Which family estate to go for?
Discussion
So about to buy a new, long term, car. Not new new, just new to me.
I've decided that I need an estate. I have two dogs and a young daughter so we need the space when we are all in the car. We manage with a hatchback and a roofbox but to be honest, I want to do away with the box and be able to get everything inside the car. I used to have p11 (1999) Primera estate and it was very useful for getting all the stuff in with room to spare. We did use the box with it a few times but only when really piling stuff in.
My budget is £2000-£2500 but could possibly stretch a few hundred more if the right car came along. I'm NOT looking for a PH car. This is a family wagon and needs to be economical, cheap to insure, cheap to tax and reliable. As much as I would love something silly, I wont be able to afford to run it.
Now, I've been looking and found a few which I like the look of but others I've seen on autotrader etc just don't excite me much. The two bellow are by no means my final choices, just the two which stand out as my main
1. Nissan Primera P12 1.8 16v
Going for the 1.8 Petrol as the 2.0l bumps up the insurance and doesn't really offer much more in terms of performance. Diesel probably the best bet but most with decent milage are out of my budget.
Pros : Quirky looks that I like, cool futuristing interior, economical, reasonable tax, good load space, should be very reliable.
Cons : Insurance not that cheap (although ok), Tax could be cheaper. Maybe a bit dull to drive with just the 1.8?
2. Fiat Stilo Estate 1.9JTD
The JTD is the pic of the bunch as the only other engine on offer is a 1.6l petrol which would be woefully underpowered. We had a Stilo JTD before (hatchback) and it was a nice car to drive.
Pros : Good looks, very economical, very cheap tax, ok load space (less than primera), very cheap insurance, good performance.
Cons : Reliability niggles, interior isn't great, uncomfy seats (for me anyway).
So I'm stuck with what to go for. As said, the above two aren't my only choices, just the two which are standing out for me at the moment. Please suggest any others!
I've decided that I need an estate. I have two dogs and a young daughter so we need the space when we are all in the car. We manage with a hatchback and a roofbox but to be honest, I want to do away with the box and be able to get everything inside the car. I used to have p11 (1999) Primera estate and it was very useful for getting all the stuff in with room to spare. We did use the box with it a few times but only when really piling stuff in.
My budget is £2000-£2500 but could possibly stretch a few hundred more if the right car came along. I'm NOT looking for a PH car. This is a family wagon and needs to be economical, cheap to insure, cheap to tax and reliable. As much as I would love something silly, I wont be able to afford to run it.
Now, I've been looking and found a few which I like the look of but others I've seen on autotrader etc just don't excite me much. The two bellow are by no means my final choices, just the two which stand out as my main
1. Nissan Primera P12 1.8 16v
Going for the 1.8 Petrol as the 2.0l bumps up the insurance and doesn't really offer much more in terms of performance. Diesel probably the best bet but most with decent milage are out of my budget.
Pros : Quirky looks that I like, cool futuristing interior, economical, reasonable tax, good load space, should be very reliable.
Cons : Insurance not that cheap (although ok), Tax could be cheaper. Maybe a bit dull to drive with just the 1.8?
2. Fiat Stilo Estate 1.9JTD
The JTD is the pic of the bunch as the only other engine on offer is a 1.6l petrol which would be woefully underpowered. We had a Stilo JTD before (hatchback) and it was a nice car to drive.
Pros : Good looks, very economical, very cheap tax, ok load space (less than primera), very cheap insurance, good performance.
Cons : Reliability niggles, interior isn't great, uncomfy seats (for me anyway).
So I'm stuck with what to go for. As said, the above two aren't my only choices, just the two which are standing out for me at the moment. Please suggest any others!
As much as I do love the Rover 75, and have looked at them too, I just couldn't live with the wooden dash. I love the interior design, just would prefer the wood effect parts to be something else. Wouldn't want it on a keeper car. Just looks tacky to me.
Rest of it is spot on though, Although insurance is on par with the Primera and tax is only a touch cheaper.
Plus, all the ones within my price range are on interstellar milage. Would it really be worth stretching that little extra for an 8 year old Rover?
Rest of it is spot on though, Although insurance is on par with the Primera and tax is only a touch cheaper.
Plus, all the ones within my price range are on interstellar milage. Would it really be worth stretching that little extra for an 8 year old Rover?
Edited by Deluded on Friday 17th June 22:59
Deluded said:
As much as I do love the Rover 75, and have looked at them too, I just couldn't live with the wooden dash. I love the interior design, just would prefer the wood effect parts to be something else. Wouldn't want it on a keeper car. Just looks tacky to me.
