What really can compare?
Discussion
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?
... 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?
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?
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?
and to be really cool, get some nice alloys and a set of coilovers 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...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?
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Mondeo would be my first pick but they're holding up well price wise, so I'd be looking at the three below:
E220:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506293...
508:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506243...
The Insignia is another very good option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502088...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507084...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506053...
If you don't mind a CAT car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507094...
E220:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506293...
508:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506243...
The Insignia is another very good option:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502088...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507084...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506053...
If you don't mind a CAT car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507094...
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