Skids Octavia VRS or Volvo 850R

[martin mrt]

Estates, my mate is looking to replace his Picasso as he absolutely detests it which is hardly surprising, anyway he doesn't have much to spend,

He has seen a 1997 Volvo 850R (I'm not sure if it is actually a proper R or just a T5R) Auto with near 200k for around 1
£1500 which is about his budget, MOTd for another few months not sure about tax, sounds reasonable enough.....

Until I found an Silver 54 plate Skoda Octavia VRS that's ex police, 54 plate with full years test and 170k miles for similar money,

My choice would be the Skoda by default, due to it being newer, FSH (likely with no expense spared) and having less miles?

He doesn't want a Mondeo/Vectra etc

Any other suggestions??

[soad]

Something Japanese?

[martin mrt]

soad said:

Something Japanese?

Jap import is a no no, he has had a Subaru Legacy Turbo that shat itself and left him very much out of pocket

Passat Syncro, if you can find me a decent one for £1500 then that could be a possibility

Saab, that's a no no,doesn't like Saabs

[Thorburn]

martin mrt said:

Jap import is a no no, he has had a Subaru Legacy Turbo that shat itself and left him very much out of pocket

I would hardly write off a nations car industry based on a single car, the Japanese revolutionised automotive manufacturing and reliability did they not?

If I was that budget constrained and wanted something reliable I'd not be looking at leggy turbos. I'd probably play it safe.

[marcosgt]

"Jap Import" though is hardly helpful is it?

Aside from a Legacy what might he be looking for? Supras? MR2 turbos? Soarers?

Just saying "Jap Import" is even less helpful than replying "Mustang" to every request for a 1K diesel hatchback...

Give some examples in budget if you're going to suggest "Jap Import"s...

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 24th November 08:05

[y2blade]

have you spent any time in a Volvo?
I have, and in the Octavia aswell...they don't really compare inside, the Volvo is leagues above in terms of quality, finish and comfort

I'd go for the Volvo myself

get "your friend" to have a good demo drive in both if possible and see what "he" thinks of them

[ExPat2B]

With respect, you have picked good cars but terrible examples of them. Moon mileage performance cars are not a safe bet.

Legacy Turbos are probably one of the most unreliable jap imports there are.

Take a look at the larger engined naturally aspirated Jap cars for reliablility.

For 1500 you can get : IS200 - not quick but RWD, bombproof ( its NA, one of the most reliable cars on the road according to every survey, and refined )

[Great Pretender]

martin mrt said:

soad said:

Something Japanese?

Jap import is a no no, he has had a Subaru Legacy Turbo that shat itself and left him very much out of pocket

Passat Syncro, if you can find me a decent one for £1500 then that could be a possibility

Saab, that's a no no,doesn't like Saabs

In all fairness, I'd be most surprised (and delighted for your friend) if a 200k mile 850R didn't immediately st itself either.

[y2blade]

ExPat2B said:

With respect, you have picked good cars but terrible examples of them. Moon mileage performance cars are not a safe bet.

+1
for same cars but slightly less miles on each.

Volvo FTW

[excel monkey]

marcosgt said:

"Jap Import" though is hardly helpful is it?

Aside from a Legacy what might he be looking for? Supras? MR2 turbos? Soarers?

Just saying "Jap Import" is even less helpful than replying "Mustang" to every request for a 1K diesel hatchback...

Give some examples in budget if you're going to suggest "Jap Import"s...

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 24th November 08:05

Ignore the "import" bit. Go mainstream Jap. Accord, Avensis etc.

[y2blade]

excel monkey said:

marcosgt said:

"Jap Import" though is hardly helpful is it?

Aside from a Legacy what might he be looking for? Supras? MR2 turbos? Soarers?

Just saying "Jap Import" is even less helpful than replying "Mustang" to every request for a 1K diesel hatchback...

Give some examples in budget if you're going to suggest "Jap Import"s...

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 24th November 08:05

Ignore the "import" bit. Go mainstream Jap. Accord, Avensis etc.

on the whole I'd agree (I looked at accords myself)
but none of the Accords or Avensis are "performance" ...are they?

[martin mrt]

I'd like to point out this isn't for me, after reading the reply with the inverted commas, I have lined up a replacement for the 3 series if it sells and if that replacement falls through I have my A4 to fall back on, as I'm hoping to make a start on getting it back to health at the weekend weather pending.

I know how robust Volvos can be, my mate has an 850R Estate, that did 2 trips to the ring (60+ laps each trip) and two large tours of Europe and only required the scheduled servicing, Tyres, brakes and 2CV Joints over the trips, oh and a radiator a a few months after it sprang a leak at the end of the 2nd ring Trip, and it had IIRC 160k or thereabouts on the clock.

He's offshore for another week and a half so he's going to look for more whilst he is away, I guess it's a tall order for his budget, he just wants something estate with some go about it. My A4 fits the bill but I want to hang onto it

[excel monkey]

y2blade said:

excel monkey said:

marcosgt said:

"Jap Import" though is hardly helpful is it?

Aside from a Legacy what might he be looking for? Supras? MR2 turbos? Soarers?

Just saying "Jap Import" is even less helpful than replying "Mustang" to every request for a 1K diesel hatchback...

Give some examples in budget if you're going to suggest "Jap Import"s...

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 24th November 08:05

Ignore the "import" bit. Go mainstream Jap. Accord, Avensis etc.

on the whole I'd agree (I looked at accords myself)
but none of the Accords or Avensis are "performance" ...are they?

Don't think the OP mentioned performance. Car is only a replacement for a Picasso...

[Steve_F]

martin mrt said:

He has seen a 1997 Volvo 850R (I'm not sure if it is actually a proper R or just a T5R)

What's with that comment? The T5R was the hot version before the 850R. There are a few differences between the few right enough but only around 10bhp. They really aren't that different cars at all.

If he is thinking about the 850R, the T5 remaps very easily to the same levels as the R versions. All of them (the T5/T5-R/850R) all have the same engine, all cost the same to map and all end up with the same power levels afterwards. May be worth him looking at the T5 versions as he will get a lower mileage example for less cash.

My T5-R is on over 150k miles. Most of the problems it is showing is that it's not my daily so not run as often as it should be. Engine hasn't caused any problems since I've had it.

[799boy]

For what it's worth I am now running a RICA 304 mapped manual 850R estate. Having owned lots of 'interesting cars' I would have to say that a good one with the right history really takes some beating as an all round multi-tasking understated weapon of choice!

[TonyRPH]

Plenty of Audi A4 Avants on Autotrader (and probably several here too.