Hi everyone from a new member.
I have to replace my ageing Alfa 164 due to high repair costs. I need a family estate car, and have approx £5000 to play with. Am considering a Laguna (not many around), Vectra (loads around and cheap) or 406 (seem relatively expensive). Would prefer under 50 000 miles because I'll be keeping it for many years. Is a Xantia worth considering? Do you have any opinions regarding the best buy?
Thanks in advance.
tim c
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Given the feedback on this site and the fact that you want to keep your car for 'many years' I'd avoid any of those you list ! Volvo's aren't s£$y but they last for ever and you'll have no problem getting your family in. Of course they hold their value pretty well too so I don't know how new a car you'd get for the money you've got but a late 940/960 ought to within reach and they're quite a bit bigger than the 850/V70 too.
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Agree with Volvoman, get a 940/960 estate they will go on for 200k-300k miles without much bother.
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Simple ! Get yourself a 5 yr old Toyota Carina - either estate or 5-door hatch. They've got more space than anything else and they're cheap and near as dammit bullet-proof.
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I'd be interested to check one out myself Bob but don't think I've ever seen a Carina estate.
Tim (my namesake) - What about an older Merc. C or E Class Estate ? Again, they keep their value so don't know how late a version you might get.
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I'd go with the Volvo 850/V70s the 170 & 200 bhp versions are not only practical, they are a great drive.
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Volvo 960 or V90 {perhaps the latter too expensive}, or go for the 940 if fuel consumption a bid issue.
diesel versions of the 900 series go for more £££ but only do slightly more MPG and do no 'go' as well.
See HJ's comments on the ultimate Q car, the Volvo 960
Alsoo being RWD, the turning circle is amazing / parking the 16 foot monster is easy and far less wheel spin on fast get aways than similar powered FWDs such as the 850 /V70 VolvosO
Owned a 700 and 2 900 series Volvos, now looking for a late 960 estate or V90 24V 204 BHP Full Spec.
When I find one I'll sell you my 940 GLE estate for £5000 if you want.
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I think you'd have to go Japanese....Toyota Carina/Avensis, Mazda 626, Nissan Primera - all available in hatch/estate and all cheap(ish) to buy and reliable. If you plan to buy a Volvo and get it serviced at a Volvo dealer it's not going to be cheap!
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That's a very good point Paul - the turning circle on the 940 estate is unbelieveable for one of the biggest cars on the road.
Servicing costs are of course an issue but Jap parts are expensive and I don't remember noting Toyota dealers for cheap`servicing when I owned one a few years ago. You're going to keep the car for years and due to the age of the new car, you won't be locked into warranty terms so you can afford to get a good independent to service the vehicle like I do now and save £££££'s.
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Thank you all for your replies - I've got plenty to think about
tim c
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Might be worth looking at a VW Passat. They seem pretty durable. Audi A6 Avant is basically a Passat in a designer suit, and hard to find at low mileage for sensible money. Stylish and long-lasting though. Or else try a Subaru Legacy if you can find one - even if you don't need the 4WD, it's still a strong, reliable, practical estate which should hold its value well. Not available as a diesel though, if that matters to you.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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>>Would prefer under 50 000 miles because I'll be keeping it for many years<<
In your case, it's probably much better economics to go for an ex-fleet 100k/S-T plate than a 50k - so long as it's been looked after. You are going to take it to 'old, high mileage' in either case so why not save up front?
Mitsubishi Galant is stylish and cheap, has a good reputation for reliability, very good spec. Failing that I'd be tempted by an A4 Avant.
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I have often read the charge, in this and other threads and in the media generally, that Volvo servicing and parts are expensive.
As we all know servicing and parts at any main dealers are expensive ? see the VW Golf thread about the exhaust for instance.
However, I find my Volvo 940 GLE Estate very cheap to maintain.
For a start the parts last a long time and so work out inexpensive.
Oil, antifreeze, spark plugs, wiper blades, bulbs, HT leads, air filters, oil filters are the same price as any other car. A main dealer may charge £25 for the ordinary, {non-synthetic} oil in any car?s service, but you can buy the very same oil at £4 to £12 in a car accessory shops, from ?supermarket unbranded to big brands that spend £100,000s on TV adverts. Garages buy large quantites of engine oil in large containers. I bet they pay less than £4.00 per 5 litres {most engines need less than 5 litres anyway} and charge you poor punters £25.00 and for a full 5 litres.
