Cheapest shed as a second car?

[Acuity30]

Long story short I want an ND MX5. However I also really enjoy mountain biking, so the MX5 as a sole car won't be at all practical enough.
My current DD is a 5 door Volvo S40 and while it can fit my 29er large frame MTB (with front wheel off) it's a faff, and tax is £340ish a year and MPG is around 30-35 on a good day, so thinking of selling that and starting over with a cheap shed and ND MX5 as my fun car.
I guess the wants/needs for the shed are:

Budget: £2000-£4000
Cheap tax and insurance
Petrol or diesel, don't mind I just want good reliability
Cheap to DIY service/maintain
SUV/estate or large hatchback to make bike carrying and DIY materials easy to just throw inside it

Is the default option just a high mileage Fabia estate?

[Acuity30]

Couple of autotrader findes:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508175...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506233...

[Doc_Love]

Vauxhall Vectra or Insignia. Honda Civic

Go for petrol versions. Cheap to maintain and run.youll be amazed with the capacity of the Civic!

If you really want space a Skoda Superb.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd suggest looking for at the Vauxhall range they're reliable maintenance friendly & you'll get a good example for your budget.

1.6i Astra Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508085...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505292...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507234...

Insignia 1.4T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506233...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508105...

1.5T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508185...

1.8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506123...

2.0T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507284...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508165...

[OutInTheShed]

Will the bike go in some of the smaller estates?
The load bay may be shorter than you think.

I found a lot of estates which looked fine on AT were quite sordid when viewed in person.
People give them a hard time and only sell them when they start to become troublesome.

It's easier if you are open minded about makes and models, and more so if you can accept low power!

[7 5 7]

Can vouch for a petrol 2008 Vectra C, I daily one and have done for 4 years and stuck 50k on it, bought just for the same task hauling my work gear around the country and my mountain bike.

Plenty about, cheap to fix, anyone can fix them, petrol 1.8VVT is as dependable as the sunrise if maintained, but even when their not they seem to be fine!

Tax is £315 for the hatchback, cambelt every 100k and no need to change the water pump as it runs off a different belt.

Insignia with the same engine also, but boot opening is a little less square to Vec so not as practical, also Insignia has the ill fated 6 speed manual, the Vectra has the older 5 speed.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Sunday 24th August 12:34

[oceanview]

I would look at something like a Mk3 Renault Megane or a Nissan Pulsar with the same engine- maybe even an old Quasqui but, you tend to get a newer car with those hatchbacks. Great MPG , £0-35 tax, and a good little engine.

[deeen]

Civic Aerodeck, Insignia estate

[StuntCock]

Fair play to you for wanting to get back on two wheels after your recent spill.
Can you easily ‘deconstruct’ the bicycle to fit in the boot and on a boot rack of the mx5?

[ScoobyChris]

FGS please don’t get an Fabia estate!

Chris

[itcaptainslow]

Vectra C hatch is pretty enormous - I fitted my mountain bike with the front wheel off plus four tyres in the back of mine!

[Evil.soup]

My money would go on a Kia Ceed Estate. I have owned a 2010 model and put 136k on it and sold it to my sister, she has driven in to London and Brighton, back to Wales, up to Scotland, back to Wales and back to Scotland again in thr space of 3 months without any trouble. These are a fantastic car, bullet proof engine if correctly maintained and high spec. Good power and great handling, would buy another in a heart beat. Newer model with reasonable miles well within your budget.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025072949...