Oh dear another what car thread

[Mikehartle]

Afternoon all.

Another dreaded what car to help me and my lack of imagination.

I am soon the be selling my Alfa and using the funds to pay of debts about. I will then be without a car. My budget is small at £1000 and maybe £1500 at a push .

The criteria is that is must be spacious as me and my fiancé are moving soon. So maybe an estate is some shape.

It must be fairly cheap to run so I don't mind petrol or diesel.

It must be cheap to insure.

It must not be prone to exploding in a week of driving.

My imagination goes as far as a dull mondeo estate.

[MorganP104]

Volvo, all day long.

Cheap, reliable, and more interesting than a Mondeo.

[Mikehartle]

I struggle to find decent Volvos in my area to be honest. They are either knackered or asking silly money for one with 200k miles. But to be fair they are always on my look out

[MorganP104]

Mikehartle said:

I struggle to find decent Volvos in my area to be honest. They are either knackered or asking silly money for one with 200k miles. But to be fair they are always on my look out

Hmm, I didn't realise shed-money Volvos were so location-specific.

Other candidates for consideration include Passat estates, BMW 3/5 Series Tourings, old Mercs (if you can find ones that aren't rusty).

Or, seeing as you like Alfas, how about a 156 SportWagon?

Edited by MorganP104 on Monday 27th February 12:51

[Mikehartle]

It's not so much location specific. Just there isn't many around and I'm weary of cars with mega high mileage . I've owned cars with 100k but 150k+ is scary for it dying . It's the same story with BMW 3 and 5 series in regards to Milege and and cost but Alfa seems reasonable with 100k on. They escaped my mind but another car to be on a hunt for

[Yiliterate]

The boot of the Saab 9-3 hatchback is pretty cavernous. These two will leave you a few quid over as well in case of issues coming up...

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Mikehartle]

Those saabs are brilliant value for money but are they waiting to explode at that mileage ?

[Fastchas]

Passat '02-'05 reg 1.9TDi
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262871589528

[Yiliterate]

Mikehartle said:

Those saabs are brilliant value for money but are they waiting to explode at that mileage ?

Well, for your budget, you can buy four of them...you'd be damned unlucky to have all four grenade on you!!! I sold mine with c115k on the clock and it was still running strong; the only serious bill it had thrown me in c5yrs was when the turbo blew at around 95k, but the two I linked are non-turbo models.

[GreatGranny]

The older shape V40's can be had for a grand with decent mileage.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Or else loads of Focus/Astra estates and may Mondeos?

But as you said they may not be available near to you.

[docter fox]

Yiliterate said:

Mikehartle said:

Those saabs are brilliant value for money but are they waiting to explode at that mileage ?

Well, for your budget, you can buy four of them...you'd be damned unlucky to have all four grenade on you!!! I sold mine with c115k on the clock and it was still running strong; the only serious bill it had thrown me in c5yrs was when the turbo blew at around 95k, but the two I linked are non-turbo models.

A Saab that works with 12 months MOT that you could probably get for £250? That's a bargain! You'd probably get about £100 in scrap for it if it did go bang too?

You could get an S40 that's a bit newer for under £500 and that comes with 12 months MOT - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

If you're wanting to spend more of your budget for something newer, you get a lot for your money with a Focus or Mondeo, Mazda 6's seem pretty good value - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

If getting to the car is an issue, I would set the distance filter on autotrader, filter by price and just scan through them all to see what interesting things pop up.

[ZX10R NIN]

Not sure where you are in the UK but here are some options with less than 100k on the clock.


2005 MG ZS Auto 77k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2005 MG ZT 1.8T 78k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2006 ZT 1.8 57k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2002 ZR 2.5 65k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


2001 Honda Accord 79k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2001 Accord 45k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...