Fun, fast and frugal for £15k

* Name: Yiorgos
* Age: 23
* Lives: Harrow, London
* Job: Advertising account executive
* Current car: VW Golf GTi 1.8T
* Annual mileage: 22k



The problem
Yiorgos Hadjiandrea lives and works in London but every weekend makes a 400-mile round-trip to Harrogate, Yorkshire, to visit his folks. He currently uses his VW Golf GTi for the commute. It’s the 1.8-litre turbocharged model but Yiorgos’ heavy right foot means he’s only getting around 29mpg on the motorway. And with current fuel prices the way they are that means he’s spending £450 a month on unleaded. It’s a habit he can ill-afford. As a young lad living in London, Yiorgos has got a lot more to spend his hard-earned cash on so he’s come to us for help.
What's he got to spend?
With the sale of his own Golf and a bit of cash in the bank, Yiorgos has budgeted on spending £15,000 for his next set of wheels. He’s looking at used but wants the newest car his money can get.
* Setting your budget

What he wants
Audi TT (Image © Audi)
Yiorgos likes the Audi TT but with no diesel option he won't slash his fuel bills
Yiorgos is out to make an impression and he isn’t prepared to sacrifice performance and style for the sake of economy. This much is evident when he tells us he’s currently considering either an Audi TT or a BMW 325i coupe. Buy any of these two cars and Yiorgos might as well kiss goodbye to even more cash every month. Neither will reduce his astronomical fuel bill. A dramatic rethink is needed, although it helps that we know he wants something flash, sporting, fairly brisk and German. He’s not fussy then.
What we suggest
Given his crazy weekend mileage and desire to reduce his fuel bills there’s really only one choice for Yiorgos and that’s to go diesel. Either that or take the train. However, choosing a diesel isn’t the compromise it once was. These days modern diesel engines are refined and fast and most manufacturers now include at least one sporting diesel choice in their range.

* A-Z of buying a used car

The saloon choice: BMW 330d
BMW 330d (Image © BMW)
The BMW 330d offers mighty performance and excellent economy
What's good about it? What isn’t? For £15k Yiorgos will be looking at the previous-generation BMW 3-Series, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. Far from it, in fact. Arguably he will be getting a prettier car than the current 3-Series and, although it isn’t as razor-sharp as the new model, the 330d will still entertain like a clown at a kids’ party. The agile chassis is key to this car and, once you add in the rear-wheel-drive set-up, the inch-perfect steering and the superb body control, you’ve got one hell of a car. On top of this, the 3-Series’ cabin is sturdy and the reliability is strong.
The oily bits
The 3.0-litre turbodiesel is an incredibly flexible unit, with 204bhp and 302lb ft of shove. Police forces up and down the country swear by this engine - and it isn’t hard to see why; 60mph from rest takes around seven seconds and the top speed is a very-illegal 151mph. But the best bit of all? Yiorgos can put his foot down safe in the knowledge that he’ll be pulling in an average of 43.5mpg on the combined cycle, or mid-thirties when he’s in a real hurry.
What isn't so good?
BMW 330d interior (Image © BMW)
Be wary of cars with automatic gearboxes because economy can suffer greatly.
If you’re after a 330d with an auto gearbox be advised that fuel economy can permanently drop to the mid-thirties - or worse when you cane it. Other problems to look out for include the 330d’s rear brakes discs which wear out quickly. Also run your hands over the rear tyres because the 330d can go through rubber at an incredible rate, especially if the previous owner enjoyed putting his foot down around roundabouts. When you’re on the test drive listen out for anything unusual.
What's around for £15k?
There’s heaps of choice at this money. Prices start from about £6,000 for a high-miler but for £15k Yiorgos could get a 2003 03-reg 330d Sport with 54,000 miles and a full service history, like the one we found in the classifieds. An approved used car from a dealer will cost around £2,000 more and should come with a warranty and full inspection. As for insurance, Insurancewide.com quoted Yiorgos £2,142 for a year's cover.

