£500 snotter

[busso]

My Volvo V40 snotter that I used for my business has ate it's nasty diesel gearbox, it was a 1996 poverty spec with a crashing ride and a nasty tractor engine. I needed a car to use for a few trips to the cash and carry when my trusty renault kangoo van finally died.

I could get away with using a car just, even though the poor thing was on the deck for the trip back up the m6. as the extra seats came in handy when ferrying the kids about every now and then. I still want a car over a van and can get away with a hatchback, I know this as I'm currently using our new punto evo which although being a major struggle to get my stock in, it's holding it's own mainly due to the new now probably saggy suspension no doubt.

Now anyone in retail will now that quarter rent payment is due next week so my budget of around the grand mark has come down to £500 So far I've been looking at mondeo's, 306's, the Focus, astras you get the idea. The problem is I need something with decent-ish suspension that can carry the weight and ideally some MOT and tax. Not too fussed about age and even mileage as it will only do 8k a year. But I would like something a little interesting if poss, petrol or diesel.

I know I'm asking a lot but I'm throwing it out to the PH masses for any recommendations, or if you have an old knacker you want rid off let me know as I need a replacement snotter within the next few days.

[falkster]

I bought my best mate a '00 Saab 95 for £435 and it is sweet! He's now had it over a year, not missed a beat and it looks as good as an 05!
eBay is your friend!!

[mjb1]

A bit of a wild suggestion here, but unless you need to get adults in the back - how about a toyota celica? Should get a ST202 model for that money. Go for the 2.0 over the 1.8. You can fold down the rear seats and they will carry a lot of cargo. They are pretty bombproof if they have been reasonably well looked after.

[falkster]

Quick search of eBay and there are atleast 32 Saab 9-5 under £500 - there's a 55 plate needing a little tlc with 23 hours to go within budget.

[HeatonNorris]

mjb1 said:

A bit of a wild suggestion here, but unless you need to get adults in the back - how about a toyota celica? Should get a ST202 model for that money. Go for the 2.0 over the 1.8. You can fold down the rear seats and they will carry a lot of cargo. They are pretty bombproof if they have been reasonably well looked after.

What an utterly ridiculous suggestion for someone who makes trips to a cash and carry!

[Harding91]

I picked up a 306 1.9 Diesel for £200 with 12 months MOT and 4 months tax, 87K On the clock, bodywork is wk but who cares Its cheap!

they're around just a case of finding them

[PH lurker]

No suggestions in particular, but have a browse on autotrader, lots of estates and hatchbacks:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Loads of estates around.

[PH lurker]

I think out of my bunch ^^^ I like the cracked bumper Mondeo estate ( http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012... ) best, especially as it's a Ghia.

[busso]

falkster said:

I bought my best mate a '00 Saab 95 for £435 and it is sweet! He's now had it over a year, not missed a beat and it looks as good as an 05!
eBay is your friend!!

I've seen a saab 900 se 2.0 turbo on an r plate within budget but worried about the insurance as its group 16. Love saabs, mainly due to the dash layout and the turbo engines, I have seen a 9-5 but would struggle with that as its a saloon, now a 9-3 on the other hand .....

[busso]

mjb1 said:

A bit of a wild suggestion here, but unless you need to get adults in the back - how about a toyota celica? Should get a ST202 model for that money. Go for the 2.0 over the 1.8. You can fold down the rear seats and they will carry a lot of cargo. They are pretty bombproof if they have been reasonably well looked after.

Had one about 2 years ago it was the 2.0 96, one of the best built cars I have owned and although the boot it larger than u think its still not big enough .

[busso]

PH lurker said:

I think out of my bunch ^^^ I like the cracked bumper Mondeo estate ( http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012... ) best, especially as it's a Ghia.

That is perfect just one problem though which I should of mentioned, I'm based in stourbridge dy8, so limited really to about 20 miles with the amount I'm paying unless its a recommended car from someone off here.

[busso]

PH lurker said:

No suggestions in particular, but have a browse on autotrader, lots of estates and hatchbacks:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Loads of estates around.

Thanks, I like the focus estate where abouts is that one?

[falkster]

busso said:

I've seen a saab 900 se 2.0 turbo on an r plate within budget but worried about the insurance as its group 16. Love saabs, mainly due to the dash layout and the turbo engines, I have seen a 9-5 but would struggle with that as its a saloon, now a 9-3 on the other hand .....

My mates is a 9-5 estate, we found they were going for less than saloons. I bet you'll be surprised how cheap you could insure one for?

[Davie]

Volvo 850 or V70 T5... with Nivomat rear suspension.

Job Done. Quickly.

[Pontoneer]

All Mercedes estates have self levelling suspension and , never mind what the handbook says , it will sit level with a ton in the back .

For your budget you will get an unloved but useable W124 or a rusty W210 .

[Tuvra]

I bought a Saab 9-5 SE estate for £480. Fully loaded (leather, cruise, climate, cd, heated front and rear seats etc), full service history, needed front and tear bushes (£20), two new tyres (£70) and a bit of welding on the exhaust and it flew through its MOT.

Unbelievable amount of car for the money...

[jackthelad1984]

A vauxhall omega estate should easily carry as much as a kangoo with the seats down, comfortable and cheap!

[dharte]

A Citroen Berlingo would be perfect but the only ones around seem to be £800+, even the Fiat Doblo isn't much cheaper sadly.

However, you mentioned good suspension, so what about a Citroen Xantia estate? There's one on autotrader for £250!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...