The tyres for my 940 cost £32 each fitted and balanced incl vat; even top of the range Dunlops are only £60.Tyres for you average super mini can cost over £100 each. Being RWD, the 940?s tyres last a long time. I have got over 30k miles from a pair of £32 {each} tyres on the back ? still another 10K at least left in them. Very little wheel spin even under harsh acceleration form standstill {compare that to similar powered FWD cars and excellent turning circle.}
There are many Volvo ?specialist? and breakers, new and second hand parts are easy to source and at good prices.
There is at least one mail order co. that specialises in parts for Volvo, VW and Audi ? very reasonable ? see Autotrader ads.
A colleague of mine got a new clutch fitted in his 175,00 mile 940 for £180 incl Vat. That?s around £1 per thousand miles !!!!!!!!!
I could go on about the 900 series Volvos, the excellent turning circle, fully galvanised bodies, their ?proper bumpers? that don?t shatter when SWMBO parks too close to a ?dry stone wall? and their safety features such as ABS, SIPS, Power Lock Diffs etc., but many such as ?Volvoman? are already converted.
If too many people buy Volvo estates, you will push the prices up when I next buy one, so I am happy that some people but Renualt Lagunas instead
Paul 513 {May change by Deed Poll to Volvo 531? Watch this space !!!!!!!}
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Paul I agree, my V70 is no more expensive to run and service than any other car I've had in the past. I think it's a myth that Volvo's are expensive, try running an Audi or a VW.
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Paul...........you mention dry stone walls. That means hills.
What do you drive up said hills when it snows?
I'm easily confused...................
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Paul
The RWD Volvo is fine on snow, got a power lock diff' too, so if one whhel spins, the diff locks and both turn at the same spped. Not sure 'how' it owrks, or when it disenaages, but it works weel.
When it engages, you can hear a 'clunk' from the back end and the car then drives on much better.
Last winter got up a 1 in 7 and passed many a front wheel drive car that was stuck.No doubt AWD would be better.
Hills, snow and try stones walls a plenty in the FoB {see below for FoB}
PS did you now that Dunstop Bridge in the FoB is the geographical centre of the our Island, hence centre of the world, the universe and everything.
See G' Book of Recs, OS web site and Multimap.com etc.
Paul {Forest of Bowland}
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Good grief......does that mean you're standing still, and everyone's flying round you at 18,000 mph ??
Bet your Volvo wouldn't get up my road.
I'm easily confused.........................
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after owning a high mileage peugoet, i am sceptical about high mileage cars, but as you are going to keep it for a long time and run it till it dies that maybe the best option. I know it's a fair way into the the future but rust a P reg car may well start further into it's life.
Ther fore my recomedations are:
Not peugoet/citroen
Not vauxhall or ford
GERMAN higher mileage, with about 80k and contact the previous owner asking about the cars history. You have to be sure it has been well looked after and not been in a bump or anything.
should be able to get a T plate
But if not then yes, a volvo but the same rules apply as above.
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Thanks all.
Andy22 - tell me more about your experience with a high mileage Peugeot, I'm intrigued
tim c
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Go on then Paul M-Tinks, what car have u got?
How steep is the road to your house?
My RWD Volvo gets up Boundary Hill {Trough of Bowland in the snow ok.
Paul {Forest of Bowland}
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Gosh, Paul............go for a rest and half our posts disappear.
Our whimsies must be upsetting someone..........such is life.
I'm AWD, but low and quick (look normal in photos, though).
Feels like 1 in 1, but suppose it's not. A descending dustcart on black ice is good spectator sport...............
Yes, I know RWD Volvos are good..........only jesting.
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Paul
Perhaps there is a Daewoo fan, should have said that you were making less sense than buying a Kia Pride?
Paul
Paul {Forest of Bowland}
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I'm not a fan of either......I think we have a misunderstanding here. Never mind.
Must close this subject now, I've promised Mark.
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