Estate car in lower tax bracket?

jacksonsmum

Im looking at buying a car up to 7yrs old (2006 on).

Currently have an 02 Focus but want something newer, bigger boot (to fit pram in) but would like something in a low tax bracket.

Are there any larger used cars that are lower on tax? Everything I find online refers to smaller cars?

Thanks

bigjl

A cheap estate is the current Renault Megane

Have seen three yr olds with the 1.5 dci lump for around £5/6k at Cargiant

That is the same engine as in the wifes Clio dci and it has been around a while and is much more reliable than the older 1.9

I have had no issues with the Clio just change the oil and filter really.

Road tax on most of the 1.5 dci Meganes is around the £30 mark and the eco versions will give you genuine 60mpg plus. Likely over 70mpg on a steady Motorway run at 65/70mph

That is the one i would go for. It is also a little bit bigger than a Focus. Not much though

Some will say Renaults fall apart but treat them well and service them properly and they are as reliable as anything else

But try to minimise the amount of gadgets as they are the most likely thing to go wrong

Aircon, power steering and electric windows are where i draw the line with a Renault.

GlynD

Audi A3's are officially hatchbacks but are more like estates. It might be an idea to have a look at one of those in the age bracket you want. Audis are very reliable in general.

forgotmyname

A low tax bracket may save you £150 a year. But the cars probably at a premium when you buy it.

Its a tiny cost in the running of a car.

Why not a focus estate? Or A Mondeo estate which may cost more to tax but will be cheaper to buy and lose less in depreciation.

GlynD

bigjl wrote: »

A cheap estate is the current Renault Megane

Have seen three yr olds with the 1.5 dci lump for around £5/6k at Cargiant

That is the same engine as in the wifes Clio dci and it has been around a while and is much more reliable than the older 1.9

I have had no issues with the Clio just change the oil and filter really.

Road tax on most of the 1.5 dci Meganes is around the £30 mark and the eco versions will give you genuine 60mpg plus. Likely over 70mpg on a steady Motorway run at 65/70mph

That is the one i would go for. It is also a little bit bigger than a Focus. Not much though

Some will say Renaults fall apart but treat them well and service them properly and they are as reliable as anything else

But try to minimise the amount of gadgets as they are the most likely thing to go wrong

Aircon, power steering and electric windows are where i draw the line with a Renault.

The general consensus on the board, that I've noticed, is to avoid French cars like the plague. Too much goes wrong with them and whilst you say you've had good experiences most people are saying different.

Ford's always a good bet though.

londonTiger

GlynD wrote: »

Audi A3's are officially hatchbacks but are more like estates. It might be an idea to have a look at one of those in the age bracket you want. Audis are very reliable in general.

depends if you are looking at sportback or avant. Sportback is just a hatchback with half a ft extension. avant is more like a estate.

daveyjp

Toyota Prius.

spacey2012

Agree 100% with avoid French, they are great, best car you have ever had and then one day they just "start" and when they do, well no car has a mid-life crisis like a French car.

wba31

Honda Accord with 2.2 diesel engine is £125 a year. The civic with the same engine is the same, has an ENORMOUS boot. So big in fact my missus and I bought one over the Accord Estate, also due to having more leg room for rear passengers over the Accord.

If looking brand new the Civic estate when launched will have a 1.6 diesel engine which will be low on tax...

ElkyElky

Someone in the family has an 07 Scenic. To date... multiple problems with the blower motor and aircon (now past the point where cheap repairs are possible - new motors required and a very costly job to access and change), windows failing, some problem with the automatic light sensor... and..

currently an unknown problem the garage can't diagnose which is a strange rattling sound when the car is started for the first time in the morning. Stalls after a brief couple of seconds if you don't rev it after starting. After 10 seconds of revving, the rattling problem disappears and all is well for the rest of the day.

Yah. Don't get a Renault. In fact, if you're offered one.... offer to burn it to the ground in return. Save the world of these horrid French cars.

bigjl

GlynD wrote: »

The general consensus on the board, that I've noticed, is to avoid French cars like the plague. Too much goes wrong with them and whilst you say you've had good experiences most people are saying different.

Ford's always a good bet though.

All cars have issues

Ask any honest VAG owner with the 2.0tdi lump and you will find they can crack the suml for no reason, mostly Audi A4 for that, and the fun of the underengineered oil pump.

Had Renaults in the family for years the ones bought from new or nearly new and looked after were all very reliable

All these stories about reliability are overblown by the motoring press that will also say nothing against VAG products

The post above says it all

Electrical problems that were not fixed properly the first time could no longer be bodged

The heater fan on my Volvo packed up. A common issue. Does that mean all Volvos are rubbish? No. But cars do have issues.

The biggest problem with Renault specifically is that they are cheap to buy as a second or third owner and this causes people to run them on a showstring as they don't think it is worth spending the money on them.

Bought at a sensible price without too many gimics and they are a sensible buy.

Similar thought processes killed Rover, just when they had started producing better vehicles.