Bangernomics - What car for a ski season?

[Gruffy]

I'm about to swap the MINI for something a bit more suited to a season in the Alps.

The requirements are:

1. Budget: up to £3,000. Intend to sell it again next spring and would prefer not to lose much/anything on it (probably adding 3,000 miles to the clock), but may end up keeping it, if it's presentable enough for a 'shopping car'.
2. Economical-ish at motorway mile-munching (2 return trips to the Alps)
3. Roomy enough for skis/snowboards plus four adults (fine to drop a single rear seat) and/or roof rails for a roof box.
4. Must have at least a little room under the arches to make it easy to fit snow chains
5. Reliable enough that we stand a good chance of not needing any work done over the winter and will start in cold conditions
6. 4WD isn't necessary. I'll fit winter tyres.

Nice to haves:

1. Heated seats
2. Heated mirrors
3. Not a stty colour

I've been looking at BMW 3- and 5-series estates, A4's, Renault Grand Scenics, Volvo T5/V70s etc. Any advice or anything I've overlooked?

Edited by Gruffy on Saturday 3rd August 23:48

Edited by slinky on Sunday 4th August 10:55

[Gruffy]

The V70 is probably my front-runner. Heated seats would score me lots of brownie points with SWMBO and I like the reliability.

[Gruffy]

Unfortunately that's correct.

With the V70s, any idea what issues crop up at which sort of mileages? Seems to be lots of cars in the classifieds with ~150k and I'm wondering why that mileage in particular. My gut feel is the cars are probably good for 250k+ with extra belts along the way?

[Gruffy]

Some of the V70s I've been looking at have the Winter Pack, which sounds like a godsend for a ski season: heated seats, heated mirrors, heated windscreen. I think those have just moved from the 'nice to haves' to the 'requirements'

[Gruffy]

I've always been put off the French stuff because of reliability. Is that a dated misconception though?

[Gruffy]

I've grown quite fond of the idea of heated seats and a heated screen now. The bullet-proofness of Volvos and Japanese stuff too.

I just need to sell the Dax now. Sadly, SWMBO vetoed the idea of putting winter tyres on that and just wearing out ski kit while driving.

[Gruffy]

Not a Focus, but I did add this Mondeo estate to the shortlist. Heated screen, but sadly no heated seats. Just a guess but I'd have thought not quite as comfortable as the Vovlos for the big schleps.

[Gruffy]

I'd like MPG to at least be in the 30s for a petrol or, ideally, a diesel in the 40s/50s.

[Gruffy]

bulldong said:

Keep the mini and put winter tyres on it. It is VERY rare that the roads are impassable without 4WD. I live here.

I've done a half season with the Mini before, on regular summer tyres too. It's perfectly capable in the mountains but I need more space. I'd actually prefer not to have 4WD for the extra economy.

The longer I spend looking the more I'm keen on the heated screen (and heated seats for the GF) as I think that'll make a real difference to daily life. Lots of interesting options but I think I've narrowed it down to a V70 with the winter pack. Leather seats. Manual. Ideally a diesel.

There aren't too many with the winter pack but I've shot off some enquiries. I shall report back as and when I buy one.

[Gruffy]

That's one of them, but it's up in Scotland so probably not the first choice. Does look good though.

Older and tattier for £1,300 (untaxed)
Petrol auto for £1,450 - ideally looking for a manual diesel though
Diesel auto for £2k that looks like it might have the heated goodies I'm after
Diesel manual for £2.5k that has all the goodies I'm after. Waiting for the dealer to send photos though.

[Gruffy]

After viewing lots of V70s, 3-series, Focus/Mondeo estates and an A6, I've now gone and bought an 03 Subaru Legacy. It was by far the best of all the cars I've checked out.

2.5L Petrol Manual
4WD
Immaculate interior
FSH
Low miles
Enthusiast owned (and it shows)
Heated seats
Insanely powerful heater & AC
and hugely comfortable

Thank you to all for your contributions. I'll report back later this winter to follow up on how it performs.

[Gruffy]

Only the Autotrader listing. I'll pick it up next weekend.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Gruffy]

Stu, I'll be in Argentiere, Chamonix, but probably travelling around a bit to Verbier, Courmayeur, Grand Massif etc. Give me a buzz if you're passing through.

[Gruffy]

[Gruffy]

Here she is in situ, underneath the Glacier d'Argentiere.


Very pleased with after 1,000 miles of getting to the Alps and then spanking it up and down mountains. I even love how brutally ugly it is

[Gruffy]

The only downside seems to be the driving position. Unfortunately I can't get it to fit perfectly for my 6'4" frame. I guess there aren't many Japanese that size. It's comfortable enough to put up with though. I love pretty much everything else about it.

[Gruffy]

Yes, the road to Flaine. My accomplice lives in Les Carroz so I'm there a few nights a week. I'm kicking myself for not taking the shot the first time I drove down. It was a lovely sunny morning at altitude, with the cloud just 100m below this point, extending all the way along the valley. It looked amazing.