I need a big car, help me decide please!

[garycox]

At the moment I have the little Mazda 121 for daily duties, and a big Transit for when I need to cart big things around. This is costing me a lot in insurance and general running costs, I need something big to carry my band's equipment (Drum kit, amps etc.) but I don't want to go back to just having the van cos it's a pain to drive around in when I'm not actually using its van-ness, if you know what I mean.Since driving the Mazda, I don't really want to go back to heavy steering, crap brakes and no visibility so I want to combine the two and get a big car that I can drive on a daily basis and use for band transport.I can't decide between:An old estate (Victor/Cortina/Marina/Montego etc)A 'modern' estate (Scorpio/Mondeo/Omega/Vectra etc)A people carrier (Galaxy/Previa/Space Cruiser/Espace etc)Main criteria is insurance (I'm only 23) and space, although something which is nice to drive and cheap to run would be good too.I'll only have about £700-£1000 to spend.Any suggestions/recommendations?

[pandamonium]

If you can find one, Mazda 929 estate or Nissan 330c etc.

[Pete-M]

Scorpio Ultima 2.3 Estate is vastly underrated. Just check everything works and the sills haven't rotted through.

[Pillock]

I'd say you'll pay a lot less insurance on an old car, something covered by a 'classic' policy like a Cortina. At 23 you'll pay bugger all. At 23 on a Scorpio Ultima though you'll be paying more to insure it than you did to buy the car. Just seems to be something about younger people in big cars.However, if you can wangle the insurance, then the Scorpio would be my choice, closely followed by an Omega. £1000 will buy you a tidy one either way, plenty of toys, even more 'presence'.

[dollywobbler]

Volvo 740. I had a 2.3 auto and even though it was possibly the worst one in existence with loads of issues, it was hugely capacious, got me where I wanted to be every time, dragged a Metro to Staffs, was surprisingly rapid and, even more surprising, was bloody good fun to hang the tail out with in the wet...

[danthecapriman]

I would suggest:Volvo 240/740/940, these are huge cars, very cheap to buy and insure and indestructable!Mk 1 or 2 Granada estate, huge car, nice looking, go well, nice to drive, very strong (as maney banger racers know!). Only down side is rust and the V6 ones are a bit thirsty.

[garycox]

Hmm, thanks for the suggestions so far guys.I've been looking at Scorpio Estates recently but the insurance is a bit high, the 2.3 is group 15, and would cost me about £900. Volvo 240GLT is the same group so I imagine would be a similar story, I imagine a 740 would be even more...I think MkI/II Granadas are a bit out of my price range these days, might be worth a look if I can get classic insurance and save a bit of money that way though. I can't afford to spend more than £1500 on car and insurance really.

[Alpineandy]

This could be the answer to a question you didn't ask....Have you tried a multi-car insurance policy? If you're the only driver it may be cheaper...Now referring to the question you did ask. It depends what your daily/weekly driving consists of. If you find a solid espace diesel it may be the answer... or maybe not..

[pogweasel]

Allegro Estate?Leyland Sherpa??Though I think that Pandamonium's 929 would be most excellent from a shite yet reliable/comfortable point of view.

[shite_meister]

Toyota Camry Estate 2.2? Honda Accord Aerodeck? Spose the obvious would be Volvo or Omega. Alternatively how about old MPV thing like a Mitsubishi SpaceWagon/Runner? Toyota Space Cruiser FTW

[Milford Cubicle]

Yikes, it cost me nowhere near as much as that to insure my Scorpio when I was 22. One of the perks of a rural postcode I suppose.If you can find a pre-1990 740 or 240 you ought to be able to insure it on a classic policy. Peter Best allow up to 5000 miles p/a and are very reasonable - it cost me £170 to insure my Audi Coupe. Though I believe they have a 2.0 litre limit for drivers under 25.

[garycox]

I already have a sort of multicar policy, they're both with the same insurer anyway and it seems to be slightly cheaper than doing it separately. Ideally I'd like to transfer the Transit's policy with higher NCB to the new car and the Mazda's to my Mini, which is currently hibernating.I think an Allegro Estate would be too small, Marina/Ital/Montego might be OK though.I don't want a Sherpa, it's probably be worse to drive than the Transit.Camry is a good call, I think I'd prefer an Omega though. Back to Scorpio-esque insurance with those though I suppose.I'm also a bit concerned that I might not be able to fit all the required stuff into a saloon-based estate. It doesn't look a lot in the back of a Transit but I think I'd struggle to fit it into most cars.

[Justin Case]

How about a Galaxsharalhambra? Very roomy and should be relatively cheap to run. Small-child-eaten interior might not be a problem if you intend to use it as a van.

[dollywobbler]

You want carrying capacity?

