Budget economical automatic estate with heated seats...
Discussion
I'm, as always, probably after the impossible.
As per the title I am looking for an estate or large hatchback. It needs to be automatic, fuel efficient and have heated seats and hopefully just last me a couple of years or so. Oh and the budget is just £2k...
Top options are the Volvo V50 1.6 diesel estate, VW golf estate 1.6 diesel (although it does sound infuriatingly sluggish so might have to look at the 2L).
I have had multiple BMW's over the years and if I can find a 3 series that meets the brief then that's a possibility.
I'm just coming out of a W203 Mercedes and don't think I want to go down the C class route again so soon.
The Skoda Superb is in the running as it's a large hatchback that might be big enough.
I can't find any Fords in budget and would have to be convinced to look at a Vauxhall as I didn't enjoy the Astra I had previously.
Have I missed any thing? I am well aware that at this budget I need to buy the condition of the car and not fixate on a particular model but I am just looking to broaden my search.
As per the title I am looking for an estate or large hatchback. It needs to be automatic, fuel efficient and have heated seats and hopefully just last me a couple of years or so. Oh and the budget is just £2k...
Top options are the Volvo V50 1.6 diesel estate, VW golf estate 1.6 diesel (although it does sound infuriatingly sluggish so might have to look at the 2L).
I have had multiple BMW's over the years and if I can find a 3 series that meets the brief then that's a possibility.
I'm just coming out of a W203 Mercedes and don't think I want to go down the C class route again so soon.
The Skoda Superb is in the running as it's a large hatchback that might be big enough.
I can't find any Fords in budget and would have to be convinced to look at a Vauxhall as I didn't enjoy the Astra I had previously.
Have I missed any thing? I am well aware that at this budget I need to buy the condition of the car and not fixate on a particular model but I am just looking to broaden my search.
My brother had a V50 edrive (base model I understand) for a while and whilst the alternator failed, it was totally reliable other than that. Very well built too with ice cold air con and decent stereo.
In fact thats why we eneded up with a V40 which weve had for 8 years and 53k miles. This again has been perfect other than a broken spring and split coolant hose.
These small Volvos are brilliant.
In fact thats why we eneded up with a V40 which weve had for 8 years and 53k miles. This again has been perfect other than a broken spring and split coolant hose.
These small Volvos are brilliant.
Did the V50 1.6D ever come with auto? I only drove a manual with that engine and you had to work it to get it to giddy up.
Had several V50, 2.0D manual, 2.0D auto powershift, and briefly a 2.4 Petrol geartronic.
First two went to starship miles without any problems, didn't have the 3rd for long as it was a fill in when changing to a Superb. By rights would have continued with Volvo and a V60 but in reality the systems on that, a forerunner of the ADAS stuff we get today, just weren't up to it and were actually dangerous imo, eg taking fright at situations that were clearly not dangerous and slamming the brakes hard on without warning.
Had several V50, 2.0D manual, 2.0D auto powershift, and briefly a 2.4 Petrol geartronic.
First two went to starship miles without any problems, didn't have the 3rd for long as it was a fill in when changing to a Superb. By rights would have continued with Volvo and a V60 but in reality the systems on that, a forerunner of the ADAS stuff we get today, just weren't up to it and were actually dangerous imo, eg taking fright at situations that were clearly not dangerous and slamming the brakes hard on without warning.
Thanks for all the replies, I've tried to answer the points raised below.
The heated seats (and the auto gearbox for that matter) are really essential to help with my dodgy back.
Sorry, I wrote V50 and should have written V60! There's one with the 1.6L diesel I am keen on, but it's a bit over budget.
I've had the Accord on my radar, all the ones I've looked at appear to have rust issues, but I do keep looking
I have always like the look of the Rover 75, they're probably a bit longer than I was thinking of (they're more a 5 series or E class size I think?) but I can't see any for sale at the moment (don't they rust quite a lot?)
Sadly almost the cars that look appealing are in some of the less salubrious areas that I swore I'd never by a car from, they're almost all dealers too and I've had much better luck buying privately in the past. I know, beggars can't be choosers!
The heated seats (and the auto gearbox for that matter) are really essential to help with my dodgy back.
Sorry, I wrote V50 and should have written V60! There's one with the 1.6L diesel I am keen on, but it's a bit over budget.
I've had the Accord on my radar, all the ones I've looked at appear to have rust issues, but I do keep looking
I have always like the look of the Rover 75, they're probably a bit longer than I was thinking of (they're more a 5 series or E class size I think?) but I can't see any for sale at the moment (don't they rust quite a lot?)
Sadly almost the cars that look appealing are in some of the less salubrious areas that I swore I'd never by a car from, they're almost all dealers too and I've had much better luck buying privately in the past. I know, beggars can't be choosers!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/227235140683
smaller than required but has heated seats, autobox and is under budget.
smaller than required but has heated seats, autobox and is under budget.
Oooh, I like that! Don't think my budget will stretch that far even with some negotation.
I know very little about them but I'll do some reading, I assume spares might be a bit trickier than some (although quite a few parts look familiar from BMWs) and fuel consumption might not quite match some, but it looks like a very comfy place and in a great colour too. I'll have a good think about that one.
