£1500 budget for Estate hack - What car?

[Evo]

Hi all,

Don't flame this just yet I need to get a cheap estate hack for a year or so.

What does everyone think. Budget is £1500 circa 100k is ok and mpg 30 ish would be fine.

Was thinking about a Saab 9-5 Estate as they seem to give alot of waftness for the money.

Thoughts and comments greatly appreciated as always from PH'ers

[BarnatosGhost]

Evo said:

Hi all,

Don't flame this just yet I need to get a cheap estate hack for a year or so.

What does everyone think. Budget is £1500 circa 100k is ok and mpg 30 ish would be fine.

Was thinking about a Saab 9-5 Estate as they seem to give alot of waftness for the money.

Thoughts and comments greatly appreciated as always from PH'ers

I'd have thought a Mondeo would get you just about the most car for your money, but it'll depreciate to zero.

5 series, E Class or V70 probably the 'best' cars in range, if you can find a reasonably straight one.

[Evo]

I don't dislike the Mondeo and you can pick up a decent 2.5 for the money, it's just convincing the wife to drive a Mondeo

[Rollcage]

You could get a decent Forester Turbo for that money, not sure about 30mpg though!

[Origin Unknown]

E36 320 Touring. We just sold ours with 169K on the clock. I serviced it twice in 2 years, oil, filter, air filter and plugs. That was it. 30Mpg is pushing it a bit, but you'll get something sensible out of it.

[Busa_Rush]

V70s are well into that range, will get one with climate, heated seats etc and a choice of engine for £1500. Very safe, comfortable, auto gearboxes are common for easy commuting, the most comfortable seats of any car. Cheap to run and very reliable.

[jas xjr]

Busa_Rush said:

V70s are well into that range, will get one with climate, heated seats etc and a choice of engine for £1500. Very safe, comfortable, auto gearboxes are common for easy commuting, the most comfortable seats of any car. Cheap to run and very reliable.

and when you have finished with it should sell quite easily with a mega mileage on it

[Jasandjules]

I'd say a Passat Tdi.

Easily 40mpg and air con etc.. plus nice and comfy for cruising around in.

[IceBoy]

Doing this right now!

I purchased a v70 1998, with full leather, met paint, amazing sound system with 10 speakers, alloys, electric everything, dual climate, 2.0 20v 5 pot with a manual box.

The car is one owner with a full Volvo history.....152k on the clock and runs like new!

The average consumption is 29mpg and it sounds beautiful on full chat.

Best £1500 I ever spent.

IceBoy

PS. My house project will be finished in the new year and someone will get a great car!!

[chrisispringles]

£1500 will get you a fairly tidy Volvo 850/V70 T5. The T5 is great fun and similar in terms of running costs to the N/A ones.

[Doofus]

Best £1,500 I ever spent was on an 850 SE estate.

At the time, I had a Mercedes, a Stag and the Volvo and it's the one I miss the most.

Heated leather, climate, auto and all the whistles. It did everything I asked of it, and all it ever wanted in return was a top engine mount and two ball joints.

Dark green, scratched and dented (a bit). I'm dewy eyed just thinking about it.

God, I loved that car...


ETA: Mine was a '94 2.5 20v SE. I owned it for nearly three years, during which time it averaged 27mpg. I took the mileage from 80k-odd to around 100, and I sold it for £25 less than I paid for it

Edited by Doofus on Wednesday 1st December 20:15

Edited by Doofus on Wednesday 1st December 20:17

[WeirdNeville]

BMW 323/328 or 523/528 Touring should be in your price range. 30Mpg average across a tank, and nice spec for the money.
Or the Volvo options as stated above. Any would serve you well.

[masermartin]

You'd not go far wrong with the saab estate for a hack. I bought one for £1500 as a hack (9-5 2.3t Saloon) only intending to keep it a few months, just chopped it in 22 months later, barely spent a bean on it apart from consumables. Fairly certain most of the lollopy handling was down to worn rear suspension bushes, and the understeer was cured by putting the patent-rubber ditchfinders on the rear. Cue fun on wet roundabouts.

Something like this (sold already) would do you a treat:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/2278106.htm