Largest most economical petrol estate for shed money?

[goldar]

I live in South London and I need a new car for work and general running around. It won't be used every day, and I'd like to keep cost down.

My choice would be a large estate that is economical. Diesel is out of the question as then I'd have to waste money on something 2015+. Can this be achieved for £5k?

[Fastdruid]

Mk4 Mondeo 1.6T?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303205...

Utterly massive, should be high 40's, maybe even as high as 50mpg on a run.

[goldar]

Not a bad shout. I've been looking at various options but choice seems somewhat limited these days.

[Nexus Icon]

But £5,000 for a 12 year old,1.6 litre car with nearly 100,000 miles on it? Back in the day that would be ready for scrapping, not worth 5 grand. How do people afford to get about nowadays?

[sjc]

These things would do you fine...
https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Rover-75-To...


https://www.motors.co.uk/car-66065249/?au_advert_i...

Or a 19K miler
https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Rover-75-To...

Or the MG version

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1417310


It's worked perfectly for me, had three of them over 14 years for exactly what you descirbe.

[kiethton]

Laguna

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125853711851?hash=item1...

Vectra

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275774096237?hash=item4...


Or a mondeo....

[Bannock]

Passat 1.4 TSI just about in budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304025...

Also Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304035...

[TikTak]

An old Volvo if you need the space.

If the MPG is more of the issue than space, get a petrol MK5/6 Golf and fold the seats down.

Edited by TikTak on Monday 3rd April 14:34

[goldar]

sjc said:

These things would do you fine...
https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Rover-75-To...


https://www.motors.co.uk/car-66065249/?au_advert_i...

Or a 19K miler
https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Rover-75-To...

Or the MG version

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1417310


It's worked perfectly for me, had three of them over 14 years for exactly what you descirbe.

Are those even ulez compliant? May as well pick up something a lot newer for not a lot more.

[goldar]

A Kia c'eed for example:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...

Are these any good? How does it compare in space against a golf estate?

[Fastdruid]

goldar said:

sjc said:

These things would do you fine...
https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Rover-75-To...


https://www.motors.co.uk/car-66065249/?au_advert_i...

Or a 19K miler
https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Used-Rover-75-To...

Or the MG version

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1417310


It's worked perfectly for me, had three of them over 14 years for exactly what you descirbe.

Are those even ulez compliant? May as well pick up something a lot newer for not a lot more.

No to the first three. The MG is.

Not very good on mpg mind.

[ChocolateFrog]

I read the title as Largest engined petrol estate for shed money and now I'm disappointed.

[goldar]

It would seem that this is an almost impossible task. I'll have to buy something 2015 and just suck it up. Used car values look to be holding so not a problem.

[Fastdruid]

Nexus Icon said:

But £5,000 for a 12 year old,1.6 litre car with nearly 100,000 miles on it? Back in the day that would be ready for scrapping, not worth 5 grand. How do people afford to get about nowadays?

I'm 100% with you. Unfortunately while car prices have come down they're still (IMO) ridiculous and I'm glad it's the OP looking for a car not me!

I mean for context 10 years ago I paid £6500 for a 5 year old, 60k top of the range Mondeo from a main Ford dealers... accounting for inflation that would be £8500 now but the nearest equivalent these days is 10k more at £18500! The very cheapest of the same age/mileage (ie ignoring engine or spec) is £12k!

[Fastdruid]

goldar said:

A Kia c'eed for example:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...

Are these any good? How does it compare in space against a golf estate?

It's a diesel and not ulez compliant!

All kind of depends on if you want just boot space or rear leg room as well. SEAT Leon, Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia Estate provide more legroom.

Also, I thought you wanted the *largest*! I think there the Insignia is larger than the Mondeo.


Although there, part of the difference is that the VAG cars have a variable height boot floor, and I'm not 100% if it includes the storage under the floor as well. The Mondeo here for example has a foam insert under the boot which while it can be used for storage (I have snow socks, jumper cables etc) isn't as convenient or practical to use as the Golf (and I'm 100% sure isn't included in the calculation). That storage space could be useful to you but equally might be of no bloody use if you want it to take a wardrobe for example!

Mondeo


Mk7 Golf (R so probably a bit less than a non-R)


I did find this which may help if you are looking for largest. https://www.automobiledimension.com/estate-cars.ph...

Ultimately however I recommend you go look at some cars as some Estates are massively more practical than others.

[Bannock]

goldar said:

It would seem that this is an almost impossible task. I'll have to buy something 2015 and just suck it up. Used car values look to be holding so not a problem.

Did you see my link to the Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI? One of the biggest estate cars on the market, and a petrol engine rated at 40mpg combined. Sure that's got to be worth considering? Those things have more room in them than a Volvo V70 or Merc E Class. Or the Passat with the same engine?

if you didn't really mean biggest and will consider Golf/Ceed sized things, well that opens the field enormously.

[Domski86]

The older 1.4t vag engine has known issues with timing chains. I would avoid any small petrol turbo vw engine pre-2014.

[Bannock]

Well, that wasn't the OP's original question. Any older car at or below £5k is subject to increased maintenance issues and breakdown risk, over newer, more expensive cars.

[Domski86]

Bannock said:

Well, that wasn't the OP's original question. Any older car at or below £5k is subject to increased maintenance issues and breakdown risk, over newer, more expensive cars.

No it wasn't but I'm advising he avoid older petrol vag cars as they're known to be particularly unreliable.

Think the seat leon estate came with the later belt driven engines (ea211). You might be able to find a higher mileage 64-15 plate leon estate for around £5k.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303245...

Not quite skoda superb/passat sized but pretty sizable boot.

Edited by Domski86 on Monday 3rd April 16:40

[sunnyb13]

cost of living crisis