As above want to buy a smokeabout as i'm putting far too many miles (and fuel!) in my S4... Dont really want to spend more than a grand ish, and it must be fairly big ish (ie - van or estate). Most importantly got to be reliable!!!!

Any ideas?!

Cheers

 

early Passat estate would be my choice

2p

 

Passat Estate or 406 HDi.....AWSOME on fuel...

 

I've been offered from a mate of mine an MINTY MINT Escort Estate on a V plate, he's had it around 6 years.... Has a 2.0 zetec engine but returns a healthy 30/35mpg which is double what I get on the Audi! Everything on the car is new, he's anal about everything, everything has been replaced, he's even had one off coilovers made for it, fitted rs2000 rear axle/rear discs, even has mint cossie leather! etc etc... He wants a grand for it.... Does that sound a lot for an escort estate?

 

Does sound a lot but if you know the car, and your happy with it then why not...

Plus im sure you will get your money back on it Chris once finished with.....breaking it,lol

 

Yeah think Tiff is about right. It is a lot for an old Escort, but if it's in good condition, and all the parts are new, it should be a reliable enough car. I've had a couple of them and gone all over the country in them without hardly any trouble. Even with the 2.0 conversion, I've seen 40MPG driving with a little care. They're no worse on fuel than a 1.6/1.8 petrol really.

I've never lost money on them either. Broke both my 2.0s and made back what I paid for them without issue, so I don't see why you'd lose any money on that one, especially if it has a Cossie interior. That's gotta be half your money back straight away. Coilovers will be worth a bit, I sold my last engine for Ł150-175ish too, so I think you'd make your money back easily.

Both my 2.0 MK6s have been quite fun too. Not ever so ever so quick, but a good giggle still, and a fair chunk quicker than a 1.8 Escort.

 

Cool think I might go for that!! I did look at it last night and can't believe how clean the thing is, zero dents and scratches on the sides etc... few on the rear bumper and thats it!!!! He was so anal he even bought brand new ford fog lights as the originals were misty!! :S!!

 

Get a Pug 406 or 306 NON HDI Turbo diesel with mechanical injection, make sure its got a Bosch fuel pump and not lucus and not only will it return 50+mpg it will also run on almost pure sunflower oil when the going gets tough with ZERO modification.
The bosch pump is self lubricating so does not suffer on veggi oil, the lucus needs the diesel for lubrication so its only safe to run it at 50/50
Sunflower oil less than 80p per litre

 

id 2nd that been runing one for a year 50+all day

mine might be up for sale in the next few days as im geting a new car hopfully

 

no good on fuel but i love tanking about in my e36 328 touring...

cost me Ł900, has done 170k and still going strong...

 

say no more !!! the hdi's whilst better on fuel don't survive such abuse like the td's.
Just moted my 406 td yesterday.

 

My 306 TD workhorse got abused, it had FMIC 26psi boost, fueling adjusted to compensate,de catted, ran on veggie oil and would cruise at 110 down my private test track that i call the A50 from junction 23A all the way to stoke without missing a beat, south leicestershire to preston 4 times a week time and time again and it still returned 500+miles to a tank. Had it 3 years coverd 75'000 miles in it and it NEVER broke not once. just had a regular service.
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