This is the V60 I've been thinking about (also over budget...) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/327025573574
I know very little about them but I'll do some reading, I assume spares might be a bit trickier than some (although quite a few parts look familiar from BMWs) and fuel consumption might not quite match some, but it looks like a very comfy place and in a great colour too. I'll have a good think about that one.
This is the V60 I've been thinking about (also over budget...) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/327025573574
Thanks, the Insignia is a model I'd been curious about, rather over budget but it looks a nice one. I had an Astra that I didn't bond with, but guess there's no relation between the models.
The Laguna is a nice left field choice I hadn't thought about. The one within budget is rather tatty but the dearer one looks nice.
Here's the golf I have been thinking of:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603010...
Re Insignia, I needed to borrow something because I'd lent one of my V50's to a colleague who needed an estate with a low flat load space for a weekend job. What I got in return was an Insignia, and not an estate but a hatchback.
Bad planning on my part as I'd forgotten that weekend we were planning to go up to Sheffield to see daughter at uni and she had requested some stuff incl a fair sized Sainsbury's stock up shop, (sigh kids, Tesco was just down the road from her flat) and I was also taking the petrol lawn mower and other kit to tackle the wilderness of the lawns at dear mother in law's place in Rotherham.
The Insignia swallowed the lot with ease and whilst not an inspiring steer was a reasonable, comfortable and economical mile muncher.
Bad planning on my part as I'd forgotten that weekend we were planning to go up to Sheffield to see daughter at uni and she had requested some stuff incl a fair sized Sainsbury's stock up shop, (sigh kids, Tesco was just down the road from her flat) and I was also taking the petrol lawn mower and other kit to tackle the wilderness of the lawns at dear mother in law's place in Rotherham.
The Insignia swallowed the lot with ease and whilst not an inspiring steer was a reasonable, comfortable and economical mile muncher.
I've resigned myself that I just need some cheap transport for the short term, so any idea of having an engaging drive has gone out of the window. Thankfully I still have an MR2 for when I feel like it.
If I can find a nice Insignia within budget I will definitely have a look, they sound very promising.
If I can find a nice Insignia within budget I will definitely have a look, they sound very promising.
I've had an E61 5 series before, a rather under powered 2l petrol that had oil consumption issues... It wasn't a particularly cheap car to run, and the risk of suspension issues does bring me out in a cold sweat, but I have a thing for interiors that are not black or grey. So I'm rather attracted to this one...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603060...
I can't actually remember all the issues it had but it's one of the few cars I've sold through choice, so I suspect my memory is blocking it all out.
If it was a 3 series then I'd be seriously considering it (rather than semi seriously)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603060...
I can't actually remember all the issues it had but it's one of the few cars I've sold through choice, so I suspect my memory is blocking it all out.
If it was a 3 series then I'd be seriously considering it (rather than semi seriously)
Well the deed is done...
So, a bit of an update in case anyone's interested.
I suspect I like cars as much as the next person here, but the hours of scanning all the websites was getting depressing, there was just so little about that was honestly described.
In the end I went to see three cars.
An A4 Avant 2L TDI, I think it was a 2006. Actually a really nice car, bodywork was good and had clearly been well maintained until a few years ago and then just not used. It drove well but was overdue a lot of jobs including the cambelt, and I could foresee many big bills on the horizon. I was very impressed with the build quality.
An A3 Sportback 2L TDI. Totally misdescribed, and very dodgy, didn't bother with a test drive, there was no way I was going to buy it...
Volvo V50 D3, looked a third of its 200K+ miles, description was a little light on detail to say the least. Well overdue everything and I am confident it had a blocked DPF (I know they're known for it and the tell tale warning was on the dash) and I suspect a dual mass flywheel was due too. Surprising amount of go at low revs (I did wonder if it had a map on it) but then felt a bit strangled and jerky. Another car I suspect with bills greater than its purchase price due very soon.
I'm on my way to collect my new car by train, this one is sight unseen. I do like a gamble...
So, a bit of an update in case anyone's interested.
I suspect I like cars as much as the next person here, but the hours of scanning all the websites was getting depressing, there was just so little about that was honestly described.
In the end I went to see three cars.
An A4 Avant 2L TDI, I think it was a 2006. Actually a really nice car, bodywork was good and had clearly been well maintained until a few years ago and then just not used. It drove well but was overdue a lot of jobs including the cambelt, and I could foresee many big bills on the horizon. I was very impressed with the build quality.
An A3 Sportback 2L TDI. Totally misdescribed, and very dodgy, didn't bother with a test drive, there was no way I was going to buy it...
Volvo V50 D3, looked a third of its 200K+ miles, description was a little light on detail to say the least. Well overdue everything and I am confident it had a blocked DPF (I know they're known for it and the tell tale warning was on the dash) and I suspect a dual mass flywheel was due too. Surprising amount of go at low revs (I did wonder if it had a map on it) but then felt a bit strangled and jerky. Another car I suspect with bills greater than its purchase price due very soon.
I'm on my way to collect my new car by train, this one is sight unseen. I do like a gamble...
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