Just wanted to get peoples thoughts/experiences on diesel winter hacks...

Going to pull my Supercharged ST170 off the road for a few months as i want to do some engine work and also it's not the nicest to drive long distances and the fuel consumption is grim

Things to bear in mind...

I'll be insuring winter hack on a new private policy with no NCB - been getting quotes of around £500 for something like a 1.7 TD Astra Van...

MPG and reliability are the two main things i'm after - however - i wouldn't mind the ability to tow with it if possible

Anyone got any suggestions?

Got a few thoughts in mind - would just welcome some suggestions based on experience...

 

how much you looking to spend?does it have to be a van?

 

Less i can spend the better

I'd like to try and stay around the £2000 mark - doesn't have to be a van, would consider an estate or a 4x4 etc.

I just need the fuel economy and load lugging ability more than the towing ability. If it comes to it i'll hire something meatier to tow with for the track days i do...

 

ah ok!i was going to suggest a astra H 1.9 D but they abit over 2k at the mo!they go like stink!specially the high blow ones!

 

Something like a Fiesta Van too small?? What sort of things you gonna be lugging about??


Cheers,
Grant

 

306 hdi?

 

I'll be lugging blocks/heads/gearboxes etc.about in the back during the week when needed... Cruising on the motorway at the weekend, commuting to and from work Mon-Fri and filling it up with spare wheels/tools/jacks for trackdays - call it once a month if i hang on to it through the summer next year...

 

I had a Cavalier 1.7 td last year as my winter hack, fitted a boost guage and a bleed valve and had it running 1 bar.

Towing was no issues for it, and was returning a good 45mpg even with my ragging the crap out of it.

Also if you get a cdx spec one, u get air con, leather interior, central locking, 4 elecy windows, abs and cruise control.

 

Chooses itself really, mondeo TDCI. Awsome cars, mile munchers, 40+Mpg and HUGE space inside for crap

 

1.9dti Lagunas are pretty cheap, plasticy and shite inside, but can tow and good on fuel

 

Why not leave the car off insurance for the winter-not that risky if you have it put away and if your doing major work(as it sounds like) it can't be stolen can it-just a thought if the NCB is useful

Either way a friend of mine just sold tonight a '99 Audi a4 tdi 90bhp after owning it for 3 yrs(bought with 135k) and when he counted up what it cost to run+purchase cost he made 250 euro

Reckoned it was still doing 55mpg

it had 168500 miles on it by the time he sold it too

not a cool car but talk about cost effective motoring-it would probably tow a fair weight too

 

For insurance, try www.computerquote.com , I have my Escos insurance as my main policy with greenlight and all my NCB's, and my hack insured with the above, and it is £250 a year fully comp

 

i,ve just bought a y reg focus 1.8td estate and i,m well happy with it, paid a grand for it, air con electric windows and the mpg is great also my mate and the twins have a mondeo estate 2.0 tddi and their good too

 

Yep, focus or mondeo estate. With a diesel engine. Space, economy, not a complete shed, has a bit of mid range grunt so not a total donkey, cheap and won't break!

 

2K gets you a pretty reasonable example of an A4 Tdi, Ive had 60,000 trouble free miles out of mine in the last 15 months or so, and it handles well too, really cant fault it

 

Passat 1.9 tdi estate would get my vote

 

This man speaks the truth!

LOVE mine - quiet, comfy can fit shitloads in it and if you drive like a granny over 50 mpg is possible.

 

Bora Tdi or a Passat Tdi

much better build quality than a mondeo imo

 

focus estate all the way, and you'll have some change left over

i know someone selling a clean 2001 focus diesel estate for decent money

 

I'm gonna be running a discovery 300 tdi on bio fuel, it's the van version, legal for towing, and i will be kitting it out with a van vault for my track day tools, and also a fold down bed. Fook camping!

 

escort van? Get one off ebay, sell it in the spring for the same price you paid for it!

 

passat estate would probably be my choice.and does everything you want.
or lots of vans around cheap with work drying up for folk.just look more of a pikey

 

1.7 astra van. Old one with isuzu lump.
Pefect diesel workhorse and shonky enough that you wont care about bending it or damaging bits whilst loading.
No point buying anything 'nice' if its gonna be a winter workhorse.

 

i'll sell you my P Reg Mondeo 1.8TD GLX with 12months MOT and new timing belt for £700.00

680miles on a tank of diesel

 

my old man has a passat diesel estate and tbh its shite, the mondeo is much much better

 

Citoren Berlingo Multispace pre face lift 1.9 n/a diesel

Mains done 130k drives really well and can tow up to 1100kg

Not the quickest of things but real good fuel economy. Put the seats down so it's a van (the back you can hose out) or up if your being the taxi for a day.

I know it's french but i can't fault mine, best purchase of the year plus they're pretty funny to drive!

 

ive got a y-reg mk3 mondeo tddi,excellent car

 

for me its gotta be a e36 325 tds