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Sept 5, 2011 16:25:56 GMT
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Hi all, i'm thinking about getting rid of my 309 in favour of something a little bit larger but i can't seem to think of a good car that will fit the bill. My criteria are: 1. Estate. I could really do with the larger load space as the 309 is just too small. 2. Cheap, circa under £500 3. Small engine. As i work for minimum wage (putting my degree to good use  ) i need something that is going to be cheap to insure so it need to be low on capacity, a small TD engine would be ideal. 4. Reliable. Since i've had the 309 (Sep '10) i've had to replace 2 parts on it and i would like to keep up that trend of not fixing it every weekend. Plus the less i spend on it the more i have to spend on my 205  The only car i can think of that meets all of those is one of the Skoda Felicia estates but there must be some other options, anyone think of any? P.S. sorry for the lack of pics but i'm at work atm and can't add any. |
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Sept 5, 2011 16:29:25 GMT
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What do you mean by 'small' engine? Under 1600, under 2 litre?
I think you'd struggle to find a diesel estate with an engine smaller than 1600?
How about keeping it in the family and going for a 306/405 wagon?
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Last Edit: Sept 5, 2011 16:31:19 GMT by VIP
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crazymonkey
Posted a lot
ummm....what was I doing again???
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 5, 2011 16:32:06 GMT
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405 estates are brilliant cars, very reliable and the diesels are fantastic on fuel. But I'm guessing small engine means under 1500cc if the felicia is an option.
Felicia is a good choice but the 1300 engines are underpowered in my opinion. don't forget the favorit though. MOT time all we needed was a number plate light and never replaced anything other than spark plugs and oil and brakes
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whoever said dogs were man's best friend....obviously never heard of cable ties
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Sept 5, 2011 16:44:51 GMT
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Felicia diesels are 1.9.
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Sept 5, 2011 17:35:42 GMT
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The Skoda 1.3 as mentioned is a bit underpowered, but the cars are light. It's bomb-proof as well. Just change the coolant immediately and make sure the rad is good, and you wont have any other probs all being well - although the VW/Bosch alternators on the newer ones isn't very good and is prone to failing.
But surely the obvious choice would be a 1.4 306 SW?
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Sept 5, 2011 18:02:45 GMT
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By small engine yes i do mean under 1600cc. I've had a 306 before and i wouldn't have another one, certanly not a 1.4, it's the only car i've ever been in that struggled to hit 75mph  I wouldn't mind a 405 but i did used to have a Mi16 so i think i would miss it too badly ;D Whats the problem with the coolant on the Skoda? Another addition to the criteria is that it must be capable of more than 100mph. I know you're all going to say "well the speed limit is 70 and this forum doesn't condone speeding" but the reason i say that is the top speed of the 309 is 99mph and when going down a motorway the engine is revving it's nuts off even matching the speed limit. I'd like a car with a bit longer gearing so i can feel like i'm presenting a bit of mechanical sympathy. |
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Sept 5, 2011 19:02:12 GMT
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Just got a quote on a 1600 (Zetec) Escort estate for an extra £30 insurace per year, looks like the engine doesn't have to be quite as small as i thought
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lilbob
Part of things
Posts: 419
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Sept 5, 2011 20:32:22 GMT
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what about an astra estate or a passat estate or there is always a golf estate
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crazymonkey
Posted a lot
ummm....what was I doing again???
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 5, 2011 21:16:50 GMT
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if you could stretch a bit to 1.7 then astra 1.7td is a good car. get a mk3 with the isuzu engine and you'll have years of reliable motoring. dunno the top speed on them, not much I imagine but enough poke there to do the job quickly enough.
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whoever said dogs were man's best friend....obviously never heard of cable ties
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Car selection helpRobinxr4i
@robinxr4i
Club Retro Rides Member 143
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Sept 5, 2011 21:18:39 GMT
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+1 for the 406 TD estate, economical, performance isn't bad for an old diesel either, plenty of cool stuff you can do to them. Plus there is still a few knocking about. Or if you can find one a Citroën BX TD estate.....IF you can find one! mechanically the same as the 406 but with funky hydropneumatic suspension!
Personally I'd go for a Ford Sierra TD Estate, it's got the 1.8TD lump found in the Mondeos and Escorts so bits are cheap and easy to get hold of, performance ain't as good as the 406 though, good reliability, mechanically dead simple and it's a Sierra whats there not to like?
