Just interested to hear people's ideas, to see if there are things I hadn't thought about.

 

I currently drive an 02 Fabia 1.9SDI Estate. I'm thinking of changing it in a few months, but not enturely sure what to get next. Don't have a huge budget - I'd be looking at in the region of £1200-1300 for the car and ideally no more than a £1k for the insurance.

 

In insurance terms, my Fab is just over £500 this year, an Octavia 1.9TDI 110bhp would be in the region of £750-800 and a 2001-04 A4 Avant £1200 pa.

 

I need a similar amount of boot/backseat space to the Fabia estate as I occasionally transport a stage piano, but otherwise generally used for commuting (20 minutes) and a 60-mile round trip on the motorway once a week, plus the odd holiday in the summer, where the boot space again comes in useful.

 

I'd love an older (02-04 or thereabouts) A4 Avant but can't afford one just yet realistically. I also kinda like the idea of a MK1 Octavia estate but I'm starting to go a bit cold on the looks of them if I'm honest, and had pondered a Mk4 Golf (hatch, not estate. Just big enough!) but as much as I like them I don't know if it's a worthwhile investment. Not so bothered about a sporty/VRS-type model but definitely want a decent increase on my current stunning 64bhp!

 

Any ideas/suggestions? Just interested to know where people have gone after a Fabia really.

Cheers!

 

 

 

There is a nice sounding Fabia Estate in the For Sale in Briskoda.  No age in the advert, maybe worth a look.

 

EDIT.

Ah sorry, asking price more than double you budget., 

 

?

Any reason that your insurance is so high?

Edited 17 December, 20169 yr by Offski

No worries, cheers anyway. I'm 24 with only a few years NCB - think it'll be 2 years by March, so higher insurance groups out of reach really. I'm also a technician which seems to lift it a bit.

Insurance and fuel on this 2.3 V5 VW Passat would mean this is a no-go but what a lot of car for the money. The first set of aftermarket LED rear lights that look good too...

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201612130576275?body-type=Estate&sort=price-desc&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&postcode=sl13yd&page=1

 

If you really want an Audi A4 then lets face it you are going to regret not getting one whatever you choose. For only a few hundred quid more there are plenty just over budget. This one is a private sale too and the seller sounds genuine. It's the 1.9 diesel too so bullet proof if it's had regular oil changes...

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611229978610?price-to=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&body-type=Estate&postcode=sl13yd&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-desc&radius=1500&page=3

 

The sensible choice is something Japanese for reliability at this budget, so Honda or Toyota. The Accord estate is a very good car, expensive Michelin tyres on a 13 year old car suggests the previous owner didn't scrimp on maintenance either....

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201611179850010?price-to=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&postcode=sl13yd&body-type=Estate&sort=price-desc&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&page=3

 

At 24 I'd never suggest a Volvo but given you currently drive a Fabia estate I reckon it'll still offer an improved image! Leggy V40's and V50's are creeping into budget.

 

Whilst the Ford Focus estate might be dull as dishwater every single mechanic knows their way around them, parts are readily available and are as cheap as they get so it is a good car to run on a shoe-string. Same goes for the Vauxhall Astra.

 

It's a brave man who buys a £1,200 Peugeot 308 or Renault Megane so I'd be avoiding these (same goes for the 407 and Laguna).

 

Sod it, I'd get this just to annoy the neighbours and so that I could tell my mates that my car has a Mercedes engine  :D

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201612170668403?body-type=Estate&sort=price-desc&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&radius=1500&advertising-location=at_cars&price-to=1500&postcode=sl13yd&page=9

Edited 18 December, 20169 yr by silver1011

Hi,

If you need any help with insurance at all for any vehicle you're looking at then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

Thanks for suggestions so far, looking at all suggested options :D

If you really want an Audi A4 then lets face it you are going to regret not getting one whatever you choose. For only a few hundred quid more there are plenty just over budget. This one is a private sale too and the seller sounds genuine. It's the 1.9 diesel too so bullet proof if it's had regular oil changes...

 

 

Unfortunately all the AT links didn't work for me - probably just a technicality in the URL or something.

 

Re: the A4, I know, but although I could afford to buy, insure and fuel one thanks to an upcoming payrise, I'm more concerned about maintenance/repairs/tyres etc that will end up costing so much more than any of the other options just because it's Audi - e.g. if it's on R16 wheels the cheapest tyres at my local places for most models of Avant would be £71/tyre, albeit fitted, whereas 15s are £49, or the £45/wheel I currently pay (although I accept that it's going to go up one way or another). I've got time to figure it out and do the maths anyway.

 

You say you are thinking on changing, and i understand a change is as good as a rest.

But is your car costing you much now, or is there a problem with it, and can you get money for it.?

 

So basically is changing what you have a good financial move for you if money is tight, or there are things more important you can go with it.

Sometimes better the devil you know.

You say you are thinking on changing, and i understand a change is as good as a rest.

But is your car costing you much now, or is there a problem with it, and can you get money for it.?

 

So basically is changing what you have a good financial move for you if money is tight, or there are things more important you can go with it.

Sometimes better the devil you know.

 

It's a fair question fella. My current car is a 205000 mile 1.9SDI. It's been fantastic and I'm incredibly fond of it but after 2 years I fancy a change.

 

This is partly because of age-related issues occurring that are fairly standard on a cheaper car - mostly small things that can be relatively easily rectified with the right knowledge or tools but requires the time and willpower to do so (and do so again, and again...), partly because I want something that is a little more comfortable at motorway speeds - the SDI can do the speeds, but it really feels like you're overworking it and drinking fuel, and partly just because I want to try something different - not to mention a little higher spec; my SDI is a Classic and it's very basic.

 

I really like that model of A4, the next model (05- onwards) is a bit 'flash' for my tastes, and i'm thinking that they're already 12-16 years old; by the time I'm changing my car next they'll be really old so in a sense it's now or never if I'm getting one.

 

As it happens, a mate has an A3 and gets his tyres cheaply online so that's that bit dealt with. Assuming clutch and head gasket are ok, and that it's been serviced half-decently, what issues might I have that could cost a bomb? Are they prone to rusting or electrical issues or anything like that?

 

Cheers again all.