I'm really interested to see what people recommend. I'm currently on my second B6-era Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDI. The first was an SE spec which I absolutely adored but the cambelt went and my current is a Quattro Sport.

 

I really love the A4 Avant of this era but the Quattro Sport is proving to be quite a bit more expensive to insure, tax and run than the SE was. As well as that, I could do with being able to tow a caravan or trailer for short distances a couple of times per year, and the suspension on the Sport is too low to consider putting a towbar on - if I tried to put a caravan on the back, it would be far too low for comfort. I've been watching Auto Trader for 4 - 5 months now and the A4 Avants that come up are either rusted to bits or more expensive than I can justify right now.

 

So, just interested to know what people reckon is the best Estate car I could get for £1000? Low budget and need to reduce costs are both down to an upcoming wedding! 

 

Cheers

 

EDIT: Is there anywhere else I should be looking alongside AutoTrader?

Edited 30 September, 20187 yr by alessio92

The ones easy to find and get choices in. & parts for.  Nothing with AWD unless you really need that.

Volvo V50

Toyota Avensis

Honda Accord

Peugeot 407

 

I'd probably go with George's suggestion of an Avensis, Accord or Civic.

 

But what about a Passat B5/5.5 or a Mundano too.

 

Nice 1.9 130PD with a five speed gearbox (more robust than the six-speed). Or a 110TDI - pre PD, so the simpler fuelling system 

 

Gaz

Edited 30 September, 20187 yr by V6TDI

The problem with anything at that price point is that the people owning them may not have had the budget to maintain them properly and will have cheaped out on things, parts especially. If you're buying anything VAG for that money, maybe make sure you have at least half that much again for repairs and maintenance in the first year.

4 hours ago, V6TDI said:

I'd probably go with George's suggestion of an Avensis, Accord or Civic.

 

But what about a Passat B5/5.5 or a Mundano too.

 

Nice 1.9 130PD with a five speed gearbox (more robust than the six-speed). Or a 110TDI - pre PD, so the simpler fuelling system 

 

Gaz

 

Speaking from experience the B5/5.5 passat should not be considered. The B6 would be a better choice, normal suspension on the front and can still be had with the best revision of the 1.9 PD engine.

Cheers! I'll have a look around.

Problem (potentially) with an avensis - they are bought (here at least) by people with no imagination or mechanical sympathy, and as such the types who think "its a toyota, itll never break" thatll do, and maintenance is neglected and they dint even notice problems until they get told about before NCT time.

Mondullo is the same, but worse... ive never seem a mondullo interior that didnt look like someone had refitted dash panels from the Halfords Christmas Chav Catalogue...

On 01/10/2018 at 22:46, mac11irl said:

Problem (potentially) with an avensis - they are bought (here at least) by people with no imagination or mechanical sympathy, and as such the types who think "its a toyota, itll never break" thatll do, and maintenance is neglected and they dint even notice problems until they get told about before NCT time.

Mondullo is the same, but worse... ive never seem a mondullo interior that didnt look like someone had refitted dash panels from the Halfords Christmas Chav Catalogue...

Gotta be honest, I think  Avensis was also designed by people with no imagination. My other half has an 05 Corolla and I find it the dullest car in the world to drive.

 

Don't have anything against a Mondeo other than that it's not very exciting, but what is in my budget range?! :lol:

On 25/11/2018 at 20:47, alessio92 said:

Don't have anything against a Mondeo other than that it's not very exciting, but what is in my budget range?! :lol:

Maybe not in the looks department but the Mk1/2/3/4 are pretty much the best cars to drive in their class and wipe the floor with pretty much everything else from that era; including the 'prestige' marques.  Even now the latest generation aren't as good as they once were but they are still better than any mainstream VAG car (from a driving/handling perspective)

 

I'd go for a well maintained Mondeo or Mazda 6 or even a Mk1 Octavia. 

On 25/11/2018 at 20:47, alessio92 said:

Gotta be honest, I think  Avensis was also designed by people with no imagination. My other half has an 05 Corolla and I find it the dullest car in the world to drive.

 

Don't have anything against a Mondeo other than that it's not very exciting, but what is in my budget range?! :lol:

 

Mondeo have a dull image but they are very nice cars to drive and you get that connected feeling which VAG seem to design out of their cars. MK3 2.2 diesel Mondeo Estate TitaniumX was the most reliable car I've had and hence why I kept it for 8 years. On a long run it would do around 60mpg fully loaded. Quite a few ST's about but most of them are now well abused, TitaniumX gives you more spec and not bought by Chav's. They are also very easy to service and parts are cheap too.

If you do go the Mondeo route make sure no broken springs and now with the MOT's make sure it's not been decatted and if it has do they still have the Cat. Decatting the engine really livens it up and isn't difficult to change but a ball ache if you need to do it every year for an MOT.

23 minutes ago, penguin17 said:

Maybe not in the looks department but the Mk1/2/3/4 are pretty much the best cars to drive in their class and wipe the floor with pretty much everything else from that era; including the 'prestige' marques.  Even now the latest generation aren't as good as they once were but they are still better than any mainstream VAG car (from a driving/handling perspective)

 

I'd go for a well maintained Mondeo or Mazda 6 or even a Mk1 Octavia. 

 

Also if you want to run on a shoestring budget, aim to buy the lowest spec you can find

Simply if there are less gadgets, electric motors etc, there is less to break down

 

However since the MOT was toughened up few months ago, you might find a lack of cars are available at £1000

Probably going to have to search hard, and look for something mechanically good, but cosmetically poor

 

 

 

I bought an Octavia 2 Estate1.9tdi 105hp, low mileage full dealer service history, excellent condition, new Michelin energy saver + tyres, towbar etc but MOT failure for £750, the garage had told them it needed a new engine block as a mounting had fractured, it cost £30 for a replacement alternator bracket.

 

As pleased as I am with it and all the improvements and upgrades compared to my MK1 it does not drive as well and I feel disconnected from the contact points with the road.

 

I had been looking for another MK1 but struggled to find anything which was likely to serve me as well for another 13 years as its predecessor had.

 

I was suprised by how much car you can get for under £1000, been away a long time but pals who still dabble say that values plummet once a vehicle exceeds the percieved 10 year service life whereas I would say that my 12 year old 120000 mile example is far better than any 3 year old car I have owned in the past.

 

£1000 will always be my maximum budget in the future.