A six-pack for £6,000

From a supermini to cabrio, limos to MPV – and more – here are six cars for six grand.

An all-purpose garage line-up for a bargain...

Mercedes-Benz S-Class (1999-2006)

Forget the depreciation the previous owners have had to stomach – the fact you can buy this German limo for £1000 is pretty impressive. At this price point your S-Class obviously won’t be the best, or lowest-mileage, example, but it’s the ultimate exec all the same. Your potential Mercedes-Benz buy should have a proper service history and be in decent condition, too. All you need to bear in mind is that any necessary repairs won’t be cheap.

Jeep Cherokee (1993-2001)

The newest examples of this generation of Cherokee will now be nearly 15 years old, yet this stalwart 4x4 should keep you out of winter trouble all the same. Despite some concerns over reliability, well cared-for 4.0-litre straight-six petrol examples can go two times round the clock – and they are surprisingly fast (if thirsty), too. The oil-burner is more economical, but slow; an LPG conversion is a good compromise. Rust is the enemy of these Jeeps, as are cracked exhaust manifolds and rear leaf springs. Check for these when buying for less than £1000.

Ford Fiesta Zetec S (1999-2002)

A bargain £600 should get you a reasonable Zetec S, which comes with thrilling performance and handling as standard. This racy 101bhp 1.6-litre example of the Ford Fiesta – the UK’s long-time best-selling car – is spruced up with a bodykit and alloys; just look out for rust both on the external panels and underneath before committing, and make sure the engine’s bottom end doesn’t knock.

Vauxhall Zafira (1999-2005)

This versatile MPV has Tardis-like qualities, with its Astra dimensions belying its roomy seven-seat cabin. All your family – and all their gear – will fit inside the Zafira, and when fully loaded the clever Vauxhall will still handle well. The 1.8-litre petrol, rather than the dated diesel, is our preferred model, and the good news is there’ll be loads of choice on the market. Wise buyers will major on condition and service history.

Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (1994-2002)

Wet or dry, roof up or down, the VW cabriolet will provide classic soft-top motoring from as little as £500 in Mk3 or Mk4 guise. Most reliable – as long as the cambelt-change schedule has been adhered to – is the 2.0-litre petrol model, although its performance and handling are steady rather than superb. Hood condition and rust are the Golf’s main caveats, so be vigilant when inspecting potential buys.

Toyota Celica (1999-2006)

Representing the sporty element of your bargain garage, a Celica of this age provides a fun drive and sleek, racy looks for as little as £700. Worked hard, the 189bhp 1.8-litre engine found in both the 190 and T-Sport models is our favourite, and lively and enjoyable handling enhances the performance. Spec levels, quality and boot space are good, too. Just don’t expect much rear passenger space, and listen out for suspension grumbles as well.