Car to move stuff around / run around ~£1000

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

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Joined
28 Sep 2003
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Leamington Spa
I've been looking to go halves with my mum on a car both of us can use to move stuff around (furniture, big boxes, general kinda crap), and also something I can throw a few mountain bikes in the back of, get my mates in and just drive.

My other vehicles (MX5 which I want to convert to a track car, and a motorbike :P) are not suitable. Running costs (insurance, tax etc) wouldn't be feasible if it was just me, but between us it makes sense.

So I want:

Reliable
Easy/cheap to work on
Loads of space

Obviously I don't care if it's:

Boring
Slow
visually challanged.

Those last few words describe my current fav, old volvo 850 kinda like this: http://pistonheads.com/sales/2802893.htm

Anything else I should be considering?
 
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This screams old Volvo to me too, find a T5 850 and it won't be slow or boring.

Then drive it like this:

850BTCC.jpg


:cool:

A W124 Merc could be worth considering too, more expensive outright but are supposed to be bombproof if you find a good'un
 
Hahah! It's funny how we often think alike in motors. I did have a look at the 'R' ones. But I think it'll be a tough sell to my mum, and Imagine they aren't so good on fuel/reliablity/consumeables. Just needs to be something to trundle on, stuff things in and not give a crap.

I'll take a look at the merc, not buying for a little while so I can look around . .
 
Something like a Renault Espace?

I've seen corner shop owners etc using them as a van with all the seats taken out...
 
My only Volvo experience has been a 2003 V70 T5 SE estate, we had that for 4 years from new, never missed a beat, most comfortable seats I've ever sat in. With that 5 pot up front powering the wrong wheels it had an appetite for front tyres and did 27.9MPG no matter how you drove it. Its also the fastest I've ever been in a car, at the naughty side of 130mph :eek: which sounds ridiculous from a Volvo :D

MK2 Mondeo estate could fit the bill nicely too. Apply some duct tape to the bumpers and drive about without a care in the world as to the bodyworks quality.

EDIT: Beaten to it :(
 
Just had a look on AT what interested me were, Zafira yes with a crap 1.6 engine but more usable space, almost mid size van, Multipla ditto, smaller cars, there was a Avensis estate and several Mazda / Toyota things that looked good vfm.
 
If you can live with awful fuel consumption around town, get an old Volvo. (S70/S90/850/960)

Absolutely bomb proof and you can fit a wardrobe in the back.
 
Vauxhall omega estate
Subaru legacy estate
Audi 80-100 - A4-A6 estate

Ford galaxy and co
Toyota previa or lucida diesel
 
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At this price Id be after a Galant Estate

Real easy to work on, reliable and super cheap to buy. Massive load space etc
 
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