Marm Toastsmith Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I've always gone for cars that were interesting, took my fancy, or just turned up locally at the right price. I sometimes wonder though if I were being absolutely rational what would I drive? It's a purely academic question... I'm not in the market to change cars today, but it's fun to dream... about a totally boring car. I suppose I'm thinking something Mondeo-sized. Things that spring to mind immediately would be something like an Avensis, or a Peugeot 405. I've never owned either. But then things like the Yaris Verso look bloody sensible too. And sometimes I look at a MK2 Astra estate and think that's all the car I've ever needed. The other night I was looking at the Dacia Logan MCV and thinking I could buy one of those brand new, keep it for 15 years, maybe that would actually make sense. OK I've gone too far... but. Something:ReliableEconomicalWith room for the familyComfortableCapable of carrying bikes, doing tip runs etcOK on the motorwayOK in townEasy to drive (especially so that my wife likes driving it too). Decent auto box, good visibility, turning circle etc. It doesn't need to make any fancy noises. Although a good factory stereo would be nice. It needn't be over-engineered, but it should be well screwed together and without any major design flaws. I think it should probably have a petrol engine so that it's not smoky or smelly. An EFFICIENT, PRACTICAL, WELL-DESIGNED car. What is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty2006 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Volvo V70. Plenty of them have beige interiors which is right up our street. Big comfy roomy boring reliable chod. Winner. Philyc, scdan4, Tamworthbay and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosty Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 96-01 Civic 5dr hatch, if you can find a good one. See also early Avensis (Carina E shape). Marm Toastsmith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tul66 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I've just bought one of these as a winter car, switchable 4wd too. Might be too small for you though. cros and ProgRocker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Cockroach Corolla isn't it? Ghosty, twosmoke300, Marm Toastsmith and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgetgricey Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Rover 75 Estate Automatic Diesel stephen01, Stevebrookman and oldcars 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schaefft Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Some kind of Honda or Toyota hatch/wagon from the late 90s/early 2000s. Marm Toastsmith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crispian_J_Hotson Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Hold on... I think... Yep... You've just described an E36 touring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Best car at this money? The one your least likely to weigh in. Stevebrookman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyrew Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Got to be an Octavia mk1 pez or dizler. estate, get a VRS if you want a bit of hoooonage. Boot so big it has got it's own postcode.Comfortable, not bad on fuel either. rusty998 and Sloth in a bowl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantingYoof Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I've always gone for cars that were interesting, took my fancy, or just turned up locally at the right price. I sometimes wonder though if I were being absolutely rational what would I drive? It's a purely academic question... I'm not in the market to change cars today, but it's fun to dream... about a totally boring car. I suppose I'm thinking something Mondeo-sized. Things that spring to mind immediately would be something like an Avensis, or a Peugeot 405. I've never owned either. But then things like the Yaris Verso look bloody sensible too. And sometimes I look at a MK2 Astra estate and think that's all the car I've ever needed. The other night I was looking at the Dacia Logan MCV and thinking I could buy one of those brand new, keep it for 15 years, maybe that would actually make sense. OK I've gone too far... but. Something:ReliableEconomicalWith room for the familyComfortableCapable of carrying bikes, doing tip runs etcOK on the motorwayOK in townEasy to drive (especially so that my wife likes driving it too). Decent auto box, good visibility, turning circle etc. It doesn't need to make any fancy noises. Although a good factory stereo would be nice. It needn't be over-engineered, but it should be well screwed together and without any major design flaws. I think it should probably have a petrol engine so that it's not smoky or smelly. An EFFICIENT, PRACTICAL, WELL-DESIGNED car. What is it? Everything except an autobox. And perhaps a turning circle, although it cannot be as bad as the S60. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201811302878728 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Bodger Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I can't comment on the auto-box because I've never driven one but I'm sure a 405 estate would tick all those boxes. Apart from the fact they can be had for cheaper than 500 quid. There's a white, 1.8 petrol, 180K, manual for sale at the mo for less than 300 quid with 9 months MOT. Marm Toastsmith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philyc Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Massive advocate of golf and passat estates. Only just got rid of our golf estate after 17 years service in the family, 200000 miles and no massive mechanical issues. Have a passat estate now as its bigger and better on fuel, that's pretty good too. Have always wanted a proper wardrobe on wheels volvo though, never heard anything bad about