Yet another suggest a car for me thread

Top Dog

I've recently been toying with the idea of getting rid of our Shogun for something that's a little easier on the wallet on a day to day basis. I love it to bits, but with the cuts everywhere, its getting harder to justify its 28mpg and €170 a corner tyres. Doing near 30k miles a year so its not particularly cheap to run as everyday transport.

Thing is, whatever replaces it needs to have the ability to tow a 20ft/1400kg caravan on occasion. Our previous Laguna 1.9dCI complained a bit at the request, which was why we replaced it with the Shogun.

So far I've been flicking through DoneDeal just to get some idea of what might tick the necessary boxes, but as I've no experience of the results I've come up with, I'm hoping some of the knowledgeable people on here might be able to help.

Criteria -
Must have
€6k budget
Estate (with a decent size boot for carrying dogs)
Less than 2.5ltr engine
Ability to tow aforementioned caravan without blowing up or groaning while doing it

Preferably
4wd
Diesel
Handy for DIY work (servicing, replacing brakes etc.)
Reasonable length test
Not a bland-mobile (so no Avensis, Mondeo etc suggestions please)
Not a soft-roader (Rav4 etc.)
Toys (cruise control, leather, air-con, sunroof, sat-nav ... any toys really )

Doesn't really matter
manual/auto
Manufacturer

All I've really come up with are below. If anyone has any experience of any it would be much appreciated, and alternative suggestions are also welcome.

So, what I've come across myself ...

Audi All-Road -
2.5V6 diesel. High-ish miles (150k), but recent T/B and very long length test.



http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2825689

How prone is the air-suspension to failing? Is it an expensive fix or is there an aftermarket replacement? Would I be a dreamer to hope for near 40mpg on a day-to-day basis? Top of the budget so reliability would be a concern.

Impreza WRX Wagon

Fresh engine, decent NCT, well under budget



http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2822568

Ok, its going to be thirsty, but its that far under budget that it can be considered (I think). Is the boot any use on these though - they don't look huge? And would it be able to tow, or would it be eating clutches like they were going out of fashion?

Legacy Turbo Wagon

Definitely has the large boot, fun on a day-to-day basis, small miles.



http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2759008

Much like the Impreza, would it be ok to tow with? How reliable are they if not messed with too much? How are they for DIY work (looking at the engine it looks like a maze! :eek:)

Subaru Forester S-Turbo

Ok, so it looks pretty frumpy & square, but 7 months tax and even longer NCT for less than €2k - it has to be a consideration.



http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2816345

Other things I came across were a 4WD Octavia Estate, but at €10.5k its way outside budget. Then you have all the usual RAV4, Suzuki Vitara's, Kyron's etc, which tbh I couldn't see me every wanting after the Shogun. At least with a car its a different beast, a pretend 4x4 would only frustrate me every time I looked at or drove it.

Saab (pre Dame Edna headlights :rolleyes:) & Volvo's are also considerations - are there any 4wd variants?

TBH I'm open to any/all suggestions. As you can see from the above, it doesn't matter if its different once it meets a fair bit of the criteria.

Anan1

Are you sure it's really worth changing? Not many cars able to tow that caravan will better 28mpg, and you know and like what you have. I've a Forester turbo myself and, while it'll do everything you want and more, it'll make your Shogun look like a nun in the drinking stakes. At 30k miles pa i'd think twice, and I love mine.

Bigus

Why not buy a really small car in addition and only tax/insure the shogun for three/6 months of the summer when you tow.

Top Dog

Anan1 wrote: »

I've a Forester turbo myself and, while it'll do everything you want and more, it'll make your Shogun look like a nun in the drinking stakes.

They're that thirsty?! :eek:

I don't know what to do really, which is why I'm just putting out the feelers at the moment. In the last few hours I've been looking at Saab 9-5's in 2.0LPT & 2.2 diesel options. I'd be hoping something like that would better 28mpg, but then I'm losing the 4wd so there's always a trade-off.

I'm hoping others (like yourself) will have/have had some of the ones above and be able to give honest opinions on them, and based on all that I might be able to come to a decision.

If a 2.5 Forester is that thirsty solo though, I can see it being crossed off the list fairly sharpish. Such a shame Subaru have only brought out diesels in recent years - have seen a couple of lovely '05 plate Legacy estates, but they're 2.5 petrols

Top Dog

Bigus wrote: »

Why not buy a really small car in addition and only tax/insure the shogun for three/6 months of the summer when you tow.

Tis a consideration alright. Had a Fiesta up until September so the Shogun used stay in the driveway from Mon-Fri. Saved a fortune on the work commute. But unfortunately I haven't really got the money to buy/tax/test/insure another car at the moment. The €6k budget above is what I'd be hoping to have left over from the sale of the Shogun.

Top Dog

Wonder would one of these manage the caravan - 2.0LPT? Whats that - around the 150bhp mark?



http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2776591

Then get a cheaper/smaller second car with some of the balance, for farting about in when the bigger car isn't warranted?

WHat about a 525 or even a 530d, rwd but doing 30k miles a year wouldn't be bad to fuel and cant see then struggling with the tow.

Mycroft H

Top Dog wrote: »

Wonder would one of these manage the caravan - 2.0LPT? Whats that - around the 150bhp mark?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2776591

Knock yourself out


http://www.towcar.info/gebruikservaring.php?merk=Saab&serie=9-5

Top Dog

RoverJames wrote: »

WHat about a 525 or even a 530d, rwd but doing 30k miles a year wouldn't be bad to fuel and cant see then struggling with the tow.

Had considered the 520D & 525D alright ... but if I went with either of those the cost of a divorce would break me :eek::o

dan hibiki

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2814920


your welcome!

vectra

Mileage is high(ish) but ..
might be worth a look
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2825126

Top Dog

vectra wrote: »

Mileage is high(ish) but ..
might be worth a look
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2825126

Mileage wouldn't bother me once its in decent condition and been taken care of properly. Being a saloon rules it out immediately though

vectra

Top Dog wrote: »

Mileage wouldn't bother me once its in decent condition and been taken care of properly. Being a saloon rules it out immediately though

Ah.
Forgot about the saloon bit...

2.5 A4 avant
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2826864



And another

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2549525



Vectra 1.9cdti Elite -- 150bhp
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2731476




Another Vectra 150 estate
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2735007




Mercedes C220 D. estate
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2659174

Ferris

What about an XC70. 4wd and a 2.4 diesel.

Or chance yer arm with an offer: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/XC70/D5-SE-Au/413238512903570/advert?channel=CARS

R.O.R

Ferris wrote: »

What about an XC70. 4wd and a 2.4 diesel.

Or chance yer arm with an offer: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/XC70/D5-SE-Au/413238512903570/advert?channel=CARS

That was my first thought too, but the only one on Carzone in budget is a 2.5T Petrol - reckon that will be worse than the Shogun on fuel if it's anything like the S80 2.5T I've driven.

We sold (to trade) an Ocean Race 2005 D5 Auto earlier this year, in pretty ropey condition and higher mileage than the one linked - that went for over €4,000 more the Top Dog's budget, so I'd say the POA will be somewhere around €14,000

Tea 1000

dan hibiki wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2814920


your welcome!

Overpriced piece of crap is all that is.
OP, how about one of the S60 2.4 diesels? No 4WD though.

Top Dog

Jaysus Vectra - cheers for the effort!

Spotted the 2 Audi's last night alright - thought the black one looked nice, but first job would have to be painting the garish chicken-wire in black so it doesn't look as felty

Vectra's are one I hadn't considered, though I'd be a little inclined to place them in the same bland bracket as the Mondeo & Avensis. Wouldn't rule them out as such, but certainly wouldn't be overly enthusiastic about having one

Ferris - rarity & price would rule out the XC70 I'm thinking. Spotted one on DD - diesel, 06 and 14k asking price! :eek:

R.O.R. Cheers for the input

Tea - doesn't the S in S60 mean saloon? V70 is a consideration, though diesels seem to be rare for sale at the moment.

Does no-one have any experience (besides Anan1) of the ones I've already linked to? Size of the boot in an A4 Avant, reliability/thirst of an Allroad, durability of a Legacy GT for towing?

dan hibiki

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Overpriced piece of crap is all that is.
OP, how about one of the S60 2.4 diesels? No 4WD though.

hence the cheesy grin!! my vote for least economical diesel ever!!

Anan1

Top Dog wrote: »

They're that thirsty?! :eek:

They're a bit thirsty by nature, and they're impossible to drive gently - the net effect is 15l/100kms most of the time. I've seen as good as 10l/100kms on a run, but that's been cruise on, 130km/h, twitching with frustration - not the kind of driving you'd make a habit of.