Automatic petrol estate £3k

[narbles]

So my mate needs an estate on a very limited budget: £3k. Needs to be reliable and preferably something not hateful to look at. I've been looking at the usual skodas, focus estates etc. But it feels like slim pickings.

Requirements:
Budget £3000
Year: 2006 on
Automatic
Petrol
No high tax (e.g. £500) but could stretch to around £300 if right car

Edited by narbles on Tuesday 14th July 15:34

[nomank]

I'm looking for the same. I reckon Volvo V70 ownership beckons for me.

[stevemcs]

I think diesel dominates the market, but a Toyota Avensis would be worth a look.

[dontlookdown]

End of the line first series Mazda 6 estate - 2007 was last year before new model I think.

V cheap to run, ticks all your boxes and arguably slightly less boring than the Toyora Avensis mentioned above that is the other obvious choice at this price. Your mate might even get some change from his 3 grand.

[bern]

Biased answer:

Pre '06 Legacy 3.0? £300 and something tax, 240bhp, 5 speed auto, nice interior if lacking in tech. 22mpg running around, 30mpg on a run.



It replace a 15 plate XC60 and is better in almost every respect apart from DAB / Bluetooth. However, that can be sorted retrospectively and is on my to do list.

[narbles]

Thanks for replies so far, looking the Mazda although not many about.

Should have said that minimum age needs to be 2006 so as not to pay new tax in cities... Loving the legacy though.

[mikal83]

c5

[ZX10R NIN]

Saab 9-3 Sport Anniversary 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.5 Mondeo Ghia X 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.0T 9-5 Vector Sport 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Accord SE 150

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

2.0T Laguna Dynamique these are underrated & rare but they're a good pick

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[Mr Tidy]

I sold an 06 plate BMW 325i Touring with full leather heated seats in April 2019 well below £3K, and although it was a manual I doubt an auto. would cost any more. Road tax was £330 a year, but it was ULEZ compliant.

It was a great car, but as they say power corrupts so I replaced it with a 330i Saloon!

[wiliferus]

nomank said:

I'm looking for the same. I reckon Volvo V70 ownership beckons for me.

Be careful with low budget, high miler auto volvos.
They can have iffy gearboxes. I think it was sorted by 2005. In short, Volvo had the boxes down as sealed for life. They really weren’t and should have been given a fluid change, I think about every 50k.
As a result loads of them died, symptoms being flaring between gears, and I think banging into first. Needs a 30 minute + test drive as the problems only really show when the box is nice and warm.