BIG Estate - £900 - Any engine

[radiodanno]

I can ignore it no longer. We need a bigger car for weekends when all 5 of us are on day trips/family duties etc.

Also, as a devout 'shedder', I've come to realise it's wiser to have two cars than one, especially when the one you depend on is 15 years old. Whilst it's never let me down, there will of course be a morning when it won't start or needs to be off the road for a week for remedial works. Plus - the garden is one acre and the council want paying for a second wheely bin! So something that'll swallow tip loads is a must.

I've moved away from W124s as, frankly, at this sort of money you can get more car for your dollar. I've found a lovely Volvo 960, a 940 I quite fancy and one or two 850s but for some reason they don't turn me on as much.

Anything else I ought to consider. Really not into MPVs etc.

Thanks. Any experiences welcome.

[g3org3y]

If space is a priority, perhaps a Merc W210 Estate might fit the bill?

(Assuming it hasn't rusted into oblivion first)

[jagnet]

I'll start to sound repetitive with this answer, but a Saab 9-5 would fit your requirements nicely. At that price even the Aero version is within reach.

[MrC986]

In your budget you should find, if you look carefully, phase 2 Volvo V70s & also Saab 9-5 estates....it just depends what you really want from it. You will get a newer Saab for your money than the Volvo & each are very different. I owned a 2001 V70 2.4T for nearly 4 yrs running it until 190k ish miles & have replaced it with a 2.2 tid Saab 9-5 estate that has just passed 130k miles with me putting 28k on in the last 11 months. I'd definitely another Saab again (though an aero if doing less miles) & replaced the V70 with an S60 D5.

[radiodanno]

How big is the 9-5 in the back compared with a massive great Ovlov? Width is as important as legroom as we have two in car seats atm, and my eldest gets squashed in the middle!

[Strawman]

Audi A6, BMW 5 touring (might be rough at this price point), Skoda Octavia, Passat, Jaguar x Type are almost there
e.g. http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/jagu...
Mondeo etc.

[jagnet]

radiodanno said:

How big is the 9-5 in the back compared with a massive great Ovlov? Width is as important as legroom as we have two in car seats atm, and my eldest gets squashed in the middle!

~144cm doorcard to doorcard across the rear (not including handle recesses). 3 point belt on the middle seat as well. I've had two child seats and an adult in the back without problem.

[Jasandjules]

I'd say an old Passat diesel then. They are rather large - need to be to fit our dogs.

[d3llams]

I don't know whether this will be big enough for you,
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

or this Volvo V70
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[radiodanno]

I had a Rover 75 before, and they're genuinely lovely cars. (Don't believe everything a bloke told you once in a pub - they take a little looking after but reward you for doing so).

Their shortcoming in the cabin is in the back. They're cramped. Sadly, as I'd love a 2.5 Conni otherwise.

V70s also in the running.

[James_N]

You won't get a bigger estate than a Volvo 940! Get one easily with lots of change from £900

[mighty kitten]

i picked up an 03 omega 3.2 with 75k on it and all the toys for £900.stuck a belt and water pump on it and had no issues for the last couple of years . only downside is its auto and struggles to get 30mpg but good for wafting . the obvious choices are likely to be well worn for the money you want to spend

[rswift]

You'll get a choice of Citroen C5's for that price. We have a 2.2 diesel, all toys leather etc . Cost a grand 2 years ago. Probably spent £300 on it since, very comfortable, very large, very unfashionable.

[Jurassic pork]

Where about's are you? I've got a V70 2.5 10V SE auto which may fit the bill.

[radiodanno]

Home in Cambridgeshire, work is Herts/Middx border. Also work in MK.

[Jurassic pork]

I've sent you an email.

Cheers.

[Motorrad]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Quite frankly, it would be rude not too:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/162530/volv...

You aren't going to do better than this in my opinion. 750 quid without the fancy wheels for an indestructible big estate with character.

[radiodanno]

Sadly, it's 375 miles away so I'd be buying totally blind from an advert produced by a professional photographer who, by the looks of things, earns a living out of making cars look good!

I haven't ruled it out, but if I get there and I'm not happy a days wages and a return train fare (as a self employed man) will be hard to stomach, especially at this end of the market.

[Axionknight]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Quite frankly, it would be rude not too:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/162530/volv...

Man that looks good, I'm guessing those are the Volan alloys from an 850R?

[pti]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Quite frankly, it would be rude not too:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/162530/volv...

I want this so bad.