Hi Guys,

 

I hope you are well.

 

So....your mission.....

 

Recommend a workhorse for motorway work -

 

1) It must be priced between £800-£1200

2) Must be as reliable as possible for a budget car

3)Diesel

4)Preferably an estate

5) Last a maximum of 2 years/20,000 miles

6) prefer no more than 130,000 at purchase

 

The cars I came up with were :

 

Peugeot 406 Hdi estate

Renault Laguna 1.9 dci (although these seem to have a rep for weak turbos and key card probs)

Ford Mondeo

Rover 45 Diesel (alleged to have good engine - appreciate this isnt an estate)

 

Kindest Regards

 

Pullers

Edited 19 April, 201412 yr by Pullers01

Why last a maximum of two years? Surely longer the better? Out of that list I'd go with the mondeo tbh. Otherwise for ultimate engine reliability it'd be an old school 1.9 Tdi Passat.

Avensis D4d

 

Volvo D5

 

Passat B5 or 5.5

 

Gaz

Edit - ignore that, stupid 'real price is' douche bags on autotrader

Edited 19 April, 201412 yr by TriggerFish

Hi Yeti_man - It would be used as a second car and if all worked out would only need to last a couple of years BUT if it was still a good runner would be sold on.

 

Hi V6TDI - Wow...The D5 is an amazing engine, didnt realise theyd be so cheap? ill check that out...Thanks

 

Hi Triggerfish - Not sure if youve deleted a post....

Mazda 6 estate?

 

Bit more at £1385 >http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201404103231909/sort/default/usedcars/model/mazda6/make/mazda/postcode/s59ds/page/2/body-type/estate/price-to/1500/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

 

Another in budget >http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201404153347617/sort/default/usedcars/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/mazda/postcode/s59ds/fuel-type/diesel/page/1/radius/1500/price-to/1500/model/mazda6?logcode=p

 

Those are dealers, private ones should be even better value

 

Good luck with the search, whatever you choose

I was about to say exactly that!

 

Beware that "everybody knows they're bad for head gaskets". Quite a few people in my old job had them, and the head gaskets did go, at about 180-200k. 

 

406 2.0 HDI

 

Diesel X-type if you can find an estate

 

Basically, look for a 2 litre diesel with a car attached. 

Hi Damo - Ive always really liked the look of the Mazda 6 - The guy who works at my place has got a nice spec one that I think was ex lease/high mileage. Do you know much about them?

 

HI Stevestruck - Thanks for your reply - Whats bad for H/Gasket? The pug or mazda?

Hi Damo - Ive always really liked the look of the Mazda 6 - The guy who works at my place has got a nice spec one that I think was ex lease/high mileage. Do you know much about them?

 

 

Only that several people I know ran them in the past, and never had any major issues with them.

 

Very comfy and well specced.

 

Lets get real though... All cars at this price range are probably going to have little things that need sorting, so budget in a few quid for repairs and maintenance 

 

I'd be looking at the Mazda6 personally if it was me

 

Happy hunting

 

Damo

Hi V6TDI - Wow...The D5 is an amazing engine, didnt realise theyd be so cheap? ill check that out...Thanks

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/52-VOLVO-V70-D5-SE-FULL-LEATHER-CLIMATE-ALLOYS-CRUISE-COMPUTER-FABULOUS-CAR-/171302537711?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27e26d49ef

 

And you get to put on your own custom fuel filler cap! 

 

Gaz

Hi Damo,

 

Ive been checking out Autotrader and Ebay since your recommendation....

 

They do look a lot of car for the money and tick the boxes....especially cheap in 1.8 petrol.......

 

Im thinking being japanese should be reliable on the whole but yes as you say - got to expect little niggles and faults to crop up over time.

That V70 is a beast....bet its seen some action....nice spec though!

 

No ones gonna pull out of a junction or cut you up in that....

Octavia TDi estate.

Passat TDi estate.

BMW 5 Series estate.

Rover 75 / MGZT CDTi estate.

 

Should be able to get all these in your budget

Has to be a nice mk3 Mondeo for that money.

For price guide, I sold a base spec 1.8 l petrol in Feb for £1300 - that was a 54 plate with 88k and fsh.

Add a bit of money for Diesel engine, subtract a bit for a few more miles and you should be able to get what you're after for the same sort of money.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Edited 20 April, 201412 yr by sotonjoe

Saab 9-5 estate

Thanks for all your replys guys! Some good suggestions.

 

I know completely out of the "criteria" but has anyone seen how cheap the Lexus Is is now!! blimey!! Just browsing the web last night and there seems loads under £1500!!

 

I used to have a ZT Diesel some time ago as a cheap car and it was great....Id love another but I would want a facelift and a minter so that means £4000.....

 

Mondeo, Saab 9000 (now seem rare?), 9-5, Mazda 6, Volvo......all good ideas!

 

Sounds daft but im trying not to look at Skoda - thatd make 3 in the family!

Edited 20 April, 201412 yr by Pullers01

Astra diesel estate? Focus estate? Or are these to small

Hi

Hope you are well.

No they would be ok...funny I looked at astra diesels the other day - never been sure wether vauxhall have cracked Diesel engines as well as others? Although I think I'm right in thinking the 1.7 was an isuzu lump?

I think it depends on the age of the car tbh but some did have an isuzu lump yeah.. My mums old astra 1.7 was an isuzu engine.

I had a Mazda 6 for a couple of years and it was a great car all in all. It had the 2 litre engine which was smooth but liked a rev to really get moving - luckily it didn't mind being revved! It handled really well and felt much lighter than the Octavia if you know what I mean. It was also great fun to drive. Reliability was excellent and the mechanic which I took it to said it was mechanically bombproof in his experience. I found it spacious and comfortable and the Bose stereo was great. If you're looking for something which should prove to be fun and yet reliable, the Mazda would be a good choice. Plus, it does look so much better than the Mondeo!

Ive always like the look of the mazda 6 until i drove one. Maybe it was just the engine that put me off, 1.8 petrol. It didnt really make me smile. I suppose with the right engine it would be a different story

Ive always like the look of the mazda 6 until i drove one. Maybe it was just the engine that put me off, 1.8 petrol. It didnt really make me smile. I suppose with the right engine it would be a different story

That is the bottom of the range engine, petrol, normally aspirated. Its to be expected.

IMHO for a relatively small mileage, I think the OP is unduly tying himself to diesel in this price range. Considering petrol will widen the choice of cars in this budget for maybe £500 a year more fuel and tax (I haven't worked it out properly).

Hi All,

 

Seems to be that the Mazda 6 is quite well thought of - Just had a look at some 2.0 Petrol ones out of interest theres some bargains out there.

 

Just putting feelers out at the moment and getting some ideas...

Try to see if you can get the TS2 model too. The interior and extras are well worth the extra outlay.

I drove a 45 td impression s for a while, faultless car i would definitely recommend one, was a bit disappointed to get back in my 1.4 rover 25 . There are a few sub £1000 on autotrader.