Surrey Dave
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| posted on 7/12/14 at 09:22 PM |
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Small Hatchback o Estate Automatic Car Suggestions - Sub £1600
Getting older and got a VERY bad back at the moment, don't want to push a clutch pedal anymore!!
Any suggestions for reliable older auto cars or estates etc.
Honda Civic circa 2002 -2004?
Peugeot 307 etc ?
Toyota of some sort?
Any Citroens , Picasso etc......
I suppose there is also the MX5 Auto!!!!!, but not practical enough.
Don't really want Ford, they never worked out how to make a comfortable seat!!!!
[Edited on 7/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
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Rosco86
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| posted on 7/12/14 at 09:46 PM |
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I've got an E class estate, P reg, 80,000 miles full service history, 7 seater, one owner from new, runs and drives like a dream, only downside
it's petrol but cost me half your budget! I love it haha
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daniel mason
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| posted on 7/12/14 at 09:48 PM |
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Volvo d5. You'll probably get a decent s60 for that. I just sold mine for £1k with 80k and full history. It was a superb engine and a lovely
place to sit. Full heated leather and all extras. Pretty quick too!
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Slimy38
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| posted on 7/12/14 at 10:13 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Rosco86
I've got an E class estate, P reg, 80,000 miles full service history, 7 seater, one owner from new, runs and drives like a dream, only downside
it's petrol but cost me half your budget! I love it haha
I'd go for an old Merc as well, I remember my mates C class was slightly younger (T reg I think?) but it looked immaculate and drove like new.
He found a friendly independent mechanic to look after it, which kept the bills down. I think he only sold it because he got a bit bored of how
reliable it was!
Oh, and he also had a messed up back, and he's still looking for another car that was as comfortable as the Merc. He had a Mondeo for about 2
months, and I seem to remember he had to take time off work because the seat was so bad!!!
[Edited on 7/12/14 by Slimy38]
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mark chandler
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| posted on 7/12/14 at 10:21 PM |
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My v70 d5 is superb, one may be just in your range now, it may be big but is cheap to run if that's your criteria and extremely comfortable.
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 7/12/14 at 11:02 PM |
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Thankyou I wouldn't have thought along these lines!!, I don't think of Mercs and Volvo as in my range or sensible enough!!
More suggestions welcome...
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TimC
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 06:45 AM |
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It's by no means the perfect car but I really like the. 1st Gen Saab 9-3. Good seats, 185bhp as standard (and much more possible) plus a bit of
style too.
Do your 'cracked bulkhead' research first though.
You should get a belter for your money.
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 07:56 AM |
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blimey you guys like your giant cars!! 
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adithorp
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 08:33 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Surrey Dave
blimey you guys like your giant cars!!
Thats what I was thinking. How the feck do Volvo V70's, E class Mercs or Saab9-3's fit into "Small hatchback or estate" ?
Small autos can be poor. The Citroen/Pug autos are not nice to drive, with a pretty unpredictable/sudden gear change. Jap ones are better.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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Doctor Derek Doctors
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 09:28 AM |
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What about a Rover 75, it will be very very comfy and also cheap.
Designer and Supplier of the T89 Designs - Single Seater Locost. Build you own Single Seater Racecar for ~£5k.
Plans and Drawings available, U2U or e-mail for details.
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www.t89.co.uk
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callan@t89.co.uk
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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ianm67
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 09:56 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
What about a Rover 75, it will be very very comfy and also cheap.
This is what I have. Got the Tourer on a 55 plate; BMW 2 litre turbo diesel and 5 speed auto box that is as smooth as silk. Its like driving around in
a comfortable chair.
Always biting off more than I can chew.....
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 10:25 AM |
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Now that sounds quite interesting, particularly the estate/tourer........reliable? ?....economical?.......good gearbox?
Do i need brogue shoes and a handlebar moustache?
[Edited on 8/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
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nick205
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 11:17 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Surrey Dave
Now that sounds quite interesting, particularly the estate/tourer........reliable? ?....economical?.......good gearbox?
Do i need brogue shoes and a handlebar moustache?
[Edited on 8/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
Suede elbow patches at the very least I'd have thought 
If you go in deep you'll need the full accessory pack of tartan blanket, trilby hat, tissues, chrome AA badge and a tin of SK travel sweets.
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ianm67
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 11:57 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Surrey Dave
Now that sounds quite interesting, particularly the estate/tourer........reliable? ?....economical?.......good gearbox?
Do i need brogue shoes and a handlebar moustache?
[Edited on 8/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
I have had no issues with mine at all in the eight months that I have owned it. I get low to mid 40's out of it on a long run and low to mid
30's out of it on the commute. Get a late one and it will have 135bhp, an early one and it will have 115bhp. Easily remapped to 160bhp for
around £150....... Stick the auto box in 'sport' mode and you'll surprise quite a few supposedly sportier motors. The load space is
huge and the car is very well built (easily as good as similar vintage BMW's.....) If you can get over the inevitable badge snobbery from those
that have never owned / driven one you'll get yourself a nice car for not much money....
Always biting off more than I can chew.....
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morcus
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| posted on 8/12/14 at 07:30 PM |
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You'll get a nice 318ti for that, I've not owned one but test drove one with Red seats and it was like a much more practical version of my
Eunos (Also an Auto, can't drive a manual due to disability).
Best bet though, see what meets your requirements near by and test drive.
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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ashg
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| posted on 9/12/14 at 12:29 AM |
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dont laugh but skoda! comfortable and a vw underneath for a fraction of the price.
Anything With Tits or Wheels Will cost you MONEY!!
