Another what car!

[D1bram]

Hi, recently did a 'what car' for a 2 seat sports car, went with a Mk3 MR2 in the end, which is great!

However, I've just stuck my notice in at work, and my company Golf is going.

In the new job I am taking an allowance, so want to buy another car (any excuse!).

Aside from the MR2 we have a jag x-type estate, that will be our main car, and I will use that when I need something respectable for work.

SO, the new car...

Decided on £1500 max, for a car to get us through the winter (X-type is crap in the snow, and can't imagine MR2 being much better).

The new car therefore must be a decent allrounder, capable of carrying the wife and the dog upto see to her horse when the weather turns bad.

Respectable looking (no chav wagons!).

Fun, not necessarily mega fast, but fun and interesting.

Reasonable to insure, we live in a high risk postcode, and we are already paying £1100 a year in car insurance.

Some thoughts at the moment are Saab 9-3, Mk1 focus, or something a bit retro; XR4x4?

But running out of ideas really.

Help!

[Papa Hotel]

mk1 Focus was the first thing came to my mind.

Cheap, cheap, cheap, should be able to get a nice reliable one for that money.

[D1bram]

Papa Hotel said:

mk1 Focus was the first thing came to my mind.

Cheap, cheap, cheap, should be able to get a nice reliable one for that money.

Years since I've driven one, but handle nicely too iirc.

2.0 the best engine to go for? Zetec offering any handling advantage of say a Ghia?

[Bonefish Blues]

Set of winter tyres for the X Type come Oct and save a grand?

[D1bram]

Bonefish Blues said:

Set of winter tyres for the X Type come Oct and save a grand?

Probably do that too.

But really we don't want to use the MR2 as an everyday car and we need a car each for work. Plus I'm sick of the X-type ending up thick in mud!

[Bonefish Blues]

D1bram said:

Bonefish Blues said:

Set of winter tyres for the X Type come Oct and save a grand?

Probably do that too.

But really we don't want to use the MR2 as an everyday car and we need a car each for work. Plus I'm sick of the X-type ending up thick in mud!

Plenty of Legacys for around the grand mark?

[D1bram]

Quite like the lagacy actually.

AWD would be awesome, shame the diesel X-type wasn't availble with it.

[Twincharged]

I saw your ad and instantly thought of Land Rovers. No Defenders in the PH classifieds at that price, but there are these two:

Bit over budget (probably find a classic for the same money):

Or one of these- probably possible to find one with Quattro:

[Twincharged]

In addition to the adove, as an alternative to the Legacy a Forester might be worth a look.

[cat220]

You could get a decent V70 AWD for that money. Ours was brilliant through all the snow and ice last year, plenty of room for the dog and the 2.5lpt goes pretty well too.

[Twincharged]

You could go leftfield and get a BMW iX- the 4wd models.
There's an E34 525iX touring in the classifieds; not a brilliant advert but may be a decent car (and only 1/3 budget!): http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1981345.htm.