Best CHEAP Estate or 4x4 for under £1000?

smallzoo

I am looking to buy a 'CHEAP' estate. Its going to be a basic workhorse for carrying our large (16st) dog and will only do around 3k miles a year

From my own experience and by looking at your reviews and others I have narrowed it down to the following which are currently on sale for between £500 and £1000 :-

Focus 1.8 or 2.0 Estate
Vauxhall Astra 1.8 Estate
Vauxhall Vectra 2.5 Estate
Hond Aerodeck 2.0 Estate
Volvo V40 Estate
Volvo V70 2.4 or T5 estate
Mercedes 250TD estate

I have also considered some 4x4's
Vauxhall Monterrey
Daihatsu Sportrak 1.6
Honda CRV
Jeep Cherokee

Any views on these

Many thanks

P.S. I currently have a Subari Outback 1999 2.5l. Nice car starting to spend money on it now and it isnt cheap to fix !

TradePro

I would definitely avoid 4x4's in this price bracket, you are highly unlikely to find one that isn't a money pit, regardless of brand.

As it's only a doggiemobile, I would probably just stick with a Focus or Astra, not likely to cost the Earth if something goes wrong.

ILW

Have a bit of fun, get an old Jeep Wrangler.

ShandyAndy_2

I only have experience with Volvo and Vauxhall as have worked for them, I'd avoid the 1.8 astra and go for a 1.6 8 valve they go forever and tend to be cheaper for repairs,avoid montery like the plague,the 2.5 v6 vectras are dear when they go wrong. Volvos are good estates but pricey for parts and very thirsty, even the 1.6 v40 are gas guzzlers,then again 3k a year the fuel consumption is not that important I suppose.

smallzoo

Thanks for the answers so far

I guessed it would be the Astra or Focus

I do like the V70's but I didnt realise the parts were expensive

I had heard the 250TD was a good motor..anyone with experience ? and what about the aerodeck

Thanks again

ShandyAndy_2

smallzoo wrote: »

Thanks for the answers so far

I guessed it would be the Astra or Focus

I do like the V70's but I didnt realise the parts were expensive

I had heard the 250TD was a good motor..anyone with experience ? and what about the aerodeck

Thanks again

Yes I used to work in Volvo parts and some things are mind blowing but in the main they are fairly reliable, the best one is the pre 2000 v70 made upto w reg, a mate has a 2.5 D and its got 340k on the clock its an audi engine in them. I guess the honda would be bulletproof too.

Stooby2

Honda parts are very expensive so I'd avoid the aerodeck. As above, unless you're good with spanners and a welder, a 4x4 under a grand isn't really an option.

smallzoo

Ok..so from all the replies

Volvo/Honda - reliable but expensive to fix !
Mercedes-Reliable but I have heard terrible in the snow !
Vectra-2.5 expensive to fix !
4x4's-Avoid unless you are lucky or have deep pockets
Astra-1.6 great..avoid 1.8

If thats a fair summary..any other suggestions ?

TradePro

smallzoo wrote: »

Ok..so from all the replies

Volvo/Honda - reliable but expensive to fix !
(Honda much less likely of the two to need fixing)

Mercedes-Reliable but I have heard terrible in the snow !
(not reliable, perhaps even more expensive than Honda and Volvo WHEN it breaks)

Vectra-2.5 expensive to fix !

4x4's-Avoid unless you are lucky or have deep pockets

Astra-1.6 great..avoid 1.8

If thats a fair summary..any other suggestions ?

Apart from my bits in red, I'd say you're about right.

forgotmyname

In that price range bigger cars can be in better condition and cheaper. If you only do a low mileage a few MPG here and there wont matter too much.

Look at some older executive cars.

smallzoo

Thanks.. but which executive estates ?