Cheap estate advice
Author
Discussion

FRA53R

Original Poster:

1,077 posts

197 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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Hi all,

I'm looking for a cheap estate to do home deliveries for my business (Convenience store) and to be around for general workhorse use. I hope to get a works van for this in the future but I don't want to get one before I can afford to do it properly (Sign written, etc)

So my criteria is that it's got to be tidy (No rusty heaps) cheap to run, able to hold large volumes of groceries, and be available for shed money.

My search has so far thrown up a nice looking '96 B4 1.9td Passat for £695 which would fit the bill. but I was wondering if anyone had other suggestions and or opinions on the VW.

Thanks in advance.

43034

2,971 posts

197 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
Saab 9-5. I had a 2.0t and it was fking massive inside!

Depending on your budget you could get a 250bhp Aero for just over a bag of sand.

FRA53R

Original Poster:

1,077 posts

197 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
Hmm.. interesting. what are the running costs on the SAAB? Have you had any problem sourcing parts etc?

otolith

68,748 posts

233 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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Parts don't seem to be an issue. Fuel economy on an Aero is going to be 26 - 40 miles per gallon depending how you use it - they are surprisingly economical driven gently, but still nowhere near a diesel.

43034

2,971 posts

197 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
FRA53R said:
Hmm.. interesting. what are the running costs on the SAAB? Have you had any problem sourcing parts etc?
Nothing went wrong in the 2 or so years I owned it at all. Was a W reg and on 96k when I got it, left on 105k.

I'm lucky to have a local Saab Specialist and there is nothing you can't get.
NeoBros (google them!) stock everything. A year or so back they went over Sweden and returned with 45 arctic lorries worth of brand new parts.

johnny fotze

394 posts

154 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
Home deliveries means stop/start, racking up the miles in lots of short bursts. That is not good for modern common rail, dpf,egr, lets throw the st back in, diesel engines. An older, pre common rail, hdi etc diesel is needed, the finest example being the xud engine, as fitted to circa pre 2000 French TD cars. I'd recommend a Peugeot 406 estate; it will NEVER let you down and can be bought with a weeks wages without overtime.

PimpmyHotwheels

365 posts

209 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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I think the price is might be out of your budge but something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-X-Audi-A6-Avant-1-9...

Condi

20,339 posts

200 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
306 2.0Hdi if you can find a cheap one. Bombproof, cheap to run.

Sold mine for £650 with 160k on the clock and it went cheap at that.

eltax91

10,756 posts

235 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
Honda accord petrol.

Huge inside. Will never break. None of this diesel nonsense.

If you like the passat, check out the Octavia. Golf chassis but with the 1.9 TDi engine its bombproof.the estate is ok but the hatch is massive! As it's a golf all the extra room is just in the boot over the rear wheels.

I used to ram mine full of all sorts of st.

LordFlathead

9,646 posts

287 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
johnny fotze said:
Home deliveries means stop/start, racking up the miles in lots of short bursts. That is not good for modern common rail, dpf,egr, lets throw the st back in, diesel engines. An older, pre common rail, hdi etc diesel is needed, the finest example being the xud engine, as fitted to circa pre 2000 French TD cars. I'd recommend a Peugeot 406 estate; it will NEVER let you down and can be bought with a weeks wages without overtime.
This. I have a Peugeot 306 XLDT for the commute. It sailed through its MOT today which made me happy. I gave £300 for it, and due to not starting it for 8 months it needed a battery. It returns about 50mpg, insurance is £300 and as it's a turbo it's quite nippy. I was going to bang it out but for what it owes me it's total banganomics.

The estate version normally goes for around a grand for a mint example, less for slightly tatty one. I would have a look and see if it fits your criteria smile

Edit: try this one for size smile

Zerotonine

1,171 posts

203 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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eltax91 said:
Honda accord petrol.

Huge inside. Will never break. None of this diesel nonsense.

If you like the passat, check out the Octavia. Golf chassis but with the 1.9 TDi engine its bombproof.the estate is ok but the hatch is massive! As it's a golf all the extra room is just in the boot over the rear wheels.

I used to ram mine full of all sorts of st.
+1 I have a Accord (hatchback though) and I reckon it would survive a nuke from orbit.

POORCARDEALER

8,663 posts

270 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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mercedes e class

anonymous-user

83 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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POORCARDEALER said:
mercedes e class
For under a grand? Would be nice if you like two tone. Half rust, half paint smile

POORCARDEALER

8,663 posts

270 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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St John Smythe said:
POORCARDEALER said:
mercedes e class
For under a grand? Would be nice if you like two tone. Half rust, half paint smile
the rust is free

FRA53R

Original Poster:

1,077 posts

197 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
Great suggestions guys! I was certainly thinking of pugs, the 306 for some reason hadn't figured so I'll give that consideration as I know the XUD is an epically reliable engine.

The E class would be great but the rust is an issue mainly because I don't want to turn up outside someones house with a rusty tatty looking car.

The SAAB is good but tbh modern diesel engines wouldn't cope with stop start and petrol would be a bit too expensive .

How big is a 306 estate? I would be running this as a second car for me which would mean semi-regular dog carrying duties and I've got a couple of golden retrievers.

The Passat appealed as it could be run on veg oil. Now I'm on a proper computer I can post the link to it:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Condi

20,339 posts

200 months

Friday 13th June 2014
quotequote all
FRA53R said:
How big is a 306 estate? I would be running this as a second car for me which would mean semi-regular dog carrying duties and I've got a couple of golden retrievers.
How big do you want it to be? With fold flat seats you can fit a standard fridge/freezer in comfortably, which is pretty big. The boot is flat so sliding things in and out is easy too.

Tbh it was a fantastic car, wish I hadnt sold it in some ways, but needed the cash. As a tip/dog/runabout it was great. The 2.0HDi is the engine to have, rather than the XUD. Its a 'modern' diesel, but without DPF or any crap like that. Also ran off a mix of diesel and veg oil quite well in about a 20/40 ratio.

mywifeshusband

605 posts

227 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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nagsheadwarrior

2,789 posts

208 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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I'd just go and buy that Passat, a rare car these days and it really should be pretty bombproof depreciation free motoring.


Condi

20,339 posts

200 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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Estates of that era are fun cheap motoring. For £700 you wont do much better.

cat220

2,762 posts

244 months

Friday 13th June 2014
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Amazed no one has mentioned a Volvo yet. v70 p1 or 850 estate is all the estate car you will ever need. No rust issues either.