Another Car Thread - Decent Estate for £2k-ish?

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Another Car Thread - Decent Estate for £2k-ish?

56 posts & 29 voices | Started 1 year ago by namastebuzz | Latest reply from namastebuzz

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namastebuzz - Member

I know STWers love "what car?" threads so here goes:

I want a decent, comfy, quick(ish), well-equipped, spacious, reliable and economical estate do do 20-25k p.a. on mainly country roads so it needs to handle well too.

I've only got £2-2.5k to spend so the RS6 Avant is crossed off already. I guess I'm looking at 02-05 plated high-milers

In days of yore diesels seemed to be the way to go for high miles but doing research recently it seems that modern common rail jobs don't seem as reliable as petrols in the long haul. Ijectors, clutches and flywheels seem to give trouble.

Been looking at:

Mondeo 130 TDCi Ghia X - great car if someone else is paying for the clutch and injectors. Maybe an auto?

Mazda6 TS2 2.0 TD - On the early cars, engines blow up. Late ones, engines blow up. Find one right in the middle you're OK?

Primera 2.2 Di/DCi - All the toys and cam chain but DCis eat turbos and try finding one.

Then I started looking at LPG cars and found some nice Volvo V70s but the fuel figures seem really poor for LPG (23mpg against 29mpg on petrol)so even with the cheap cost of fuel it doesn't beat a similar diesel and you have the inconvenience of finding a filling place. I saw a LOVELY A8 4.2 Quattro LPG that I managed to resist purely coz you can't shut your dog in the boot - I checked with the RSPCA.

In true STW style I shall ignore all useful suggestions and even pour scorn on some well intentioned advice

Posted 1 year ago #
B.A.Nana - Member

My 02 Mondeo estate (I think it's a Zetec and 2L) is on 150K, clutch is still fine and no injector failure. Only a scare with the fuel injection system, but twas only a broken wire, which was causing a fuel injection system failure message. Thankfully, only a £100 bill to strip the injection system and repair the wire, not the £900 they originally warned me it might be for a full replacement, phew.
Anyway, been very happy with it, no major malfunctions inside or out and will probably get another.

Posted 1 year ago #
LHS - Member

Passat all the way. 1.9TDi engine good for 200k without breaking wind.

Posted 1 year ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

M

ondeo

Posted 1 year ago #
M6TTF - Member

you'll be unlikely to get a CR engine for your budget i'd have thought.

Posted 1 year ago #
Northwind - Member

I'd have been all over the Mondeo, except that it'd have been too big for my drive... so got a Focus instead which, incidentally, might belong on your list unless you need a vast estate not just a surprisingly big one. Both are boringly ubiquitous, for very good reasons.

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

you'll be unlikely to get a CR engine for your budget i'd have thought.

Plenty of common rails for around £2k - problem is finding one that'll last.

Passat/Octavia 1.9 TDi - good shout. I'll have a look.

Yeah Focus might do - they certainly handle well. Bit smaller but could live with it though is it just me or do you get fewer high spec ones available?

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

I'd choose a 406 2.0HDi estate or a Mondeo or a Passat. Diesel over petrol unless it's a sporty car.

Posted 1 year ago #
sh1tforbrains - Blocked

I'd recommend somthing like a Chrysler or an old Daewoo or similar. Maybe a Toyota or Nissan. Don't get sucked into buying a mainstream brand, they're not what they're cracked up to be.

Posted 1 year ago #
Northwind - Member

namastebuzz - Member

though is it just me or do you get fewer high spec ones available?

Aye, I think that's true, and they tend to command a bit of a price premium over the competition.

Posted 1 year ago #
Mark_K - Member

I have a mazda 6 sport for sale at work atm! Its a 2.3petrol 4wd estate on a 03 plate ! Nice car drives nice and goes well i'll try and get some more details later if your interested ? Ohh and i'm in Aylesbury Bucks !

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

Mark - nice car but too heavy on the juice I'm afraid.

Hairychested - yeah flirted with the idea of the 406 110 HDi but it's a bit underpowered is it not?

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

A roadie mate from Berkshire has been driving his 110bhp one for yonks with bikes inside and outside and had no problems. It's relaxed and economical, very large inside too.
There's a 2.2 HDi too if you want more oomph but I believe it's more complicated than the 2.0 HDi.
BTW Mondeo or Passat will be faster, 406 cheaper to insure.

