1k CRV, 9-5, V70, Legacy?
Discussion
So we need a cheap, reliable and safe bus for the au pair to ferry kids and use in her spare time.
We already have 52 plate CRV auto and it is brilliant at the job for very little money, looks decent and classless and has been reliable.
I am a big Honda fan having had a civic, prelude, 2 jazzes, frv and now this crv so know the weak points like rust, sticky calipers and suspension bushes and wheel being that typically need changing once they 10yr plus.
So naturally when the need for another car to fulfill largely the same duty as our current crv came about I thought no problem - just get a MK1 crv for about 1k (must be auto).
Went to look at a couple though and either thy sell within days or are very tatty and sellers asking too much money. They seem to shift anyway though so bargaining on this isn't that easy as even with faults they Rw good value.
So I have been looking at alternatives...this is supposed to be non-ph car for an au pair to use and occasionally the wife. Although the crv is a suv it is just so easy to drive, park and place on the road and in auto form even more effortless. The higher ride height makes it hugely easier getting kids in and out and plus in the country roads we frequent. Leaving those pluses aside the ph'er in me started looking at what else can be bought for 1k.
I have come accross 5cyl volvos, Subaru legacy and Saab 9-5's.
These are allot longer and lower than a crv and harder to park and manouver at school etc but probably safer and very interesting so I might be tempted to use it occasionally!
Thing is it shouldn't really be an expensive excersise to keep on the road as the more I have to spend it the less I have to keep my Z3 tip top.
Am I just fooling myself that these ph barges will be as cheap to run as a crv - maybe I should just up the budget and buy a decent crv rather than a barge that can hit me with big bills every year?
We already have 52 plate CRV auto and it is brilliant at the job for very little money, looks decent and classless and has been reliable.
I am a big Honda fan having had a civic, prelude, 2 jazzes, frv and now this crv so know the weak points like rust, sticky calipers and suspension bushes and wheel being that typically need changing once they 10yr plus.
So naturally when the need for another car to fulfill largely the same duty as our current crv came about I thought no problem - just get a MK1 crv for about 1k (must be auto).
Went to look at a couple though and either thy sell within days or are very tatty and sellers asking too much money. They seem to shift anyway though so bargaining on this isn't that easy as even with faults they Rw good value.
So I have been looking at alternatives...this is supposed to be non-ph car for an au pair to use and occasionally the wife. Although the crv is a suv it is just so easy to drive, park and place on the road and in auto form even more effortless. The higher ride height makes it hugely easier getting kids in and out and plus in the country roads we frequent. Leaving those pluses aside the ph'er in me started looking at what else can be bought for 1k.
I have come accross 5cyl volvos, Subaru legacy and Saab 9-5's.
These are allot longer and lower than a crv and harder to park and manouver at school etc but probably safer and very interesting so I might be tempted to use it occasionally!
Thing is it shouldn't really be an expensive excersise to keep on the road as the more I have to spend it the less I have to keep my Z3 tip top.
Am I just fooling myself that these ph barges will be as cheap to run as a crv - maybe I should just up the budget and buy a decent crv rather than a barge that can hit me with big bills every year?
A £1k CRV = absolute cheapest worn out CRV you will find, probably manual, well over 100k miles, possibly an early import.
The thing with the CRV is they are still cheap to run even when they are into banger price range.
You can get a superb 9-5 estate or V70 estate for £1k which will be much nicer to drive, much bigger spec than your £1k crv - but when things need doing/replacing it will cost a huge amount more than the Honda. And things will need doing on these £1k cars, no way of avoiding it.
I'd go for a well looked after 9-5 2.3 turbo, you might find a 2002/2003 with 100+k and FSH, read up on what's likely to need done before chosing one (and buy your parts from German and Swedish or ECP when things need doing)
The thing with the CRV is they are still cheap to run even when they are into banger price range.
You can get a superb 9-5 estate or V70 estate for £1k which will be much nicer to drive, much bigger spec than your £1k crv - but when things need doing/replacing it will cost a huge amount more than the Honda. And things will need doing on these £1k cars, no way of avoiding it.
