Which almost retro Estate

Vectra out of those two - it's overpriced for being a Cat C though, the Lagunas need a set of coil-packs every other fill up.

I'd go for the Laguna, just because I can't remember the last time I saw a Laguna estate, I'd forgotten they even built them!

At 20 years old, most things will have a few miles on them ; it's the generation when cars started to last.

Laguna is a good shout, but the cambelts on the V6s can be more than the value of the car to change ; that needs to be beared in mind.

If it were me, I'd be looking at a Volvo V70 or a Mondeo Mk3. Latter is not quite what you want but I doubt you can get a better car for your requirements under £1k.

Or, more rarely, Camry estates.

I’m not over there but here E39 tourings go for ludicrously low prices for what they are. What issues there are are well known and documented and easily fixed.

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201905258338057?postcode=l85rj&price-from=500&sort=distance&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&model=75%20TOURER&make=ROVER&page=1

They would probably take £1K, if not less.
Classy, comfortable, spacious enough and a nailed on future classic.

406
C5 MK1 if you can cope with the looks
Odd ball but a Marea weekend comes with the 5pot 20V motor.

of those two laguna... open market , golf or passat.

While people like them, below £1k, they are pretty ropey, and a good one does drive miles nicer than a tired one. You can get close to £1k(ish) if you discount the diesels ; the diesels are now tired and near E60 money for something that's not a bag of curse word.