Hey guys, as much as I love my little MX-5, for various reasons, I'm considering swapping it for a big comfy cruiser with a massive boot. I'm not looking to buy this second, but sometime this summer, just considering my options so I can keep an eye out for bargains.
My conditions/preferences are:
Budget of £1000-£1500, could stretch this for something really cool/interesting though.
Must be an estate, and preferably a big luxury one. I may be swayed by an exceptionally cool saloon, but generally, estates only.
Must at least vaguely go around bends, I'm not wanting a sporty car, but some grip would be nice.
Not fussed about engine or gearbox, 25mpg average 30+ on a run would be a minimum if it's cool enough to justify it, but at the same time I don't mind something slower and more economical.
It's going to end up low, so decent initial ground clearance, and a nice flat underside are a bonus, plus good wheel choice would be nice.
I'd rather keep it pre ~2000ish but I'm open to anything old as long as it's not going to be a testicle-ache to keep on the road reliably, I don't mind preventative maintenance and taking care of it, but I want a car I can depend on as it'll be a daily and only car at the moment.
Oh, and it needs to be able to tow a small car on a trailer.
That's about it, I'm not really bothered about anything else, don't mind what type of fuel it burns, or what wheels it powers (actually, having said that, 4wd would be a bonus!) or what sort of gearbox it's got.
(On a random, slightly related note, I wish people would stop listing 4x4's as estates on e-bay, it's really annoying, and there's a specific section for 4x4s!)
So, what I've considered so far:
Volvos, cool cars, meet all the criteria, but I'm not sure I like them enough to justify the fuel cost. I'm open to being convinced otherwise, but there's just something about them that doesn't really fit my personality. If I was to go for one though I think I'd be looking at 240s for the added retro-cool.
BMW e34 touring. Also a cool car, but again, I'm not sure they'd justify the fuel cost, interior space isn't as good up front or in the boot as other stuff a similar size. An LPG or diesel one would definitely be in the running, but they're not massively common.
Mercedes, not really clued up on these, again, don't seem great on the fuel:performance ratio, and again, not really 'me', but I could be convinced otherwise, especially by older stuff.
Passats, I like them, but I'm not convinced they're big and bargy enough, although I'd still be tempted if a bargain one came up.
Audi A6, either C4 or C5 shape, I'm liking these a lot at the moment, they tick all the box's and seem to be a bargain at the moment.
And then there's the older and rarer stuff. I'm drawing a bit of a blank here, but I'm very much open to the idea of older stuff, as long as it's still big and comfy. This is where I need your suggestions!
So yeah, any suggestions, or just useful info regarding bargain luxury barges of the estate variety would be awesome.
Some pictures, because this wouldn't be Retro Rides without pictures:
My conditions/preferences are:
Budget of £1000-£1500, could stretch this for something really cool/interesting though.
Must be an estate, and preferably a big luxury one. I may be swayed by an exceptionally cool saloon, but generally, estates only.
Must at least vaguely go around bends, I'm not wanting a sporty car, but some grip would be nice.
Not fussed about engine or gearbox, 25mpg average 30+ on a run would be a minimum if it's cool enough to justify it, but at the same time I don't mind something slower and more economical.
It's going to end up low, so decent initial ground clearance, and a nice flat underside are a bonus, plus good wheel choice would be nice.
I'd rather keep it pre ~2000ish but I'm open to anything old as long as it's not going to be a testicle-ache to keep on the road reliably, I don't mind preventative maintenance and taking care of it, but I want a car I can depend on as it'll be a daily and only car at the moment.
Oh, and it needs to be able to tow a small car on a trailer.
That's about it, I'm not really bothered about anything else, don't mind what type of fuel it burns, or what wheels it powers (actually, having said that, 4wd would be a bonus!) or what sort of gearbox it's got.
(On a random, slightly related note, I wish people would stop listing 4x4's as estates on e-bay, it's really annoying, and there's a specific section for 4x4s!)
So, what I've considered so far:
Volvos, cool cars, meet all the criteria, but I'm not sure I like them enough to justify the fuel cost. I'm open to being convinced otherwise, but there's just something about them that doesn't really fit my personality. If I was to go for one though I think I'd be looking at 240s for the added retro-cool.
BMW e34 touring. Also a cool car, but again, I'm not sure they'd justify the fuel cost, interior space isn't as good up front or in the boot as other stuff a similar size. An LPG or diesel one would definitely be in the running, but they're not massively common.
Mercedes, not really clued up on these, again, don't seem great on the fuel:performance ratio, and again, not really 'me', but I could be convinced otherwise, especially by older stuff.
Passats, I like them, but I'm not convinced they're big and bargy enough, although I'd still be tempted if a bargain one came up.
Audi A6, either C4 or C5 shape, I'm liking these a lot at the moment, they tick all the box's and seem to be a bargain at the moment.
And then there's the older and rarer stuff. I'm drawing a bit of a blank here, but I'm very much open to the idea of older stuff, as long as it's still big and comfy. This is where I need your suggestions!
So yeah, any suggestions, or just useful info regarding bargain luxury barges of the estate variety would be awesome.
Some pictures, because this wouldn't be Retro Rides without pictures: