Car buyers' guide: 2002s on the market

Ford Escape. Photo / Supplied

The dilemma

This week's dilemma is of our own making. Regular readers will know that Driven's last issue in 2011 listed our cars of the year, an exercise Buyers' Guide watched from the sidelines, there being no category for used cars.

So why not start 2012 with a Used Car of the Year award? Nope, that won't work, because any used car that meets its owner's expectation, was well-priced and hasn't broken is a car of the year in someone's eyes. As it should be.

Instead, we decided to look at cars from 2002 currently for sale and select a trio that tickled our fancy. You wouldn't believe how many 2002s are on the market. It's another indictment of our old-age fleet, but a tribute to the selected three that their soundness of design and manufacture - and the skill of our maintenance industry - has kept them in hearty good health for a decade.

The budget: How much did you say is left in the petty cash?

The shortlist

BMW 745i

It's often said that older 7-Series BMWs make great used cars and here's a fourth-generation model with just over 130,000km on the clock; a moderate 13,000km a year. If it's in good nick - and it really would need a thorough check, especially as it's an import - this one should be no exception. It has everything on it, cossets the occupants, yet sporty handling belies its size and luxury.

A downside will be the thirst of its 4400cc V8, but hey, the car retailed at more than $200,000 new, so think about that as you fuel it and smile.
Asking $19,000

Ford Escape
Introduced in 2001, Ford's compact SUV and its Mazda Tribute equivalent were quite popular for a while, offering good interior room for the overall dimensions, a high seating position, reasonable economy and decent safety features. It makes an excellent, versatile station wagon substitute.

This used import, with fewer than 90,000km, has the 2.0-litre engine coupled to an automatic. Performance with this set-up is okay but not exciting. NZ-new examples used a thirstier, heartier 3.0 V6 that might be a better bet for some. The Mazda was imported new with both the 2.0 mated to a manual, and the V6 versions. New pricing was in the low to high $40,000s.
Asking $15,000

Jeep TJ Wrangler
It's an off-roader, it's a runabout, it's a sort-of sports car, it's a convertible ... and these days it's dirt cheap. But not this one. Today, $5000 buys a rubbish TJ Wrangler, $10,000 buys quite a good one, but this example has done only 25,000km - not unbelievable for a second or third vehicle, as Wranglers often were and are - so the owner's seeking top dollar. There is good parts and service support for these older Jeeps and they're fairly reliable, anyway. Automatics are better propositions than the manuals.

Its main detraction is the thirsty 4.0-litre straight-six engine. When new, Wranglers like this cost in the early to high $40,000s.
Asking $17,000

Driven recommends

We have a luxury cruiser, a family wagon and a fun machine, so choose the one that suits your mood, need or whim. Or not; we'll be back to the regular format next Saturday!