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Last Edit: Sept 5, 2011 21:22:47 GMT by Robinxr4i
Sierra - here we go again! He has an illness, it's not his fault.
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Sept 5, 2011 21:24:29 GMT
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Citroen ZX? I've got an estate, 1.9D which isn't all that small but it might as well be for all the power it produces! I think you'd struggle to get 100 out of it to be honest, but it feels very capable and comfortable at motorway speeds, just isn't all that quick getting there. Plenty economical though, and has been reliable in the time I've owned it.
You can get non-turbo ones for under 500 but the TD ones seem a lot more desirable, fetching double that if they're particularly nice.
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Car selection helpRobinxr4i
@robinxr4i
Club Retro Rides Member 143
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Sept 5, 2011 21:48:05 GMT
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Might be out of budget? Although there are plenty of cheap dirty sixes about so one might be one come up cheap enough. E36 318TD estate.....  |
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Sierra - here we go again! He has an illness, it's not his fault.
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Whats the problem with the coolant on the Skoda? No problem, just have to run them 50/50 mix or the HG will pop, it's an all alloy engine typically owned by old people so never maintained. They run hot as well (as standard). Get a good one and you'll be fine. I've had a couple and they are well geared for doing 70, about 3k at 70, although a bit of road noise at speeds any higher than that. Will top out at 101 though. Really you're looking for a suitably geared car, not specific mph target? |
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Sept 6, 2011 12:11:27 GMT
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Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I've been looking through all of the cars suggested and i've made a list of their obvious faults that spring to my mind:
Skoda Felicia (all engines); Gutless
MkVI Escort 1600 Zetec; Rust, more expensive to run the the diesel
MkVI Escort 1.8 TD; Rust, more expensive to buy than the petrol
Peugeot 406 diesel; Expensive to buy
Peugeot 405 diesel; Beam issues (not really a problem for me though, more of an annoyance)
Sierra; Rust, 1.6 petrols are gutless. Dervs might be OK though
Golf estate; Expensive to buy
Passat Estate; Seems cheaper than the golf, still a bit out of my price range though.
Astra diesel; interiors are pretty horrific and it would probably kill of my sex life altogether (not wanting to offend any Vauxhall owners)
BX estate; hard to find one that has been looked after properly
ZX estate; N/A diesels are slower than my 309 and the TD ones are well out of my price range
E36 318; nice car but well out of my price range.
So those are the obvious problems (puts on the flame suit and waits to be corrected) that i can see however i think i'll be on the look out for either an Escort, Sierra, a 405 or a BX. I am seriously limited by my budget which is annoying as if i had a bit more cash i'm sure i could get myself a nice 406 or Passat.
If anyone has anymore suggestions though please keep them coming, or a reason why i should/shouldn't buy one of the above cars that would be ace.
Thanks for everything so far.
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Sept 6, 2011 12:37:08 GMT
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Whats the problem with the coolant on the Skoda? Really you're looking for a suitably geared car, not specific mph target? Exactly, i just hate driving on the motorway and having a car revving it's nuts off to keep up with the traffic. I drove my old 405Mi to the Isle of Mull once and that was lovely, 3000rpm at cruising speed with another 4000rpm left in reserve ;D |
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rysz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,554
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Sept 6, 2011 12:51:20 GMT
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What about a Rover 400 estate? The 416 is a reasonable engine and they are a good looking car.
Also, a Civic estate - these can be found for your budget if you look around and are very comfortable cars to drive!
Rysz.
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Sept 6, 2011 13:03:26 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 6, 2011 13:08:07 GMT by Soopahfly
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Sept 6, 2011 13:10:08 GMT
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What about a Rover 400 estate? The 416 is a reasonable engine and they are a good looking car. Also, a Civic estate - these can be found for your budget if you look around and are very comfortable cars to drive! Rysz. Was the 416 fitted with the K series? Also don't they rot quite badly or is it no worse than the Sierra. I had no idea they did a Civic estate, more investigation needed. |
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) i need something that is going to be cheap to insure so it need to be low on capacity, a small TD engine would be ideal.
I wouldn't mind a 405 but i did used to have a Mi16 so i think i would miss it too badly ;D
