Four-wheeled fun for less than £1500

A limited budget need not mean a dull driving experience and, to prove it, we have selected five sub-£1500 cars that offer something above and beyond a standard-specification secondhand hatchback.

Renaultsport Clio 172 Cup

While a good 182 sadly alludes our budget, 172bhp is surely enough for a car as small as the Clio. Isn’t it? We have opted for a hardcore Cup that comes with fettled suspension, Speedline 16″ alloys, a front splitter and a rear spoiler. The mileage may be high, but money has been spent on this pocket rocket, which makes £1295 for a naturally aspirated hot hatch icon seem like a bargain. Just remember there’s no ABS!

Toyota MR2 Roadster

A lotus Elise on a budget sums up the Mr2 pretty well. It’s one of the cheapest ways to mid-engined, roof-down thrills and all UK cars were fitted with a limited-slip differential that feeds power to the rear wheels. It may not be super fast, with just 138bhp, but it weighs less than 1000kg and offers traction and balance that’s hard to match. This high-mileage car could be yours for £1350 and, as a 2003 facelifted example, avoids the ovalling cylinders that plagued earlier cars. The only negative we can think of is the lack of a proper boot.

MGB GT

If you have ever fancied trying a classic for size, the MGB GT is a great place to start. Cheap to buy and simple to fix, there is also a world of parts available for the British legend. A mere £895 buys an MoT’d car that would benefit from some work, so there’s the opportunity to add value and bask in the satisfaction of fixing it yourself. Cheap classic-car insurance is not to be sniffed at either. Bear in mind, however, that the MG’s older mechanicals will require more regular maintenance than on a modern machine.

Jaguar XJ6 Sport

Don’t think having a family should stop you driving something interesting such as an XJ6 Sport. Although expensive to run, this £1350 XJ6 will provide a sportier drive than a same-vintage Mercedes S Class and combines it with Jaguar’s trademark creamy ride. As a ’95 car, this one’s got a straight-six that should prove more durable than the V8 (in the XJ8) that replaced it. Undoubtedly a large car, the Jaguar was noted in period for its relatively small boot and limited rear legroom, so make sure there’s space enough for your needs before purchase.

Land-Rover Discovery V8

Who said fun had to be reserved for the roads? With the aerodynamics of a shed, huge weight and a 3.9-litre engine, few cars have the potential to financially ruin you like a petrol-engined Discovery. But, if you can afford to run it, little can match the Land-Rover off-road or sound as good on it. This £1290 V8‘s got a gas conversion, which will help rein in the costs, and your money should get a car that is in better nick than a diesel equivalent of the same value.