Hover Fly
He, him, his
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
Dacia Logan.
What Car
- Thread starter PaulSB
- Start date
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Proto
Legendary Member
- Location
- East Devon/West Dorset
I'm thinking of chopping my Volvo V50 D5 (too small, too thirsty) for a new style Honda CRV.
OP
OP
PaulSB
Squire
- Location
- Chorley, Lancashire
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
in your situation I'd be looking at the SEAT Ibiza ST (st is the estate version)
it's a medium estate, my plan is to get one to replace our current car as and when our family grows - I found it nice to drive. should be able to get one in your budget.
it's a medium estate, my plan is to get one to replace our current car as and when our family grows - I found it nice to drive. should be able to get one in your budget.
battered
Guru
30k a year is a lot, I know, I did similar prior to the accident. It HAS to be a diesel. If you buy your own fuel, then look at the figures because some diesels aren't that great. Modern ones are better. With your budget though you can pick and choose. I'd be going bigger than an Ibiza estate, when you are doing 600 miles a week, probably about 15 hours a week in that seat, you want it to be comfortable.
Skoda Superb is a good choice.
Skoda Superb is a good choice.
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
I like the Skoda trend ! I used to own old Skuds and worked with new ones and can vouch they are a bloody good car and very reliable......even the 30 year old car i drove to and from Czech twice never missed a beat !
Octavia is just brilliant,especially in estate form and now they have brought the Superb estate out you have loads of choice.There is also the Yeti which is very quirky and the Roomster which i must admit to not being everyones first choice but all come with diesel options.
As you can see i have a strange love for the brand even though i work with damn Porsche's every day !
Octavia is just brilliant,especially in estate form and now they have brought the Superb estate out you have loads of choice.There is also the Yeti which is very quirky and the Roomster which i must admit to not being everyones first choice but all come with diesel options.
As you can see i have a strange love for the brand even though i work with damn Porsche's every day !
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
fair enough - for me, i'm looking at doing about 600 miles a week and would be happy in the ibiza, currently have a mazda demio. The issue for me is more being comfortable driving it for that distance, the smaller the car the cheaper on fuel used (in theory)
a couple of years ago I had a summer job that involved some ridiculous driving distances in a citroen C2, which was quite comfortable.
what i'm trying to say is, I don't see the link so much between a large car and comfort.
obviously, you wouldn't want an original mini or race inspired kit car to commute in.
a couple of years ago I had a summer job that involved some ridiculous driving distances in a citroen C2, which was quite comfortable.
what i'm trying to say is, I don't see the link so much between a large car and comfort.
obviously, you wouldn't want an original mini or race inspired kit car to commute in.
Globalti
Legendary Member
Er.... bigger cars have more mass, meaning that they ride more smoothly. Mrs Gti has a Citroen C1, which is a fantastic little car but the springs are so stiff that it's given her a bad back. Bigger cars are also quieter, more relaxed at speed and of course have more space inside for the bikes that wise people don't put on the roof (how often do you see people alone in big cars with a bike proudly displayed like a trophy on the roof?)
Black Sheep
Guru
- Location
- Rammy
you wouldn't believe the number of large cars I see with single bike racks on the roof!
I agree that small 'city' cars have a bit of a harsher ride than larger cars, but a mid size car shouldn't be stiff and bumpy unless its a sports model
I do know that peugeot-citroen do have a habit of making their cars have stiffer suspension than others in their class, except for the large citroens on their hydro-pneumatic system.
with regards to fitting bikes inside, I've fitted bikes in old fiestas, swifts and the current demio
although we now have a rack for the demio.
I agree that small 'city' cars have a bit of a harsher ride than larger cars, but a mid size car shouldn't be stiff and bumpy unless its a sports model
I do know that peugeot-citroen do have a habit of making their cars have stiffer suspension than others in their class, except for the large citroens on their hydro-pneumatic system.
with regards to fitting bikes inside, I've fitted bikes in old fiestas, swifts and the current demio
although we now have a rack for the demio.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
we went for a Citroen Picasso its very versitile seats 5 adults in comfort with enough boot space to suit , or you can take each rear seat out 1 at a time , or we take the middle seat out and slide the tandem in upside down and hey presto .
very pratical and quite good on fuel mostly shot runs in town area and a 2.0 ltr auto still does 32 - 36 mpg
so not bad
very pratical and quite good on fuel mostly shot runs in town area and a 2.0 ltr auto still does 32 - 36 mpg
so not bad
Night Train
Maker of Things
- Location
- Greater Manchester
I'm another very happy Skoda Octavia owner.
