Tell me what car to buy as I'm totally confused!

easylife73

Have just looked at those options but they seem more expensive...and the Mondeos are all diesel.

Netwizard

Well putting your mileage, age and budget options into autotrader, and assuming an estate car, Very little actually comes up that is any good.

I think you might need to compromise a little. If the budget is a strict £6k, then you need to compromise on age. If you can't live with something older, then the budget needs to be increased maybe?

There are 3 petrol mondeo estates in the whole of the country that meet your age and budget requirements, but not the mileage requirement.

There are 7 Skoda Fabia estates that meet your spec, but again, these are pretty grim bottom of the range cars for the money.

easylife73

Yes I know something has to give! Maybe doesn't have to be an estate if we can get a reasonable sized boot with roofbars and a roofbox. At the moment I'm used to spending £1000 or so a year on repairs, so if we could almost guarantee low repair bills for a couple of years the budget could maybe go up a bit. Hence looking at Kias because of the 7 year warranty...would obviously then have to be 2010 or newer though.

Hintza

OK how about a Kia Sorrento?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

if those are specific requirements youll be waiting a long time for the right car in the right mileage in the right year range in the right price bracket to do exactly what you need want and be reliable.


TBH you have to compromise somewhere.


for example, 2004 rover 75/MG ZT tourer (estate) diesel there are later reg estates like 05 55 and ive seen an 07 but essentially they were discontinued vehicles in 2004 parts are available and the diesel is BMW powered and electrics find a highline spec you get sat nav roomy in the back and when the seats fold down its huge so if you need to transport something bulky like a washing machine fridge it will make it easy than having pay delivery, when seats are up there ample room for camping equipment, suitcases.


perhaps a 2004-2006 skoda Octavia estate, find an elegance its well equipped, and roomy.


mondeo estate, 1.8 petrol or 2.0 TDi equipment levels are pretty low, unless you spot a ghia spec or ST spec.


face lifted fiat multipla the mk1 was horrid and bland looking, the facelifted it in time, not the best car in world, JTD engine is ok, inside youll find low build quality, but loads of room. looks like a blown up fiat stilo.


VW Golf estate, its a VW its reliable of sorts, window regulators are a job and half to repair although a cheap part youll find stripping the doors framework hardwork mk 5 the outer door skin is a bolt on part and makes is easier.


VW sharran/ford galaxy remove the last 2 seats its got decent boot space, take the seats out apart from passenger and drivers you have a van, avoid v6 engines, 1.8 is underpowered. 2.0 is what you want give leg room and space for camping equipment, don't expect much in the way of equipment levels.


EDIT KIA, the ceed SW is roomy decent boot space youll want a petrol 1.6 youll have a hard job finding a 2010 or newer kia for less than 7-8k.

easylife73

Cheapest of those are coming up at about £14k!!

easylife73

Sorrento that is.

Other half isn't likely to compromise on age as our current car is a 54 plate and he'll want to go at least a few years newer than that or he'll see it as a step backwards!

Glad it's not just me struggling to find an obvious solution! I appreciate all the replies.

Owain_Moneysaver

What about a secondhand taxi?

http://myblacktaxi.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/introduction.html
http://jeevestheblackcab.blogspot.co.uk/

Netwizard

easylife73 wrote: »

Yes I know something has to give! Maybe doesn't have to be an estate if we can get a reasonable sized boot with roofbars and a roofbox. At the moment I'm used to spending £1000 or so a year on repairs, so if we could almost guarantee low repair bills for a couple of years the budget could maybe go up a bit. Hence looking at Kias because of the 7 year warranty...would obviously then have to be 2010 or newer though.

£1,000 a year on repairs?! My 17 year old estate didn't even cost that much to buy let alone spend that much a year on it!

You can avoid spending mega bucks on repairs by avoiding anything bloody french! Useless!

avantra

A 2007 Accord Estate Petrol can fall inside your budget. These estates are very large and the petrol 2.0 unit is reliable and so is the rest of the car.
If it was my money I would add another £500 and go for a younger Mondeo petrol estate in ghia or zetec trim. I know what you mean about space but we did the mpv plus box route before and it is a lot of faffing around compare to how nice and tidy a big estate is.