Rover 75 estate – all BMW running gear
the youngest examples will be 15 years old now though.
Out of interest, why not go the trailer route?
I agonize over that question pretty much constantly. 🙂
Main reason's are: Don't want a trailer sitting in my garden, plus general dislike of towing, plus dislike of having a towbar.
But yeah, it ticks a ton of boxes. Firstly no need for big car. Secondly, kayaks can go on car roof bikes can go on top of trailer. There's a vast amount to be said for it.
I'm sure I could find local storage for a couple of hundred a year, hire a trailer as required, or just suck it up and devote some precious garden space to trailer. Plus I could keep the camping stuff in the Trailer all year round and free up precious garage space.
So yes, I appear to be costing myself a large amount of hassle and expense to save myself a small amount of hassle and expense. People aren't always rational, I guess.
Another vote for an Accord. I had one for 2-3 years and other than servicing it only needed a rear caliper.
Not great if really tall as the front seat doesn't go back really far.
I sold mine with FSH and 12 months MoT for £1200 a couple of years ago.
I would echo the recommendations for the Vectra and the Mondeo. Have had a couple of both of them over the years. Both big cars with lots of space. The Vectra was a muchly unloved car in the media but has a mahoosive boot. Just open the boot and throw the bikes in. Reasonably economical and ok to drive. Probably the biggest bargain of the lot.
You can also have a massive tent if you have a trailer, my sister and BiL and their 2 kids take a large teepee tent, like this:
[img]
They fit the 2 kids, all the camping stuff, 2-3x bikes and all the assorted extras in a hyundai i30 and a small 5ftx5ft or smaller trailer.
The 'best' example of a bad car can still cause a lot of hassle and be awkward and costly to run.
If it were me, I'd purely look at Volvo - they really are built and the seats are probably the best you can get. Hondas are good, but not really big enough.
Hondas are good, but not really big enough.
I assumed the Accord was about the same size as Mondeo/V70 etc? If not can someone shout.
If not can someone shout.
Boot is same as my V70 - a little lower and longer IMO and not quite as 'big box'.
Back seat is a few mm less than V70, and it is a car designed for 4 seated really.
Volvo seats are the dogs bollocks.
My list would include, volvo v70, subaru outback/legacy, ford mondeo, mazda 6, vauxhall vectra/insignia/zafira.
Fords are generally solidly built, and when you need parts they are generally reasonably priced.
There’s no definitive right or wrong answer though, used cars should always be bought on condition rather than mileage/spec/age.
Boot is same as my V70 – a little lower and longer IMO and not quite as ‘big box’.
Back seat is a few mm less than V70, and it is a car designed for 4 seated really.
Thanks! Sounds like it'll do fine.
Fords are generally solidly built, and when you need parts they are generally reasonably priced.
Yeah, I had a 98 Mondeo hatch which was the best car I've ever owned. Cost me a grand and lasted me something like 10 years. Didn't realize how big it was until I changed it for an Octavia VRS. After 10 years of trouble free service there was a big MOT bill and a lot of welding and I decided to scrap it and source another car. Literally as I drove it into the scrappie it overheated. Assuming it overheated for something like a head gasket that means the thing terminally died literally at the second I no longer needed it. (I'm not exaggerating.)
Amazing car.
Over the last 15years I’ve had 3 Honda accords. Diesels to start with and 9yrs with a petrol 2008 MkVIII. The Mark VIII has been extremely reliable and does lots of local runs - hence petrol. The MKVII are the banger territory ones and quite a bit bigger than the MKVIII. Never seen a rusty one down here in semi tropical Surrey. Depending on your mileage a 2.0 petrol would be a great banger.
Had quite a few of those above and aware of others, usually have a half decent car and a bangernomics estate, loved the old mercs but too old now, too expensive to run, same with too many above (sadly Saabs in there). A6 and Passats get a look in but again can quickly become costly, especially to fix.
Currently on Mk4 Golfs, they do the trick for me, did one that cost 800 worked a treat for 18 months then given to son’s other half, continues to work well. My second, another 100bhp TDI SE bought for 500, prob spent another 500 over two years doing 45k Miles, going well. Have a 130 Sport in the barn awaiting its turn but don’t think current one is giving up soon.
I thought poss a bit small initially but boot big and with seats down more than big enough, last week had two wheelie tool chests in, wheels off, and loaded to gunnels. Just loses rear seat pax space over A6 and Passat but still OK. Did 52mpg on round 500 mile trip at speed limits, can do 55plus mpg if careful or 42 if daft. Lots of bits available, most are cheap, significantly less than A6 and Passat parts. Never had one stop yet.
Friend has a Rover 75 Bmw engined, that makes an interesting alternative but not as cheap, reliable as these. Hondas can good, best I had was a Xantia, galvanised, bullet proof engine,and bigger inside than E Class, carried as much weight as a pick up!
