You’ll find everything from basic 1.4-litre MINI One versions to the sporty Cooper S for your three grand, with petrols and diesels available, too. Petrol models are known for heavy carbon deposits inside the engine, but specialists offer decoking for as little as £250. Suspension problems aren’t uncommon, but rust is less of an issue than with first-gen cars. The Cooper S is fun, but cars at this price may be feeling a little baggy from hard use.
Renault Clio Mk3
- Years produced: 2005-2014
- Engines available: 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.0 petrol, 1.5 diesel
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Search for Renault Clios for £3,000 or less and you’ll find a mix of Mk2s and Mk3s for sale. It’s the latter we’d recommend, though, because the third-generation Clio did a lot of growing up. It featured more sophisticated styling that still looks great today, it was quite a bit bigger than the car it replaced, and it was very safe, earning a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
Clio Mk3s can suffer from electrical gremlins, but are generally a safe buy, and there are plenty around, with three-door examples being the most common. The Clio Mk3’s larger body did add weight, though, so avoid the smallest engine if you can. At the other end of the spectrum is the hot Renaultsport 197, but you’ll need a lot more than £3,000 for one of those.
Skoda Octavia Mk2
- Years produced: 2004-2012
- Engines available: 1.2T, 1.4T, 1.6, 2.0, 1.8T, 2.0T petrol, 1.6, 1.9, 2.0 diesel
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The Fabia and the first-generation Octavia did so much to transform Skoda’s image, but it was the second-generation version of the latter that cemented the Czech brand’s respected status. It shares a platform with the Mk5 VW Golf, but the Skoda hatch is much more practical, thanks to its whopping 560-litre boot. And there’s an even bigger estate for those needing to carry more.
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