Bangernomics best buys: Nissan Qashqai

2010 Nissan Qashqai +2 1.6 Acenta, 90,000 miles, £4775: If you need seven seats, here’s the economical but slow way to do it. Despite being in Acenta trim, this +2 has a panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors and climate control.

Or try this…

2011 Skoda Yeti 1.6 TDI Greenline II Elegance, 106,000 miles, £5495: This is a tidy and well-looked-after dealer-sold car with two previous owners, a warranty and a service history. Upholstered with leather and should return a strong 60mpg overall.

Idol fancy

MG F and TF, 1995-2005: I’ve always rather liked the bar-of-soap-shape MG F. Mid-engined, small and quite nippy, it is just what a budget roadster should be.

It rolled up in 1995 with two versions of the 1.8-litre K-series engine, sited behind the seats. Revisions in 1999 meant a mild restyle, a Steptronic gearbox and electronic steering. Five variations were offered from 2001 with the 1.6-litre engine.

The TF wasn’t that different or even better built than before; it looked a bit sharper with Hydragas replaced by normal coil springs. Last-gasp mods in 2005 included a heated glass rear screen, the suspension was fiddled with and the trim changed.

The cooling system could have been better, so check the radiator and piping. Otherwise, the usual issues are a moist cabin (because the door and boot seals weren’t up to much and the early door glass wasn’t a very tight fit) and front-wheel alignment straying from true and ruining your tyres.

Experts say Japanese-market air-conditioned models that come back here can be light on service history and will have missed vital recall work.

Buy now

Renault Twingo, 2007-2014: This Twingo isn’t quite as lovable as the original bugeyed one, and there are lots of very capable rivals. It’s only average to punt around in but okay in town.

Pushing the Twingo along from the back (which incidentally affords it a tighter turning circle) are a variety of four-cylinder engines. The basic atmo 1.2-litre delivers more than 50mpg and stop/start boosts that past 60mpg. The turbo version is all right and for excitement there’s a GT with a slightly more pokey 1.4-litre. Oh, and there was a 1.6-litre RS.

There are five trim levels, but Dynamique would be our choice, as it delivers air conditioning and rear seats that do their own sliding and folding thing.

Faulty coil packs and wrong spark plugs cause rough running, plus there might be cabin water leaks and some dodgy cockpit electrics.

One we found

2007 Renault Twingo 1.2 Dynamique 67,000 miles, £1990: Here’s a dealer-supplied Twingo with the perky-enough 1.2-litre engine and more than decent Dynamique trim, revelling in an electric sunroof. Its 67,000 mileage is warranted. The one previous owner had looked after it, so there are all the stamps in the service book. In very clean condition and on good tyres, it’s ready to drive home.