£2000 budget (Upgrade from Vectra C)

Hequn

Hequn

Hequn

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Currently got a 1.8 Vectra C and I'm after a bit of a change.

Ideally need a large car as I often have to lug around a lot of band equipment and I like the space. Some of the things I've been looking at (with FSH only) have been Audi A4/Merc C220/BMW 316ti/318i/Ford ST220 V6/Saab 9-3/9-5/Volvo S40/S60/S80.

Engine size needs to be 1.8+

Any help on what people think would be good options and what they think about the ones I've looked at already for under £2k would be great (i.e. likely to be rust buckets and such?)

Also I'm looking at trading my Vectra in so the £2k budget is based on trade prices
 
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Any Audi, BMW, Merc you get for 2k will be a shed and you'd be better off with a Vectra C because at least if anything goes wrong with that it'll be easier to repair instead of being good for nothing but the scrap heap.

Edit: And a Vectra C estate has more luggage space than an A4 avant, 3 series touring, Saab 9-3 estate or Merc C estate. The Mondeo has the most luggage space. But a £2k V6 will be ropey as ****. So too will an S40, S60 and S80. The V40 doesn't have as much luggage room as even a 3 series touring. And my C-Max has more luggage space than a Mondeo estate.
 
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OhEsEcks said:
Any Audi, BMW, Merc you get for 2k will be a shed and you'd be better off with a Vectra C because at least if anything goes wrong with that it'll be easier to repair instead of being good for nothing but the scrap heap.

Edit: And a Vectra C estate has more luggage space than an A4 avant, 3 series touring or Merc C estate.
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Its a Hatchback Vectra. What about the Mondeo/Volvo/Saab options? Or any others?
 
Hequn said:
Its a Hatchback Vectra. What about the Mondeo/Volvo/Saab options? Or any others?
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Mondeo? Not a V6. Unless you don't mind 100k+ miles. And the Mondeo hatch has less space than the Vectra C hatch. So that would be a pointless upgrade if space is important. The Volvo S40 will be too small as well. It has even less space than the Mondeo hatch. The Saab 9-5 has the same space as the Vectra C hatch.
 
OhEsEcks said:
Mondeo? Not a V6. Unless you don't mind 100k+ miles. And the Mondeo hatch has less space than the Vectra C hatch. So that would be a pointless upgrade if space is important. The Volvo S40 will be too small as well. It has even less space than the Mondeo hatch. The Saab 9-5 has the same space as the Vectra C hatch.
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The exact same space isn't an issue, I just need a decent amount of room. The Vectra is probably over kill for what I need anyway. I don't mind big'ish miles as long as they have FSH. I've had an S40 before and the size was fine for what I need.

So forgetting size, out of those options, what would people recommend? It's seems you get a lot for your money with the Saab 9-3's and 9-5's and they appear quite reliable so I'm leaning towards one of those. I do like the idea of having the V6 Mondeo as I've only ever really had fast cars that were small (MGF). The S40 sport 1.8 i had was a dream but I'm so far unable to find exactly what I want in my budget although the S60's seem to come within range.
 
As suggested might want to consider a mondeo, they don't hold there value. lots of them around and can get some good kit levels.

A Volvo might also be a good option as said the saloon options or even things like the V40/V50 as you wanted easy carry capacity for band equipment. They don't tend to be thrashed as they aren't the most desirable cars and can have some reasonable kit levels.

Most bmw/audi/mercs you will get for the money will be thrashed, high mileage, miserable kit levels and generally badly looked after IMO.
 
If you need more information about living with a 220 (running costs, consumables, stuff like that) ask in this thread. At the end of the day, it's a 3 litre V6 that only kicks out 220 odd bhp. But it sounds nice I suppose.
 
OhEsEcks said:
If you need more information about living with a 220 (running costs, consumables, stuff like that) ask in this thread. At the end of the day, it's a 3 litre V6 that only kicks out 220 odd bhp. But it sounds nice I suppose.
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Cheers for that. 220bhp is more than fine for me :)
 
For 2k you will pick up a decent 9-3 ss on around a 2006 plate.
If it's over 100k miles get one that's had clutch and dmf replaced. Other than that apart from needing the odd coil there very reliable.
 
£2k lets you look at cars up to about £2.5k if you don't mind a haggle. At that kind of money the E46 (and E39) becomes a slightly less awful proposition (especially if you know what to look for), there are more ST220s about that are worth a look and you also might consider a Skoda Octavia VRS.

I wouldn't entertain a Merc at this money at all. Buy privately so you can read the seller. The only car I'd buy at this budget from a dealer would have low owners and not changed hands recently.
 
£2000 is simply not a significant enough budget to make it worth upgrading from a Vectra C. It will be sideways step, into cars that are probably better but bottom of the pile used cars. Keep the Vectra.
 
Thanks guys, some really useful responses :)

[TW]Fox;25932811 said:
£2000 is simply not a significant enough budget to make it worth upgrading from a Vectra C. It will be sideways step, into cars that are probably better but bottom of the pile used cars. Keep the Vectra.
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I hate your usually correct opinions when they're normally not what people want to hear haha. Some people seem to disagree though, would you seriously discount the Saab's? You seem to get a lot of kit for the money and I'm only considering things that have FSH and have a long MOT.
 
Cant seem to find an Octavia VRS in my price range (remember, has to be trade as I ideally want to P/X). Mazda 6 there appears to be a few about but the choice isnt massive, but it could be an option. Seem well spec'd for my budget.
 
The Mazda 6 is basically a Mondeo underneath, but (IMO) looks a lot nicer, and has a few more toys :)

But yeah, a bit harder to find a decent one! :p
 
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