Man buys used cars that cost between $266 and $667 to see what they're really like in 2025

In a bid to find out what makes some cars so cheap, and whether you can find some real bargains worth punting on, this man bought three used cars between $266 and $667.

Nowadays, the average price of a brand new car has rocketed over $30,000.

With the introduction of EVs, many premium cars are now much more expensive, but with a promise of saving you cash down the line.

But, can you still find good cars on the tightest of budgets? Well, UK creator Matt (More High Peak) has now bought three cars for next to nothing and given them a thorough run around.

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Buying an Audi A3, Rover 25, and Kia Rio for less than $700 each

Not everyone has the luxury of being able to walk into a dealership and come out with a brand-spanking new car.

Instead, used cars are becoming increasingly popular, so much so that they are actually much harder to find in 2025 than ever before.

However, UK man Matt found three used cars that fell under his £500 ($667) budget: an Audi A3, Rover 25, and Kia Rio, and decided to put them through a series of performance tests.

First up was the Audi A3. This high-performance model is used to race against some of the fastest cars on the planet, but one 2005-plate model was spotted for just $266.

Clearly in need of a lot of love, the car was filthy. But aesthetics can be a quick and cheap overhaul. Matt was more concerned about the performance.

Here, he found that despite the tight gearbox and aggressive clutch, the car was a decent ride, and it would serve anyone who needed a cheap runaround.

Up next, the Rover 25 showed the flipside of these deals, as it was clear a lot of work was needed upon first inspection.

While on the way to get it serviced, the car broke down with a faulty alternator and a dead battery, costing the man a few hundred dollars to fix, losing money this time.

Finally, the Kia Rover found a middle ground. Needing a few repairs at its service, such as new tires, the 148,000-mile car proved to be a stand-up car – albeit with a bit of a stench.

Can you still find great used cars on a budget?

Some people find good value in flipping these cars, mainly upgrading the aesthetics and taking a risk that the internal mechanics work well.

So much so that one man flipped 14 cars to turn $200 into $42,000.

But if you’re looking for working used cars – maybe as a stopgap to commute to work, or as a gift for a first-time driver – Matt proved that you can find some very decent cars for less than $700 (especially the Audi A3).

“I’ve made a little bit of profit, and I haven’t massively overspent,” he said.

“Who knew that was possible? I know I’m a bit of a car hoarder… but I’d rather that than see a car scrapped. I don’t like to scrap a perfectly usable car. It just seems like a waste.”

The Audi A3 was sold on for a profit, while he gave away the rebuilt Rover 25 and popped the Kia Rio on the auction block, fetching a few dollars back.

But overall, he found that there are used cars available for great prices, if you care to look hard enough.

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