Estate What Car Thread
Author
Discussion

niagra

Original Poster:

267 posts

209 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi all,

This is my first venture outside the classic cars & yesterdays heroes forum! I haven't bought a non classic car since 2002 so I consider myself a novice in the world of choosing a car and our Focus is falling apart so we need to get a new motor.

Anyway, the criteria:
Must be
Estate
Under £12000

Would prefer
Petrol
Low tax bracket (i.e. A-C)
Under 30odd thousand miles

I get my performance kicks from old cars, so I don't care about how fast the thing is, and I walk to work anyway. It's for the misses and for holidays etc., so it needs to be cheap to run, comfortable and reliable, with enough room in the back for two growing boys.

When is the best time to buy a used car? End of month, quarter...

Thanks in advance for any advice, cars to avoid, tips etc.


gazmk2

159 posts

197 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
I've just bought a 2011 saab 9-3 aero estate. It has the 1.9 twin turbo ttid engine (with a 215bhp remap) and I'm chuffed to bits with it. Plenty of standard kit, nice ride, nice handling (needs an lsd!!) And a shedload of midrange power (300+lb/ft)

Major benefits include 550+ miles to a tank (mine is auto so not as efficient as the manual)
£180 a year to insure (34 with 9 years ncb)
£180 a year road tax

All in its a lot of car for the money, mine was £11k with 60k miles and the optional extra nav ( a £2000 extra!!) but these prefer to do miles otherwise the dpf clogs up. It's almost as big as my old legnum vr4 which was huge!

Obviously there are other cars out there but my car is barely 3 years old and I paid £20k less than its first owner!

gazmk2

159 posts

197 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Doh, just noticed you wanted petrol! Feel free to ignore my ramblings!!

CYMR0

3,940 posts

231 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Why not another Focus?

£11,300 will get you a 2014 car with 22k miles and the all-important Ecoboost engine with 125 bhp.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

anonymous-user

85 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
The SAAB is ok but you'll need to buy some ear plugs to block the creaks & rattles from <1980s interior & dash. They went bust for a reason...
Default answer = Octavia Estate?

nick heppinstall

9,094 posts

311 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Octavia Scout 1.8Tsi ? Love mine. Tons of space and half decent performance. 0-60 in just over 8 seconds and plenty of traction with the 4x4.

Masses of space. It's like a Tardis ! Engine is also lovely and smooth. Feels like a 6 pot !

Looks like a decent one here. They are pretty rare .....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

stichill99

1,221 posts

212 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Seat Exeo sport tech,just as good as an A4 but a fraction of the price! This is all ok if you are not a badge snob!

anonymous-user

85 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
Octavia Scout 1.8Tsi ? Love mine. Tons of space and half decent performance. 0-60 in just over 8 seconds and plenty of traction with the 4x4.

Masses of space. It's like a Tardis ! Engine is also lovely and smooth. Feels like a 6 pot !

Looks like a decent one here. They are pretty rare .....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
As rare as a Unicorn. But found in 5 minutes on the Internet smile

nick heppinstall

9,094 posts

311 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Yeah but how many did you find wink

6 on Autotrader and one on the Skoda website.... I would say that's pretty rare.... just because you can find it on the Internet in 5 minutes doesn't mean it's not rare.... Does it ?

Edited by nick heppinstall on Wednesday 18th February 19:47

Easternlight

3,965 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
Octavia Scout 1.8Tsi ? Love mine. Tons of space and half decent performance. 0-60 in just over 8 seconds and plenty of traction with the 4x4.

Masses of space. It's like a Tardis ! Engine is also lovely and smooth. Feels like a 6 pot !

Looks like a decent one here. They are pretty rare .....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
If you do get that one I think it could do with a new set of discs and pads!!!
He really didnt look at that photo too well did he?

Make the most of those last generation petrol Scouts as they are diesel only now frown

nick heppinstall

9,094 posts

311 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Yeah I will be keeping mine to the bitter end.... Maybe then going for a 4x4 Superb. 25 to 30k formth new Scouts is out of my price range ...

Easternlight

3,965 posts

175 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
nick heppinstall said:
Yeah I will be keeping mine to the bitter end.... Maybe then going for a 4x4 Superb. 25 to 30k formth new Scouts is out of my price range ...
I've had intended to replace my S4 with either a Scout or Octavia 4x4 but as Skoda have decided to only do them with poxy diesels I shall just have to keep it, oh dear what a shame (Not)smile

Sir Bagalot

7,111 posts

212 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Superb or Mondeo

gazmk2

159 posts

197 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Jimboka said:
The SAAB is ok but you'll need to buy some ear plugs to block the creaks & rattles from <1980s interior & dash. They went bust for a reason...
Default answer = Octavia Estate?
No creaks on mine! They also went bust because they refused to cheap out on gm parts and made things themselves.

Edited by gazmk2 on Wednesday 18th February 21:59

moustache

292 posts

142 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
gazmk2 said:
No creaks on mine! They also went bust because they refused to cheap out on gm parts and made things themselves.

Edited by gazmk2 on Wednesday 18th February 21:59
Thank you, glad someone said it (sticking up for Saab as I own one myself)

Oceans

117 posts

148 months

niagra

Original Poster:

267 posts

209 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the suggestions chaps. Focus is favourite at the moment, by default really, as there isn't much out there in terms of low tax, petrol engined estates.