Whilst many motoring experts like to argue that there is no such thing as a bad car anymore, there are still plenty of models that used car buyers would be wise to steer clear of.

MG6:

One of the used models that I would strongly advise avoiding is the MG6, a range of family saloons and hatchbacks offered in the UK from 2011 to 2016.

The model that helped to relaunch the MG name, this Chinese-designed but UK-built model was widely praised for its lavish levels of standard equipment and very competitive price in the face of rivals, such as the Skoda Octavia and Ford Mondeo.

However, interior design and build quality was considered poor against competitors whilst the limited choice in engines were regarded as unrefined, and in the case of the V8, particularly thirsty.

Vauxhall Mokka:

Another popular used car that drivers may wish to think twice about before they buy it is the original Vauxhall Mokka, a compact crossover built between 2012 and 2018.

Whilst the tried and tested mechanicals featured in the Mokka are fairly dependable, the SUV is considered rather uninspiring to drive, particularly due to its stiff ride quality.

In addition, some of the earlier examples are known for featuring malfunctioning adaptive headlights and rattles from the front windows and clutch pedal relay.

Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost:

Despite being one of the best-selling cars of the past 20 years, I would also strongly advise drivers avoid buying a Ford Fiesta that is fitted with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.

Originally designed to be an incredibly efficient little powertrain, early forms of the EcoBoost engine had a wet belt, a timing belt that is lubricated by engine oil.

Whilst Ford claims that the belt can last 10 years or 150,000 miles before it needs changing, constant exposure to oil has caused some timing belts to break down, in turn clogging up the oil filter and leading to very costly repairs.

Ford Ka:

Also from the famous 'Blue Oval', the original Ka was a game changer when it launched back in 1996, adding much-needed curves to the world of compact city cars.

These days, first-generation Ford Kas are incredibly cheap, however have an extremely bad reputation for rust. Used car buyers happy to take the chance should look closely at the sills, the rear edges of the door shuts and around the fuel filler cap.

Similarly, earlier examples of the Ka featured a 1.3 Endura-E petrol engine, which could trace its roots back to the dear old Ford Anglia of 1959. Whilst later ones got a much more pleasant range of Duratec and Zetec enignes, early Kas are known to be a little sluggish and thirsty compared to rivals.

Land Rover Discovery 4:

Finally, used car buyers after a luxurious SUV could do a lot better than a second-hand Land Rover Discovery 4, built between 2009 and 2016.

Based on the same platform as the Range Rover Sport, used Discovery 4s can be bought for as little as £4,000, making it a very tempting model. However, like some other former models in the JLR range, they tend to suffer from electrical issues.

One report, conducted by the online retail platform Carwow, found that the average Discovery owner paid a staggering £2,041 in repairs, with some needing to shell out £25,695 to fix some faults.