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 😊