O/T Alternative daily transport

[Neil8p]

I would like to find something I can run around in rather than use the mini every day.

I want to take the mini off the road for the winter, so I thought if I look now I've got lots of time to make my mind up, plus I can sort out any problems with it while I've still got the mini on the road.

-something useful so probably an estate,
-capable of towing a mini on a small car trailer (don't mind getting a towbar fitted myself),
-cheap spares,
-something with a haynes manual available for it,
-petrol engine (easier to fix/maintain than diesel?)
-Up to £1000

Looked on Autotrader and there are a few but I don't know what to look at.

Any suggestions as to what is good or bad?

Cheers

[vrooom]

volvo is nice choice. its very dull which will made u drive a mini ;P

jay

[chriso]

How about a mondeo estate? There should be a few around, plenty of cheap parts and v reliable (notice how many taxis there are out there).

[Cooperman]

Neil, I know a guy who bought a BMW 320 at auction for £550 and he uses it as a road rally car. It's so reliable and quick. Would pull a small trailer.
I'll sell you my BMW 728 if you really want a good tow car, but not for £1k though!

[Neil8p]

Thanks for the replies

Seen a BMW estate for just under 1k that looked promising, but I think it will be a cold day in hell before my missus allows a BMW on our drive Don't get me started on womens logic

Keep looking at Carlton estates, but keep reading about electrical gremlins.

Hmmm, decisions decisions...

[vasi]

Just a thought.

For my main vehicle I run an M plate Astra hatch 1.7TD. It towed a Calibra the other week + did 75mph. If you drop the seats you can fit a horse in. Its extremely cheap to maintain compared to any petrol car I've ever driven. It has to be cos I do 500miles a week in it

Oh it does 58mpg driving normally too. I bought it for £700 in January.

Tip: Dont buy an MkV escort unless you like changing bottom arms every 2 years, Cam belts every 25k on DOHC models and more importantly - You cant point the frikkin blowers at your face!

>> Edited by vasi on Saturday 19th June 19:25

[towman]

vasi said:

Just a thought. For my main vehicle I run an M plate Astra hatch 1.7TD. It towed a Calibra the other week + did 75mph.

[S Works]

Sierra XR4x4... if you can find a decent one

[Mr2Mike]

S Works said:

Sierra XR4x4... if you can find a decent one

They never made one AFAIK

[Cooperman]

That's what I thought until one beat me on the Gremlin Rally last February. Mind you, it was a very snowy event and we got the Cooper 'S' stuck on a very snowy hill in the Brecon Beacons. Coopers with 112 bhp and hot cams don't like snowy hills, even on knobbly tyres.

[Neil8p]

Well it's not quite what I was after, but I may've found something.

A neighbour of my parents is being discouraged to drive (she can't see ) and they've been offered first refusal on her car.

1 owner, FSH, average mileage, full MOT, totally standard......E reg Mini City.

[Miniholic]

And you will be leaving it standard if you get it??

Ian

[Cooperman1]

Now, Neil, what you need is a 1275 block, an 8-port head, race cam,...................... !!!

[ccharlie6]

oh no those mini cities! thats what mine started life out like! and cos it was cheap it left me with many readies to start bolting stuff on