Estate/workhorse for property refurb
Discussion
110 from late 80s to early 90s and a cheap 8’ x 4’ trailer.
Trailer allows you to carry full sheets and if your local tip allows trailers you’ll be able to use it for all the rubbish too.
The back of the 110 without the seats will carry bags of sand, cement, plaster etc and easy to keep clean.
You’ll probably sell it for more than you bought it too.
Trailer allows you to carry full sheets and if your local tip allows trailers you’ll be able to use it for all the rubbish too.
The back of the 110 without the seats will carry bags of sand, cement, plaster etc and easy to keep clean.
You’ll probably sell it for more than you bought it too.
johnnyBv8 said:
How do you find the XC70 to drive? Was looking at reviews today and it seems it didnt get great reviews when launched - mainly due to handling/bodyroll compared to a V70, but ownership reviews are generally much more positive.
Yeah I read those reviews too - you'd be forgiven for thinking that threading it down a b-road was akin to balancing a snooker table on a maypole! If you're looking for the last word in razor sharp handling then do please look elsewhere, but I've never noticed any particular boat-like qualities about it. Unless parking or storage is an issue then a trailer wins every time. You can then pretty much drive what you like (within reason).
A decent trailer will easily carry pallet loads of 8x4 sheets, tonne bags of sand or even loose materials.
They cost very little to maintain and don't really depreciate if looked after. Although once you have one you'll never get rid of it.
A decent trailer will easily carry pallet loads of 8x4 sheets, tonne bags of sand or even loose materials.
They cost very little to maintain and don't really depreciate if looked after. Although once you have one you'll never get rid of it.
I bought one of these in February.
It is spectacularly good. 230ish bhp. Masses of torque. Smooth 6 cylinder (not a nasty 4 pot). 7 speed gearbox.
Incredibly comfy. All the toys you need. Self levelling air suspension. Completely anonymous. Far less shouty than an A6 or 5 series, particularly there 'sporty' variants. Absolutely massive inside.
Honestly I've really fallen for it. We did a camping holiday over summer and filled to the max with tents, pushchairs, food, etc and it still rode effortlessly along and slignshotted past rows of caravans.
Mines doing 37mpg long term average in average use and does 40 on a motorway and run but it will dig in and go like the clappers from the lights too.
https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/e-class/14340/merce...
Mine looks like this:
Paid just for 8k from a dealer, 86k Merc p/xer with full dealer history.
It is spectacularly good. 230ish bhp. Masses of torque. Smooth 6 cylinder (not a nasty 4 pot). 7 speed gearbox.
Incredibly comfy. All the toys you need. Self levelling air suspension. Completely anonymous. Far less shouty than an A6 or 5 series, particularly there 'sporty' variants. Absolutely massive inside.
Honestly I've really fallen for it. We did a camping holiday over summer and filled to the max with tents, pushchairs, food, etc and it still rode effortlessly along and slignshotted past rows of caravans.
Mines doing 37mpg long term average in average use and does 40 on a motorway and run but it will dig in and go like the clappers from the lights too.
https://www.evo.co.uk/mercedes/e-class/14340/merce...
Mine looks like this:
Paid just for 8k from a dealer, 86k Merc p/xer with full dealer history.
Do you definitely need a new car for the refurb? We moved in to a good project 18 months back and have finally moved upstairs. When we started I was going to buy an old Sharan or Galaxy. I never did, and in the end tbf I never really needed it. Just get materials delivered to save on the hassle, and with the amount of rubbish I was producing from stripping plaster and ceilings down, trips to the trip would have been a waste of time, skip all day long!
(p.s. I've also got a golf)
(p.s.s this is the house - https://www.instagram.com/the_old_bakery37
(p.s. I've also got a golf)
(p.s.s this is the house - https://www.instagram.com/the_old_bakery37
Tips around us won’t let you in with a four wheel trailer which limits a trailers usability for carrying heavy loads. Also have you got secure parking for a trailer? They are prone to theft, even the wheels....don’t ask how I know.
I would check what your local tip allows in terms of vehicles and trailers first and then choose accordingly. Volvo D5 or Škoda superb estate sound good just check you can get 2m lengths in ie a door etc saves tying to a roof rack in wet weather and having to cover to avoid damage.
I would check what your local tip allows in terms of vehicles and trailers first and then choose accordingly. Volvo D5 or Škoda superb estate sound good just check you can get 2m lengths in ie a door etc saves tying to a roof rack in wet weather and having to cover to avoid damage.
alfabeat said:
I use a Skoda Octavia Estate (with roof rails/bars for ladders) for house maintenance. Really quite roomy inside with the rear seats down. 2.0 diesel (remapped to 195bhp), and it's certainly quick enough and still returns 55mpg on the motorway.
The big thing for me is being able to go to my local tip to get rid of rubbish.
Loads around for your budget. Mine was £6k (2012 plate Scout, 4x4) on 60k miles.
I would agree with this. I had the same requirement as the OP as currently doing a house up and paying £250 for a skip every time was eating into our budget.The big thing for me is being able to go to my local tip to get rid of rubbish.
Loads around for your budget. Mine was £6k (2012 plate Scout, 4x4) on 60k miles.
The Octavia Estate is definitely earning it's keep, whether it is a trip to the tip or IKEA/B&Q. Very economical, not a bad drive and hopefully easy to maintain!
alphahotelbravo said:
Pica-Pica said:
A van?
Maybe check what your local tip (sorry - "community recycling centre") allows - some assume you're a tradesman if you turn up in a van and won't let you in.We renovated a house a couple of years back (walls, floorboards, doors etc) and the amount of waste we created was crazy. The price of skips would have used up a chunk of our budget.
Plus ordering all the replacement material we needed with delivery costs was going to waste money too.
We eneded up buying an old C-max, took out the rear seats and used that for tip runs and collecting new stuff. It saved us over £2000 (estimated) and the car was bought for £850, cost £50 for a very good interior clean afterwards (plus £100 on ripped headlining) and was sold for £750. Plus as it was an MPV and not a van we didin't have any issues disposing of waste at the tip.
It was a dirty process and it might be worth buying a shed instead.
Plus ordering all the replacement material we needed with delivery costs was going to waste money too.
We eneded up buying an old C-max, took out the rear seats and used that for tip runs and collecting new stuff. It saved us over £2000 (estimated) and the car was bought for £850, cost £50 for a very good interior clean afterwards (plus £100 on ripped headlining) and was sold for £750. Plus as it was an MPV and not a van we didin't have any issues disposing of waste at the tip.
It was a dirty process and it might be worth buying a shed instead.
johnnyBv8 said:
...cheaper estate car up to around £8k, big enough for materials, trips to the tip, occasional stuff on the roof etc
....I'm not a Ford fan...
Park your Ford prejudice for a second and have a look at a Mondeo. They are vast inside, robust and reliable, and not too posh that you're going ti wince when throwing all the crap into the back of it. The biggest draw though, is that they are a lot of fun to drive. Great value compared to the German trio. ....I'm not a Ford fan...
Personally I'd get the petrol but they are rare.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...
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