* Used 330ds for around £15k
* New BMW 330d roadtest
* Get an insurance quote

The convertible choice: Audi A4 Cabriolet 2.5 TDI
Audi A4 Cabriolet (Image © Audi)
The Audi A4 Cabriolet is the classy choice, with a zippy electric roof and a first-rate cabin
The 330d may be the sporty driver’s choice but for those who care more for image then little beats the Audi A4 Cabriolet. On balmy summer nights Yiorgos could drop the hood – electrically, of course - settle into the comfy seats and cruise to Yorkshire in style. The swish Audi is also the car most likely to earn Yiorgos a second glance from passers by and, if he’s really lucky, there’s room for three of them in the wonderfully-appointed cabin. It’s also fully-loaded in there with leather, climate control and, depending on the model, satellite navigation. Enough luxuries to allow him and his companions to travel in style.
The oily bits
There’s a huge choice of engines available with the A4 Cab but for Yiorgos’ purposes we’re recommending the smooth 163bhp 2.5-litre V6 TDI turbodiesel. This engine isn’t available any more, replaced instead by a 2.0-litre TDI. The 2.5 TDI will get from 0-60mph in 9.9secs and on to a top speed of 140mph. Clearly, it won’t blow Yiorgos’ socks off, especially when you compare it to the BMW’s blistering sprint times, but it’s refined and smooth – perfect for cruising.
What isn't so good?
Audi A4 Cab interior (Image © Audi)
The Audi A4 Cabriolet has one of the smartest interiors of any mainstream car on sale but there are still niggles you should look for
Sit in the Audi’s robust cabin and you’d be forgiven for thinking the car was bomb-proof. But even Audis suffer from niggles so it’s vital that you push, prod and pull every button and switch in the cabin to check that things are working as they should. Some A4 Cabs have been known to suffer from electrical faults, such as the hood failing to operate, so put the roof up and down a few times. As with all used car purchases, try and bring a mechanic along as the ignition coils are prone to burning out. The bills aren’t horrendous if this happens, but you’ll usually need to replace all four and it can be a pain if your car breaks down. Also watch the driver’s footrest because it can come unstuck and rattle around in the footwell.

* How to avoid a dud deal

What's around for £15k?
At £15k there isn’t much around. Residuals for the diesel are very strong and the cheapest 2.5 TDI we could find in the classifieds was a 2002 52-reg model with 75,000 miles for £15,995. Haggle, though, and Yiorgos shouldn’t have any trouble slashing at least £500 off this. A dealer car will be well out of Yiorgos’ budget. The Audi may be slightly out of his budget, but the Audi's insurance is the cheapest, with a quote of £1,760 from Insurancewide.com.

* Used A4 Cabriolets for around £15k
* Audi A4 Cabriolet roadtest
* Get an insurance quote

The coupé choice: Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupé
Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupé
The C-Class Sports Coupé isn't the best to drive but it's spacious and well-built
So why should Yiorgos choose the Sports Coupé then? Well there’s that Mercedes badge for a start, which tends to lend a degree of sophistication to the car in question, but the Sports Coupé is also surprisingly spacious inside. It’s certainly not as cramped as most coupés, with a high roofline and a big boot. These things probably aren’t going to set Yiorgos’ fire alight, though. What might just tempt him are the generous equipment levels, with climate control, cruise control and electric front windows as standard, and alloy wheels, leather seats and multi-disc CD players on higher-spec models. However, be wary of poorly-specified older cars, some of which miss out on air-con.
The oily bits
Mercedes’ diesel engines are among the best on the market and with the Sports Coupé buyers get a choice of two, either the C200 CDI or the C220 CDI. Both use the same 2.1-litre turbodiesel engine in either 122bhp or 150bhp form. For Yiorgos, we’re recommending the 150bhp C220 CDI. This will give him fairly decent performance – 0-62mph in 10.3secs and a 139mph top speed – as well as 42.8mpg on the combined cycle.
What isn't so good?
Mercedes Sports Coupé interior (Image © Mercedes)
It may be a Mercedes but the quality might not be as good as you expect. Give all the buttons inside a good prod
Mechanically, the Sports Coupé is sound but Mercedes build quality has slipped in recent years and there are a few issues to be aware of. Get a mechanic to check the turbo’s oil seals as these can cause problems and, while he’s under the bonnet, get him to inspect the glow plugs. Basically, break these and you could be facing a bill for several thousand quid. Again, check all the switches work and pay close attention to the interior quality as it isn’t as robust as you might think. To drive, the Sports Coupé won’t win any awards but on a long journey its refinement and smoothness will be hard to resist. But before you buy any car, take it for a good drive to see if you get on with the driving experience.

* How to take a test drive

What's around for £15k?
Yiorgos won’t even have to spend this much as most Sports Coupés are less than £15k in the classifieds. In fact, for a grand less he can get himself behind the wheel of a 2003 53-reg C220 CDI Sport, with 50,000 miles on the clock and all the mod-cons. Bargain. Insurance, courtesy of Insurancewide.com, came in at £1,883, making the Merc the second most expensive to cover.

* Used C220 CDIs for around £15k
* Get an insurance quote

If we were him…
Audi A4 Cabriolet (Image © Audi)
The Audi A4 Cab is our choice for its cool styling, fun image and good fuel economy
Yiorgos’ requirements are fairly restrictive. He wants a car that’s fun but also economical, something that will impress his friends but not leave him broke at the end of every month. It’s for this reason that we recommend he goes for the Audi. With its sexy looks, strong engine and excellent economy it ticks all the right boxes and will make Yiorgos stand out, whether he happens to be commuting on the M1 or cruising the boulevards of Cannes.

* Setting your budget
* A-Z of buying a used car
* New BMW 330d roadtest
* How to avoid a dud
* Audi A4 Cabriolet roadtest
* How to take a test drive
* Used car homepage

Are you thinking about choosing a new car? If so, our motoring mentor could help with a detailed guide like the one above.