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Old 10 Aug 2013, 23:43 (Ref:3288174)   #1
Distracted
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Distracted should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Which car for me?

So I need another estate car- I have a hot Megane right now and it's fun, but I need something bigger.

Must be:

-A proper estate car (none of those MPV jobbies)
-Nothing smaller than a 1.4 (petrol) engine. (I dislike sluggish cars)
-Handle well. Not a fan of cars that feel like barges to drive
-Comfy to drive long distances (I can do a lot miles some weeks!)
-Around 3k to buy. (I can't pay more than that right now.)

Any make is fine, though I do like Skodas. I love driving bigger cars so bring them on.

(Hope this is okay to post.)
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 09:20 (Ref:3288249)   #2
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This is probably better here in road car.
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 10:54 (Ref:3288269)   #3
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Thanks! I wasn't sure where to post it.
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 11:27 (Ref:3288277)   #4
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What country are you in, it could make a difference to your choice?
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 12:11 (Ref:3288295)   #5
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What country are you in, it could make a difference to your choice?
England.
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 12:12 (Ref:3288296)   #6
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how about?
- Rover 75 CDTi (or MG-ZTT)
- 5-series Beemer
- Skoda Octavia
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 18:56 (Ref:3288392)   #7
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Thanks! I've been looking for Octavias. Never even thought about a BMW. (Have a feeling they'd be out of my price range right now. Redundancy sucks.)
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Old 11 Aug 2013, 22:30 (Ref:3288574)   #8
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a quick ebay search finds over 100 BMW estates between £2000 and £3500.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 02:36 (Ref:3288618)   #9
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grantp should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridgrantp should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridgrantp should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
Saab Aero. 9-5 should be better than 9-3.

Would tick all the boxes, especially the seats for long distance stuff, unless you are looking for ultra-nimble sports car handling (although they are more capable than they at first feel, especially in sport mode if Auto, and a LOT more capable than they look!)

Only drawback might be getting insurance depending on your age. My recent policies have excluded cover for any drivers under 30 - but then they have not been expensive.

Somewhere around a 2002/2003 or maybe a 2004 should easily fit in the budget. Bought sensibly high looking mileages should not be a problem.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 07:11 (Ref:3288669)   #10
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Personally I would steer clear of Saabs, especially ones without service history that haven't had regular fully syn oil changes.
I use a Pug 406 HDI estate that gives over 50mpg with 100mph performance it's comfortable 100% reliable and they can be bought for peanuts, Don't buy any Peugeot that ends in a 7 !
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 08:07 (Ref:3288676)   #11
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Personally I would steer clear of Saabs, especially ones without service history that haven't had regular fully syn oil changes.
I use a Pug 406 HDI estate that gives over 50mpg with 100mph performance it's comfortable 100% reliable and they can be bought for peanuts, Don't buy any Peugeot that ends in a 7 !
I bought an 02 Saab 9-5 Vector Estate, for £2k, 2 years ago.

It needed a new battery because it had been sitting on the forecourt for a while. The passenger side leccy window switch needs replacing, one set of front tyres have been needed, but the Pirellis I put on are lasting very well (yes you read that right, who'd have thunk it!). Some oil hosing needed refreshing, and the headlamps have had to be replaced. It's a tadge thirsty being a Turbo'd 2.3 and like's oil. That's all the downsides. Oh the Onboard Computer display needed a refurb, a common fault but can be fixed for £50 with a lifetime warranty.

Upsides. I bought it because I tend to commute between 60 to 100 miles per day, and we have rellies that are a bit of a jaunt away. It munches motorway miles wonderfully. By far the best seats in any car I have driven. Handling is quite neutral, rarely showing any signs of under or oversteer even when pushed. Picks up speed nicely but the rozzers tend to ignore you. Inside, they are absolutely vast, haven't yet had a load that's beaten it (the missus works for an animal rescue charity which means I often get very large and unusual loads. Factory fit Stereo is excellent, I added a Parrot MKi9200 kit which has made it perfect. The thing that really love about it, is all the little features that Saab have just thought through so much better than anybody else seems to have done. Like the rear folding seats have an indicator button on them that lets you know if they are properly locked back in place or not. All the doors have a courtesy light on the bottom sill so you can see if you're stepping out into a puddle on a dark night. They moved the ignition key from the steering column to next to the gear lever because their obsessive safety people found people were injuring their knees on the key fob in accidents.

In short, there are one or two niggles, but way less than I expected from an 11 year old car that will do 130mph happily. And those niggles are easily fixed, and melt away when it passes it's MOT first shot with 140000 miles on the clock and cures the backache problems you've had for years. As Gordon says, there is a very well known problem that most Saab engines will only use fully synthetic oils, but a service history from Saab or a Saab Specialist will guarantee a very happy owner. When the day comes that I have to give up my Saab, I shall be inconsolable. For £3k, you should easily be able to find a peach.

I have quite a few friends who rave about their aging 5 Series Beemers, I suspect that's what I'll have next.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 10:31 (Ref:3288738)   #12
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Distracted should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Thank you! I have a viewing on a Octi estate tomorrow. (I had one and sold it when I was given the Megane. I should have kept it- the seats in the Megane are killing my back!)

I do love Saabs. Had one as a company car a few years ago and it was a peach.

I'm 28, and I'm paying £642 a year insurance on the Megane, if that helps.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 10:48 (Ref:3288742)   #13
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Depends how much room you need, but I'd be tempted to look at 3 series BMWs as well as 5 series. Doesn't need to be a powerful engine to still be an engaging drive - and a 3 series estate is a better handling car than most coupes.

