Budget of £6000 looking for estate/suv/mpv - Page 1 - Car Buying

DartmoorCF

Original Poster

5 posts

15 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

Hi there
I've got currently got a Skoda Fabia 1.4tdi 2009 which I've been using for markets up and down the country. It has been wonderful but it has done 200k and starting to become a bit ropey.

I'm looking for some advice and a friend said these forums were the place to get it.

I don't want anything too massive so a Honda Accord Estate is out. I like the Crv but it's also massive and has a weird handbrake.
I'd like something with a bit more ground clearance as the Fabia does tend to bottom out when fully loaded driving along our lane.

So I've looked at a Peugeot 2008 and Citroen c3 Picasso but I've been told the Puretech engine has a strange wet cambelt and this is not to be recommended. The wet belt is also found on a Focus ecoboost which was another contender.

I think I'll need a petrol rather than a diesel as I've been told dpfs? are a real headache with modern diesels. Our current car doesn't have one.

I think I've got it down to...

2013/2014/2015 sort of age

Mitsubishi ASX
Skoda Yeti (nothing in my budget)
Hyundai I30 hatch or estate
Hyundai ix20
(Ix35 too big)
Kia Ceed hatch or estate
Honda Civic. Can't afford estate one and hatch rear visibility looks awful.
Mazda cx5 (nothing in my budget)

If anyone has any advice on these models or any other contenders I've forgotten I would appreciate it.

Cars down here in Devon seem to cost so much more than up country. A local garage is selling a Fabia hatchback with 100k for more than we paid for our Fabia with 60k .... 8 years ago!

Thankyou
Phil

Edited by DartmoorCF on Saturday 4th January 11:07

Nickp82

3,814 posts

117 months

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[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross is worth a look. Compact SUV, they drive quite nicely and most are the upper trim levels so have a good spec.
Generally very reliable as a 1.6 petrol non-turbo. The main negative is interior is functional but not very plush.

7 5 7

4,203 posts

135 months

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Saturday 4th January 2025

Add these X5 to your MPV list, worth a look, and are plentiful.

- Ford Grand C-Max (7 seater version) (1.6 N/A)
- Ford C-Max (1.6 N/A)
- Mazda5 (2.0 N/A petrol)
- Ford S-Max (1.6T Ecoboost - these don't run wet belts, I'm sure)
- Vauxhall Zafira Grand Tourer (1.4T)

DartmoorCF

Original Poster

5 posts

15 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

Nickp82 said:

Suzuki SX4 S-Cross is worth a look. Compact SUV, they drive quite nicely and most are the upper trim levels so have a good spec.
Generally very reliable as a 1.6 petrol non-turbo. The main negative is interior is functional but not very plush.

Thanks Nick I looked at these but they seem to have a very tiny boot. Appreciate the advice though

DartmoorCF

Original Poster

5 posts

15 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

7 5 7 said:

Add these X5 to your MPV list, worth a look, and are plentiful.

- Ford Grand C-Max (7 seater version) (1.6 N/A)
- Ford C-Max (1.6 N/A)
- Mazda5 (2.0 N/A petrol)
- Ford S-Max (1.6T Ecoboost - these don't run wet belts, I'm sure)
- Vauxhall Zafira Grand Tourer (1.4T)

Thanks for the suggestions. Do you know if the non ecoboost Ford's have the wet belt too?
My friend said Vauxhall and Ford's aren't very reliable so Japanese/Korean was the way to go. Mazda 5. Interesting. I'll check this one out. Cheers

Rayny

2,063 posts

225 months

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[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

Have you looked at a Skoda Roomster?

DartmoorCF

Original Poster

5 posts

15 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

I did but they look like disability vehicles!

ZX10R NIN

30,059 posts

149 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

DartmoorCF said:

Hi there
I've got currently got a Skoda Fabia 1.4tdi 2009 which I've been using for markets up and down the country. It has been wonderful but it has done 200k and starting to become a bit ropey.

I'm looking for some advice and a friend said these forums were the place to get it.

I don't want anything too massive so a Honda Accord Estate is out. I like the Crv but it's also massive and has a weird handbrake.
I'd like something with a bit more ground clearance as the Fabia does tend to bottom out when fully loaded driving along our lane.

So I've looked at a Peugeot 2008 and Citroen c3 Picasso but I've been told the Puretech engine has a strange wet cambelt and this is not to be recommended. The wet belt is also found on a Focus ecoboost which was another contender.

I think I'll need a petrol rather than a diesel as I've been told dpfs? are a real headache with modern diesels. Our current car doesn't have one.

I think I've got it down to...

2013/2014/2015 sort of age

Mitsubishi ASX
Skoda Yeti (nothing in my budget)
Hyundai I30 hatch or estate
Hyundai ix20
(Ix35 too big)
Kia Ceed hatch or estate
Honda Civic. Can't afford estate one and hatch rear visibility looks awful.
Mazda cx5 (nothing in my budget)

If anyone has any advice on these models or any other contenders I've forgotten I would appreciate it.

Cars down here in Devon seem to cost so much more than up country. A local garage is selling a Fabia hatchback with 100k for more than we paid for our Fabia with 60k .... 8 years ago!

Thankyou
Phil

Edited by DartmoorCF on Saturday 4th January 11:07

DartmoorCF

Original Poster

5 posts

15 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 4th January 2025

Thankyou for the magnificent reply.
On our diesel usage we do markets and events up country but lots of trips are local. Not great for diesels but our Fabia doesn't have a dpf do doesn't need to regenerate

I hadn't thought of a Captur . That looks a good shout.

Thanks again.

ooid

6,064 posts

124 months

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[news]

Sunday 5th January 2025

Get the cleanest Lexus RX350 you can find.

They are chain driven so you will probably run it until it's 1 million miles. They are becoming quite rare though so be quick!!

(If you have not heard world class Lexus Reliability and comfort yet, you will be in a suprise)

Ian Geary

5,385 posts

216 months

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[news]

Sunday 5th January 2025

Hi there

DartmoorCF said:

My friend said Vauxhall and Ford's aren't very reliable so Japanese/Korean was the way to go. Mazda 5. Interesting. I'll check this one out. Cheers

The Mazda 5 is basically a mark 2 focus estate underneath (as is the Volvo V50).

The 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines in the mazda went into a bunch of stuff, including the mx5 and original fiesta st. Rust tends to kill Mazdas (and fords) but I would not discount them based on just rumour.

I agree about avoiding wet belts, or at least budget for immediate belt and oil change and then keep on top of it religiously.

MotorsByMurphy

51 posts

15 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 6th January 2025

ooid said:

Get the cleanest Lexus RX350 you can find.

They are chain driven so you will probably run it until it's 1 million miles. They are becoming quite rare though so be quick!!

(If you have not heard world class Lexus Reliability and comfort yet, you will be in a suprise)

This man got it spot on! Their's a 2006, 85,000 mile example of Autotrader for £4,500. It will cost you little more that fuel to run for the next 5-10 years.

Not the most stylish thing you'll see or most exciting thing you'll drive, but it beats most French MPVs at the same price!

ZX10R NIN

30,059 posts

149 months

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[news]

Monday 6th January 2025

To big for the OP