New car advice. Petrol estate£1k. Volvo?

[Slinky1989]

Well, I've been running an MX5 as a daily and only car for almost 3 years now, and things are now going to change in my life since I have my first child on the way and I'm moving up to the midlands for a new job soon.

So, as sad as it is, the MX5 has to go, and since I've liked the idea of an estate, now is as good a time as any to get one..

My first thought for it's replacement was toward Volvos. Either an 850 or a V70 of some kind since I also have a dog and will need to carry lots of stuff for the kid.

However, apart from the T5 and R models (which I would love but can't justify because of their taste for front tyres and fuel [although I can deal with same fuel consumption as my MX5 25-30mpg]), I know nothing about the engines available, but I don't want a diesel as I won't be doing enough miles to justify it.

I only have a small budget of about £1000 as I'm planning on using it as a stop gap until I've been in the new job for a few months and saved up a bit more cash, so again, the volvos seem to be the one to go for.

I've seen lots with high milage (>180K miles) and although I know they can go on for 200K+ I'm still nervous about anything over 150k. Anything in particular to look out for?

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions for a low budget, reliable (within reason, I'm fairly good mechanically so not too bothered about minor things going) child lugger, I'm all ears!

Thanks

p.s. I'll be doing around 8000 miles a year. Anyone who has any man maths that will justify a T5 let me know haha.

[bigtomski]

There's a great looking and what looks like a well cared for Saab 9-5 aero estate in the best of the bargain basement thread.
It's up for £900. Think it's a car that was owned by a pistonheader as well.

[Evo]

Only one car I'd look at for 1k and that's a volvo 850 estate.

[GravelBen]

Slinky1989 said:

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions for a low budget, reliable (within reason, I'm fairly good mechanically so not too bothered about minor things going) child lugger, I'm all ears!

Subaru

(I don't know anything much about Volvos to give a comparison though)

[bigtomski]

Sorry, just noticed the Saab is on 199,000 miles.
11 months mot though and bet you can get it for less than £900.
I have a 2002 aero saloon which is on 106,000 miles and it feels almost brand new.
Great cars IMO.

[Slinky1989]

bigtomski said:

Sorry, just noticed the Saab is on 199,000 miles.
11 months mot though and bet you can get it for less than £900.
I have a 2002 aero saloon which is on 106,000 miles and it feels almost brand new.
Great cars IMO.

Good suggestion, one of my mates had an older style aero and I liked that a lot. Got a link to it though? Just had a look through several pages of the thread and couldn't find it.

GravelBen said:

Legacy

(I don't know anything much about Volvos to give a comparison though)

Seen a lot of these in budget, but don't know much about them. Anything to look out for?

[bigtomski]

Page 320. It's a Gumtree ad.

[GravelBen]

Just usual car stuff, by and large they're very reliable. Autos are slower and thirstier, turbos are faster and thirstier, the 2.5 engines had a few headgasket issues from 97-98 but newer ones are fine. Cambelt change is the biggest service cost, due every 60k miles.

[Slinky1989]

Ah, I have manly post number settings so the last page for me is page 80. Hold on I'll go find it

Edit: Found it! Looks lovely that, shame it's a bit of a trek away though (I'm in swindon and it's in Edinburgh), but I suppose no trip is too long for the right car.

Edited by Slinky1989 on Saturday 23 March 00:49

[Somewhatfoolish]

Hell get a V6 or turbo 740 or its derivatives (940, v90) and it will cost you almost nothing, which you can put the money saved towards the extra fuel. I have a perverted love for them and have owned four, including two which I literally bought when having no car while living in London for a couple of journeys. Rear wheel drive too! Cartwheel suspension though...

The weirdest thing is they are the easiest car to park I have ever driven. Sure they are big but they have a super tight turning circle and they are wonderfully square.

A massively underrated classic.

Edit: get the automatic and you can combine the relatively respectable power (for a car whose design dates back to mid 80s) with the ridiculously springy suspension and long wheelbase by performing a trick at traffic lights and so on... Basically when stationary release brake, wait until walking speed, mash brake, repeat. You can look like an American rapper as the car bounces up and down.

Edited by Somewhatfoolish on Saturday 23 March 01:04

[bigtomski]

Slinky1989 said:

Ah, I have manly post number settings so the last page for me is page 80. Hold on I'll go find it

Edit: Found it! Looks lovely that, shame it's a bit of a trek away though (I'm in swindon and it's in Edinburgh), but I suppose no trip is too long for the right car.

Edited by Slinky1989 on Saturday 23 March 00:49

Drive it back from Edinburgh and drop in to saabnoob in Nottingham for a stage 1 remap!
(saabnoob aka Karl on the uksaabs website. An absolute legend)