Rest of it is spot on though, Although insurance is on par with the Primera and tax is only a touch cheaper.
Plus, all the ones within my price range are on interstellar milage. Would it really be worth stretching that little extra for an 8 year old Rover?
That's a 2001, won't be plastic wood, it'll be real wood.The dash bits can also be swapped for MG bits very easily.If you want to sit in total comfort for hours,a BMW diesel engine, have loads of kit and something with only one owner and sensible mileage the nudge it down to 2400 quidish and it doesn't get much better.Or of course, you can sit in a fuzzed up cloth seat, looking at rock hard black plastic dash,whilst realisng that you've got no toys and are in fact bored brainless by the sheer insigificance of the blandness you've just bought!Rest of it is spot on though, Although insurance is on par with the Primera and tax is only a touch cheaper.
Plus, all the ones within my price range are on interstellar milage. Would it really be worth stretching that little extra for an 8 year old Rover?
Edited by Deluded on Friday 17th June 22:59
we have a t-spec prim with all the trimmings - radar controlled cruise, heated leather, rain sensor, nav, phone etc.
loving it more each day and my main "man's car" is a '99 e38 sport so my standards are high.
cvt auto tip box is surprisingly enjoyable as well.
sorry fors
t typing am on phhone.
loving it more each day and my main "man's car" is a '99 e38 sport so my standards are high.
cvt auto tip box is surprisingly enjoyable as well.
sorry fors
t typing am on phhone.elanfan said:
Nice, but a 2.4 Petrol Auto, you'd be lucky to beat 25mpg in the real world.chriscoates said:
E46 3 series of some kind?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2886472.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2589070.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2933557.htm
The OP wants cheap, economic motoring, these will not do this very well.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2886472.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2589070.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2933557.htm
Mondeos are very affordable and surprisingly well built and equipped. I have a 2002 TDDi estate (not as refined as the later TDCi but simpler and potentially more reliable) with 125,000 on it and it seems to just go on and on... Very roomy interior and in Ghia trim sufficient toys to amuse.
Cheers for the replies.
The Volvo I like (and would buy) but they aren't cheap to insure, they are all far from economical and I also imagine the tax is stupid money too.
Primera being a Laguna, well I did hear that before but it still has a Nissan engine and I imagine it's mostly nissan throughout. Haven't seen any mention of dodgy electrics and build on any reviews, which the laguna apparnently suffers from.
Passat/octavia, looked at and I have no issue with them, just not inspired to buy one. I'm sure the TDI engine is great but because it's a VW, finding one in my budget that hasn't been to the moon and back will be a mission. I'm sure they are out there but sifting through the dogs and clocked ones doesn't take my fancy.
C5, looked at these also. Not a fan of the interior tbh. Looks very dated considering the age of the car. Think these were either terrible on tax or insurance. Can't remember.
Focus, no. Dislike anything ford has produced in the last 15 years.
BMW? No, I said cheap motoring. Insurance, tax, running costs etc. Nice cars yes but they don't come cheap.
At the moment I'm thinking either the Rover 75 CDTI suggestion or Primera, unless anyone can convince me otherwise? Starting to think the 75 looks dated now though, although, bar the wood, the interior is lovely.
The Volvo I like (and would buy) but they aren't cheap to insure, they are all far from economical and I also imagine the tax is stupid money too.
Primera being a Laguna, well I did hear that before but it still has a Nissan engine and I imagine it's mostly nissan throughout. Haven't seen any mention of dodgy electrics and build on any reviews, which the laguna apparnently suffers from.
Passat/octavia, looked at and I have no issue with them, just not inspired to buy one. I'm sure the TDI engine is great but because it's a VW, finding one in my budget that hasn't been to the moon and back will be a mission. I'm sure they are out there but sifting through the dogs and clocked ones doesn't take my fancy.
C5, looked at these also. Not a fan of the interior tbh. Looks very dated considering the age of the car. Think these were either terrible on tax or insurance. Can't remember.
Focus, no. Dislike anything ford has produced in the last 15 years.
BMW? No, I said cheap motoring. Insurance, tax, running costs etc. Nice cars yes but they don't come cheap.
At the moment I'm thinking either the Rover 75 CDTI suggestion or Primera, unless anyone can convince me otherwise? Starting to think the 75 looks dated now though, although, bar the wood, the interior is lovely.
VeeDub Geezer said:
That. All day long and then some. It'll be worth that money this time next year as well.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff