10 Cars That Offer The Ultimate Barge For Your Buck For £10k

Last weekend, we took a look at used Porsche Cayennes, which - despite not being the most aesthetically pleasing things on the road - offer a huge amount of car for the money. They’re big and spacious, full of kit, and come with big engines with lots of power.

In the comments, you guys suggested all sorts of other cars that fitted the bill, so we’ve compiled this list of 10 machines - including a few of our own suggestions - which give you the most car for under £10,000. This is all about size, space, road presence and engine displacement. We’re under no illusions that most of these cars will not be cheap to run, and many come with potentially expensive common problems, but needless to say, they offer a whole lot for the money.

1. Range Rover (L322)

When it comes to getting a lot of metal for little money, a used Range Rover fits the bill nicely. We’d love a Range Rover Classic, but finding one in good, rot-free condition is becoming difficult (not to mention expensive) now, and P38-generation Ranges tend to be disaster areas. With that in mind, the one you want is the L322 version, which was built from 2002-2012.

Prices start at under £5000, but closer to £10,000 will get you a decent, lower-mileage example like this. Earlier cars came with either a 3.0-litre diesel straight six or a 4.4-litre V8, both BMW units. Buy one of these, and you’ll be able to waft around in luxurious comfort, and do some serious off-roading if the mood takes you.

2. Dodge Ram

This list wouldn’t be complete without a big slice of ‘Murican pickup. These sorts of cars aren’t exactly in abundance in the UK used car market, but we did manage to find this 2003 example up for £8995. For that, you get a double cab Ram estate with a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 and 345bhp.

3. BMW 760i (E65)

When the E65 version of the 7-series landed in 2001, the quirky looks weren’t particularly well received. However, like the E60 5-series, time has been kind to this shape, and thanks to the wonders of depreciation, used examples can be picked up cheaply. This 2004 760i hides a socking great 445bhp 6.0-litre V12, and is absolutely stuffed full of kit.

It’s worth noting that the 2005 facelift greatly improved the iDrive system, which was fiddly and quite temperamental in earlier cars. With that in mind, if you’re feeling a little more flush and want to break our £10k budget, this post-facelift, long-wheelbase V12 example is up for £11,995.

4. Audi RS6 Avant (C6)

Want a big Audi with loads of space and huge power? Look no further than the C5 RS6. These have a twin-turbo 4.2-litre V8, good for 444bhp. That’ll catapult you off the line with four-wheel drive traction, sending you from 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds and on to an electronically-limited 155mph top speed. There are plenty for sale under our £10,000 imaginary budget, including this 2003 example.

5. Bentley Turbo R

For a touch of class for your £10,000, we recommend the Bentley Turbo R. These elegant motors have a Rolls-Royce – Bentley L Series 6.75-litre V8 engine with a turbocharger added, giving an output of 328bhp and 350lb ft. With over two tonnes to haul about, they’re not hugely quick, with 0-62mph taking 6.7 seconds.

Top speed, meanwhile, was limited to 135mph due to fears that the tyres available during the Turbo R’s 1985 release would explode under the car’s bulk if it went any quicker. Inside, it’s Bentley business as usual, with lots of lovely wood and leather.

Like the sound of all that? This 1989 example is up for £8995.

6. VW Phaeton W12

A slightly more sensible option in this barge-for-buck game is the VW Phaeton. The W12-engined models hemorrhaged cash as soon as they left the showroom, with crushing depreciation seeing values plummet. As such, this early example can be bought for just £7499, a little over a tenth of the original asking price.

For that, you’ll get an incredibly well screwed together luxobarge, every toy you could ever want, and a 6.0-litre, 450bhp engine.

7. Jaguar XJR (X350)

Don’t be fooled by the looks of this thing. Despite being the same basic shape as previous XJs all the way back to the 1960s, the X350 version of the XJ was a much more modern product underneath, with an all-aluminium body and chassis. The version which interests us most is the XJR. These come with a 4.2-litre supercharged V8 which churns out 400bhp and 408lb ft of torque. That’ll haul this near-two-tonne Jag from 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds. They’re not very expensive to buy, either. Here’s a 2003 example for just £6995.

8. Toyota Land Cruiser 100

Unlike some of the others cars here which have slightly flakey reliability records, the Land Cruiser is a dependable brute. Given the choice, we’d have this big and spacious 4x4 in 100 Series flavour, with the 4.7-litre V8. The petrol eight-pot version is good for 235bhp and 302lb ft of torque. This one is available for £4495.

9. Mercedes CL600 (C215)

Our advice to those making the slightly mad decision to buy the massive and rather pretty (but temperamental) C215-generation Mercedes CL is this: go hard or go home. In other words, get a full-fat V12-engined CL600 like this. It’s a whole lot of car for only £4980, with a 367bhp 6.0-litre V12 sending power to the rear wheels.

10. Lexus LS400

And finally, we have the Lexus LS400: the cheapest car here. It’s certainly not going to get your pulse racing in a hurry, but a big Japanese waftmobile with a 4.0-litre V8 and a price tag of around £1000 is an utter bargain. With a respectable 280bhp going to the rear wheels, an old LS400 like this £895 example has budget drift mobile or banger rally hero written all over it.