Three-car garage: Mazda MX-5, MINI Electric and Volkswagen Golf GTI all for £35k
This fantastic trio of small cars is available through Auto Express, and combined cost less than the price of an electric DS 3
We adore small cars here at Auto Express. They’re fun to throw around on a twisty B-road, cheap to run and there’s rarely a gap in traffic they can’t squeeze through, or a parking space that’s too tight. Add all that together and you can easily create an incredibly fun three-car garage that doesn’t require you to have a driveway so large it spans two postcodes, and all for the price of an average electric SUV. That’s exactly what I did with a little search through the Auto Express used-car classifieds.
Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance Pack - £10,995
The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf GTI is a jack of all trades, and more than a decade after it was launched remains a benchmark for modern hot hatchbacks. The spacious cabin, 380-litre boot and impressive refinement make it great for daily life. Plus the interior is supremely well built, plus includes all the Golf GTI’s signature touches, such as tartan upholstery on the sports seats up front and a golfball shifter for the manual gearbox.
Then when the road opens up in front of you, this uprated Performance Pack model features a punchy 227bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, limited-slip differential and larger ventilated brakes. The steering is nicely weighted and the chassis delivers an impressive level of agility for a family hatchback. The cherry on top is that this example costs less than £11,000, which is about a quarter of the price of a brand-new Mk8 Golf GTI, which we don’t think is as good.
If this particular VW Golf GTI has already found a new home by the time you get here, you can find plenty more examples available through the Auto Express Buy A Car service...
Used Volkswagen Golf GTI deals
MINI Electric - £12,700
If you want a fun small car, it’s hard to beat a MINI. Sure, by its nature the MINI Electric I’ve picked out can’t offer the same fruity exhaust note as a petrol-powered version, but it’s just as quick and still delivers the brand’s trademark ‘go-kart’ handling. Needless to say, this little electric hatchback will have no trouble putting a smile on your face. The design is never going out of style, and neither is the interior which, like the Golf’s, feels remarkably premium for such a small car.
Admittedly, the 211-litre boot isn’t that much bigger than the Mazda MX-5’s, but can still handle a weekly food shop or luggage for a weekend away. Meanwhile, the 32.6kWh battery offers 145 miles of range at best, but it charges quickly and you’ll be able to go a bit further if you’re just driving around town, where the MINI excels.
Don’t fancy this MINI Electric? There is a huge range of MINIs for sale right now through Auto Express, including hotter John Cooper Works models...
Mazda MX-5 - £11,800
The Mazda MX-5 is one of the few cars that can make a MINI look massive, and it’s part of what makes this small, simple, lightweight sports car such a joy to drive. It’s agile, wonderfully balanced and delivers a visceral sensation of speed, perfect for a Sunday afternoon blast along your favourite back road. Especially when the sun’s out and you can put the top down.
The lively 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine in the model I found produces 158bhp and is more than happy being revved to its 6,800rpm red line. Meanwhile, the six-speed manual gearbox it’s paired with is precise and there’s a super-short throw to the shifter, making it very satisfying to slot into gear. As well as back-to-basics thrills, because the MX-5 is light you should easily be able to achieve more than 40mpg, and it’s affordable to run overall, too.
If this Mazda MX-5 was snatched up too quickly for you, there are several more available through our Buy a Car service...
Head to the Auto Express used-car search page and let us know which cars you’d park in your dream three-car garage in the comments section below…
