Need a cheap reliable estate car.

Cigaro · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Karma :

Well, since discovering that my beloved Jap bus is a rusty festering pile of cack, I need to replace it. It will last maybe two months but it has a great big hole in it which I can't be arsed to weld up so it has to go.

I need an estate car (frequently have crap to move), needs to be a diesel (I will be driving to Europe in it next year and it needs to be economical), needs to be reliable. Budget is about £300. Must have at least 6 month's MOT.

Current options are Mondeo TD Estate, Peugeot 405, or Citroen Xantia (not sure about the hydrobollocks suspension on these?), if I can get one for the money. I've run out of ideas as to what else. Preferably should have a galvanised body as I'm not dealing with any more rust.

Can someone suggest something? Very Happy

Chalky. · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Karma :

Passat estate?

Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

I had the old Peugeot 505 estate some years ago. Hardly considered as eye candy, but was reliable for me Wink

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Peugeot_505_estate_Cambridge.jpg

...until some dolt rear ended me at a junction Evil or Very Mad

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pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

https://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/300/archive/Lada/Riva%20Estate%20(85-98)/Lada%20Riva%20Estate_1.jpg

Laughing

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iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Karma :

Estate = Volvo, that is all.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

For £300 I'd have thought your best bet is to go on condition, rather than specific models. You're also presumably not going to want to be spending lots of money travelling far to look at other 'bargain' examples.

D O G · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Karma :

Faldo · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Karma :

It's rare that I'd recommend French cars for reliability, but a 405 or 505 estate should serve you well. 505s are still very common in Africa, where they are subject to very harsh conditions (and drivers), and hold up well. 405s made good taxis in their heyday, and were more than capable of 300k. As you correctly pointed out, the ridiculous suspension set up on the Xantia (or XM) can prove a pain in the ass, especially come MOT time (the high pressure pump used for the suspension also powers the steering).

Perhaps look at the Carina estate? Or the Sunny or Primera estate?