I have had my 1.9TDi estate in Elegance trim from new since 2001 and have had no significant issues with it. The issues I had were with the local dealer servicing so I have sacked them and now use a garage that makes cars better rather then worse.
I would recommend one for longevity, reliability, economy and for being a great work horse. I can chuck anything in the back and it will pull a 1.3ton trailer about all day long in town and on motorways. I usually get better then 50mpg in town, 62mpg on my commute and between then 40-45mpg towing.
The only thing lacking in mine is cruise control and rear legroom.
I would be tempted to replace it with a Skoda Superb Estate and I would look for a 4x4 diesel version for more stability when towing. A torque converter would be good too but I'm not sure if the auto has a lock up clutch in it.
I might just convert my Octavia to electric if it ever dies, no sign of that happening anytime soon as it has only 160,000 miles on the clock, nearly all at motorway speeds.
I have had my 1.9TDi estate in Elegance trim from new since 2001 and have had no significant issues with it. The issues I had were with the local dealer servicing so I have sacked them and now use a garage that makes cars better rather then worse.
I would recommend one for longevity, reliability, economy and for being a great work horse. I can chuck anything in the back and it will pull a 1.3ton trailer about all day long in town and on motorways. I usually get better then 50mpg in town, 62mpg on my commute and between then 40-45mpg towing.
The only thing lacking in mine is cruise control and rear legroom.
I would be tempted to replace it with a Skoda Superb Estate and I would look for a 4x4 diesel version for more stability when towing. A torque converter would be good too but I'm not sure if the auto has a lock up clutch in it.
I might just convert my Octavia to electric if it ever dies, no sign of that happening anytime soon as it has only 160,000 miles on the clock, nearly all at motorway speeds.
Passat Bluemotion estate. I've got a 307 estate and it suits my needs perfectly, I get 50mpg (well 49.5ish) and can chuck tons in the back, but I'd get a Passat if I was buying new and used the car more than once a week!
Another happy Octavia owner here, I'm on my 4th one now! Every time I come to change I do the usual traipsing around competing dealers, research on the web, test drives and I always end up at the same conclusion - nothing beats Skoda for VFM. I now have the Octavia vRS (diesel), didn't go for the estate as it's the same length as the hatch and only offers slightly more space. I can easily get any of my bikes in the boot. I drove to Samoens in the French Alps in July, 3 up with luggage and bike in the boot and managed 50mpg (cruise control on at the legal limit all the way) over the entire holiday.
A friend of mine admits he couldn't own a Skoda because of the badge, which is odd, he must be stuck in 1989 or something.
A friend of mine admits he couldn't own a Skoda because of the badge, which is odd, he must be stuck in 1989 or something.
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Don't ignore the Fords. They are very good vehicles, as good if not better than the VW alternative, but just have a reputation as being of lower standard.
Never buy new - you are just paying for the kudos of owning a new car. Let someone else have the 1st year depreciation hit.
Go to a Car Supermarket place, and get an ex fleet car, around 10,000 miles on the clock. Our lease cars are sent back with 9,000 on the clock, and are given a good life - lots of motorway mileage. Then they get serviced and sold. All initial problems and depreciation are sorted.
Buy what you like the look of. Reliability on most cars is superb, but Peugeots seem to be bottom at the moment. Don't go for a urban cross-over/4x4 type car unless you are lacking in the trouser department. Although getting a bike into the boot without taking the front wheel off is nice.
Never buy new - you are just paying for the kudos of owning a new car. Let someone else have the 1st year depreciation hit.
Go to a Car Supermarket place, and get an ex fleet car, around 10,000 miles on the clock. Our lease cars are sent back with 9,000 on the clock, and are given a good life - lots of motorway mileage. Then they get serviced and sold. All initial problems and depreciation are sorted.
Buy what you like the look of. Reliability on most cars is superb, but Peugeots seem to be bottom at the moment. Don't go for a urban cross-over/4x4 type car unless you are lacking in the trouser department. Although getting a bike into the boot without taking the front wheel off is nice.
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
A friend of mine admits he couldn't own a Skoda because of the badge, which is odd, he must be stuck in 1989 or something.
[/quote]
I would be very rich if i got a pound each time i heard that saying ! It was normally a quote from someone who had never been in or driven a Skoda and read Max power.....no tell a lie,looked at the pictures in Max Power ! I enjoyed all my Skoda's especially the very un-trendy rear engined ones and none of them ever let me down.
[/quote]
I would be very rich if i got a pound each time i heard that saying ! It was normally a quote from someone who had never been in or driven a Skoda and read Max power.....no tell a lie,looked at the pictures in Max Power ! I enjoyed all my Skoda's especially the very un-trendy rear engined ones and none of them ever let me down.
