Need a new minicab warning contains "spec me"

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Soldato
Joined
21 Nov 2004
Posts
13,559
Location
Wishaw
Righto looking to replace my current personal hack a 2006 vectra elite 150


Musts

Be under 3 yr old
Be under £10k
Have or be mappable to 200 ish bhp
Be an oil burner
Be a 4/5 door
Be a minimum engine size of 1600cc
Be reliable and able to take a lot of miles happily

Mileage isn't a concern so I have no qualms about buying something with higher mileage as I'm going to stick 200k onto whatever it is over 4years and residuals don't matter either
And above all be a nice place to spend up to 12 hours at a time


Recommend away guys

So far on the list I have another vectra and a leggy octavia vrs any other suggestions welcome
 
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[TW]Fox;19693224 said:
Ah yes, the S-Line trim level - well known for its epically comfortable suspension.
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Certainly softer than "sport" on the e46, which in turn is softer than the rocks they use for the Leon Cupra R.

I guess it's subjective, but to me, this is "soft", not sure I'd want softer.

The Avant comes with Sport suspension as standard anyway.
 
[TW]Fox;19693239 said:
100% This. Absolutely. If there is a better value minicab then I've no idea what it is.
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Totally agree with fox except make sure you don't go for one with cream leather.... I can imagine that would get dirty very quickly.

Also I expect although older technology the VW PD lump is more reliable than the current common rail ones.
 
the power i can understand if you're having to spend 12 hours a day in the thing, you want it to be nice and effortless to drive.

wheels i cannot :D
 
As far as I am aware it's the older 1.9 litre PD engines that are the reliable ones, the newer 2 litre VAG units are just as prone to trouble as any other modern diesel.

That Superb though looks frankly 'superb' value for money, that's a heck of a lot of car for under £10k. I looked at them for myself aswell, couldn't find one in budget though, however that one linked is the closest I have seen one get yet.
 
Thaty superb looks fantastic for the cash . I had an Octavia as a company car and could not fault it . 80k very hard miles and not 1 issue
 
The 140bhp 2L TDI PD engines aren't too bad reliability wise the early ones had problems with portus cylinder heads but a 05/06 model onwards won't have this problem they also won't have a DPF unless an idiot ordered it as an extra. The 170bhp version was the one only and only time VAG used Siemens injectors instead of Bosch and they fail all the time. So bad they are now replacing all four and the wiring loom for free when one fails regardless of the cars age or mileage.

You are not going to beat a Superb for value for money they also have some nice touches like illuminated door handles which must help the drunks find the way out the taxi at night :D
 
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///adds Skoda superbs to the list////


as for 200 bhp or thereabouts, i'm currently running a mapped vectra 150 which is running 190 ish bhp its a sweet point for performance/economy. since mapping it i've noticed (going by my spreadsheet for mileage and fuel a 6% increase in fuel economy. This was an el cheapo flash map that set me back £150 from angel tuning. but thats a £10-12 a week saving in diesel costs at current prices. the extra grunt is also handy for baiting warm hatch owners and sales reps and getting to the next hire that 10 seconds quicker. But i'll stop rambling, i currently have "around" 200 bhp and i wouldnt want to step down to anything that will offer less.

as for a superb they are great cars, theres no denying it. but i'm still looking at another Vectra. (couple of leggy 09 plates on autotrader for under 6k in elite spec. even low milers can be had for under 8 1/2k
 
I think there's a reason every minicab in Glasgow is a Superb or an Octavia ;).
Though I've been seeing more and more BMWs.
 
as a passenger the skoda cabs my local firm users are a reasonably nice place to sit compared to the skanky cars most of the other firms seem to have
 
Ahleckz said:
I think there's a reason every minicab in Glasgow is a Superb or an Octavia ;).
Though I've been seeing more and more BMWs.
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I must admit I noticed a fair few BMW taxis recently whilst up in that neck of the woods, e60 520d's seem popular (well, in Aberdeen anyway!)

I can't see a BMW e60 bettering a Skoda from a value for money point of view although I'm sure its a very nice place to spend 12 hours per day.... :)
 
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