Sub £5k reliable 5-seater

[Gruber]

Not a very PH one this, but I'd welcome thoughts, please, on a dependable family runabout.

Essentials:

No more than £5k
Reliable - both in terms of major mechanical stuff and niggly nonsense
Sits 5 in sufficient comfort for a 2-hour journey
Enough room in the boot for a couple of big suitcases
Not too heavy*
Not too powerful (circa 120-170bhp, say)*

Nice to have but not essential:

A bit of extra ground clearance
4wd

Not bothered about:

MPG
Badge prestige
0-60 times
Fuel
Transmission

• The power and weight thing are important because, where we live, road tax is based on multipliers of weight and power.

[blueg33]

Subaru Outback?

Fuel costs a bit high though and if its 3 adults in the back it is a squash

Volvo v70 of some flavour?

[Gruber]

blueg33 said:

Subaru Outback?

Fuel costs a bit high though and if its 3 adults in the back it is a squash

Volvo v70 of some flavour?

Not so concerned about fuel costs. It's only going to be doing 6-8k miles p.a. so the difference between (say) 25mpg and 35mpg isn't all that material.

Cost of upkeep is the bigger factor, given labour rates out here. Do you know much about reliability of the Scooby or Volvo? I quite fancy a V70 actually...

[Defconluke]

Octavia Scout - LINK

Most are diesels but some petrol ones out there too and space in the back is alright for 3 people.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Mondeo (I know it's not 4x4) it's a good car with lots of space & kit.

2.3 Titanium X

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2.5T Titanium X

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[blueg33]

Gruber said:

blueg33 said:

Subaru Outback?

Fuel costs a bit high though and if its 3 adults in the back it is a squash

Volvo v70 of some flavour?

Not so concerned about fuel costs. It's only going to be doing 6-8k miles p.a. so the difference between (say) 25mpg and 35mpg isn't all that material.

Cost of upkeep is the bigger factor, given labour rates out here. Do you know much about reliability of the Scooby or Volvo? I quite fancy a V70 actually...

We had an Outback it was quite pricey in parts and had a good appetite for suspension bushes.

I reckon V70 is better call. I had one new in 2005, it was very comfy

[Gruber]

Thanks for the suggestions! V70 is my favourite of the suggestions so far.

[DSLiverpool]

Ive had an outback and a XC70 the last 2 winters, the Volvo had every known issue happen (gearbox, steering rack and belt) the outback was 2 drop links - next winter its an outback again.

[Gruber]

DSLiverpool said:

Ive had an outback and a XC70 the last 2 winters, the Volvo had every known issue happen (gearbox, steering rack and belt) the outback was 2 drop links - next winter its an outback again.

The Volvo "known issues"... are these XC-specific or are they known issues with the fwd V70s too?

[DSLiverpool]

Gruber said:

The Volvo "known issues"... are these XC-specific or are they known issues with the fwd V70s too?

XC has a chocolate 4wd diff on top of those common V70 things.