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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.

[deviator]

I wasn't quite expecting this amount of searching  Thanks again!

I do like the look of that Toyota, it has something about it - apart from the out of range price tag. I was thinking about it on the drive home tonight and I might run the Omega initially, I know it'll cost me more in fuel, but I feel more confident travelling the country in a car I trust reasonably well. Also, I've had one or twelve (possibly more, I can't remember) Vauxhall v6's and know them quite well. I feel it might be a better option than buying a budget car of unknown origins.

[TheBoy]

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

Only that D4D lump is prone to expensive failures, particularly fuel pump, injectors and starter motors.

[Nick W]

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

Only that D4D lump is prone to expensive failures, particularly fuel pump, injectors and starter motors.

Not to mention DMFs, turbos and bent conrods.


This should sound familiar to anyone who has looked at commonrail diesels with lots of miles on them.

[Broomies Mate]

Shame it's not in TI spec, but I'd still have one.

http://www.whitecottagecarcentre.co.uk/used-cars/alfa-romeo-156-sportwagon-2-4-jtd-veloce-5dr-mirfield-201508266368329

Just need to up your budget by a tonne and have a deal with the man.

[Nick W]

An Alfa? Are you mad?


Here are the most important things to do once you've bought one:


Clean and polish it.


Park it on your drive where you can see it


Throw the key away


Clean and polish it occasionally so that it still looks pretty to stop the wife/neighbours moaning about the eyesore

[Broomies Mate]

 

Ah, C'mon.  All the inherant problems would have been sorted on that by now.  Any new ones can be fixed with sticky-tape and Myrrh! 

[STEMO]

And never, ever buy a Renault 

[deviator]

Regardless of make, it does like nice for an estate. IIRC the 2.4 JTD is the 5 pot version of the 1.9cdti fitted into the Vauxhalls. I'm surprised the VX diesel people haven't noticed this, as the 1.9 is tunable - but there is no replacement for displacement.

[deviator]

And never, ever buy a Renault 

My first car was a Renault 5 1.1. Despite the claims of EVERYTHING electrical would fail, it didn't - perhaps because there wasn't anything electrical. Even a clock and a glovebox door were options 

[henryd]

Shame it's not in TI spec, but I'd still have one.

http://www.whitecottagecarcentre.co.uk/used-cars/alfa-romeo-156-sportwagon-2-4-jtd-veloce-5dr-mirfield-201508266368329

Just need to up your budget by a tonne and have a deal with the man.

I fitted an alternator to one of these last Saturday,all I can say is bastard.!!

[EMD]

Shame it's not in TI spec, but I'd still have one.

http://www.whitecottagecarcentre.co.uk/used-cars/alfa-romeo-156-sportwagon-2-4-jtd-veloce-5dr-mirfield-201508266368329

Just need to up your budget by a tonne and have a deal with the man.

I fitted an alternator to one of these last Saturday,all I can say is bastard.!!

 

[Sir Tigger KC]

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

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-C220-2-2TD-auto-CDI-Classic-/151802259837?hash=item23581ea97d

[deviator]

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

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-C220-2-2TD-auto-CDI-Classic-/151802259837?hash=item23581ea97d

I'm not sure that classes as 'unrotten'. That is a similar age and mileage as my Omega, which in comparison is significantly cleaner without a wash. That interior is pretty, late 80's disco 

[Sir Tigger KC]

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

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-C220-2-2TD-auto-CDI-Classic-/151802259837?hash=item23581ea97d

I'm not sure that classes as 'unrotten'. That is a similar age and mileage as my Omega, which in comparison is significantly cleaner without a wash. That interior is pretty, late 80's disco 

For a Merc of that era, that one is a minter!   

[deviator]

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

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-C220-2-2TD-auto-CDI-Classic-/151802259837?hash=item23581ea97d

I'm not sure that classes as 'unrotten'. That is a similar age and mileage as my Omega, which in comparison is significantly cleaner without a wash. That interior is pretty, late 80's disco 

For a Merc of that era, that one is a minter! 

'Washed every week, without fail.' Maybe they should stop using sea water 

[Viral_Jim]

Of all the cars posted so far, I'd go with the 406  .

The (glacially slow) 90bhp is the one to have as there's no DMF. It also has old school injectors so no £1000+ failures, no DPF etc etc. I would say 78k would classify as barely run in on one of those!

[Marks DTM Calib]

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

Actually, its a bit of a bastardised lump using bits from all over the place, the bottom end is definitely Renault and potentially also the head but, other bits are Nissan.

Means it suffers the usual random Renault catastrophic mechanical failures

[henryd]

Of all the cars posted so far, I'd go with the 406  .

The (glacially slow) 90bhp is the one to have as there's no DMF. It also has old school injectors so no £1000+ failures, no DPF etc etc. I would say 78k would classify as barely run in on one of those!

My old one(110) is now close to 240k miles and going strong

[Marks DTM Calib]

Regardless of make, it does like nice for an estate. IIRC the 2.4 JTD is the 5 pot version of the 1.9cdti fitted into the Vauxhalls. I'm surprised the VX diesel people haven't noticed this, as the 1.9 is tunable - but there is no replacement for displacement.

Yes it is, none fitted to the GM range, only the Fiat family saw them

[aaronjb]

And never, ever buy a Renault 

My first car was a Renault 5 1.1. Despite the claims of EVERYTHING electrical would fail, it didn't - perhaps because there wasn't anything electrical. Even a clock and a glovebox door were options 

The same with my R5 GTT.. the electrical bits always worked. I killed two turbos and the padding was falling out of the seats as yellow dust, but apart from that it was perfect