4k to spend; Mid-Size Estate with Lowest Running Costs?

[crispy2]

Hi,

I'm currently downsizing our car from a BMW and want to buy something that will reduce to a minimum our annual costs. We do 12k per year split between town & motorway and need something around the size of a Ford Focus Estate or larger.

Current front runner is 2005 Focus Estate 1.9 Tdci due to low purchase price, low VED (<130g CO2), good MPG, cheap servicing, easy to find generic parts.

Do you folks have any other suggestions I should be considering?

Thanks!

[DCodd]

Skoda Octavia, Astra 1.9 diesel (1.7 is so noisey!!!)

[BillScarab]

Another vote for the Octavia estate. Bigger boot htan the Focus, in fact it's got a bigger boot than a mondeo. The diesels are cheap to run and they're very reliable.

[crispy2]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Unfortunately both the Astra and the Octavia seem to be > 130g CO2/km, according to AutoTrader, which adds a little (not much, I grant) to the annual costs. Do they do any models under this threshold?

[AdrianHi]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Unfortunately both the Astra and the Octavia seem to be > 130g CO2/km, according to AutoTrader, which adds a little (not much, I grant) to the annual costs. Do they do any models under this threshold?
Check the rates, up to 140g is the same tax disk charge and the next band up is only an extra £5 a year anyway so completely irrelevant to the buying decision. The band up from that is only an extra £30 which in the context of total cost of ownership is also insignificant.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524

I'd test drive an Octavia and Focus and pick what you are most comfortable with. Arguably, the Octavia should prove more reliable and potentially less costly to maintain.

[DCodd]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Unfortunately both the Astra and the Octavia seem to be > 130g CO2/km, according to AutoTrader, which adds a little (not much, I grant) to the annual costs. Do they do any models under this threshold?


To be perfectly honest I do not Know. Skoda do 105 bhp diesel variant of their 20ltr but as I said before the 1.7 Astra is very unrefined!!