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[deviator]

I am in the position that I may well need a diesel estate for work. Judder. I am hoping it will be as well as Omega, as my car is worth so little  (Keeps the wife happy)

Here is the problem I have...
Limited budget, probably about 1k
I'm not a fan of French cars
I've done the VAG thing and found it expensive to repair, overly complicated and for some reason, older VAG cars seem to suffer with everything plastic/rubber giving up. Like insulation falling off wire in engine bay.
I doubt I could find a BMW I'd want to drive in that price range.
I'm not a fan of Ford and their chocolate bolts (I had a Mondeo, I put the socket set away and used the Irwin bolt removers - yes it was that bad)
I like Vauxhalls, but I find the current (in budget) range bland, heavy and awful visibility.

I know diesels can be a world of hurt because of DMF, injectors, swirl flaps, EGR, DPF & turbo. It will be a relatively short ownership car, once I am up and running, I'll be in a situation were I can afford to throw more money at it to try and improve reliability.

A Omega with LPG, is just about possible, I think. I get 27mpg out of my 2.6 manual estate, so another third (equivalent) improvement would just be a little below what the 40mpg-ish I am aiming for.

I am open to any whacky, fruity - even sensible options I've not considered.

[05omegav6]

Vectra B estate is about the only thing that springs to mind

Thinking outside the box slightly... how about an Astra van?

Your issue is budget... lets say you find a nice Omega estate for £800... lpg would add another £8-900 to it...

That said Robsey has an lpg estate for sale

[deviator]

Harris thanks for the suggestions, I've spent most of the last 10 years in a GSI Vec B, I doubt I could go to diesel. It would be too much of a backwards step.
I've already ruled out a van as I will be staying in hotels and carrying tools. A van attracts too much of the wrong sort of attention. Whereas I can false floor an estate, raise the carpet up and it looks like another rep-mobile.
The budget does have some flexibility, if the fuel economy stacks up OK, I'd pay extra to be in a comfy place like an Omega and I wouldn't have the diesel issues either.
I noticed Robsey's estate for sale, but I'm not quite ready to buy and I suspect it'll be long gone in a few weeks when I need something.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Mercedes C or E Class.     If you can find an un rotten one within budget that is.   

[brendan1983]

Due to the number of miles I'm doing lately I've picked up a 2004 Nissan Almera 2.2Dci (136Bhp)

Obviously its nothing like an omega to drive, but it's got lots of torque - and I'm averaging 55-60mpg out of it. If you needed something bigger you can get the same engine in the Primera.

[deviator]

Good suggestions, for some reason I'd not considered Jap diesels, I don't know why.

[TheBoy]

Good suggestions, for some reason I'd not considered Jap diesels, I don't know why.

Because they are generally behind the euro designs

[05omegav6]

Good suggestions, for some reason I'd not considered Jap diesels, I don't know why.

Probably the Renault engines that Nissan do so love to use

[STEMO]

Good suggestions, for some reason I'd not considered Jap diesels, I don't know why.

Because they are generally behind the euro designs

Behind in the respect that they don't spend half their life in the workshop?

[aaronjb]

It seems like one of TB & Al must be wrong ..

TB says they lag behind European designs.
Al says they use European engines and that's why they're not worth considering.

*scratches head*

 

[STEMO]

Have you looked at the Toyota avensis? Might be a bit pricey for you, but could be suitable.

[STEMO]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508206217900?postcode=s727na&maximum-age=up_to_7_years_old&page=1&make=toyota&fuel-type=diesel&radius=1501&body-type=estate&sort=atcustom&search-target=usedcars&price-from=1000&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

[henryd]

It seems like one of TB & Al must be wrong ..

TB says they lag behind European designs.
Al says they use European engines and that's why they're not worth considering.

*scratches head*

 

2.2dci Almera motor is deffo Renault's

[Crazycarzowner]

Hows about

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509056644156?make=peugeot&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&model=406&postcode=tw89de&sort=default&radius=1500&fuel-type=diesel&search-target=usedcars&maximum-mileage=up_to_100000_miles&page=1&logcode=p

I know you said no Frenchies but they aren't a bad ol' bus

[STEMO]

Hows about

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509056644156?make=peugeot&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&model=406&postcode=tw89de&sort=default&radius=1500&fuel-type=diesel&search-target=usedcars&maximum-mileage=up_to_100000_miles&page=1&logcode=p

I know you said no Frenchies but they aren't a bad ol' bus

They go on forever. Only 78000 miles that one. Good find.