Occasions: 3 striking used cars for 10,000 euros

The range of possibilities is enormous. You can find used cars everywhere at a dealer, via Gaspedal.nl, a specialized website and even on Facebook. Which festive used car can you buy for 7500 euros? Autovisie works with the ANWB to select the best used cars every week.

Eye-catching shoes, a cool jacket: clothing is a great way to differentiate yourself. Cars can complete your outfit: we recommend three idiosyncratic occasions that will make you stand out on the street.

Three festive used cars for 7500 euros

• Honda Civic (2005-2012)
• Renault Megane Coupe (2008 – 2016)
• Volkswagen Scirocco (2008 – 2013)

Honda Civic (2005-2012)

It could be a car quiz question: what modern car has two triangular exhausts at the rear? This Honda Civic is the answer, and that’s not the only thing that stands out about the compact family car.

Both outside and inside, where the dashboard is most reminiscent of a spaceship. It drives very well, a typical Honda, with sharp steering, delicate gearing and a smooth-running 1.4 liter petrol engine. Expect a practical consumption of 1 in 14. A beautiful blue 1.4 ‘Sport’ (2012, 153,000 km) is available from a dealership in Oosthuizen for €9,850.

Verdict of the Wayward Watch on the occasion

The Waywatch has few details on this Honda guy. Sometimes a loose battery terminal occurs: it causes all kinds of electronic problems. The Waywatch cleans the part, secures it properly and the Civic can move forward again. If you hit a curb hard, the Honda suspects an accident and cuts off the fuel supply. A matter of resetting a switch, but it’s hard to find. Condensation water can escape from the ventilation on hot days. Air conditioning off and on again: problem solved!

Renault Megane Coupe (2008 – 2016)

The Renault Mégane was originally sold with three or five doors. This generation of coupés is less eye-catching than its predecessor, but remains a straight-forward car. But if you want to be beautiful, you have to suffer: A large blind spot at the back right contributes to the appealing design. The instruments also take some getting used to, because they are a wonderful mixture of digital and analogue instruments.

Once on the road, the Renault is surprisingly comfortable to drive. The TCe130 engine is strong and scores 1 out of 14. At a car dealership in Nijmegen we find a pearl white 130 TCe “GT-Line” (2013, 107,000 km) for €9,950.

Verdict of the Wayward Watch on the occasion

This Mégane generation has a wiring harness, part of which runs just too close to the gearbox. This can lead to fraying of the cables and thus to a short circuit. An emergency repair is possible, but definitely has to be solved in the workshop: a costly joke! Diesels aside, these Méganes are much more reliable than the previous generation. In terms of quality, there is little to criticize about this model.

Volkswagen Scirocco (2008 – 2013)

The Scirocco has an old type name that Volkswagen once reused. The modern take on the 1970s sports car looks sleek and streamlined, but its low build means you’ll have to bend your knees to get behind the wheel. The space in the rear has a symbolic character and the all-round view is limited by the fist-thick windshield pillars.

The Volkswagen drives very nicely: actually like a Golf, with which the Scirocco also shares the necessary parts. A 1.4 TSI is powerful enough for most buyers and drives about 1 to 13. We find a beautiful blue 1.4 TSi ‘Edition’ (2012, 112,000 km) for €9,998 at a car dealership in Veghel.

Verdict of the Wayward Watch on the occasion

Under the skin, the Scirocco shows great similarities with the sixth model generation of the Golf. With the T(F)Si engines, the cylinder coating sometimes wears off, which amounts to a complete engine overhaul. The fuel pump also sometimes stops, but it is in the fuel tank. A good shop will repair the pump and not replace the entire tank. The rear tires “bump” slightly and then make a lot of noise: there is little else to do about it. The DSG automatic transmission can close internally. This can result in a costly machine overhaul.

Our tips for the occasions

Choose what you love someone else you will regret. Objectively, the Honda seems to us to be the best car, but the found Renault is the strongest offering of this trio.