Posted 1 year ago #
thisisnotaspoon - Member

The mazda's that blow up share engines with the fords (IIRC?) as the 6 is basicaly a mondeo.

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

Yes the 2.2HDi has the dreaded DPF so I'd give that a swerve.

You get quite a bit for your cash with the Pugs if you get an Executive - nice one

Posted 1 year ago #
Saccades - Member

The mazda's that blow up share engines with the fords (IIRC?) as the 6 is basicaly a mondeo.

Except for the engines - they are mazda's own - whereas ford use Peugeot for the 1.6, Renault for the 2.2 - the 2.0 is their own.

I know this will be ignored but what about MG/Rover ZT-T/75? some with the BMW engines, some with the hyper reliable L-series with 130bhp

All the bells and whistles and dirt cheap.

Posted 1 year ago #
Hairychested - Member

Rover 75 is lovely too, smaller though.

Posted 1 year ago #
supercyril - Member

I had a 52 plate mondeo est TDCi. I bought it second hand 18 months old with 23000 miles. 50000 miles later it needed a new fuel pump and 3 injectors. Wasnt worth the repair so i traded it.Luckly trader didnt even start it, he just walked round it and offered me a very good price. Anyhow ill not be bothering uncle henry for a car again. On a more positive note the avensis i now have is excellent.

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

I know this will be ignored but what about MG/Rover ZT-T/75? some with the BMW engines, some with the hyper reliable L-series with 130bhp

Not at all - I had cast my eye over a few ZT-Ts but I expected anything linked with Rover to be filthy cheap, not just dirt cheap. BMW engines make sense though.

Posted 1 year ago #
mastiles_fanylion - Member

And will the Mazda 6 have the DCS problems? £800 fix.

Posted 1 year ago #
craigxxl - Member

Mondeo on my second. Very reliable, some problems with clutch (dual mass flywheel causes problems with many manufacturers)and injectors (most diesels inc BMW) reported but since it's the biggest selling fleet car not surprising. Cheap as chips to run.
Mazda 6 has a different engine but is still a very good estate, won estate of the year a few times.
Passat and Octavia good but so dull to drive.

Posted 1 year ago #
Olly - Member

I took my 307SW into the garage when a sheared (due to pothole) coil went through the tyre last week.

Mark (the mech bloke) seemed intent on telling me to get rid ASAP.
Im torn

on the one side:

307s came pretty close to the bottom when it comes to reliability
its got all the classic failures in it (dual mass flywheel, a million and one fuel pumps etc)

on the other, its a post facelift 307, which was SUPPOSED to have had all the probs sorted (though it didnt recover the brand number, so it faded out a year or 2 later)

Its comfy
its quick (enough for me, 110bhp)
its a cracking drive
its good looking (again, IMO)

for the money i would get for it, i could swap it for a 2.0L 206HDi SW, which i used to have (and loved)
its a "downgrade",is slower and smaller, but its to a simpler, more reliable car.

that or a high mileage Golf/Passat.

Posted 1 year ago #
Olly - Member

Incidently Marks list entailed:

Go for VAG, or OLD Peugeot (pre HDi)

Avoid like the plague, post 2000 french, Ford and Mazdas.

Interestingly, my bosses Mazda 6 has been faultless, though is now collapsing all at once at 100k

Posted 1 year ago #
mboy - Member

Recently had the same conundrum.

The only answer? Unsurprisingly, a VW Passat.

Yes for £2k you're looking at an older car Vs a Mondeo or Mazda, but if you're after the reliability, this is the trade off.

The thing is with Passats, and VW diesels in general, is that they will have problems in time, but most of them are easily fixable yourself. Not so with many other makes.

I recently bought an immaculate, 2 Previous owner with FSH and every receipt, T plate (so 1999 car) 110bhp TDi Passat Estate with 125k on the clock, for £1900. Now for the age of car that's not cheap, but you buy these cars on condition, and in many respects it was like new! It had recently had the suspension fully rebushed, the cambelt changed at 120k, new discs and pads all round. In many respects it was like buying a new car such was the condition!

Also, if you can, buy an older 110bhp model over the newer PD engines (100, 115 and 130). They're more reliable, and easier to fix if anything goes wrong. With the PD engines, when something goes wrong, it's often an injector (MEGA expensive on those engines). The older engines will also run on bio-diesel pretty well should you wish to further lower your fuel bills...

