otherwise a
good call.
Our Zafira is turning out to be a PITA, nothing like the old one we had.
Glowplug went, that was bad though winged it on the warranty. Heater motor seized recently, I sorted that but on a 4 1/2 year old car??? Now the
heater flap is seizing, the little servo motor works ok, but it has a stiff point and so we had just cold air. A t50 bit where the motor should go and
spanner means we now have hot air. Proper repair means most of teh dash out!
And now what I initially thought was a front wheel bearing whine (I can just hear it) is probably the gearbox bearings. 53k on teh clock, and now I
find it is quite normal. Repair can be done for about £3-500 depending on how much is replaced (but it seems it is just 6th gear)
So, I may just punt it out or PX it. Take the hit now.
But what to replace it with? budget is approx 9k
I do not want an old car, so 2011 on. Estate, diesel and really I would like under 120g/CO2 (as I can then save £350 a year on a trade parking
permit)
It needs to be reasonable in terms of load carrying. Toys not required, I am old fashioned so happy with basic spec stuff. Do not want a dog slow car,
but been happy with the zafira's 110bhp performance, we live in a hilly town and do a good few motorway journeys, but any car will sit at 8
thesedays (some are more pleasant than others, but mid sized cars seem pretty OK)
Thoughts so far are all obvious.
Focus 1.6, Golf 1.6, and errr.......not so keen on the skoda fabia (too small) and estates not so easy to find compared to hatch. Do not want French
either.
Any other bright ideas??
I can recommend you don't get a Jeep. They're made from string and rhubarb. Mines sh1te.
How about a Civic etc?
we went from a Zafira to a Cmax, wouldn't recommend either both have been unrealiable money pits and pigs to work on, more so the Cmax.
Totally sick of Fords and Vauxhalls just budget build pish. Sister has the new golf, not all that impressed with that either as it's dark and
cramped inside with horrid hard seats too.
Jap stuff does appeal, trouble is the estates are very hard to find. And the civics are about 3 years too new by the looks of things otherwise a
good call.
And so it appears ford are non too clever either. Options are dwindling.
Maybe I should spend 4k on a decent Triumph 2000 estate, stick on efi and lpg.
Volvo estates are well known for being great workhorses and even older ones are very pleasant plus their actually surprisingly good on fuel despite their size and weight.
Honda Accord?
Nowt wrong with Skodas
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
we went from a Zafira to a Cmax, wouldn't recommend either both have been unrealiable money pits and pigs to work on, more so the Cmax. .
) Best car we have owned to date? Qashqai
Skoda Octavia - probably diesel bargains to be had given the current woes...
I have the vRS estate - fab car!
What about the toyota avensis 2.0d. Very cheap to buy and reliability seems good. Maybe not the most exciting car though
quote:
Originally posted by joneh
I can recommend you don't get a Jeep. They're made from string and rhubarb. Mines sh1te.
How about a Civic etc?
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Volvo estates are well known for being great workhorses and even older ones are very pleasant plus their actually surprisingly good on fuel despite their size and weight.
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Volvo estates are well known for being great workhorses and even older ones are very pleasant plus their actually surprisingly good on fuel despite their size and weight.
+1
If you are looking for room and seats the Renault/Vauxhall/nissan Trafic minibus is good.
I have a 165k one and it gets 34mpg on short commuting runs and has been reliable. Problems are injectors seizing in cylinder heads due to water
getting past faulty seal design. Usually go at 150k.
Get one that has had heads done ( most people do turbo at same time) and you are good for another 150k. Service intervals are huge mainly due to a 2
gallon sump
Seats unclip giving van space for bikes, car bits, whatever.
Only downside is insurance - the more seats the more you pay I had to go to a specialist broker.
Cheers!
People criticise them but I'll say Renault Espace - had the last 57 for 5 years and current 61 for just over two and clocked around 90,000
between the two and never had a single problem
Big comfy fairly economical (best i got was 52), goes around corners and without rear five seats van space.
Flogging mine because i fancy a change after having for so long.
ATB
Simon
Many thanks for all the suggestions.
But (not wanting to sound ungrateful, and realising there have been many points made) the car needs to be under 120g CO2 which immediately discounts
most cars over 5 years old. And a minibus would not go down well at home! (must say it does have many advantages if it was only to be a work hack)
Currently Golf or Focus 1.6 diesels look about the only realistic options. The Honda civic 1.6 looks handy, but only been around a year so prices too
strong, maybe in another couple of years (and Honda do have an enviable reputation in terms of reliability and residual values)
Will look at Toyota. Unexciting is good in many many ways. Fun cars for fun, everyday car just needs to do its job.
Ta
Clive
Just replaced our 03 plate Focus diesel estate with a 14 plate Astra 1.7cdti SRI estate car. Lovely car. 130bhp so goes quite well. Only had it a
month but it is doing mid fifties running around here on the Isle of Wight and 60+ mpg on a mainland trip.
Don't know about the CO2 but it's £30 a year for rent so must be fairly low.
Only replaced the Focus as we traditionally replace our car every 9 or 10 years and its time was up.
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
we went from a Zafira to a Cmax, wouldn't recommend either both have been unrealiable money pits and pigs to work on, more so the Cmax. .
What issues have you had with the c-max?
I've had my 57 reg 1.8 petrol one for nearly 2 years now and not had any issues yet...
I thought it was burning a little oil, but every time I've checked it recently the level is exactly the same so the juries still out on that (its the 1.8 duratec HE engine which seems to have an issue in some cars - but you can always get the 2.0 duratec that everyone on this forum knows and loves instead
Otherwise the golf / Passat etc aren't a bad bet, but the old fashioned 1.9 diesels would be my choice as they seem to be more reliable based on the ones my mates have (and some of them do alot of miles)