Haynes Roadster (Finished)
Exocet (Finished & Sold)
New Project (Started)
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britishtrident
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| posted on 9/12/14 at 10:43 AM |
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Small modern automatics are general CVT and as a result often burn out in 40,000 miles or less. 1600cc and above are mostly conventional automtatics
with the JATCO 5 speed almost industry standard it is not as tough as old style BW auto boxes and had serious teething problems which were mostly
sorted by 2003 but it is a lot more durable than a CVT.
One thing to watch for on automatics is the road tax group generally jumps up by one or two groups compared to the manual this can be a huge
difference on a larger car. A few years back I had the chance to buy a very low mileage MG ZT 190 but didn't because the road tax cost was
enormous compared to my Rover 75 1.8 manual.
As Rover 75/MG ZT the only real mechanical worry is the front wishbones and bushes the OEM wishbones and bushes last for 80,000 miles plus but
replacements are of variable quality some last less than a year. As these are costly parts and changing them can usually involve dropping the front
subframe this is not good news, so it pays to buy good quality wishbones Low cost poly bushes are now available and I recently fitted as set to my
current 75. Otherwise these are very reliable cheap to maintain cars.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 9/12/14 at 01:12 PM |
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Thanks so far.
The Rover 75 Touring Diesel Automatic is looking like a great option, specially with some wood and leather !!!!
The MG ZT-T also looks interesting but the ride is harder ? ,, and the interior not so retro luxurious?
Just a matter of finding one reasonably local to have a go at. ideally would want one with upto 100k on the clock..
[Edited on 9/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
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swanny
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| posted on 9/12/14 at 02:04 PM |
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pop onto the 75 and zt forum website and see whats in there.
for me the best thing you can do is buy from an enthusiast that has lavished attention on it.
check around too to see if you can see a good local specialist. quite a few people have had crap advice and unnecessary work done by people who dont
know anything about the cars.
find a good one you can trust and they can be very good cars and like others have said very comfortable. its also possible to find low mileage ones
that have had easy lives with elderly owners.
i had a rover saloon (v6) and just sold my zt260 (v8) they are cracking.
paul
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britishtrident
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| posted on 9/12/14 at 02:09 PM |
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Really not much difference between the 75 and ZT suspension wise, especially on an older cars as the springs dampers and front bushes will have been
changed for generic replacements. One thing to keep in mind is on these cars tyre life is significantly shorter when fitted with 16" or
17" wheels while they grip and steering response improves ride quality is also affected.
The biggest difference suspension wise is the anti-roll bars, all ZT have anti-roll-bars most 75 lack a rear ant-roll bar and only have a skinny
anti-roll bar on the front. A rear arb is an easy retrofit.
The ammountof steering power assistance ratio was reduced slightly when the ZT was introduced but this was latter applied to the 75, personally I
preferred the original setup.
Some but not all 75 have rear seat backs that fold forwards for carrying loads.
One feature that is highly desirable is the Climate Control Computer pack.
On cars with electric seat adjustment it is quite often common to find they are jammed and the motor burn't out due coins jammed in the
runners.
Check all the doors and on later cars the boot unlock work with the fob remote.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 9/12/14 at 03:38 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ianm67
quote:
Originally posted by Surrey Dave
Now that sounds quite interesting, particularly the estate/tourer........reliable? ?....economical?.......good gearbox?
Do i need brogue shoes and a handlebar moustache?
[Edited on 8/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
I have had no issues with mine at all in the eight months that I have owned it. I get low to mid 40's out of it on a long run and low to mid
30's out of it on the commute. Get a late one and it will have 135bhp, an early one and it will have 115bhp. Easily remapped to 160bhp for
around £150....... Stick the auto box in 'sport' mode and you'll surprise quite a few supposedly sportier motors. The load space is
huge and the car is very well built (easily as good as similar vintage BMW's.....) If you can get over the inevitable badge snobbery from those
that have never owned / driven one you'll get yourself a nice car for not much money....
.
That fuel consumption is very similar to 1.8 petrol, mine have all returned 32/31mpg in summer urban use 29mpg in winter urban, on a long run the 43
to 49 mpg. The urban figure would be better but my daily journeys always include a very long steep incline.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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ianm67
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| posted on 10/12/14 at 10:35 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
That fuel consumption is very similar to 1.8 petrol, mine have all returned 32/31mpg in summer urban use 29mpg in winter urban, on a long run the 43
to 49 mpg. The urban figure would be better but my daily journeys always include a very long steep incline.
Was your 1.8 an auto or a manual..?
Always biting off more than I can chew.....
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britishtrident
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| posted on 10/12/14 at 11:50 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ianm67
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
That fuel consumption is very similar to 1.8 petrol, mine have all returned 32/31mpg in summer urban use 29mpg in winter urban, on a long run the 43
to 49 mpg. The urban figure would be better but my daily journeys always include a very long steep incline.
Was your 1.8 an auto or a manual..?
Manual then auto is about 2 to3 mpg heavier according to the official figures, I think in urban use it won't be so bad because the auto will
stay in a higher gear for longer where a human would stay in 3rd or 4th on short stretches.
The clutch on the manual transmission is quite heavy often I have been in heavy traffic and wished for an auto.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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rdodger
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| posted on 10/12/14 at 12:35 PM |
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We went for a Saab 9-3 2.0T auto Estate. Can't knock it for the money.
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Surrey Dave
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| posted on 10/12/14 at 02:01 PM |
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Saab
Yes the Saab looks a solid car , what are the diesels like , whats all this cracked bulkhead mullarkey?
What Diesel engine do they use?
By the way I've had my trusty Citroen Xantia 2.0 HDI diesel for about six years , very comfortable cruiser and economical , but common fault
with Citroens the clutch gets heavy, and my back seems to have had enough of that now!!!!!!!!!!
[Edited on 10/12/14 by Surrey Dave]
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