If you want something solid, reliable but unspectacular then it's worth looking at a Vectra, especially if the newer 1.9tdi is in budget. It's a bit of a barge but does exactly what it says on the tin and is pretty much bulletproof.

The key in your budget range is that a car's reliability is more down to how it has been treated that how reliable the model was when new. Good service history is absolutely vital.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 12:14 (Ref:3288785)   #14
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Distracted should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
Yep, I won't even consider a car without a good service history.

Ideally, I'd be able to get at least two bales of hay in the boot. (My husband just sold his pick up truck so I need a workhorse.) He's getting my Megane back.

Ah, that might not mean anything to a lot of people... it's a non standard measure, isn't it? A bale is typically about 3ft long by 1.5ft wide by 1.5ft tall.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 12:50 (Ref:3288792)   #15
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Ideally, I'd be able to get at least two bales of hay in the boot. (My husband just sold his pick up truck so I need a workhorse.) He's getting my Megane back.

Ah, that might not mean anything to a lot of people... it's a non standard measure, isn't it? A bale is typically about 3ft long by 1.5ft wide by 1.5ft tall.
You could take a look at a Citroen C5, they've got masses of room in the back although I can't get on with the front seats as they don't have much lumbar support.
Inconsiderate husband you have, I use this to pick my wife's hay up.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 13:20 (Ref:3288804)   #16
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Distracted should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I'm finding that the seats on most French cars make my back hurt.

I really can't complain about my OH. He's a gem, really. We found out recently that he's very allergic to hay, so I'd feel very mean sending him to get it now.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 13:24 (Ref:3288806)   #17
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We found out recently that he's very allergic to hay, so I'd feel very mean sending him to get it now.
This sounds very familiar but my wife still sends me for it.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 14:07 (Ref:3288826)   #18
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Have you considered a 4X4 or pickup although they can be quite expensive to insure depending where you live. I have a Landcruiser and it's very comfortable, quite fast but suffers in the fuel consumption stakes.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 15:52 (Ref:3288865)   #19
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Inconsiderate husband you have, I use this to pick my wife's hay up.
Blimey Tim, how much does she eat?

As for the estate the Octavia is a good shout, I was surprised at just how big they actually are considering it's on a Golf chassis. I was seriously looking at them as an option a while back (got an mpv instead ).
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 17:54 (Ref:3288907)   #20
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This sounds very familiar but my wife still sends me for it.
Do what my hubs does- drive her mad by itching, moaning and generally acting dejected. Didn't take me long to decide that going myself was the best idea.

I have considered a pick up or 4x4- the problem I have is that generally, the boots are small and I'm not keen on how most of them ride. Hubs had a Nissan Navara and I wasn't too keen on it.

Honestly, if I knew I'd be employed again in the (very) near future, I'd look at buying something newer. (Not brand new- the depreciation bothers me too much.) That was the intention- we'd sell the old Navara, Hubs would get a nice new truck and I'd keep the Megane. That plan went to pot in short order, so now I'm trying to figure something else out.

What are people's thoughts on Volvos? There's one for sale locally and it looks pretty nice. And now you're going to ask me the model, aren't you? I'll be back with it. Okay, said Volvo is a 2005 1.8 V50.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 17:56 (Ref:3288908)   #21
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I was going to put in a left-field call for an Alfa 156 Sportwagon - we've run them for a few years, and the diesel ones give an excellent performance / economy mix.....but I doubt they'd pass the 2-bales of hay test.

My work hack is a 180K mile N-reg Audi A6 V6 estate...quick, roomy, comfortable and on a run reasonably economical......not bad for £400.......

Doubt you need to spend anywhere near £3K to get a useful vehicle...

Don't overlook Mondeos, either, though the Skoda will probably do you fine.....
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 18:04 (Ref:3288914)   #22
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Blimey Tim, how much does she eat?

As for the estate the Octavia is a good shout, I was surprised at just how big they actually are considering it's on a Golf chassis. I was seriously looking at them as an option a while back (got an mpv instead ).
I loved my Octi and really wish I hadn't sold it. Hubby and I actually camped in the back of it a couple of years ago- with the seats down the cargo space is huge.

The driving position was awesome for me, too.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 19:01 (Ref:3288937)   #23
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It is possible to buy a Merc estate car for a cheap price as most mid 90 to early 2000 ones rust pretty badly. however some seem to have escaped and are good value for money and reliable especially the 4 cylinder models.
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Old 12 Aug 2013, 19:07 (Ref:3288940)   #24
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Do what my hubs does- drive her mad by itching, moaning and generally acting dejected. Didn't take me long to decide that going myself was the best idea.
I do that and more, sneezing, runny eyes, rashes the lot but as I've managed to get out of ever going shopping again by being miserable, bumping into people with trolleys and generally showing off, I relent on the collecting hay and emptying the horse **** trailer, besides I'd never trust her using my car to tow the trailer.

Mondeo TDCis are good but bloody boring.
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Old 13 Aug 2013, 01:11 (Ref:3289069)   #25
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BMW 3 series estate. As far as something that manages to be comfy, practical and engaging to drive they can't be beaten estate car wise. If you get a 325, 328 or a 330 estate then they go well too and you get some smooth straight 6 loveliness as well. You will however have to put up with poorer fuel economy if you went down the bigger engined route.

Volvo V70 is worth a look as well, I've never driven one but I'm assured by my dad(ex-traffic police officer) that in T5 trim they are good to drive and very quick. One big thing they have going for them is comfort and space, far bigger than the aforementioned 3 series and a lot more comfortable.
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