I'd go for a well looked after 9-5 2.3 turbo, you might find a 2002/2003 with 100+k and FSH, read up on what's likely to need done before chosing one (and buy your parts from German and Swedish or ECP when things need doing)
At the £1k V70 price point go for the older 1997-2000 model rather than the newer 2000-2007 model (which are now just about in the £1k range).
They're better built, better sorted and have a lot less issues. The very last models were called "Classic" and are tough old things - you will find one for £1k but it will have some miles. The last of the older shape fetch more than the first of the newer.
They're better built, better sorted and have a lot less issues. The very last models were called "Classic" and are tough old things - you will find one for £1k but it will have some miles. The last of the older shape fetch more than the first of the newer.
My boss has a Mk1 CRV with an auto. When he got rid of it after the mechanic told him that rumbling noise was the gearbox.
Turned out to be a wheel bearing, and the new owner is still trundling around in it 3 years later.
Keep in mind, that when he got shot, it had done 385,000miles. Original gearbox, engine, driveshafts, diffs, and I believe a good amount of the suspension.
Turned out to be a wheel bearing, and the new owner is still trundling around in it 3 years later.
Keep in mind, that when he got shot, it had done 385,000miles. Original gearbox, engine, driveshafts, diffs, and I believe a good amount of the suspension.
Thanks for the quick replies.
It has to be auto, no manual. Hence my leaning towards jap because of the box.
If I gotto 1,5-2k I'm finding better choice of crv's with 10+ main dealer stamps etc. Will be same as a knackered that will needs a bit if work really..however there are plenty of dreamers pricing 170k mile ones the same as 80-100k car with full history.
By the sounds of it the Swedes could throw bigger bills. Apart from cost of repairs, vehicle downtime will be a ball ache and mean me having to take it to garages, source parts etc. Rather be doing that for my car than the bus!0
What of Subaru then? Best if both worlds - swede performance and Jap reliability?
It has to be auto, no manual. Hence my leaning towards jap because of the box.
If I gotto 1,5-2k I'm finding better choice of crv's with 10+ main dealer stamps etc. Will be same as a knackered that will needs a bit if work really..however there are plenty of dreamers pricing 170k mile ones the same as 80-100k car with full history.
By the sounds of it the Swedes could throw bigger bills. Apart from cost of repairs, vehicle downtime will be a ball ache and mean me having to take it to garages, source parts etc. Rather be doing that for my car than the bus!0
What of Subaru then? Best if both worlds - swede performance and Jap reliability?
A lex said:
Bit of haggling and bobs your mothers brother. From a dealer too, so 3m warranty.
£1295.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-VOLVO-V70-SE-2-4-FU...
I imagine this will quite literally go on forever, it looks well looked after, a good colour, FSH. etc etc.
Good find, makes a lot of sense. £1295.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-VOLVO-V70-SE-2-4-FU...
I imagine this will quite literally go on forever, it looks well looked after, a good colour, FSH. etc etc.
OP v-a-v 9-5s, proceed with care - and research "sludging" carefully before purchase (says the 9-5 driver)
Bonefish Blues said:
...but on a like-for-like basis a more expensive fix than OP's CRV Ben?
I guess that is true of most things when comparing against a proven jap workhorse but a honda can throw bills if you buy a dog. My prelude at 185k miles needed allot of suspension bits and as it was the last run out model parts were pricey. Engine and gearbox and everything else was sweet though.Not such an issue with the common crv though.
Fuel is not too big an issue as probably 6k a year but school run etc so even a crv gets down 20-22mpg in those conditions.
At least the subaru is interesting though. Need to check insurance out as might be silly on these.
A lex said:
163k is not 'massive miles' for a V70. They will quite happily trudge on to 400k+ 163k is about nicely run in 
I've ran cars to big mileages and whilst engine and gearbox usually cope suspension components will need refreshing and depending on the car can be big money hence I'd only pay she'd money for such high miles unless it has had allot of work done recently then even better as someone else ha the financial pain.Dino D said:
I've ran cars to big mileages and whilst engine and gearbox usually cope suspension components will need refreshing and depending on the car can be big money hence I'd only pay she'd money for such high miles unless it has had allot of work done recently then even better as someone else ha the financial pain.
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