 

Kerching!

 

 

EDIT - if that's a bit scary, Bertilingo Multispace. Massively practical - but then it would be as it's actually a van.

[garycox]

Probably too expensive, unless there are any old crap(per) versions that I haven't thought of...

[dollywobbler]

I almost bought an early 'lingo on Ebay. Went for £560! 1.8i petrol - not much fancied as everyone wants a dizzel, but they go like stink apparently.

[garycox]

That's not bad, I think they're good for the insurance too, like group 5 or something. I've not checked though.Galaxy etc I have thought of, they tend to be at the top end of my budget but definitely a contender if I can find a cheap one that seems to have a few miles left in it.XM? Very scary but I suppose that's why they're so cheap. Find one that looks good and try to make it last as long as possible before self destruction I suppose, at least they're cheap enough to throw away... I suspect insurance issues with those too though.

[garycox]

Hmmm, Berlingos are all group 5 (Except the 1.4 which are group 4, but they're probably rubbish...)Interesting...

[ChinaTom]

For moving Marshall Stacks etc, I can't recommend highly enough a Sedona with the seats ripped out.

 

I heard there is now an importer for Great Wall in UK. If so, it will not take much cash to bag yourself an extra long wheel base Deer. Utter utter shite to boot. Big enough to host the gig in.

 

[Owain-328i]

Volvo Estate.The only choice.Id go for a 700 series over the old 200. More refined. What engine and trim level you decide!

[peter9000uk]

Xantia Estate or even C5 estates are dropping into the price range you mention

[scooters]

I would suggest:Volvo 240/740/940, these are huge cars, very cheap to buy and insure and indestructable!Mk 1 or 2 Granada estate, huge car, nice looking, go well, nice to drive, very strong (as maney banger racers know!). Only down side is rust and the V6 ones are a bit thirsty.

got to be the volvo 940 estate - the 240 and 740 are both excellent and t0ough but you will find newer 940s out there I sold my one last year - bought it for 1000 it had 150k on the clock - sold it 12 months later with 220k on the clock - for a grand as well - wonderful car took the whole family from Edinburgh to Spain twice and brought home 200 lts wine each time would buy another like a shotThe High Pressure turbo variety are quick the Low Pressure Turbo are easier on the wallet though - don't get the 960 unless power important to you - likes a drinkI have owned Mondeos, Scorpios, Omega estates and I will tell you this - if your budgety is what you are saying it is buy the Volvo - they just don't break

[Dead_E23]

How about a Mitsubishi Gallant estate? They're roomy, comfy, fairly quick, nice to look at, appear to provide acceptable fuel economy and seem pretty cheap to buy. I reckon they manage to be shitey and classy at the same time - impossible to tell the driver is a baronet or a binman. I like that.

[Barry Cade]

Another vote here for Volvos. They're brilliant!

 

Mine cost me £120 from the auction, looking a bit forlorn with no T+T. A weekend of cleaning and about £40 quid of parts and now looks like this.

 

 

 

This was my first 850, a T5, ex cop with 230,000 on the clock. Drove like new,and bloody fast.

 

 

 

There's plenty cheap ones out there, and they dont go wrong!

 

I look after a 1800 petrol Berlingo for a friend, he got it for 100 quid as a stolen recovered,put new windows and a lock set in it and its been trouble free for the past 3 years,and yes, they do go like stink and handle rather well to!!

[FredTransit]

Yep, gotta be volvo all the way, I wouldn't mind a 240 estate....

[FredTransit]

http://autoshite.commlm/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5899

 

Have you seen this one?

[MrRegieRitmo]

How about a Mitsubishi Gallant estate? They're roomy, comfy, fairly quick, nice to look at, appear to provide acceptable fuel economy and seem pretty cheap to buy. I reckon they manage to be shitey and classy at the same time - impossible to tell the driver is a baronet or a binman. I like that.

the 2.0 petrol is group 12 insurance, the 2.5 V6 is group 15.One of the best looking estates out there in my eyes.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Another vote here for Volvos. They're brilliant!

 

Mine cost me £120 from the auction, looking a bit forlorn with no T+T. A weekend of cleaning and about £40 quid of parts and now looks like this.

 

 

 

This was my first 850, a T5, ex cop with 230,000 on the clock. Drove like new,and bloody fast.

 

 

 

There's plenty cheap ones out there, and they dont go wrong!

 

Insurance must hurt on a T5 though surely?

[MrRegieRitmo]

What about a Passat B2 GL5 estate? Rare, stylish, shitey & sounds lovely! Was one for sale on eBay recently for £2-300

[mnde]

This has been one of my favourite shite estates:

 

 

Or its newer sibling, the Marea Weekend:

 

 

Mark.