A what car.... Need options
Discussion
Need to choose a new car for work. It won't be brand new.
My criteria - worth the same as an 08 Octavia VRS (£5 - £6k)
4 wheel drive - must be capable of occasionally handling muddy, rutty and overgrown tracks. Extreme off roading not likely.
Economical - particularly on the motorway. Diesel.
Comfortable.
Ideally automatic, but I'll go manual rather than get stuck with a 4 speed auto.
Have cruise/Air Con
Be good for 40k a year without stupid bills (some bills are expected!).
I'm struggling to come up with much - so any idea's gratefully received.
My criteria - worth the same as an 08 Octavia VRS (£5 - £6k)
4 wheel drive - must be capable of occasionally handling muddy, rutty and overgrown tracks. Extreme off roading not likely.
Economical - particularly on the motorway. Diesel.
Comfortable.
Ideally automatic, but I'll go manual rather than get stuck with a 4 speed auto.
Have cruise/Air Con
Be good for 40k a year without stupid bills (some bills are expected!).
I'm struggling to come up with much - so any idea's gratefully received.
Seems to meet all requirements; V6 TDI lump is a reliable one AFAIK and SE spec not S Line will be more comfy, coupled with Torsen full-time 4WD, Bose audio, leather and a multitronic box i think it's hard to beat. Relatively low mileage too
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
4WD and 40,000 miles a year? That's one hell of a big farm!
With your listed criteria you'll be massively better off if you can drop the 4WD requirement - it's amazing what a 2WD car can actually do and a 4WD will never achieve a great deal on road tyres in any event. The rest of it just cries out for a diesel estate from Germany or Japan.
With your listed criteria you'll be massively better off if you can drop the 4WD requirement - it's amazing what a 2WD car can actually do and a 4WD will never achieve a great deal on road tyres in any event. The rest of it just cries out for a diesel estate from Germany or Japan.
My work can and does take me anywhere in England, Wales or if I drive Ireland. This week so far (and I'm not going on the road again!) I've been to Brecon, Reading, Daventry, Basingstoke, Ipswich and Boston.
I took that family Range Rover as I can't drive the Octavia for a day and walk at the end of it. The 4wd came in useful in Brecon (a farm). A two wheel drive would have done it, but not in Winter with mud. Can't use the Range Rover every time as I'd destroy it.
Daventry I drove up a mile long track. No normal height car would have made it - and would have added at least 40 minutes onto my day... Assuming I get the right track first time. Needed height on this one. 2wd would not have cut it in the cooler seasons.
It's the 4 wheel drive requirement that is causing me pain. I don't really like jap cars, although I'm going to have to compromise somewhere.
Am wondering about XC90, Tourag or even old shape Discovery. Have also considered x-Trail, Freelander (don't really like 1st generation though).
The economy is important, but not as important as being comfortable. Speed is less important nowadays, although the opportunity would be nice.
I took that family Range Rover as I can't drive the Octavia for a day and walk at the end of it. The 4wd came in useful in Brecon (a farm). A two wheel drive would have done it, but not in Winter with mud. Can't use the Range Rover every time as I'd destroy it.
Daventry I drove up a mile long track. No normal height car would have made it - and would have added at least 40 minutes onto my day... Assuming I get the right track first time. Needed height on this one. 2wd would not have cut it in the cooler seasons.
It's the 4 wheel drive requirement that is causing me pain. I don't really like jap cars, although I'm going to have to compromise somewhere.
Am wondering about XC90, Tourag or even old shape Discovery. Have also considered x-Trail, Freelander (don't really like 1st generation though).
The economy is important, but not as important as being comfortable. Speed is less important nowadays, although the opportunity would be nice.
If you don't need the interior space / ground clearance of a 4x4, I would avoid one - especially if you are looking for economy on the motorway + 40,000 miles p/a.
I'd look at 4WD estate car. Audi A4 Avant quattro 1.9tdi manual - if you can find one. Or an Audi Allroad / Volvo XC70.
eta, sorry, missed your round clearance requirement. Would a raised Audi Allroad cope?
I'd look at 4WD estate car. Audi A4 Avant quattro 1.9tdi manual - if you can find one. Or an Audi Allroad / Volvo XC70.
eta, sorry, missed your round clearance requirement. Would a raised Audi Allroad cope?
Edited by Matt UK on Wednesday 10th September 18:41
I ran an 04 Disco TD5 as a company car for 2 years and put the thick end of 100k on it in that time. It was superbly comfortable after many hours in the drivers seat, and provided you didn't leave the roofbox on, or go over 70, economy was adequate. It was on a low loader more than once though...
If LR reliability worried you, then my alternatives would be an X-Trail, XC90, Toerag, A6 All-Road, or an X5.
If LR reliability worried you, then my alternatives would be an X-Trail, XC90, Toerag, A6 All-Road, or an X5.
Thanks Jep. X5 is out. Had one and hated the sports suspension. Also on my s
t list is anything Skoda - The current Octavia leaves me unable to walk, and barely able to press the brake at the end of a long day due to the angle of my ankle. Never known it before.
Not sure whether an all-road will be tall enough.
It's looking increasingly to be either Toerag or XC90. XC90 is I think more economical, not sure about reliable.
t list is anything Skoda - The current Octavia leaves me unable to walk, and barely able to press the brake at the end of a long day due to the angle of my ankle. Never known it before.Not sure whether an all-road will be tall enough.
It's looking increasingly to be either Toerag or XC90. XC90 is I think more economical, not sure about reliable.
We have an agronomist that come to the farm at work to walk the crops and give chemical recommendations. Obviously this involves driving to farms then to fields and down farm tracks. He is clearly a man that needs a big rufty tufty off roader which is why his last car was a 2wd A4 diesel and has just swapped that for a BMW X1 which he refers to as a tarts car.
Speaking as someone that was brought up on a dairy farm, I'd put most of my pension on my Jazz getting up a farm track in Brecon.
Speaking as someone that was brought up on a dairy farm, I'd put most of my pension on my Jazz getting up a farm track in Brecon.
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