What really can compare?

What really can compare?

Author
Discussion

smallzoo

Original Poster:

304 posts

185 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
I have a 2005 Passat pd100 estate. Cost me £1100 nearly 18 months ago, just passed it mot with no advisories and has only 120k on the clock. It starts first time every time and has taken me and my family (it's a second car) all around the UK

... So what's the issue you say ?

It's purely nothing more than it looks and sounds old, rust is appearing on the arches , the central locking doesn't work properly and neither does the radio

We needed it to take my wife and I and our teenage daughter to Wales for a few days as we have three dogs aswell and my wife's car couldn't fit us all in

Even then we needed a roof box ...

I am in my 60's and I guess would like to think I can drive around in a more modern or at least smarter , cool car. And my wife certainly thinks I should

..but I really don't want to spend more than £5k and it has to be at least as big if not bigger in terms of internal space and at least as reliable as the Passat

Any thoughts on how can I solve this dilemma?

bearman68

4,867 posts

147 months

Wednesday
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You need to get yourself on 'The Joy of running an Old Shed' thread, where this question is asked and answered about 3 times a day.
Short answer tends to be Toyota or Lexus

InitialDave

13,218 posts

134 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
How much to spruce it up a bit, stop the rust progressing, and fix the locking and radio?

How often do you need the roof box?

If the car does 90% of what you need and is largely fine other than being a bit tired, may be best sticking with it.

I know it seems like a waste putting, say, a grand into a car you only paid that much for anyway, but how much do you need to spend to measurably improve upon it?

dunc69

782 posts

262 months

Wednesday
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Yes, spend a little doing it up!

Or Škoda Superb wagon? Huuuuge inside.
Lots to choose from….

Good luck.

stevemcs

9,444 posts

108 months

Wednesday
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E class or Mondeo

Ryyy

1,883 posts

50 months

Wednesday
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If its a b5 then the answer is a b6 wink and to be really cool, get some nice alloys and a set of coilovers cool

I'd be looking at a4 avant/13 plate octavia estate onwards. Don't think much to the passats after b6.

Belle427

10,569 posts

248 months

Yesterday (06:02)
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I grew attached to my B5s, have been tempted by a few lately I have seen for sale!
B6 would be the obvious answer, don`t think you will get much extra room though.
Skoda Superb is bigger so may be an option.
Merc E Class is a lovely car too, may just get one in budget.
The issue is most of what your looking at will probably have 100k miles plus on them so makes you think if its worth changing.

66HFM

685 posts

40 months

Yesterday (09:35)
quotequote all
I'd get a replacement radio off eBay and then look at getting someone to sort out the central locking.
The rust may be worth looking at but not worth spending big money on.

I fully appreciate that you have a very reliable diesel Passat, although its 20 years old, and somewhat beginning to show its age, my concern would be that you are potentially jumping from a reliable car into something unknown.
Personally I'd hold off until something major and costly impacts the Passat and enjoy it for what it is and the fact you can leave it anywhere without concern.

Trevor555

4,745 posts

99 months

Yesterday (09:42)
quotequote all
smallzoo said:
I have a 2005 Passat pd100 estate.

..but I really don't want to spend more than £5k and it has to be at least as big if not bigger in terms of internal space and at least as reliable as the Passat

Any thoughts on how can I solve this dilemma?
I sold loads of these over the years.

Great cars, very reliable.

Newer diesels have loads of emissions crap on them nowadays, so will probably fall short of your "reliable" requirement in a budget of 5k.

As already suggested, look at tidying yours up, and getting the locking/radio fixed rather than buying an unknown for 5k.

InitialDave

13,218 posts

134 months

Yesterday (09:49)
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Trevor555 said:
Newer diesels have loads of emissions crap on them nowadays, so will probably fall short of your "reliable" requirement in a budget of 5k.
Yes, this. The desperate attempts to hammer a square peg into a round hole with regard to diesels and emissions properly screwed a lot of them up in the reliability stakes.

I don't like diesels, but if I had to have one, an early 2000s VAG PD or BMW/Merc straight six would be where I'd be looking.

LightweightLouisDanvers

2,520 posts

58 months

Yesterday (09:56)
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Bought one of these new in 2003, my only brand new car. It was a nice car but I always wished id got the 130. Only kept it for 4 years and 55000 miles. They get a great reputation for reliability and have none of the emissions crap that ruins later diesels. If its rusty front wings see if you can get a better pair in the same colour, replacement stereo easy, door locks probably just failing actuators.

Belle427

10,569 posts

248 months

Yesterday (10:02)
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I seem to remember the module under the passenger side carpets being an issue for the locking, used to get soaked with water but you never knew as the void under carpets was deep.

OutInTheShed

11,330 posts

41 months

Yesterday (10:37)
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Buying decent cheap estates is difficult.
People put dogs in them and keep them until they become sheds, then want too much money for a car that's only got a year or two left in it.

I'd suggest writing a list of all the cars which tick the essential boxes, then open-mindedly looking at a few.
Most will look OK in an advert, but be disappointing close up.

The reality is, far more people want a tidy estate for £5k than are prepared to sell you anything decent for that money.
So, when something 'right' comes along, you have to take a punt on it, even if it's not the make or model that everyone tells you you should want.

A mondeo would be a good choice for example, but most which are actually for sale are overpriced wrecks.
The flip side is that traders won't pay much for these cars, due to consumer rights and all that, so if you find a genuine private seller, you may get a bargain.
Or you may get a pile of trouble they want shot of!

Belle427

10,569 posts

248 months

Yesterday (11:56)
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I would guess with multiple dogs a 7 seater with rearmost seats out would suit too so maybe smax or galaxy

vikingaero

11,918 posts

184 months

Yesterday (11:57)
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B8 Passats Estates are available for £5k.

I put 103k on our 2020 model. Super comfortable, decent torque, a nice holdall.

Replaced it at the end of 2024 with a B8.5 as the next 10 year car.

soad

33,930 posts

191 months

Yesterday (13:35)
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W8 Passat, a rare beast. Brave bill though. hehe

ZX10R NIN

29,191 posts

140 months