Vectra C estate on an 07 plate.
Full history, 1.8vvt petrol.
£700 sailed through 2 mots with normal servicing.
Air, Cruise and super comfortable.
Took the family to South of France and home to Cumbria last summer. Never missed a beat.
It’s Bangernomics all the way for me
Outofbreath, i had a 2003 mondeo, overall was the best car I’ve had, it lasted til 162,000 miles, and really had only routine servicing and normal wear and tear things in that time.
There is an element of luck involved too of course.
If you’re doing Bangernomics I’d buy on condition rather than getting too model specific.
Also some of the suggestions wouldn’t be cheap for spares.
I’d find it hard to look past a Mondeo for sheer availability and cheap servicing / parts. But it’s also a decent drive.
For real bangernomics value if you do your research and are prepared to travel to get the right one a Citroen C5 is the jobbie. Go for 2 ltrs or above for all the benefits of the suspension that frightens everyone and drive the price down. £1500 will get you a great fully loaded example with probably low mileage for the year. I needed a van due to huge amounts of building work this year. I'm normally an Alfa or GTI type of owner but was building up to a van. Mrs wing nuts wouldn't drive one so I looked for a cheap estate to last a year of being trashed. Having had Citroens years ago I knew the value that could be had. I ended up with a one owner 55 plate FSH C5 that had 70k on the clock. New tyres and 6oo miles last year. Pensioners on the south coast are relived to part with them for just over a grand! A great no fault car 12 months and 15k miles on!Going to keep it till it goes to the great Galic soap yard in the sky but don't see it happening anytime soon.
Hyundai Santa Fe Mark 1, they’re daft bargain prices.. I just bought my daughter a 55k one owner from new car for £800.
Full compliment of kit including heated seats, huge boot, not daft 4x4 prices and really reliable.
Normally would follow the STW forum etiquette of recommending what I own, but from your criteria where you're expecting to carry so much in/on the car at any time without towing it, then just get a Volvo V70 and have done with it...
Passats for your budget won't be big enough (they got a lot smaller inside when they went from the B5.5 platform to the B7), Mondeo's are a good shout but newer ones aren't quite as big on the inside again as their predecessor, a BMW 5 series touring would be a good shout but will cost more as an ownership prospect (though at least be more rewarding to drive when you're in it on your own), Merc E Class estate also a good shout and will at least ensure your passengers all fall asleep leaving you to some peace and quiet!
If you can find one though (rare as rocking horse poo now), get an older B5.5 Passat... I picked up an 03 plate 1.9Tdi sport with a mere 122k on the clock recently, slightly tatty bodywork but big history file to go with it and recent cambelt, for a mere £1100... It's a smoky old tractor of a diesel engine compared to modern stuff, but looked after they go on and on and on. I could have spent £3k on a newer estate, but for what I wanted it made more sense buying this one and saving the cash... It's my 4th B5/5.5 1.9Tdi Passat, and I also had a 2.5 V6 Tdi B5 A4 too (nice car, much smaller inside though), I guess you could say I have a bit of a soft spot for them!
If you can find one without the rear seats being covered in sick, this..
PePPeR - Snata Fe is a really good tip, hadn't considered them. I nearly put 'good ground clearance' as a a criteria but thought that would be too much to ask. There's a very local one which has gone on the list. (Suspiciously no mention of MOT which makes me think it's short - if so that rules it out.)
Also thanks to everyone who mentioned the Vectra, obvious but I had completely overlooked them.
There’s no definitive right or wrong answer though, used cars should always be bought on condition rather than mileage/spec/age.
Deffo this. It's a shame I'm limited by the 'big estate' criteria. Back in my youth the only criteria was condition and history. Any body, any model, any make would do and I always seemed to be able to source a genuine car as a private sale from a respectable looking address at a bargain price. Usually saloons which nobody seems to want.
+1 wingnuts. I've had a citroen C5 for a few years now. Watch out for the trailing arm bearings, which can be terminal if you don't DIY. I did them on mine for around £100, not too difficult but time consuming. Other than that only had little citroen niggles. I use mine a bit like a van that also has 5 comfy seats. It is a fantastic load carrier, I routinely fill it to the roof with unseasoned firewood. It is a thing of beauty to watch it raise itself up to level on its amazing suspension. Just did 400 miles to the peak and back and got 48 mpg at motorway speed, can get low 50's on gentle runs.
Also fantastic forum advice on French car Forum, for those citroen niggles!
Had two Mk3 Mondeo estates. First one bought for £1250 in 2014 with 85k on the clock. 1.8 petrol. Did 35k in 18 months with no problems at all. Comfortable car. A few holidays with wife, 3 kids, dog, loads of stuff, roof box and 2 bikes. Managed fine. Wrote it off on black ice, not car's fault.
