7:04 am, September 9, 2026
With more than four decades of motor trade experience, Mike Brewer knows a thing or two about selling used cars.
From supercars to superminis, TV’s Wheeler Dealer has sold them all, but what are his top tips for buying a car on a budget?
With nominations now open for the 2026 Car Dealer Used Car Awards, which Brewer will be hosting once again on November 30, we caught up with him to discuss his best bargain buys.
Running us through his top used cars that can be bought for under £10,000, this is what he had to say…
Ford Fiesta
Brewer says: ‘I get asked this question a lot: friends, family, customers. What’s the best car to buy for under 10 grand? I think you always want to buy a car that’s going to be easy to service, easy to maintain, easy to look after. People understand it, and you can’t go wrong with a Ford Fiesta.
‘If you go for the 1.25, great little car, fantastic engines, naturally aspirated.
‘They’re reliable. They’re great little cars. I’ve heard that the EcoBoost can be problematic, but you should be alright as long as it’s been serviced correctly.
‘I think you could have asked me this question back in the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, I would have always said a Ford Fiesta. You can’t go wrong.’
Toyota Auris
Brewer says: ‘Not the most interesting car. I always look at an Auris as a sort of work tool, as something to get you from A to B.
‘I don’t think you desire to own one. I think you just have to have one, and you can’t do any wrong having one of those. They are uber reliable, great tech inside, lots of space. They do everything that they say they’re going to do on the tin.
‘Generally, for the price you get, you get a lot of car for the money.’
Honda Civic
Brewer says: ‘Another good car for under 10 grand would be a Honda Civic, a very premium feeling little car for not a lot of money.
‘Great tech, uber reliable. You can thrash them around a little bit, and they will take a bit of punishment as well.
‘Plus, their residual values are really strong. So if you buy a little Civic, you maintain it, look after it, and care for it, you won’t lose a lot of money when you come to sell it a year or two down the road.
‘They are incredibly good at residual values.’
Hyundai i30
Brewer says: ‘Another car that’s good for under 10 grand – it’s Hyundai i30. Great car, very reliable, often overlooked because people might drive past a Hyundai dealership and not pay attention on their way to go and buy a Fiesta.
‘But the i30s again, packed with tech, good space, reliable engines, great warranties with those cars as well.
‘If you can get the remainder of the customer’s warranty if you’re buying a used one, so, really, really good little cheap car.’
Toyota RAV4
Brewer says: ‘I think a cracker for the money would be a Toyota RAV4. You get that lofty driving position, good visibility all round.
‘It’s four-wheel drive, so you do a bit of green laning in the car and take it off the beaten path at the weekends. And it’s a good tow vehicle as well. You can tow with it.
‘It’s got plenty of space inside. It’s a great family car to fold a football kit in the back and all of those kind of things that are great with a RAV4.
‘And they did start the whole sort of crossover genre with that little RAV4. It’s been around for decades now. We’ve all got used to it, and Toyota just keeps sharpening the edges and making it better and better.’
Skoda Superb
Brewer says: ‘If you arrive at any airport anywhere in Europe and ask for a private hire firm to take you to your hotel, the chances are 90% of the time they’re going to turn up in the Skoda Superb, and there’s a reason for that – because they are superb, they live up to their namesake.
‘Uber reliable, tons of space inside, good tech.
‘I just feel that you get a premium car that we know is another car underneath that is a more premium brand for not a lot of money.
‘And there’s only one reason why the taxi fleets use them, and it’s because of their reliability. They are pretty bulletproof.’
The Car Dealer Used Car Awards, hosted by Mike Brewer, takes place at the Brewery, London, on Monday, November 30. You can put yourself forward for an award now.