What bargain estate?

[leginlb]

I am in the market for a cheap (sub £3000) estate car, for travelling to work and once a month carrying 2 or 3 canoes to race meetings around the UK. I would like something simple and not too complicated as I'm fairly handy with home maintenance.

My daily commute is a 20 mile round trip, but race meetingg can be 200 miles away, so economy / crusing is important. The canoes do not weigh much but the luggage area has to be a good size with all the associated rubbish I have to carry.

This is my shortlist, anyone want to offer advice?

Skoda Octavia Estate (110 Tdi? or 1.8 20v?)
Volvo V70 tdi Estate
VW Passat 110 Tdi Estate
Audi A4 110 or 115Tdi? Estate
Peogeot 406 Hdi Estate

I hear that VW PD diesels can be pricey to fix if they go wrong and the 2.0 petrol is a bit of a slug. While i'm at it, is the Peugeot HDi reliable?

[t84]

Could you get an BMW E39?

[GreigM]

I got a mazda 6 2.0 TD, 53 plate for around that amount - very pleased with it all round - comfy, realatively good performer, spacious, uber-reliable engine...

[lost in espace]

The 90 and 110bhp are non PD, noisier but cheaper to fix/more reliable.

[mondayo]

I looked at an A4 estate a while back and the boot seemed pretty small.
You should have a look at the Mondeo estate, ideally you want the 130bhp TDCi; there's loads of room in them and they come pretty well specced as standard, including cruise control, all electric windows and nice comfy seats...and they're cheaper than the German stuff usually.

[leginlb]

Agreed that an A4 is probably too small. I'd never considered the TDCi Mondeo but now you come to mention it maybe that would be worth a look. I'm wondering just how DIYable it is though. I have had TDi VAG products before and although they are not exciting in any way (doesnt need to be in this case)they were fairly DIY friendly.

Mazda6 is another good suggestion too, thanks for the advice

[Rob P]

I went for a Passat 130 TDI estate. Found it the most comfy and one that I was most confident would pile on the miles if that's what I needed it to do. It's a little on the boring side but what do you expect!

Does 48mpg on the run at 80-90.

[mattman]

V70 all day long

[Monkeylegend]

Moss Side.

[Garlick]

My Merc (see profile pic) was £1800, is solid and creak free, capacious, smooth and feels like it was built yesterday.

It's the 220 16v four and is relatively economical too, if not scorchingly fast.

I whole-heartedly recommend one.

[Andeh]

You can have my Octavia 1.8 20VT estate if you want it? £1500.

[seismic22]

i picked up my pug 52 plate 406 hdi 110 (albeit saloon) for (what i believe to be) bargain price of £1200 in great cond with only 42,000 miles on it last july, that would leave plenty left for consumables, cambelt etc whatever. estates add good couple hundred quid i think. The hdi's known to do over 200,000 easy peasy. Bit of a bargain car when you compare it to the albeit more desirable VAG cars, your getting lot of low mileage car for your money with the pugs when compared to german stuff.

its okay, electrics on them arnt the best in the world but not worst. feels underpowered pulling away but once above 40 its got plenty mid range poke for normal driving. does excellent mpg, i drive heavy footed and mixture of motorway, countryside and town will easily see 40 upwards mpg. handles well, seems to like front tyres? Ive put 9,000miles on mine and its done what i wanted it to, be cheap, relaible and economical. Other than a £5 quid auxilary belt, two tyres ,diy oil change and paying a garage to help get a stripped locking wheel nut off because they are designed by somebody who fell on theyre head, all i have had to do is pay for its juice, and thats not very often.

the estate is supposed to be like a tardis.

[miniman]

E39 5-series well within budget, easy enough to work on too if you invest £50 in a diagnostic cable.

Or, for around the £1500 mark:

[boomboompow]

Saab 9-5?

Plenty of decent examples to choose from with a budget of £3k

[Jasandjules]

Rob P said:

I went for a Passat 130 TDI estate. Found it the most comfy and one that I was most confident would pile on the miles if that's what I needed it to do. It's a little on the boring side but what do you expect!

Does 48mpg on the run at 80-90.

^ This. I've owned a passat estate for about 5 years now, it's a very good workhorse, and gets good fuel economy too.

[leginlb]

Thanks to all for some great suggestions. its given me some food for thought and I'm looking forward to some searching the net and dealer sites this weekend. Its good to see some alternative suggestions such as Saab, MG and Merc mentioned.

Now for a serious search, thanks all

[poo at Paul's]

Mondy. Nice Mk3 ghia for 3k. Big and drive brill.

[Sim89]

E30 Touring?

[Garlick]

leginlb said:

Its good to see some alternative suggestions such as Saab, MG and Merc mentioned.

Go on, you know it makes sense.

Look at all the space and class for under £2k....at least that's what I paid!

[Sixpackpert]

A bit left field but what about a C5 estate.

Had one for 18 months (company car) and was pleasantly surprised with it.

Massive load space and I should think very very cheap second hand.