What Car/van/pickup truck?

[Willeh85]

Another what car type thread to add to the masses, I apologies I usually look myself but my brain isn't returning many results.

So I'm lucky enough to be in the process of buying my first house, this means my current car (a lease) has to go. Its a fixer-upper which means I'm going to be doing a lot of DIY and trips to the tip, DIY stores, and ultimately moving furniture and large items around. I'm also lucky in that I'll be able to walk to work each day and not have this as a daily drive. Unfortunately this vehicle is going to come with a limited budget of £1000 to leave cash for my home imrovements

I'll be keeping this one as my general run around for a year so please recommend me a vehicle based on:

• Will be used to go buy big things from DIY stores (doors, boxes of tiles, paints etc)
• Used for runs to and from the Tip
• Space for a couple of large sports kit bags
• MUST cost £1000 or less
• Number of seats doesn't matter
• Must be reliable for the times I do use it

Thanks for helping.

[vit4]

Mondeo Estate. I paid £500 for mine, scruffy but looked after and with 105k so not moon mileage They really are disposable money now. It's up for its MOT in the week after which I'll either sell it or break it depending on the outcome, and I already regret it - it's been fantastic and is bloody massive inside (think four or five adults plus all of the gear for a long weekend away with room to spare!). The very early diesels (normally labelled 2.0 TD in an advert rather than TDCI) are very tough but agricultural, the later ones can be a bit of a money pit. I have a 1.8 petrol, averages about 35mpg. Bit more on the motorway, bit less in town. The 2.0 supposedly has significantly extra poke for little-to-no penalty when it comes to fuel economy, and so if insurance isn't an issue I would definitely go for the 2.0 - there are times when mine has felt like it could do with some more grunt. All in all, great cars and if I ever need a cheap estate then I will definitely get another one The only thing that I've had to spend money on in about 8k miles is a blocked EGR valve, but even that wouldn't have been a hard job if I'd had the time.


I'm trying to persuade the gf that she wants it instead of her knackered Fiesta, but she isn't having it

Edited by vit4 on Sunday 19th January 11:09

[Willeh85]

Where abouts did you look for yours, was it a local paper or similar?

[soda]

Local gumtree sites a good choice for cheap motors.

I picked up my old Forester on there for £800, ran it for 18 months and got £500 back for it.

[Lefty]

Could you not just buy a trailer for your current car? They hold their value well, no road tax, trailer insurance is v cheap.

[Axionknight]

Volvo 850, acres of space.

[Willeh85]

Lefty said:

Could you not just buy a trailer for your current car? They hold their value well, no road tax, trailer insurance is v cheap.

I have thought about a trailer for that exact reason. Unfortunately my current car has to go as its on a lease and as its an outstanding debt it reduces the amount I can borrow on a mortgage.

[JimbobVFR]

Whatever you get double check the rules for the tip with your local council. Ours have started a permit scheme for Vans, pickups and Landrovers. There's also time restrictions on larger vans including transits.

How about a Berlingo or Peugeot Partner combi. Its basically a van with windows and rear seats. The seats could even be unbolted if you aren't using them.

[rowanxx]

Older VW caddy? Bomb proof, available in pickup or van form!