Bangernomics Estate car, advice needed please.

Tobster86

cybervic wrote: »

OK, so mondeo ghia is also on the list although I probably won't go for anything bigger than 2.0, seem too big for our need.

Can you clarify why anything bigger than a 2 litre 'seems too big'?
There are many large, practical estate cars of reasonable fuel economy for casual use, with average engine sizes over that; e.g. Volvo V70.

Most big cars don't start to get naughtily alacritous until they've got a 3 litre engine.

kripel

rover 75 estate? bought mine for 650 with 210k miles, put it to 320k miles without almost any repairs at all.
That car was Damn huuuuuge, and the 2.0 Diesel (bmw engine) got ~50mpg and was rock solid.

cybervic

Tobster86 wrote: »

Can you clarify why anything bigger than a 2 litre 'seems too big'?
There are many large, practical estate cars of reasonable fuel economy for casual use, with average engine sizes over that; e.g. Volvo V70.

Most big cars don't start to get naughtily alacritous until they've got a 3 litre engine.

Perhaps it's my imagination but I noticed that some estates with bigger engine are bigger (in size) than the same model of smaller engine, so I presume they consume more petrol too.

cybervic

After some waitings, 3 cars suddenly appear in my local today, Just wondering which one would you go for?


1. 2001 Audi A4 1.8T SE,
mileage 136K
Full dealership service history until 128K.
1 yr MOT
2 owners
£750

2. 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.6 Ambiente
mileage 97k
Local garage Service history until 90K.
1 yr MOT
1 owner
£700

3. 2002 VW Passat 1.8T 20V Sport,
mileage 167K (mostly motorway in the last 5 years)
5 years of service history with lots receipts for all the work done.
6 month MOT
3 owners
£700

Herzlos

cybervic wrote: »

Perhaps it's my imagination but I noticed that some estates with bigger engine are bigger (in size) than the same model of smaller engine, so I presume they consume more petrol too.

The cars are physically the same size, and the fuel economy/insurance don't tend to be wildly different. Tend to be cheaper to buy as people are scared of the running costs of anything that's more than a 1.8.

I'd also echo the Rover 75, I had in in 2.0CDTI and 2.5V6 guise and it was great. Pretty big though, but super value for the money.

mgfvvc

cybervic wrote: »

After some waitings, 3 cars suddenly appear in my local today, Just wondering which one would you go for?


1. 2001 Audi A4 1.8T SE,
mileage 136K
Full dealership service history until 128K.
1 yr MOT
2 owners
£750

2. 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.6 Ambiente
mileage 97k
Local garage Service history until 90K.
1 yr MOT
1 owner
£700

3. 2002 VW Passat 1.8T 20V Sport,
mileage 167K (mostly motorway in the last 5 years)
5 years of service history with lots receipts for all the work done.
6 month MOT
3 owners
£700

I would say that the Skoda may be best, if the 1.6 is powerful enough for your needs. Other things being equal the lower mileage gives it the edge, but the A4 is more powerful.

The Passat would be last of the 3 due to mileage and history. Having said that, I don't know how they compare for gadgets and I would probably want to look at all 3 and get a feel for the sellers before making a decision.

forgotmyname

Isnt that 1.8T a bit of a thirsty beast? At that age & mileage they may need a turbo sooner rather than later.

BeenThroughItAll

forgotmyname wrote: »

Isnt that 1.8T a bit of a thirsty beast? At that age & mileage they may need a turbo sooner rather than later.

Not particularly. Used to average 35MPG in both of my Octavia vRSs, and they'd happily do 45+ on a decent run in 180BHP form.


A colleague has a 1.8 20V Passat, so the same motor without the turbo, and he struggles to an average of 30 and a max of 40 in similar conditions (albeit a heavier car).