them. Tamworthbay and GrumpiusMaximus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamworthbay Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Hold on... I think... Yep... You've just described an E36 touring.Not likely to get a decent one for a grand anymore unless lucky, they are on the up price wise it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddon81 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Cant really go wrong with a Yaris verso. Find a tidy one and underseal underneath and it should last a lifetime. It's challenging styling to most eyes means that if you look carefully you should be able to pick up a bargain. I picked this one up 4 years ago now for £275 quid needing a set of plugs and an oil change. In that time and 40k miles it's needed front pads and discs, an auxiliary belt,a set of part worns and a pair of Cv joints. Motoring doesn't really come any cheaper. There's not a lot you can't cram in to the back of it and it does exactly what it's meant to. If your not concerned with driving the sleekest or fastest thing on the block I can highly recommend one. Marm Toastsmith, Stevebrookman, Asimo and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplebargeken Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 2001 blue BMW 3181 Touring in auto flavour........ I know where there may have one for sale in perhaps less than 6 months or maybe it won't be....... Fabergé Greggs and oldcars 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Wolseley 4/44 mercrocker, sierraman, Mally and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty998 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Got to be an Octavia mk1 pez or dizler. estate, get a VRS if you want a bit of hoooonage.Boot so big it has got it's own postcode.Comfortable, not bad on fuel either.What he said ^ I bought a Skoda fabia tdi earlier this year and it's been fantastic, my son wants it when he sells his BMW next March, Bought for £300, it's needed some tyres and two bottom arm's, I found just before the mot the rear exhaust box was leaking soot, it's the original box some 17 years old, cut it of and welded a pipe straight through style, The son wants it as I said above but I can't find anything that could fill it's shoes as well, great economic vehicle that can do everything well, I believe that a Skoda Octavia tdi pd estate would be a sensible all rounder in the right spec purplebargeken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 One which you’ve spent nothing on and would bale if it gave you a load of shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpiusMaximus Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Massive advocate of golf and passat estates. Only just got rid of our golf estate after 17 years service in the family, 200000 miles and no massive mechanical issues. Have a passat estate now as its bigger and better on fuel, that's pretty good too. Have always wanted a proper wardrobe on wheels volvo though, never heard anything bad about them. As the owner of a 13-year-old MKIV Golf Estate, it's all the car I need. Today, I fitted a small tree, a Christmas tree, two large planters and other shopping in the back with plenty of space to spare (seat was down, obviously). Mine's a diesel 130PD, so pretty decent on fuel with a bit of 'oomph' (enough to surprise dickheads that try to cut you up), eats motorway miles easily and is quite good fun to throw into corners. Auto box versions are also available. And because there are thousands of MKIV Golfs around, most parts (apart from estate-specific ones, of which there aren't many) cost buttons. Like Philyc though, I've always wanted a Volvo barge. But I'll take what I've got now. Only new replacement would be a Logan MCV but that would be a lot less powerful. Shirley Knott 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skattrd Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Horsey horseless. face, egg, chompy_snake and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders59 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 V6 Omega. If you pick a good one they are a lot of car for the money. An Elite will have Bose sounds as standard too. mercrocker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRi05 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 My lancer estate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 205 diesel. I may* be slightly biased. andy18s and Marm Toastsmith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNWeigh Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 40 mpg 140 mphLeather Sat navIce cold climateBluetoothReverse cameraGentlemens gearboxHooligans handling£500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djimbob Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Ford Focus, dull as dishwater but it is the car for everyman I will never own one, unless it's free twosmoke300 and Marm Toastsmith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djoptix Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 405 is too old. Logan MCV not a bad choice. Personally I think you need a base model Synergie HDi. Marm Toastsmith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 I’ve loved the Focuses we’ve had, handling on them particularly the Mk1 is superb. Piece of piss to work on as well. Never understood why people rate them as dull then cite something like a BMW 318i as being tantamount to the reinvention of the wheel. mrbenn and I_am_Diesel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownnova Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Saab 9000 Mine does all those things... ish... I guess I’ve got less economical cars... purplebargeken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Picasso. Sorry. 320touring and chompy_snake 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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