What Cheap Car For A Euro Roadtrip?

[ChristophStone]

Hi All

Looking for some recommendations for a vehicle to take around Europe for a couple of months this summer. Checklist:

- less than £1500
- cheap to insure (I'm 21 so 1.6 or 1.8 maximum really)
- Enough room for two people to sleep in if we can't find anywhere to stay, and room for luggage etc.

At the moment I'm looking at 1.6 Peugeot 306 estates which seem to fit the bill, and I'm assuming with the rear seats down or out we'd have enough room to sleep more or less comfortably?

Other options I've considered are an older astra-van (most are 1.9 diesels though) or random Toyota Lucida/Mazda Bongo style camper conversions that would probably be too expensive to insure.

Any other obvious suggestions? I have a mk1 Capri at the moment but last time I took it to Europe the diff blew up a thousand miles in so reliability is quite important too

Cheers

[r11co]

ChristophStone said:

At the moment I'm looking at 1.6 Peugeot 306 estates which seem to fit the bill

Good choice. I'm waiting for the dreamers and bandwagon jumpers to come along with more esoteric suggestions, but in their shortsightedness they will fail to consider the enormous expense involved if the car leaves you stranded.

Peugeots are ubiquitous in Europe and their parts are dirt cheap compared to just about everything else. They are also ultra reliable even if abused, so problems are unlikely but aren't going to break you if they do arise.

Edited by r11co on Thursday 27th January 13:01

[Groober]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2433828.htm

Only issue may be the insurance but LPG is a bonus surley.

[slipstream 1985]

cant think of a etter car than a 306, surly you could get an xsi for that money and it wuld be fun on the roads too.

[MattW]

These things are huge and probably better built than a pug.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2427991.htm

[JVaughan]

personal choice would be the Passat, a Rover 800 or a 406. all have absolutly loads of room on them, not that bad on fuel, you can puck up some real bargins with Tax and MOT for between 1000 and 1500 too.

[wackojacko]

Mondeo Estate ?

Landrover serries 1 or 2 ? Plenty of room and peanuts to insure .........not very comfy or fast

Volvo Estate of some sort (plenty to choose from)

[PIGINAWIG]

MattW - Congrats - we have a winner. VW Passat estate. Although I'm sure the insurance may be a tad lumpy?

[Davey S2]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VOLVO-740-HEARSE-TAXED-AND-T...

Perfect.

Always considered buying one of these for Le Mans. Loads of room for beer and somewhere to sleep when you get there.

[r11co]

Groober said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2433828.htm

"Only issue may be the insurance" - which is a pretty enormous, overriding, deal-killing issue FFS!

Same thing goes for the 1.8 20v Passat.

Where is that 'German car blinkers' smiley I asked for not so long ago....?!

Edited by r11co on Thursday 27th January 15:37

[plg]

Just remember that with anything LPG you can't take it through the Channel Tunnel.

[plg]

Try an auction for something like this?

Stolen from another thread:

http://www.hewitt.co.uk/SP_car11.html

[r11co]

plg said:

Try an auction for something like this?

Stolen from another thread:

http://www.hewitt.co.uk/SP_car11.html

It gets worse! Some people need to be introduced to reality! An accident recovered V8 (albeit with LPG) does not meet the criteria in the OP.

PS. Don't rule out diesels as diesel fuel is 10-40% cheaper than petrol in just about every European nation other than Britain.

Ours seems to be the only government that would rather have the tax take than boost the economy buy lowering the cost of transportation.....

Edited by r11co on Thursday 27th January 15:45

[plg]

Or (and I've kept budget over to allow for negotiation and group 7/8 max)

Dull but reliable: NISSAN ALMERA 2.2 DI
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2289430.htm

306 estate
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2254477.htm

Hateful things but probably good for camping, etc:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2438620.htm

Renault Espace (not sure on insurance)
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2412815.htm

Also, try a larger Volvo for insurance - I've heard that they can be low compared to their engine size:
940: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2385352.htm
940: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2426679.htm

[plg]

r11co said:

plg said:

Try an auction for something like this?

Stolen from another thread:

http://www.hewitt.co.uk/SP_car11.html

It gets worse! Some people need to be introduced to reality! An accident recovered V8 (albeit with LPG) does not meet the criteria in the OP.

PS. Don't rule out diesels as diesel fuel is 10-40% cheaper than petrol in just about every European nation other than Britain.

Maybe a bad example, but the thought was more around a lightly damaged but perfectly serviceable car via an auction.

Oh, and via NFU (if you live in the country) it might also be cheap to insure.

edit to add: the 1.6 or 1.8 is a fair initial criteria by the OP, but not always indicative of insurability. A big Volvo old tank may in fact, be cheaper. As may a diesel.

Edited by plg on Thursday 27th January 15:48

[Ecurie Ecosse]

It's got to be a Jaguar X300. Check out the insurance - it may be cheaper than you think.

Then you'll be warmly received wherever you go in Europe

[davepoth]

Renault Espace? It's about as un-boyracer as you can get (which is important for insurance), and if there's only two of you you could leave back seats at home.

[hamishg]

I'd go for a trusty old Volvo. 240, 740 or 940 estate all cheap to insure, can sleep two if need be and although not brilliantly economic, are generally reliable. A Peugeot 406 diesel estate would also be worth considering. Bit bigger than the 306 and not bad looking.

[BarnatosGhost]

yup, this has got Volvo written all over it.

[BarnatosGhost]

Or a renault espace?

Very cheap to buy, all the seats out, airbed in the back, loads of space for two.