[Tanni]

Originally Posted by andya

What about vw passats? I think your find them in your price range. I had them before I got into Audi's. Built like tanks, cheap to run and parts easy to come by. Also nice and plush inside with loads of room.

Tried one out, 2005, never bonded with it and got rid of it when I had to work abroad. I think it's difficult to go from an Audi to a Passat. EVEN when it was from a K-reg TDI avant!

Originally Posted by Daveymaclad

So then to the OP, consider the frugality of some of the petrols out there that'll be fewer pennies to buy in the first place!

Originally Posted by Coxy

a lot of people seem to think that buying a diesel will mean they are getting about 6 million mies per gallon and petrols do low 20's!

they also forget that it generally costs about 30% more to buy a good second hand diesel based on the above facts!

they also forget that servicing costs are generally 30% more on a diesel as well!

someone on here did a very interesting chart a few years ago which basically let you put in how many miles you did a year and work out how long you'd need to own a diesel car to make it a more viable option than a petrol. The only slight plus side now is that diesel is marginally cheaper than petrol where as before, it was about 5p a litre more.

But at the end of the day, it still sounds like you're driving a tractor!

Very true! Spent 3 weeks trawling eBay and, in particular, Autotrader (GumTree is useless) and they are indeed more expensive in price. Prob 30% yes.

Anyhow, very much to my surprise, as soon as I did my first insurance check on a price comparison website, got proper penalized on price! That was the end of me considering petrol estates!

Originally Posted by Coxy

We've got a 1999 VW Polo Estate 1.9 SDI as a dog carry hack and generally run to the shops, got somewhere carrying junk and all around work horse. It does an average of around 65mpg and will get 70 if driving sensibly.

Would a recommend anyone owning one?


Nope!

Neither did 'Which', it does not recommend the Golf, used ones.

Originally Posted by Daveymaclad

I've always had an accord for the accord! That would be the first one I'd go and see. Decent engine, & massive spec.

Yep, according to 'Which' Honda Accord and Toyota Avensis are very reliable indeed. (Strictly looking for estates). Could I find any? Not in my price range, no. Not with automatic in the recommended range of years either, no!

Originally Posted by John.

Out of that lot, I think the Avensis would be my choice all things considered.

Tried a Passat estate '05 with tonnes of miles on it, never had any majoe problems with it, never learned to like it either. Got rid because of moving abroad.

Tried a SEAT Altea 2.0 TDI Sports, semi-automatic. 2005 and high milage. MPV. First car I have ever driven with automatic. Absolutely LOVED how it drives. Million minor things went wrong with it but never left me stranded and I went to Scandinavia, and back, in it. Twice! Until one day d1xxhead at the traffic lights decided that giving 'Right of Way' to my Seat Altea is an optional. And you know the score with them thieving, barstewards insurance companies...


This time round I gave up searching and "settled" with the first car I found, with the lowest insurance premium on comparison website and also looked at emission not being in the higher end.

But, I really feel I have peace of mind with an Audi. And I can fit more flatpacks in it than any other car!