Forget Christmas presents – buy a car instead

Chevrolet

According to a recent survey by Scotland Debt Solutions, we will spend between £472 and £611 on Christmas presents this year. Excuse us, but how much?!

Back in the day, we'd have been happy with a small clementine, a pack of playing cards and a modest toy. That little lot certainly wouldn't amount to the mean spend of £559 across England, Wales and Scotland. And we use the term 'mean' rather loosely.

Now £559 strikes us as rather a lot of money to spend on presents. You could get over 300 pairs of M&S socks for that amount of cash. Or a dozen dodgy Christmas jumpers that will only get worn once a year.

Looking on Auto Trader, find out what £500 could get you to drive home for Christmas in this year

Which got us thinking. What if everyone decided to do away with Christmas presents this year – sorry Santa – and instead spent the £559 on a new car? Of course, it wouldn't be 'new' in the sense that it would have just rolled out of the showroom. Not even Dacia can produce a car that cheap.

But new in the sense that it will be new to you. Or, wrap it in oversized wrapping paper, stick a bow on the top and present (ha ha) it to the one you love this Christmas. Surely a new motor is better than a comedy tie or some soap-on-a-rope?

So we took a look on Auto Trader and – with a maximum price of £500 – discovered what we could be driving home for Christmas in this year. And this price even leaves you with £59 for some fuel and a bunch of petrol station flowers.

At such prices, you can't be too picky, but we did filter out the non-runners, those listed as 'spares or repair' or any cars without an MOT. They need the ability to drive home for Christmas under their own steam – not pulled by a few passing reindeer.

Citroen

In its day, the Saxo VTR/VTS was regarded as one of the most fun cars you could buy. Ten years ago, the VTR – with its 1.6-litre engine – would have set you back £9,995.

Yes, the VTS was quicker and therefore more desirable, but it also had an insurance group of 14, compared to the VTR's group 7 rating. A guaranteed future classic that's finally shaking off its slightly suspect image. At £290, this particular Saxo VTR will need work, but it's taxed and MOTd until the spring.

For less than the monthly payment on a new supermini, you could get behind the wheel of an early Vauxhall Corsa.

Sure, it won't light your fire of excitement, but this Corsa has only travelled 36,000 miles in its 17 years of life. And the seller has helpfully included a nice photograph of their house.

What could be better than giving your loved one a convertible at Christmas? Picture the scene – you cover their eyes and lead them through the front door, to where the convertible is parked on the drive. A Christmas bow, lovingly applied to the fabric roof.

Your loved one's heartbeat starts to race, as they start dreaming of early evening drives with the wind in their hair. Maybe it's a BMW, or a Mercedes, or perhaps a Lotus. Then – as you uncover their eyes – they see their Escort convertible for the first time. Before disappearing in doors to watch Noel's Christmas Presents. On repeat.

Nissan

Wait, what? A creamy smooth V6 engine for just £350? MOT until April 2014, tax until September 2014 and four Michelin tyres? Where do we sign?

You just know that this Nissan QX will waft and roll its away through life, but it's hard to ignore the spec and condition of this old barge. And so what if it drinks more than Stacey from accounts at the office Christmas party? This car costs less than a shiny new tablet device.

Suzuki

Become a 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' in this Suzuki Liana, a hero of Top Gear past. Impress your friends as you take the 'follow through' at full pelt, exiting the Tesco car park.

And look, it even comes with the obligatory missing wheel trim. You usually have to pay extra for that. Nice.

This Toyota Celica may be advertised with one of the oldest cliches in the car buying book, but it looks like an absolute peach. You just have to ignore the different shades of red and suspect boot badge.

One owner from new and an MOT until August 2014. It's like your very own cut price Toyota GT86. Almost. Not quite. Alright, not at all. But hey, the first to see will buy. Apparently.

Ford

At this price there's either something horribly wrong with the Sportka or it's the bargain of Christmas 2013. Auto Trader is full of sub £500 Ford Kas and they make excellent bargain motors.

But the Sportka is in a different league. A proper firecracker of a car, offering laugh-a-minute B-road thrills.

If you needed proof that the BMW 7 Series makes for a good £500 motor, then the fact that James 'Bangernomics' Ruppert runs one should be exactly that. Just don’t ask him about the servicing costs…

You'll have to do your homework and buy with care, but it's almost impossible to get so much luxury and class for so little money.

Now we're not suggesting for one minute that the Proton Wira will stir up the same levels of excitement as say a new smartphone or an Xbox One this Christmas. But strike us down with a sprout, this car is exceptional value for money.

Proven Mitsubishi running gear, incredibly low mileage, 10 months MOT and it's only a decade old. It's the Christmas gift that keeps on giving…

Ford

And finally, we couldn't end without a mention for the Ford Puma. One day, we'll look back on the days when you could pick up a Puma for a few hundred quid with wondrous eyes. It's a guaranteed future classic.

And although this 1.6-litre Puma doesn't offer the sought-after 1.7-litre unit, it is finished in all important 'Steve McQueen' silver, with the delightful 'propellor' alloys. Perfect.

Given the choice between a Sportka or socks, what would you rather receive?

So there we have it, ten cars that cost less than the average person will spend on Christmas presents this year. Given the choice between a Sportka or a pair of socks, or a BMW or some body spray, what would you rather receive?

With a car, the novelty is unlikely to ever wear off, so this is one Christmas gift that won't be shoved into a cupboard and forgotten about until you come to move house.

We should add that we haven't viewed or test-driven the cars mentioned, merely indulged in some online window-shopping. So please do your own homework before you buy. But the point stands – there are some bargains to be had.

By Gavin Braithwaite-Smith, contributor, MSN Cars