Estate cars under 5k, clueless car owner

[Gino ginelli]

Hi

I'm totally ignorant on cars so need some help!

I'm looking for an estate 5kish, for short commute a few times a week & occasional long journeys & ability to tow a folding camper weighing 850kg a few times a year (plus family, luggage & dog).

I've ruled out diesel cars due to lack of use, so due to towing looking at 2litre cars.

With my limited knowledge I've been looking at Ford Focus & Skoda Octavia type things... But totally open to any other ideas...

A bit concerned about what mileage/ age I should be willing to accept? And manual or auto?

I've found this 2l focus auto on auto trader (can't post it here due to newbie status)

Ford focus 2009 2L titanium 66500 miles automatic £3999 from Thornbury car Centre

Is this suitable or are there any glaring no's..?

Any help gratefully received 🙂

[SlowV6]

Mmm..Turbo diesels are excellent for towing, but unfortunately ruled out. For towing I feel you want good low down torque therefore am thinking a petrol turbo. For £5k you'll be looking at a fairly old estate so there's pot luck involved somewhat.

I AutoTrader'ed petrol estates within 50miles of me up to £5k:

Audi A4 1.8T
2010 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410074...

Volvo V60 1.6T
2011 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408293...

Ford Focus 1.6T - 2 owners.
2013 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...

[Gino ginelli]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I'm taking it the T denotes the turbo..? So when looking at model variations will a T eg TSI would confirm that?

[trevalvole]

SlowV6 said:

For towing I feel you want good low down torque therefore am thinking a petrol turbo.

Yes, turbo petrols have more low down torque, but there's more to go wrong and given the OP's budget, anything they buy may be quite close to needing some work done.

On the manual vs. auto question - manual is simpler, whereas auto will be more complicated and more likely to go wrong and:

1. could be an old tech four-speed like the one in the Focus you referred to, which won't help with towing;

2. Some newer Fords had Powershift dual clutch autos, which are to be avoided, as are VW Group DSGs in your price range, where anything with <=1.8 litre engine had the problematic dry clutch transmission. Also, some of the VW Group engines from around that time weren't good.

Can you get a Mazda6 estate with a 2.0 litre petrol engine and a manual gearbox for your budget? Though be on the lookout for rust.

Edited to add: Or a Toyota Avensis Estate Estate 1.8 Petrol Manual, or the last (2009ish) of the Vauxhall Astra H 1.8 petrol manual estates?

Edited by trevalvole on Friday 25th October 15:54

[OutInTheShed]

For towing, you don't specially need lots of low down torque, you need to use the gearbox properly.
Towing 850kg, best to have a decent sized engine.
And a decent sized car, pushing the max towing limit of a small car is not much fun IMHO.

When I was looking last year, I found a real shortage of decent estate cars under £5k.
I was more looking for a diesel though.
And I was ruling out a fair few cars due to no roof rails.

Most of the 'good estate cars' which people might recommend seem to be in quite poor condition by the time anyone puts them up for sale under £5k
There seem to be loads of cars of that kind of value, but people seem to hang on to them until they fall apart.

Also, you need to be aware of potential bills like a new clutch, which may we be wanted around 100k miles, quite likely to turn your £5k car into a £6k car.

Mostly I'd suggest buying on price and conditon and liking the way the car dives, rather than looking for a recommended model, as that's mostly priced in.

There's also a lot of cars gone from being £5k on the forecourt to scrap in 2 or 3 years. It's a harsh corner of the market.

[lornemalvo]

a good option is the best Octavia 1.9 diesel you can find. No dpf so short journeys not an issue. You may have to extend your budget just a little but this one is very low mileage, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

[blue_haddock]

lornemalvo said:

a good option is the best Octavia 1.9 diesel you can find. No dpf so short journeys not an issue. You may have to extend your budget just a little but this one is very low mileage, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

I wouldnt touch a diesel thats only done 2k a year for 15 years, your paying a hell of a lot for that low mileage and its probably never even been run up to temperature.

I'd rather go for the more powerful 2.0 for more pulling power when towing.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410115...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408162...

[Lecket]

Skoda Octavia is a good option. Avoid the 1.8tsi, and look for a 1.2tsi or 1.4tsi. This looks good:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409304...

Vauxhall Astra. 1.4 turbo is quite good I think and cheap for the age:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407151...

Fiat Tipo. Lot of newer car for the money. Not sure what else this 1.4 turbo is used in. Can't think i'ver ever seen one on the road though!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409033...

[lornemalvo]

blue_haddock said:

lornemalvo said:

a good option is the best Octavia 1.9 diesel you can find. No dpf so short journeys not an issue. You may have to extend your budget just a little but this one is very low mileage, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

I wouldnt touch a diesel thats only done 2k a year for 15 years, your paying a hell of a lot for that low mileage and its probably never even been run up to temperature.

I'd rather go for the more powerful 2.0 for more pulling power when towing.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410115...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408162...

I had one with this sort of history and ran it for 5 years without a problem. Service history is vital though.

[Morry10]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403278...

Even has a towbar on it

[OutInTheShed]

lornemalvo said:

a good option is the best Octavia 1.9 diesel you can find. No dpf so short journeys not an issue. You may have to extend your budget just a little but this one is very low mileage, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

I think you might find some 1.9 Octavias of that era do have DPFs!

[lornemalvo]

OutInTheShed said:

lornemalvo said:

a good option is the best Octavia 1.9 diesel you can find. No dpf so short journeys not an issue. You may have to extend your budget just a little but this one is very low mileage, https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

I think you might find some 1.9 Octavias of that era do have DPFs!

I understood that uk 1.9 pd engined cars did not have dpf, but 1.6 and 2.0 did. I know my 2007 car didnt have one. Not 100 % sure mind

[Bonefish Blues]

If you're prepared to challenge apparent logic, then look at the V70 D5. I don't know by what sophistry, but they are immune to dpf clogging IME and that of others. Will tow for fun.

[ZX10R NIN]

1.4T Insignia:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307079...

2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410034...

1.4T Astra:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401316...

i30:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408303...

[ALawson]

Morry10 said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403278...

Even has a towbar on it

Came to say the same thing. 2l is bullet proof.