Controversial Topic - What Car?

[Wigsie]

So the BMW goes back tomorrow then i can be a serious cyclist and hate them like everyone else!

I have had company cars for the past 8 years and having just gotten out of debt I dont really want to get a loan or finance a new one. So I have 5k ish to spend on something but plan on paying first years insurance out of that too and will only be doing around 3-5,000 miles a year.

We have two kids at the moment so people carriers are not necessary, however I dont want to have to sell it if the Mrs does get pregnant in the next year or so, the eldest wont need a child seat then so will just need reasonable space in the back for him to sit in between the two car seats.

Any idea's? have been looking at Audi A4/A6 estates, Subaru Impreza Estates (the standard 2.0litre, no turbo ), Peugeot 307 estates.

Obviously the Audi's all have around 100k on the clock but don't their TDI engines go on for ever?

Any Suggestions?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Real men drive Volvo V70s mate!!

+ you can fit a bike in the boot!!

 

[cheadle hulme]

Petrol or diseasel?

Previous gen Octy vRS makes a good buy in your budget.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1147844.htm

Or with VAG PD 1.9 Diesel. 120k, only just run in as they say!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1232624.htm

 

[Black Sheep]

the skoda version of the VW or Audi?

essentially the same car, build quality just as good but less cost.

 

[Llama]

if the badge does not matter - then get a skoda octavia
best family car for about three years - your getting a vw for pocket money

 

[Llama]

the skoda version of the VW or Audi?

essentially the same car, build quality just as good but less cost.

just what i was writing!

 

[Fab Foodie]

the skoda version of the VW or Audi?

essentially the same car, build quality just as good but less cost.

Absolutely. Skoda Octavia diesel Estate, just fab.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Absolutely. Skoda Octavia diesel Estate, just fab.

I've driven, but not owned, this - it was lovely.

 

[swee'pea99]

Wrong, wrong, wrong! Skodas are inferior to VWs in every way. You wanna get yourself one o' these. Fantastic cars, great to drive, never break down, last for ever. Checkout Honest John for any candidate, but really, that Golf is a winner...

 

[wafflycat]

I've got a 2001 Merc A-class and I love it. It's the A170CDI long wheelbase one. The engine has has never let me down. Put it this way, I'd hate to get rid of it. Inside it's a Tardis. It's got loads of room in the front, in the back passenger footwell it's six inches longer than a standard A-class, so there's heaps of legroom for passesngers there, and the boot is large enough to take a weekly shop for hungry hoardes. As soon as MrWC & I bought it, we had a towbar fitted and it's the best thing we've done to a car as it means we carry bikes on a rock-solid towbar mounted carrier, one that has a tilt facility, so we can still access the boot of the car even with three bikes on the carrier. It's taken us as to Italy, France, Austria, Germany... with bikes on the back and a teenager in the back of the car for cycling holidays. He could literally stetch out and have room to spare. Plus it's been all over the UK with bikes & said teenager when he was cycling competitively. Inside, all the rear seats come out, if needed, or there's a split rear seat remove which bit you want. Inside with the rear seats out there is a big amount of space for transporting loads. It has the capacity of a people carrier without taking up loads of space. Mr WC has a newer A-class, the A190CDI, and it is nowhere near as spacious or as versitile as the older model. The newer model has no longwheelbase option, and the rear space is not as useful as in my older one, as the floor space is lessened by the shape of the floor (bloody great lump running down the middle of it). When it comes to vehicle change time, MrWC will change his and I'll keep mine. The only way I'm changing mine is if it is beyond repair, and it shows no sign of that. One thing I would say too, is that here in Norfolk, Merc dealerships are expensive and less than satisfactory in terms of their service departments. We use a smaller, non-dealership garage where we know the mechanic. Cheaper and more competent in work done.

 

[GrasB]

If you're going VAG look at Skoda Octavia & VW Passat as they're basically the same car as the Audi A4.

How much do you care about image? I say this as the Fiat Marea Weekend & Citron C5 give you a lot of car for your money & have cavernous boots.

 

[g00se]

Saabs are a good bet. If you want to save your money, get one of the early 90's 900s before GM bought them out - if you can find it in good condition. Built to aircraft standards and lots of cool idiosyncrasies.

Huge boot on the 5-door. No need for an estate.

http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166360

This is one of the original 900SEs (goose) - all the trimmings.

http://www.saabcentral.com/features/saab_900/model_specific/900se_1.php

Old - but they last forever and have lots of charm.

 

[wafflycat]

I used to have a Saab 9000CSE Automatic. Sven was a lovely car, especially if you did a lot of driving consisting of long journeys, which I did back then. Only problem with it was it was expensive to run and expensive to maintain.

 

[BikeShapedObject]

Buy THIS... DON'T LAUGH, believe me, it'll BLOW YOUR M*NGE OFF!!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-Maestro-Ti...s_UK?hash=item414904b17d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[tordis]

I don't drive. I mean, I know how to, but I don't even hold a license. But if I was to own a car, it'd have to be a Nissan Qashqai. I have a soft spot for that car.