Estate Snotter - £1000 - £1500 - Reliable

[Bisonhead]

Sorry Everyone, another one of these to argue over.

Situation has changed somewhat and after only a few months ownership of my MR2 SWMBO has finally managed to persuade me to get a more practical car. She has an A6 Estate to ferry the little-un and other bits and bobs.

She is going to be going back to work after her maternity leave and refuses to drive the MR2 so swapping is out of the question. A couple of days of the week I will be required to take said little-un to the mother-in-law for baby sitting duty.

So I need:

- Practical for getting the boy in and out plus all his stuff for the day (no 2 seaters)
- Looks standard, boring and non-performance to the Mrs.
- Is actually not boring and has decent performance
- RELIABLE, at the moment I want a car with low bork factor

Shortlist so far is:

- V70 estate of some decription...doesnt need to be an estate but I do fancy them
- Puma for the fun of it
- SAAB HOT Aero...just got rid of a 9-5 - hindsight is a wonderful thing to have
- Good ol' Merc estate, the nuclear bomb proof type

Over to you, all help appreciated, all options considered.

[excel monkey]

Standard PH answer at this price point is "Mondeo".

Do you need an estate, or will a hatch do?

[m8rky]

I would say this ticks most of the boxes,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-V70-R-AWD-/1508842...

[Papa Hotel]

Low-end E46 or more interesting E36.

[Bisonhead]

excel monkey said:

Do you need an estate, or will a hatch do?

Doesnt need to be an estate, hatch would be fine. Just need more than 2 seats for the boy's car seat.

[Shadow R1]

m8rky said:

I would say this ticks most of the boxes,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-V70-R-AWD-/1508842...

RUN AWAY, if anyone of a number of bits go bang rear drive train, engine could equal a bill more than the cost of the car.

Id go for a none turbo v70, mondeo is a good call.

[Bisonhead]

m8rky said:

I would say this ticks most of the boxes,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-V70-R-AWD-/1508842...

Lovely car...too expensive

[George7]

Not sure how the Volvos and Saabs would fare in the reliability stakes, due to the high pressure turbos... Something like this would likely be very reliable and cheap to run.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[bakerstreet]

Uninteresting option is a Passat 1.8 Petrol estate or saloon. Thirsty on fuel, but very practical and petrol engine should go on for a while. Petrol part is obviously open to debate depending on how many miles you do.

Slightly more fun option is an E36 Touring 318 or 320i. Not the biggest estate out there, but still a fun car none the less

[r129sl]

Mercedes 124 estates are wonderful and very practical. Plus they are narrow which makes them easy for ladies to drive.

[astroarcadia]

Subaru Forester.

[excel monkey]

r129sl said:

Mercedes 124 estates are wonderful and very practical. Plus they are narrow which makes them easy for ladies to drive.

can you get a decent one for the OP's budget?

[markCSC]

astroarcadia said:

Subaru Forester.

+1

[Bisonhead]

markCSC said:

astroarcadia said:

Subaru Forester.

+1

Interesting...would an Imprexa WRX be reliable enough at these prices as well?

[McHaggis]

Buy another Saab.

[George7]

Legacy. It won't be as good to drive as the aforementioned Mondeo V6, but should be pretty reliable.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[markCSC]

Bisonhead said:

Interesting...would an Imprexa WRX be reliable enough at these prices as well?

If it has been maintained correctly, and not chaved, then there is no reason it shouldn't be reliable. 200,000+ miles isn't unheard of.

[Bisonhead]

Would I be wrong to want this?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

With LPG and that mileage it is looking mighty tempting. It could also be a can of worms though

[DrDeAtH]

Still look towards mondeo st v6.......

Or...if you can find one.... Scorpio cosworth

[SWoll]

As you clearly don't need another estate then

Focus ST170 5 Door

or

Mondeo ST220