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I'm a 47-year-old man with up to £4,000 to invest in a used car. I'm looking for a car with a sporty edge to it. Which top 5 used cars would you recommend to this brief?

Asked on 18 April 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

A Honda Civic 2.0 Type S with 160PS is quite nice. Maybe a SEAT Leon 20VT. But make sure it's had a fresh timing belt, tensioner, waterpump and pulleys. Alternatively a Skoda Octavia vRS, same engine, so make the same checks. Or think along the lines of a Mondeo 2.5 24v. Cheap because of the big engine and the CO2 tax, but not too juicy and a wonderful thing to drive. A SAAB 9-3 for this money could be a bucket of bolts.

Tags: buying hot hatches new cars

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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