Want to change BOTH cars in household. £6k-ish budget

[Prohibiting]

I'll try to keep this simple.

ME = New job with 40 mile round-trip commute on 90% motorway. Currently own an Impreza Turbo 2000.
WIFE = 5 mile round-trip through town to work. Currently own Saab 9-5 Aero Estate.

Both current cars owned for 3 years, both average around 25mpg each and both expensive to tax. Basically I want to cut our motoring costs as I think I'm done (for now) with fast-ish old cars.


One of the vehicles needs to be an estate for dog duties. I have too many ideas and can't make a decision on which vehicles will suit our needs the best. So far I'm thinking of a 2L diesel Volvo estate for myself and a cheap 1.4L petrol for the wife of some sort? Ideally I don't want anything to look like a heap of junk...

Help!!

Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 14th September 20:06

[Gareth1974]

How about selling the Impreza, but using the Saab for the motorway commute and dog duties? I can imagine that the Saab returns poor fuel consumption on short start stop journeys, but would have hoped you’d get 35-40mpg on a steady motorway run.

[DSLiverpool]

Keep Saab and get a Zoe

[Prohibiting]

Saab on a motorway run will get 35mpg cruising at 70mph. Was hoping for a vehicle to deliver 45+ with cheaper tax too.

[ZX10R NIN]

You get the estate:

C220 Sport Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Wife:

Alfa Mito Veloce

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

1.2T Clio Dynamique

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Punto T Jet

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Prohibiting]

That Clio looks fantastic value and only 40miles from me. I've sent a message!

[ZX10R NIN]

Do your checks, it needs new front shocks (you always do the pair) so try & find a bumpy road to see if any bushes need sorting, they're a good reliable car & will fit your wifes usage.

Shocks:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Monroe-Front-Right-Left...

£1500-1600 should land you this one don't forget to HPI it.

M.O.T History:

NV59CZU
RENAULT CLIO
Check another vehicle

Colour
Black
Fuel type
Petrol
Date registered
30 November 2009
MOT valid until
27 September 2019
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If you think the MOT expiry date or any of the vehicle details are wrong, contact DVSA.
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MOT history
Check mileage recorded at test, MOT expiry date, defects and advisories


Date tested
7 September 2018
PASS
Mileage
62,666 miles
MOT test number
9638 6985 2185
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2019
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
under tray limitations
What are advisories?
The MOT test changed on 20 May 2018
Defects are now categorised according to their severity – dangerous, major, and minor. Find out more

Date tested
23 September 2017
PASS
Mileage
56,692 miles
MOT test number
5896 4108 4555
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2018
Advisory notice item(s)
Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
What are advisories?
Date tested
23 September 2017
FAIL
Mileage
56,692 miles
MOT test number
1730 0944 1568
Test location
View test location
Reason(s) for failure
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)
Advisory notice item(s)
Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
What are failures and advisories?
Date tested
28 September 2016
PASS
Mileage
47,591 miles
MOT test number
2364 8487 1094
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
27 September 2017
Date tested
21 September 2015
PASS
Mileage
35,524 miles
MOT test number
9623 1092 7968
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
23 September 2016
Date tested
24 September 2014
PASS
Mileage
26,381 miles
MOT test number
3397 3756 4221
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
23 September 2015
Date tested
22 September 2014
FAIL
Mileage
26,381 miles
MOT test number
3784 4506 4492
Test location
View test location
Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Advisory notice item(s)
Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
both front brake discs worn
hand brake lever close to end of travel
What are failures and advisories?
Date tested
14 November 2013
PASS
Mileage
22,771 miles
MOT test number
3880 4841 3382
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
30 November 2014
Date tested
29 November 2012
PASS
Mileage
16,914 miles
MOT test number
2057 6483 2337
Test location
View test location
Expiry date
30 November 2013
Outstanding vehicle recalls
Check if RENAULT CLIO NV59CZU has outstanding recalls


No outstanding safety recalls found
There are no outstanding manufacturer's safety recalls for RENAULT CLIO NV59CZU.

[Gareth1974]

ZX10R NIN said:

Stuff about the Clio's MOT history

The issue with the front shock wasn't mentioned on the most recent MOT, so it could well have been sorted. Either that or the most recent tester was more lenient. Worth a close look though.

[SCEtoAUX]

Prohibiting said:

I'll try to keep this simple.

ME = New job with 40 mile round-trip commute on 90% motorway. Currently own an Impreza Turbo 2000.
WIFE = 5 mile round-trip through town to work. Currently own Saab 9-5 Aero Estate.

Both current cars owned for 3 years, both average around 25mpg each and both expensive to tax. Basically I want to cut our motoring costs as I think I'm done (for now) with fast-ish old cars.


One of the vehicles needs to be an estate for dog duties. I have too many ideas and can't make a decision on which vehicles will suit our needs the best. So far I'm thinking of a 2L diesel Volvo estate for myself and a cheap 1.4L petrol for the wife of some sort? Ideally I don't want anything to look like a heap of junk...

Help!!

Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 14th September 20:06

How about a Nissan Leaf for the commute? You won't get one in that budget but compared to 25mpg you could easily save £150 to £200/month in fuel leaving room for a bigger spend. Nice place to be, possibly the perfect car for a 40 mile round-trip every day.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Battery owned and from a main dealer. Use it for three years and it's almost a free car based on the example above. No VED to pay of course, so another saving. A car that new is unlikely to throw up any repair bills, insurance is a low group.

Edited to add I've had a Leaf for 4 years/40k miles and love it.

Edited by SCEtoAUX on Saturday 15th September 13:32

[Prohibiting]

Unfortunately out of budget for now but definitely worth looking at in a couple of years.

We're going to view a 1.4L Honda Jazz this afternoon (the Clio 1.2L was already sold when I enquired).

[anonymous-user]

You don't need a car for a 5 mile round trip. You need a less lazy wife and a bicycle.