Sensible car suggestions for £4K ish.

Fearon

Passat.. or Vectra estate...

tomstickland

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

4 cylinders, ugh

Inline 4 is one of the most elegant design solutions.

tomstickland

I like the Seat/VW/Skoda axis (all VAG group, so same platforms and engines).

Felicia, Octavia, Fabia, Leon etc.

anewman

tomstickland wrote: »

I like the Seat/VW/Skoda axis (all VAG group, so same platforms and engines).

Felicia, Octavia, Fabia, Leon etc.

Felicia is based on the Skoda Favorit. Although did take the 1.6 AEE, and 1.9d engine from the Polo/Golf. At one point the VW Caddy pickup was just a rebadged Skoda Felicia.

goldspanners

ive been watching this have no need for one but it looks good for the current price. so far...

tomstickland

Well, I've been making some progress.
The Mk3 Golf estate is actually not quite large enough in the back: getting 3 bikes in and 3 people proved difficult when we tried, whilst a Mk3 Cavalier hatchback swallowed them with no problem.

I'm thinking:
-1.9/2.0 TDi with about 130BHP
-estate
-better use of space than the Golf

I've had a look at the Seat and Skoda equivalents and have found the much unloved Seat Cordoba which came in 130BHP 1.9TDi format, with stiffer suspension (sounds just like what I like).

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/seat/cordoba-2003.aspx?page=2

I actually think it looks pretty good in a functional sort of way
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT+CORDOBA/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-19-51-55-62-240-4294956146-4294966202/advert.action?R=200917332932276&distance=52&postcode=Gl103QW&channel=CARS&make=SEAT&model=CORDOBA&min_pr=&max_pr=5000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=2000&vehicleRegLetter=X

£1500 area too. I might go and look at one. Just wondering if the boot space thing will be the same as the Golf?

Tahiti

I'm a fan of the Octavia (especially VRS), but what about an A4 Avant?

Although Audi's are expensive new compared to other VAG cars, a 6ish year old A4 proves good value in my opinion when you consider the extra equipment.

BillScarab

The Octavia Estate has one of the largest boots around at 580 litres but it's not particularly long so getting bikes in isn't always easy. I can get my bike and my daughters in (24" wheel MTB) with one seat folded down but 3 would be interesting.

To get three bikes inside you may need to look at things like Berlingos and Picassos.

At least with the Cordoba estate you wouldn't see many other cars like yours around!

tomstickland

BillScarab wrote: »

To get three bikes inside you may need to look at things like Berlingos and Picassos

We got 3 into a mk Cavalier hatchback.

We put the bikes in on their side, with the handlebars just touching the narrow rear seat and the forks just touching the door trim. The Golf is a few inches too narrow to do that.