£3000 estate cars?

[real4star]

Starting my own business (working on boats anti-fouling, anodes, gel coat repairs etc etc)

I was going to run a car (Alfa 156 2.0 twinspark snotter) for daily driver and a van for work, but when we move in January we won't have room for Dads 2x Series Land Rovers, a Transit and a car on the new 3 car driveway.

Something's got to go, I don't want to run a van as a daily driver, so I figured an estate would be a good compromise...

I need;

• reliable
• room for 2x, 36"x16" tool boxes, a hose reel and a pressure washer
• 30+ mpg
• reasonable handling
• less than 12 years old
• £3K max

It also needs to have an air of quality about it (appearance and a good first impression counts)

NO VECTRAS

[w1bbles]

Ignore point 3 and get a Saab 9-5 Aero estate...

[HustleRussell]

Mondeos and Octavias/Passats/A4s. Mondeo is a surprisingly good drive for what it is (shame the TDCI engine is so complicated!). The Citroen C5 and the Peugeot 406 are good cars too, with the HDI engines.

[HustleRussell]

w1bbles said:

Ignore point 3 and get a Saab 9-5 Aero estate...

I may be wrong but doesn't this fall foul of the 'not a Vectra' requirement too?

[nick heppinstall]

Something like this :

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

[The_Burg]

Volvo V70 D5?
Mondeo in with a chance, better drive but way down on power compared to the Volvo.
Alfa 156? Not the most reliable but in 2.4 diesel form handle well and cheap on fuel.

[fat freddie]

The Saab can do 30mpg if you need it to. They're not bad for juice when cruising although booting the 250bhp ones ups the ante quite a bit....Or how about a Volvo V70?
Both of these cars are available with tractor engines if you feel the need for 40mpg rather than 30.

[V8Wagon]

Yep they are available as a diesel but my money would go on a 2.0 petrol.....economical and so so so reliable!

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




Could be haggled down to £2k...

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

[billzeebub]

Legacy or Saab 9-5

[HustleRussell]

Actually, fibreglass is messy and it bloody stinks. Aren't you better off with a small car-derived van with a full bulkhead?

[deltashad]

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


40 mpg, quick, comfortable and a tow bar (2004). 530d touring.
£2500

[V8Wagon]

deltashad said:

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


40 mpg, quick, comfortable and a tow bar (2004). 530d touring.
£2500

"It also needs to have an air of quality about it (appearance and a good first impression counts)"

[deltashad]

Also in sport trim and Imola Red mmm....

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

[4key]

Ignore 3+5 and you can have my S4 off of me, about time I bought something more mental anyway

[HorneyMX5]

In budget, does 45 mpg+ all day long, split tailgate is useful, looks smart, bmw engine with no cambelt to worry about.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-MG-MGF-ZT-T-2-0-CDT...

[Bonefish Blues]

As the owner of a 9-5 Aero, an Accord Estate.

[Fleckers]

HorneyMX5 said:

In budget, does 45 mpg+ all day long, split tailgate is useful, looks smart, bmw engine with no cambelt to worry about.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-MG-MGF-ZT-T-2-0-CDT...

good call, I was going to suggest the Rover 75-T

[V8Wagon]

Bonefish Blues said:

As the owner of a 9-5 Aero, an Accord Estate.

Do tell?????



Rover I am sure is a nice motor but is it just me or doesn't it just look 'old'?

[Seeker UK]

V8Wagon said:

Bonefish Blues said:

As the owner of a 9-5 Aero, an Accord Estate.

Do tell?????

The Accord will be far better screwed together.

[V8Wagon]

Seeker UK said:

The Accord will be far better screwed together.

Oh yeh...I've got a 2004 2.4 Accord and I can honestly say it drives like a brand new car. Mine is a black estate and my neighbours have a nigh on brand new Audi A4 estate in black and a C class Merc in black and I honestly cannot see what their multi-thousand pound purchases are giving them that my £4k Honda couldn't.