Need a cheap economical car - ideas

[danyeates]

Hello,

I’m after a bargain barge! Ideally something economical so smallish petrol engine or diesel but I’d like an estate. Must be fairly recent, don’t want anything older than 10 years old and ideally not too ! I’d like something comfortable and easy to drive, maybe an auto if the ‘box is any good.

I’m looking to replace my Octavia VRS to free up some cash, we’re looking to spend about £2,000 at the most.

I’m considering a Mondeo or Focus estate, Mazda 6, Saab 9-5, anything else I should consider and anything I need to look out for on these car? Doesn’t need to be a big car, but I’d like to have the roof rails to fit my roof rack and a decent sized boot for carting stuff around in, so an estate is ideal really.

Thanks,

Dan

[garrykiller]

1.4 pug 206? my OH picked up a 206 for 2k, its a great little runner.

[mgbond]

I would of said a VW Passat TDI 130 might not be a bad shout.

[danyeates]

Couldn’t ever buy a 206 Peugeot! I’d struggle to ever buy a Peugeot I think! Sorry! I sat in a 206 once, hated it, the pedals were ridiculously small and close together!

Passat might be worth looking into, yes, although I am trying to stray away from VAG cars as they tend to be expensive to insure. We often do runs to Cornwall and London, so it needs to be comfortable and driveable for 4 hours (ie. No little city cars!) This would be our only car for a while.

[Kitchski]

Laguna DCI Sport Tourer thing, or an Alfa 156 2.4JTD (5-cyl) Wagon.

Renault's fantastic value, comfy, smooth, good to drive and well specced. I'd always be worried by that card type key going wrong, but so many cars have them now they can't be that bad.

The 156? Drive one! If you don't enjoy it there's something wrong with you

[2 5HAN]

mgbond said:

I would of said a VW Passat TDI 130 might not be a bad shout.

+1

[dwilkie]

You should totally buy my MG ZS, I've even just had it washed

[qdos]

Here's one you're going to say Nooooo to but seriously you should take a look at....

I was in a similar situation to you and got myself a Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 HDI

All the seats can be taken out and you've got yourself a van, It has 5 proper seats which are comfortable and all of them adjust forwards backwards and recline even in the back. Air Con and Cruise Control. It's great for towing which I regularly tow the with to various tracks and does incredible miles per gallon 48ish mpg with a big car and trailer on the back.

Last week I did a 200mile round trip (no trailer) and averaged 74.3 mpg I have managed to get 79 on a trip to Oxford before too. Running around town and shortish journeys then I'm disappointed if I get less than 51mpg average

So check them out DEFINITELY worth looking at.

[danyeates]

dwilkie said:

You should totally buy my MG ZS, I've even just had it washed

Why are you selling so soon?

[dwilkie]

We've just moved house and it's wiped out the savings to pay for a deposit, so we're going down to the one car (the MiTo) and I get to cycle to work (yay...) in order to get a bit of a buffer since the mrs will be going down to proper maternity pay now (which is cack) :\

TBH it's a bit gutting as I doubt I'll see any of the money I've just spent on it back (a brand new clutch, caliper, and 4 new tyres :\)

Back on topic, I can echo about the MPG of the small Citroen diesels. I hate them with an utter barely concealed passion, but I've never seen one getting poor MPG. I feel dirty now

[mgbond]

2 5HAN said:

I would of said a VW Passat TDI 130 might not be a bad shout.

+1

I would also add, to maybe get better value look at a skoda?

[danyeates]

Well yes, I love my Skoda. It's fantastic, but I just don't like the look of the mk1 Octavia. I much prefer the mk2, but I don't want to spend mk2 money. Pointless selling a good mk2 VRS to buy a cheap mk2 to save not much money!

[.Mark]

Just a word of warning on the Mundano front. I've had a couple as company cars, they go through tyres like no tomorrow and big bits tend to go wrong, which can prove expensive.
The one before last failed it's first mot and ended up with a bill of over £1k

[ecain63]

Dunno what to suggest given your 2 grand limit. Gone are the days when 500 quid would get you a half decent shed. The scrappage scheme soaked those up quite quickly. However, if you do find a car be wary about the VAG brands ref insurance. I considered getting a 2001 A6 Avant smoker a little while back and was stunned by the insurance quotes. Almost the same as my 2003 RS6 at the time. VW and Skoda also proved very pricey to insure, despite the 5-bob value of the car. In my experience you should be looking at Vauxhalls and Fords. Does the Astra or Vectra take your fancy?

Eddie

[minimatt1967]

Astra G/mk4's are a good steer and cheaper than the equivalent Focus, estates are cavernous due to cleverly designed rear suspension. I loved my hatch from a few years ago.

[mgbond]

mgbond said:

I would also add, to maybe get better value look at a skoda?

Ok, well what about a Seat (thats what I got for the run around). Not sure what estates they do though?

Bondy

[cv01jw]

I am impressed with our Peugeot 406 HDi - big and comfy, returning about 48mpg combined. Might be worth a look.

[danyeates]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Not sure about the Citroen TBH though.

I've got the Skoda for sale at the moment.

[WAFWOTTBI]

danyeates said:

Hello,

I’m after a bargain barge! Ideally something economical so smallish petrol engine or diesel but I’d like an estate. Must be fairly recent, don’t want anything older than 10 years old and ideally not too ! I’d like something comfortable and easy to drive, maybe an auto if the ‘box is any good.

I’m looking to replace my Octavia VRS to free up some cash, we’re looking to spend about £2,000 at the most.

I’m considering a Mondeo or Focus estate, Mazda 6, Saab 9-5, anything else I should consider and anything I need to look out for on these car? Doesn’t need to be a big car, but I’d like to have the roof rails to fit my roof rack and a decent sized boot for carting stuff around in, so an estate is ideal really.

Thanks,

Dan

weve run a 95 areo hot saab estate,y plate for last 7 years,other than regular stuff,servicing,tyres etc,been good as gold,v v comfy,on a long journey would probably prefer it to the rs6 avant,would still take the audi i might add,but saab much more comfy over longer distances,done about 45,ooo miles with us,80 odd on the clock now..just my 2 bobs worth..WAFFY...

[danyeates]

Cool, I'm looking at this bargain

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2884896.htm

Won't really be economical though!