Second one was bought for £750 in 2016 (also 1.8 petrol) with 125k on the clock. Did 50k in it before swapping it for a 10yr old Galaxy.
Can't recommend the Mondeo Mk3 enough. Great cars, very comfortable and good to drive, reliable (IMHO) and cheap to repair if necessary. As others have said, Mk4s are a bit smaller, particularly re boot space. They're still great as well, but you'll find a decent mk3 for under a grand easily if you're patient.
Look no further!
And fwiw I wouldn't touch a French car new, let alone 2nd hand..
I’ve got a Passat estate. It’s big. There’s room in the back for my two “boys”, both 6’+, with me in the front at 6’4”. The boot is huge.
1.9tdi engine, without the electric handbrake if you can find one. Or budget for both auto handbrake motor thingies early in ownership.
Apart from the handbrake mines been faultless for 3.5 years.
Clutches are a big issue on the diesel Accords. They wear and are very expensive to replace (£800 territory). That's what put me off. Petrol would be a safer option but a little Thirsty.
BMWs are worth a look IMO, but be prepared to spanner it yourself. If you can do that they're relatively cheap to run.
I have a Honda Accord Executive Estate mk7 2 litre petrol.
The car is perfect all faleather inside (fake leather seats)so easy to keep clean, massive boot which I at 6' 3" can even sleep in if I want to.
All the cool stuff that rich people had back in 04 like heated wing mirrors, heated seats, automatic wipers.
And it flew through its MOT a few weeks ago after buying it around this time last year.
No problems with it at all, in fact the only thing it has cost me is in puncture repairs but that's Rotherham for you.
Best part is it cost me £1250 and is a fantastic car.
MG-ZT Touring <pipe and slippers choice>
I had one of these, the 2.5L V6 one. Sounded lovely and it was fairly comfy but it wasn't particularly quick or frugal. Boot space was ok but nothing to write home about. The diesel version had BMW engine so probably more reliable than the Rover petrol one.
By contrast we now have a 2010 Skoda Superb Estate and it's great. Boot is enormous, interior is huge, very comfy, almost quick as the MG ZT-T but double the mpg. There are a few knocking about for around £3k, just make sure the timing belt has been done.
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso
Zafira
Galaxy
Grand S-Max
The Grand S-Max is worth looking at for the sliding rear doors, which give better access to the interior, and they also give a slightly higher roofline at the back.
One of these, one to suit any budget....
One of these, one to suit any budget….
I owned one for 2 or 3 years. Bought for £700. Don't have tremendously happy memories of it. Smaller than I expected (Astra Size coming from a Mondeo) and this was before the family were old enough to eat space. Fastest car I've ever owned, but it encouraging me to creep up to ban speeds on the motorway.
Also had a ton of niggling faults. Turbo leaks, mystery fault codes that kind of thing. Used to reset the fault codes every year before the MOT and hope that they stayed off long enough for fear of emissions failure! 🙂 All my other cars have tended to work pretty well right up until a big bill or terminal failure ends our acquaintance.
It died when SWMBO crashed it into two other cars - writing off all three vehicles.
Ruled out this time purely due to size, it wasn't big enough.
Well that was over quick found a good one early in the search - before lunch in fact.
I've rolled the dice on a One Owner '08 Toyota Avensis diesel with 12 months MOT. Pretty sure it has a cam chain, so no belt to change.
It's the first diesel I've owned, won't be long before I'm posting to ask how to siphon petrol out of a diesel tank...
Massive thanks to everyone. This thread was STW at it's best, every single posts was genuinely helpful. Plenty of good ideas for future hunts.
THANKS.
If anyone else is looking for similar this seems like a good buy:
"jam bo
Subscriber
subaru outback is massive. "
Not really. I mean, OK, I went from a mondeo mk3 which is pretty much the definition of Big Estate, but the subaru's really quite a lot smaller. Not that much bigger than my Focus I think?
OTOH, AWD turbocharged snow skidz.
I’ve rolled the dice on a One Owner ’08 Toyota Avensis diesel with 12 months MOT. Pretty sure it has a cam chain, so no belt to change.
Good reliable motors, go on and on and on, plenty of space in them too, and you're right about the cam chain... But OH MY GOD are they dull to drive! I mean REALLY dull... My GF had one when I met her. It made my VW Caddy van feel like a sports car by comparison, my aging Passat 1.9TDi estate (not a car known for its dynamic qualities) has the turn in and throttle response of and MX5 compared to the milk float that is the Avensis! It truly is the most horrid car I've ever driven...
I would say "enjoy it", but I know you won't...
Vectra over Insignia as the latter has a swoopy boot line, the former doesn't.
Stick tow ball on and put bikes on rear, canoes on top, kit in boot (get a tilting bike rack AND a removable tow ball) and you are sorted.