If you want any more advice, pointers or the like on buying Passats (should you go that way), please get in touch. I'm on my second now, and 3rd VW with a 1.9TDi in. I've got a fair knowledge of them, and I've also learnt heavily from those in the know on the VWAudi forum (very useful guys).

Posted 1 year ago #
Northwind - Member

Our old Passat was eventually written off due to electrical senility at about 100000 miles, which was a real shame as it was otherwise going strong. But once it started setting the alarm off while driving, or unlocking and locking all the doors every 20 minutes, among other interesting foibles, we got a little tired of it. Come to think of it, every fault it ever had was electrical. Still it was a good car and we got a good price for the corpse.

Posted 1 year ago #
Saccades - Member

but I expected anything linked with Rover to be filthy cheap, not just dirt cheap

That's just inverse badge snobbery though - 2K will get you a excellent condition car with 100k miles on the clock that will go and go. Low emissions, decent performance (great handling on the ZT-T) or you can get a VW with an extra 50-100K miles on the clock for the same cash.

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

That's just inverse badge snobbery though - 2K will get you a excellent condition car with 100k miles on the clock that will go and go. Low emissions, decent performance (great handling on the ZT-T) or you can get a VW with an extra 50-100K miles on the clock for the same cash.

Well it was more to do with the fact that there are no dealers/spare parts.

You've got me thinking though. I'm currently leafing through hordes of Passats but I'll have a look at ZT-Ts. The idea of great handling is appealing

Posted 1 year ago #
Saccades - Member

Ah, you're thinking wrong - on a £2K car you avoid the dealers and go to the scrappers for spare parts. There is nothing particularly rare/complicated on the 75 platform (I'll admit I don't know about the bmw specific engine) so any old garage (or yourself tbf) can work on it.

Look out for an X-power ZT-T, had the factory fitted optional bhp increase to 130 as it doesn't effect your insurance as it's not classed as an aftermarket/dealer mod.

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

No I was thinking th elack of dealers/spares would put other folks off and lower prices even more. Sometimes though there are certain parts that you may have to go to a dealer for.

I guess a lot of Rover 75 parts will fit.

That's all good info Saccades - cheers

Posted 1 year ago #
NorthernStar - Member

Volvo 850 or V70 all the way. Built like tanks and go on and on and on. Nice to drive and handle pretty well for a big car too. Buy a TDi with F.S.H. and it's difficult to go wrong.

Forget the Passat. Too many people I know have had lots of problems with them. VW's are not quite as reliable as people seem to believe. Plus Passat's are possibly the most dull and un-involving car to drive on the planet - like automotive porridge (if you care about that sort of thing).

Forget Renault too - too many problems with their Tdci engines, particularly the 1.9's. Ford Mondeo of Focus worth a look though.

Posted 1 year ago #
Basil - Member

Golf MK4 Est 1.8 Turbo
Have managed 43mpg driving like a nun. Plenty of go,reasonable in the corners,better when loaded.
No probs, I just change the oil twice a year.

Posted 1 year ago #
LHS - Member

DON'T get a Volvo 850. One of the most unreliable cars we've ever owned and stupidly expensive when they go wrong.

Ran a passat from 100k to 200k and it didn't miss a beat. Great cars.

Posted 1 year ago #
namastebuzz - Member

Ha ha slightly differing views on Volvos there!

Actually I've had good experiences of 850s over the years but they're a little long in the tooth now. Always fancied a V70 T5 - there's an LPG high miler on Ebay just now, very tempting. I've never driven a T5 but I've sat in the back of several being read my rights.....

Thanks for the Golf idea Basil, now I've got a vision of a sweaty, hairy bloke driving a Golf dressed as a nun

Posted 1 year ago #
LHS - Member

lol, yes, we had a T5-R estate and whilst a great car it was in the garage as much as it was on the road. The main issue was electrics, to the point where they pretty much had to rip the entire guts out of it and start again. Engine was pretty solid, exhaust and CAT went prematurely, wheel bearings the same. All of the issues we had were under warranty but if I had the choice of a second hand one with no warranty I would walk the other way.

Posted 1 year ago #
MoreCashThanDash - Member

Just bear in mind that the Octavia is based on a Golf platform and not a Passat, and is therefore not quite the load swallowing leviathon that the STW Skoda crew would sometimes suggest.

(Very happy owner of a 1.9 TdI Octavia estate, btw!)

Posted 1 year ago #

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