Buying a second car......help??

[Mr Red Barron]

Guys,

I'm moving in with the OH in a month and need something slightly more practical than my Monaro to drive to work and back every day.

Ideally it is to be an estate/small 4x4 no more than ten years old that we can get our big dog in the back without ruining the seats. A diesel would be preferable for the MPG but if a petrol can be around the late 30's MPG then that would be fine. Not too high insurance group so that the missus can be the named driver without paying too much.

Looking to spend no more than 5 grand on one and so far I've considered a high milage Audi A4 estate, a low milage top spec Honda HRV, a Suzuki Grand Vitara (if i can find one cheap enough) or a Skoda Octavia estate.


Any one got any suggestions or have any experience with these? Many thanks

[bint]

Subaru Forester / Legacy?

[Foundy]

Passat? get a lower mileage one than the Audi for the same price

[Pulse]

So I'll get laughed out, but perhaps a Vectra or Accord? Both well priced, with the Vectra even more so.

[Vidal Baboon]

Hi Adam, take a look at a high mile 2.0tdi passat- the new shape version.
They are down to that price, huge, huge car.

My brother-in-laws old man has a 1.9tdi highline with DSG 'box. That's a lovely car but a lot smaller than the current version.

We're chopping the Cupra in for a late model 170tdi Passat SEL. I can't cope with the crashy ride anymore, or the temptation to speed in it.
It's too easy to hit triple figures- breaking strain of a soggy kit kat when it comes to the throttle

Congrats on the house by the way.


ETA, what the was that all about? I'm turining into my Dad!
However, if I wasn't yet ready to be my Dad, I'd look at

Octavia VRS Estate
156 GTA Sportwagon
B5 S4
Legacy RS(K?)
VR4 Galant
Impreza estate
Or that weird import Avensis turbo

That's better, the balance is restored

How's work? You still at Brize?

Edited by Vidal Baboon on Tuesday 26th January 21:06

[mep12345]

Pulse said:

So I'll get laughed out, but perhaps a Vectra or Accord? Both well priced, with the Vectra even more so.

I would agree but add Mondeo to the list, I have a 2.0 TDCi Euro 4 6 speed TDCi for commuting and it does what it says on the tin - averages 47mpg as well which is bleedin good for a car of its size IMHO. Could pick up a high mileage 3-4 year old one in low spec (LX) for the 5 grand if you look hard. 6 speed box is worth its weight though

Mark

[DKL]

Adam,
There was a decent looking Jeep Cherokee in Swindon on autotrader. 1500 or so - petrol but that can't be all bad

I'll see if I can find a link


Here you go
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/JEEP...

no association etc but it didn't look too bad to me.

Edited by DKL on Tuesday 26th January 22:38

[minimatt1967]

Vidal Baboon said:

Or that weird import Avensis turbo

Toyota Caldina, I believe it is called.

I'd go for a Passat or a Vectra estate the 1.9 CDTi is mean't to be very good.

[Pulse]

Yep, the 1.9cdti is 150bhp and can be mapped to alnost 200bhp. Engine is made by Fiat.

[Mr Red Barron]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I think we're gonna go for a 1.9tdi Audi A4 Avant SE. All the toys a man could want, built like a brick st house and good fuel economy too. I wouldn't be ashamed to turn up to a PH meet if (god forbid) the 'Ro was ever off the road. If I turned up in a passat i'd just feel like i should have bought an Audi.

Seen a nice one in Reading, V reg, 130k, top spec, 50mpg for 3 grand. I've heard they're good for over 300k miles so if it does go bang, we would have saved enough money up for something a bit newer.

I'm only gonna use it as a work car and also the shopping. Everything else will be the Monaro so am not too bothered bout if it gets a bit trashed or not.

[Mr Red Barron]

Vidal Baboon said:

Congrats on the house by the way.

Thanks bud

Vidal Baboon said:

How's work? You still at Brize?

Yeah, still at Brize on the Movements School. Can't say i'm enjoying it much at the moment. Looking at getting onto shift this year sometime.

What's new with you?

[Vidal Baboon]

Mr Red Barron said:

Vidal Baboon said:

Congrats on the house by the way.

Thanks bud

Vidal Baboon said:

How's work? You still at Brize?

Yeah, still at Brize on the Movements School. Can't say i'm enjoying it much at the moment. Looking at getting onto shift this year sometime.

What's new with you?

Not much mate, baby boy, more education, car, bike etc..etc...


Are you teaching now? Cpl Barron?

[Keep it stiff]

If you want a small 4x4 look at the Panda. I'm not joking, cracking little cars and for £5k you will be shopping in the top half of the market which is a much better position to be in compared with being in the tail end of the market for something much bigger. I had two German Sheps in our Panda, now sadly destroyed in an accident, the Panda that is not the dogs!

[A14RGS]

Mr Red Barron said:

I think we're gonna go for a 1.9tdi Audi A4 Avant SE. All the toys a man could want, built like a brick st house and good fuel economy too....
Seen a nice one in Reading, V reg, 130k, top spec, 50mpg for 3 grand. I've heard they're good for over 300k miles...

I have an A4 as my daily drive - 321k and it's still going as well as ever, so no worries there.... Mine's a V6 petrol tho', so 50mpg is forever in my dreams!

[Mr Red Barron]

A little update for anyone who's interested. Still got my eye on a A4 avant 1.9tdi but a more sensible option is a VW Golf estate 1.9tdi. Even better mpg, not too big a car and a million time better than a focus or astra estate. Only problem is....trying to bloody find one!!

[Pulse]

I know you're not keen on Astras etc, but they are brilliant value for money. Take a look at this example!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[miniman]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1440922.htm



Plenty of them around. I've been running a 523i Touring snotter for 2 years and about 40k miles and it's cost me next to bugger all.

[bulldog5046]

if you fancy one, you can pickup a Fiat Marea Weekend (estate) for £500 that will sail an MOT and have a nice interior etc.

production run was 1996-2001, no real issues with either the 1.9JTD or 2.4JTD (i had a 2.4 for a bit and sold it to my parents, sailed MOT and was only £500 when i bought it with a full tank!), avoid the petrols if you want MPG though, 1.6 suffers injector failures regulary.

one of the most understated cars i know of and cheap to run (ignoring my highly modified one!).

Ry

[bluetone]

miniman said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1440922.htm



Plenty of them around. I've been running a 523i Touring snotter for 2 years and about 40k miles and it's cost me next to bugger all.

the e39 is a great bit of kit; super-comfy, big loadspace and the award-winning straight-six mill

[chimtvr]

I would agree with the e39 I'm a VW /AUDI independant and I've driven e39s for years despite driving audis and vws daily.
My pick would be a lpg converted 540i I sold my last one at 200k, equivalent 40 mpg and 300 hp
awesome car bought my last one for 4k ran it for 2 years and sold it for more