How to buy the best banger for your buck

With the rising cost of brand spanking new vehicles, and the prospect of big bills from handing back a leased truck, the second-hand market could be the sensible option for acquiring a 4x4 pickup. We’re going to take a theoretical £12,000 and see what’s on offer. If anyone would like to send me an actual £12k for a truck, that would be smashing.

Before we embark on what is more than likely the second largest purchase any of us will make, there’s a few things we can do to avoid buying a nightmare. Important points to remember: most pickups are classed as commercial vehicles so they have become popular with builders and other tradespeople, which can lead to them holding their price, even with quite a few miles on the clock. As they’re commercial, it’s always best to check if the price includes VAT or not.

Also, buying an ex-tradesman’s vehicle could mean the odd dent. More importantly, it may rarely