Best Looking Cheap Cars in Australia: 10 Used Picks That Still Turn Heads

Nobody admits it at the dealership, but looks decide plenty of car purchases. That's fair enough, because you'll be staring at the thing every day. The good news is the best looking cheap cars don't have to be boring hatchbacks. A handful of properly beautiful cars have slid into affordable territory, as long as you know what to check.

Time is the real judge of a car's looks. Sharp creases and fussy detailing age badly, while rounder, cleaner shapes hold up, and a few cars only started looking great fifteen years in. This list is subjective, but every car here has aged well. Cheap to buy isn't cheap to run though, so the weak spots are flagged as we go.

Peugeot 406 Coupe (1997 to 2004)

Pininfarina designed this cute coupe with an attractive long bonnet and flowing roof. Only fewer than 500 were sold brand new here so they are pretty rare, but this means finding a specialist is difficult. Look for a manual V6 and you can get a good idea of their history from the servicing. Clean examples are also quite rare and usually advertised at around $15,000 to $20,000.

Holden VE Sportwagon (2008 to 2013)

Although this sedan is quite good looking, the wagon has a great presence, with that strong muscular body and never a boxy tail. It also comes with a family of passengers. The 3.6-litre V6 is a safe bet but if you have a high km car listen out for any rattling on cold starts (timing chains can be an issue). The V8 will cost noticeably more. You can expect to pay a good price for a V6 wagon, commonly around $8,000 to $13,000.

Audi TT (1999 to 2006)

The original TT is still a lovely bit of design, all arcs and circles with an aluminium-look cabin. Hunt the 225 quattro. Timing belt history is everything, and it's age as much as kilometres, so no paperwork means a fresh belt, tensioner and water pump on day one. Haldex servicing often gets skipped too. Tidy examples sit around $9,000 to $15,000 on price guides.

Jaguar XJS (1975 to 1996)

Long, low and unashamedly British, the XJS took a while to be loved and now looks properly elegant. Rust is the big killer, because the shell wasn't galvanised until 1994, so get underneath with a torch. The later 4.0-litre six is the simpler ownership bet, while the V12 is smoother but thirstier and pricier to fix. Tired V12 coupes pop up near $13,000, decent ones run $20,000 to $30,000, and late convertibles ask $40,000 plus.

Volvo C30 (2006 to 2013)

Volvo's nod to its old P1800 ES wagon works, with a trim front, sculpted shoulders and a deep glass tailgate. Go for the T5 with the five-cylinder turbo, and don't be put off by the Ford and Mazda underpinnings, which help with parts. Skip the cheapest ones, since repair bills can outrun the car's value. Most ask $5,000 to $10,000, with low-kilometre T5s higher.

Mazda MX-5 NA (1989 to 1997)

The first MX-5 has a wide, squat shape with perfect proportions. The car looks good either way. Don't forget to check that there is no rust on the rear sills and wheel arches and that the drain holes in the sills are clear. Buy a good shell as it's unlikely to be cheap to get an old tired car with any paint and mechanical work needed. There is a punchier 1.8 engine available from the year 1994. Good examples will cost around $15,000 to $25,000.

Ford Focus LR (2002 to 2005)

Ford's sharp-edged styling looks best on the three-door hatch, and the sedan can stay on the lot. Hold out for the Zetec, which has the livelier 2.0-litre and, trivia fans, was built in Germany while the rest of the range came from Spain. The steering and balance are still a treat for the money. Check suspension bushes and clutches on tired cars. Most sell for $2,000 to $5,000.

Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback (1965 to 1973)

That swoopy fastback profile is why it steals the show from its notchback and wagon siblings. Local cars were assembled in Melbourne, and the air-cooled flat four is simple to work on. Check floors and sills for rust, and have the heater boxes inspected, because cabin heat comes off the exhaust. A sound one starts around $14,000, and genuinely original cars can ask far more.

Mercedes-Benz CLK (1997 to 2002)

The CLK has a super elegant roof line and well finished high tail. The 3.2 V6 is the obvious choice, but the supercharged four is a much more interesting drive. These cars were never known to be reliable when it comes to rust so ensure the arches and boot linings are in good condition. Also ensure that the automatic shifts nicely. The service book is more important than the badge. Many can be found for $5,000 to $10,000.

Alfa Romeo Brera (2006 to 2011)

Giorgetto Giugiaro penned this and the sharp styling with its bullet-shaped nose and tight, curved tail are still looking good. They're expensive to buy new at $70,000 to $95,000 so you'll feel they're a bargain second hand. The front drive 2.2 engine will be cheaper to run although check for worn timing chain. The V6 Q4 will give you plenty of performance but it's a complicated engine. Have a specialist check it out. Price guides start at around $9,000 to $14,000.

Before you buy

A few habits apply to every car here. Run a PPSR check before paying a cent; it costs $2 and shows whether there's finance owing, plus any write-off or stolen records. Get an independent inspection from someone who knows the marque, because a few hundred dollars beats a four-figure surprise. Then keep a repair buffer on top of the price, because cheap good looking cars are cheap for a reason, and the rare ones are harder to fix. If you're browsing Dealin, the Motors category lets you filter by body style, including coupe, convertible, hatchback and station wagon, and there's a Classic condition option for the older cars.