Five cars you can buy instead of an Apple iPhone Duo

Apple has just unveiled the iPhone Duo, the first foldable smartphone in its history, with the cheapest version carrying a striking €2,399 price tag. The range-topping model, with 2 TB of storage, rises to €3,899.

Before you ask, this is not going to be about the specifications of the new iPhone. Its hefty price did, however, give us a very straightforward idea: what if we bought a car instead?

We did not choose the entry-level version, but we did not go for the most expensive one either. Our budget was set at the €2,649 Apple charges for the 512 GB variant, which is usually among the best-selling versions.

The easy part came next. We took that sum to PiscaPisca.pt to look for four-wheeled alternatives. After all, a phone may be able to fold, but it cannot take us travelling. Perhaps that will change in the future…

Alfa Romeo 147

It may not look it, but the Alfa Romeo 147 now has a quarter of a century of history behind it. Named European Car of the Year in 2001, this Italian hatchback is one of the most emotionally appealing choices in this buying guide.

We found two examples on PiscaPisca.pt, although only one is ready for the road. This 2004 car is fitted with the 1.9 JTDm engine, delivering a still-respectable 140 hp.

The listing includes plenty of photographs, which remind us of two things: the 147's attractive styling and the fact that this example is already 22 years old and has covered almost 270,000 kilometres. Here it is.

Ford Puma

Before becoming a successful crossover, the Ford Puma was one of the market's most sought-after small coupés. Almost 30 years after its launch, it is gaining recognition and becoming increasingly desirable.

Even so, we found two on PiscaPisca.pt, with one in particular catching our eye. At €2,250, it still leaves us with some change from our stated budget.

Its engine is the 90 hp 1.4 Zetec, the least powerful in the line-up, but with only 111,000 kilometres on the clock, this example still promises plenty of enjoyable time behind the wheel. See it at this link.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Some people buy an iPhone because of the device itself, while others do so for the status bestowed by the Apple logo. In the motoring world, few badges carry comparable weight to Mercedes-Benz's three-pointed star.

For around €2,600, it is already possible to enter the Stuttgart brand's world, although this means accepting considerable age and mileage. We found three examples within this price range on PiscaPisca.pt.

As expected, all have covered a great many kilometres, and one even appears to have been a taxi, at least judging by its colour and overall condition. Yet they all share Mercedes-Benz's legendary durability which, in the absence of a better guarantee, promises many trouble-free miles.

Of the three, the one that drew our attention most was the most expensive, listed at €2,000. After all, it is the only one carrying Pisca Pisca's “Certified Car” seal, having passed a rigorous mechanical and document inspection by Controlauto, which guarantees complete transparency and safety. You can see it here.

Renault Twingo

The arrival of the fourth-generation Renault Twingo sparked a genuine "fever" around the small French city car, so this may be a good time to look back at the original. The first generation has all the ingredients that made the Twingo a phenomenon: compact dimensions, a surprisingly roomy cabin and a huge helping of character.

Now regarded as a future classic - Guilherme Costa will tell you that - it is becoming difficult to find a Twingo at an affordable price. Nevertheless, our search on PiscaPisca.pt confirmed that it is not impossible.

There are three examples in total within our set budget, including a luxurious Initiale, but the one that stood out was the oldest and most expensive - it costs €2,500. Almost entirely original, aside from the radio, it comes with the most sought-after extra of all: a sunroof. See it here.

Volkswagen Beetle

Yes, a Golf would be the more sensible choice, and there was even a Passat B5 available within budget, but when we found a Beetle on PiscaPisca.pt, we did not hesitate.

For the more rational among you, there is no need to worry: beneath its rounded bodywork sits the robust Golf IV. It has a 1.6-litre petrol engine, and the €2,500 asked for this example, which has covered close to 160,000 kilometres, reflects its rarity.

Apparently in good overall condition, this Volkswagen Beetle is one of those cars that may be worth preserving while waiting for it to gain classic status. Take a look and see whether we are wrong.

What should you look out for?

Naturally, with the budget we have set, finding cars with low mileage is not easy, although it is not entirely impossible.

More important than mileage is paying attention to the vehicle's overall condition, checking its service history and, where possible, taking it for a test drive.