Car choice: Familiar Ford or new entrant Chinese?

Gary Wall is a professional gardener who wants something tough and with four-wheel drive, but is cheap enough to help keep his business going financially

Ford is offering up to £7,000 of new vehicles to those who participate in its scrappage scheme

A Car for the Head

In many ways Gary only needs something cheap and cheerful. He does need to be careful, though, because second-hand commercial vehicles can often be worn out – more so than family transport. I would usually recommend a Japanese model, but the prices can be on the high side for these. Instead a Far Eastern-built Ford Ranger is tough and affordable. We found a 2005 Super Cab model with 125,000 miles and aluminium top to cover the rear load bay. I think Gary would find that useful to keep tools secure. Some £2,895 is a reasonable amount to spend for such a tidy example.

(Great Wall (Great Wall)

A Car for the Heart

As Gary is after a hard-working 4x4, then the last thing he needs is anything with a Land Rover badge on it. They are expensive and can be prone to breakdowns, especially the older models that he can afford. Instead he could try something Chinese. A few years ago Great Wall entered the UK market with low-priced, well-equipped vehicles with a comprehensive warranty. We found a 2013 Steed model with 116,000 miles (but a full service history) for £6,966. This would be a great way to buy a relatively new vehicle.

If you would like James Ruppert to help with your car choice, email james@freecarmag.com. For more motoring views visitfreecarmag.com