Help me a choose a new "station car" please

[Ian1976]

I need to replace my current station car (1.6 Escort) as its starting to become unreliable/rusty and the road tax is annoyingly high.

Criteria/must have's..

manual gearbox
non-turbo petrol engine
air con
low road tax
decent mpg (40+)

I have 2k max to spend, Ideally less! What should I be looking at?

[Ian1976]

doogz said:

Focus?

If it's your station car, is MPG that important. I'm struggling to see how you'll average over 40mpg on short cold journeys in a petrol car tbh.

How low is Focus road tax though? I really want to be paying £30 or less.

I see you point on the mpg though, I might not get 40+ but if I go for a car that only does 25/30 when warmed up my commuting mpg will be even worse.

V8mate said:

Hyundai Accent 1.3.

Reliable, anonymous, frugal. Nobbers wandering round car parks won't give it a second glance and you won't mind if someone dings it.

Spend the other £1200 on coke and hookers.

Got to have air con though. Did they have it?

Chrisw666 said:

Actually I would just buy anything with a small engine, long tax and test for under a grand then bin it if it fails an MOT.

I've done that for a few years with £500 (or less) cars, but this time I want AC and cheaper road tax. I'm handy(ish) with tools so hopefully I can maintain the next car and get a few years out of it.

Boba Fret said:

this.........
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2725420.htm


doesn't matter if it gets scratched/bumped/smacked/gangraped etc

will always start in any weather

if it breaks you can fix them with parts from most AirFix kits, or a hammer and you REALLY won't give a sh** about it

I'll be happy in anything but its got to have air con

[Ian1976]

Gaz. said:

What about this?

http://www.elsonmotors.co.uk/used-cars/hyundai-get...

Good call, worthy of further investigation

V8mate said:

[quthe tax on thoseote=Ian1976]

V8mate said:

Hyundai Accent 1.3.

Reliable, anonymous, frugal. Nobbers wandering round car parks won't give it a second glance and you won't mind if someone dings it.

Spend the other £1200 on coke and hookers.

Got to have air con though. Did they have it?

Yep. CDX model certainly does. Next one down may well have too.

Good stuff, I'll check out the tax on those. I know I may appear hung-up on the tax issue but I'd rather spend a little extra to get a low tax band car than pay the extra money every year to the govt. I know it may cost me more but it makes me feel better by paying less tax - madness I know!

Boba Fret said:

just out of interest, why does it HAVE to have aircon????

It doesnt HAVE to I guess, Its just that I am spending a little more on this car so I'd like a little luxury. My commute is often during the day so it'd be nice in the summer months. I suppose I could live without it though so I'll bear it in mind during the search

marcosgt said:

My local station car park is packed with E46 BMW M3s...

M.

Maybe after a few payrises I might be in that sort of market!

[Ian1976]

Kiltox said:

How far is your station run?

Currently its about 10 miles. Cant use a pushbike/scooter as I often have kit with me.

[Ian1976]

I'm just about to get shut of a rusty Ford now so I'd like to change marque this time.

I do see the point about the tax but it just pains me to pay extra money to the govt.! I have my other vehicles for enjoying when I aren't commuting so I dont need/want anything flash/sporty etc. Taking a good look at some of the far-eastern models now.