Episode 164 - £10,000 Used Car Challenge Part 1

Summary

Teeks and Riri put a £10,000 used-car budget through its paces across electric and diesel body styles. They compare value, performance, mileage, range, practicality, reliability concerns, and the strange bargains appearing on the used market, with the challenge ending in a narrow 26-24 score and a promised petrol, hybrid, and alternative-fuel sequel.

In this episode:

• Riri sets the rules: every car must run, cost less than £10,000, and avoid Category C, D, and S write-offs. Cars under 60,000 miles earn a bonus point.

• The EV challenge begins with hatchbacks, including the £9,695 Dacia Spring and a £9,500 Vauxhall Corsa Electric. Riri’s 2019 BMW i3 wins the performance round with a 6.9-second 0-60 time.

• Electric saloons prove extremely difficult to find under budget. Riri finds a 2019 Tesla Model 3, but it has 150,000 miles and raises questions about battery degradation.

• The MG5 dominates the electric estate category. Teeks chooses an £8,690 2021 MG5, while Riri finds a longer-range 2022 version for £9,990.

• A £8,995 Jaguar I-Pace gives Teeks a major comeback in the electric SUV performance round, delivering 395 bhp, 696 Nm of torque, and a 4.5-second 0-60 time.

• The electric MPV and convertible rounds reveal how limited the market is, although Teeks finds a 2023 Citroën ë-Berlingo and a low-mileage Smart Fortwo Cabriolet.

• Diesel hatchbacks offer far more choice. Riri picks a £6,990 Hyundai i30 with 44,000 miles, while Teeks selects a £10,000 2018 BMW 120d Sport for performance.

• Diesel estates deliver practical bargains, including the Ford Focus Estate and Škoda Octavia. Riri wins the category with a newer, lower-mileage Octavia.

• The diesel SUV performance round produces the episode’s most outrageous car: a Porsche Cayenne S Diesel with a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8, 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, and 150,000 miles.

  
  

Timestamps

00:00 - The £10,000 used-car challenge begins
01:03 - Why new and used car prices are so high
02:14 - Challenge rules, mileage bonuses, and no write-offs
03:49 - Why alternative fuels are included
04:48 - Searching for the best-value electric hatchback
07:57 - The £9,695 Dacia Spring
09:27 - EV range, home charging, and real-world usability
10:19 - Riri’s £9,500 Vauxhall Corsa Electric
13:10 - Finding the fastest electric hatchback
15:13 - The BMW i3 wins the performance round
16:30 - Why electric saloons are nearly impossible to find
18:46 - A £9,485 Tesla Model 3 with 150,000 miles
20:17 - Battery degradation and EV range loss
21:18 - Electric estates and the MG5 problem
24:15 - The £8,690 MG5 value pick
25:17 - A longer-range MG5 for £9,990
29:01 - Electric coupes and the Smart Fortwo
31:39 - The Smart Fortwo earns double points
33:27 - Mazda MX-30 range concerns
34:12 - The DS 3 beats the Mazda on range
36:28 - Jaguar I-Pace performance for under £10,000
38:12 - Why electric MPVs and convertibles are rare
40:39 - The Citroën ë-Berlingo versus Nissan e-NV200
42:42 - Electric convertibles and the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet
44:21 - Switching from EVs to diesel
47:29 - Hyundai i30 versus Volkswagen Polo
49:04 - The diesel hatchback score
51:16 - BMW 120d performance under £10,000
53:51 - Diesel saloons and the Mazda 6
56:36 - Why the Kia Optima looks like the sensible choice
58:41 - BMW versus Jaguar diesel performance
60:50 - Diesel estates: Ford Focus versus Škoda Octavia
62:49 - Comparing price, age, and mileage

Important information

If you enjoy our podcast and what we do here, please consider giving us a like and follow on your podcast platform of choice. After all, we are an ominous force, and we are EVERYWHERE!!! We are also on Instagram @inductionnoise, Tik Tok and YouTube. Look out for the orange logo with the TURBO and IN on it. If you’d like to get in touch with us for feedback, suggestions or inquiries, you can do so via our email which is inductionnoise@outlook.com

Thanks for listening 😊