on the road with a larger car due to the spacious interior. But as soon as you take a look back, you are immediately an illusion poorer: it remains a small city rascal. The rear seat is not nice for adults and the trunk measures only 130 liters. We have found this copy with a low mileage and an MOT until July 22, 2022.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl