Advice Please - Estate Cars/Vans

maudlinmatilda

Just found boards.ie, so I'm a bit wide-eyed and lost at how full of information it is - please be kind to a newbie (I'm also crap with cars so I really am lost in the wilderness!!!)

I live on a smallholding in rural Co. Cavan and need some advice on what might be a good vehicle for me.

Finding the right vehicle for us has been part of our learning curve as smallholders - we've only been 'living the dream' for 3½ years but soon realised that we couldn't get goats and pigs to the vet in a Nissan Sunny!

Decent vans seem to hold their value really well and we have very limited funds so I've been driving a Ford Focus Estate 1.4 that I picked up for €450. It's been grand reliability-wise and I can get 6 bales of straw plus animal feed and other supplies in the back.

But it hasn't solved the 'goats to the vet' problem because it doesn't have a tow-bar and seemingly nowhere to fit one either (not sure a 1.4 would pull a trailer up and down drumlins anyway). It is also very low to the ground, which isn't good on lanes with grass up the middle, and pricey on fuel (it's petrol not diesel).

The other problem is that my mechanic doesn't think he'll be able to get it through the next NCT without major work.

So, after that potted history of 'my smallholding life', what I'm really asking is for some advice on what I should be looking out for in terms of a diesel car (or van) that would be up to the rigors of rural roads, can fit a decent amount in the back and would be pokey enough to pull and trailer without going too high on the tax. My budget is very low as well but if I know what I'm looking for, I'll spend more wisely.

Hope you can help - I'm hoping for a miracle.

colm_mcm

Suzuki grand vitara, the older ones.
Toyota Rav4
Hyundai Tucson/Santa Fe


You can fit a towbar to a focus estate

maudlinmatilda

Thank you for the speedy reply but they're all a bit big for me - any ideas on something similar to the Focus?

Not sure the old girl would pull anything now even if I fitted a tow-bar but thanks for the info.

colm_mcm

Focus is longer and as wide as all the above

maudlinmatilda

They're a bit higher and bulkier though I think?

stalebread

Maybe something like a vw caddy van plenty of room in the back the tdi has loads a power to pull a trailer and you possibly could get commercial tax at around €330 ish per year

colm_mcm

maudlinmatilda wrote: »

They're a bit higher and bulkier though I think?

Higher shouldn't be an issue outdoors

bazz26

Suzuki Jimny?

stalebread

bazz26 wrote: »

Suzuki Jimny?

Must be gone to buy one !!