Looking for a new daily drive

Post by **Doggo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:14 pm

Is that the passat with the horrible electric handbrake? The earlier ones than that from experience were not always as reliable as you might expect (electrics), although maybe just unlucky.

If you fancy a bit retro... a Volvo 240 Estate - yes long enough to sleep in, ridiculously cheap & reliable (Mine was £250), very comfy. Economy is bad (Maybe 25 on long runs for 2.3 petrol) but depends on mileage against purchase price...?
Probably you hate that one (most people do).

Can you sleep in an Aerodeck? Too old?

If you don't think Mondeo estate's are too dull they're good on price v. reliability.
Maybe also too sensible(?) Skoda Octavia Estate's can be stoating bargains vs a passat (I Guess a golf underneath, mind

).

More character? I'd look at old Merc estates (Preferably not pre '95-'04ish when the accountants got involved).
Or - again a bit old and economy not the best - an E30 (or other) 3 Series estate.

The other two I'd personally consider, which I'd guess (Open to argument) would be reasonably reliable although maybe not the cheapest on fuel would be the Subaru Legacy Estate (Petrol only if cheap) or Mitsubishi Galant?

Actually, I typed this assuming a budget of £1k, and just saw is more. Still. Some relevant.

My .02

Post by **Ammo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:19 pm

It just doesn't have a "bite" you press the pedal and nothing happens, basically it's slam them on or nothing happens

If i go GTi brakes where into 5 stud conversions, rear axle swap from drums to disc's etc and I can't be bothered with all that for a daily

Post by **Ammo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:23 pm

If aerodecks were better looking and not so pricey I might be tempted, got enough parts to make a pretty awesome H22 one, but then it's the engine mounts etc

Shame they never did the Accord in a estate (the ATR one)

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:26 pm

Ammo wrote:It just doesn't have a "bite" you press the pedal and nothing happens, basically it's slam them on or nothing happens

If i go GTi brakes where into 5 stud conversions, rear axle swap from drums to disc's etc and I can't be bothered with all that for a daily

Oh right, my Scirocco is like that, but that's because the MC is on the left side rather than behind the pedals

Apparently a larger MC can help, again robbed from the GTi models.

afaik 4 stud gear from mk2's should fit 4 stud Mk3's (I think my wheels are mk3 alloys) so maybe mk2 GTi calipers would be a goer along with an upgraded MC? As for the rear drums, just leave them, the back does the smallest share of braking anyway.

I may be slightly biased by the fact that I love Mk3 estates

I was after one for ages before I got the Citroen

Post by **Doggo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:27 pm

Ammo wrote:I'm of that age where insurance isn't an issue, but after something I can sleep in the boot of, cruise about in, have some fun if I need to (Although this is a minor factor these days on the road)

Or what else have I missed?

Ah. I think I was taking this bit too literally

Post by **Ammo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:29 pm

It's been my best buy out of all my bargain cars, 600 miles + from a tank it handles ok, yes it's slow with only 90bhp I can live with that, it's just the brakes lol

Post by **Ammo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:32 pm

Doggo wrote:
Ammo wrote:I'm of that age where insurance isn't an issue, but after something I can sleep in the boot of, cruise about in, have some fun if I need to (Although this is a minor factor these days on the road)

Or what else have I missed?

Nah I get to abuse a drift car once a month on track, really taken the need to drive like a spanner on public roads right out of me. But camper golf has taught me you can take roundabouts at 40-50mph cos you can't slow down enough

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:39 pm

Ammo wrote:It's been my best buy out of all my bargain cars, 600 miles + from a tank it handles ok, yes it's slow with only 90bhp I can live with that, it's just the brakes lol

They can run veg oil too, and the old VW diesels just have a reputation for being tough bastards of cars which is always good for a workhorse. Is it the turbo?

I've been deliberating on dropping a mk3 turbo diesel lump into my Scirocco, I'm not sure if I'm just losing my mind slowly though

Coming back to your original problem, I wouldn't recommend a newer diesel VW, a friend of mine who specialises in commercial and diesel vehicle repair tells me that they are probe to expensive injector problems - I was looking at late 90's Passats at the time as they seemed a good buy. I'm guessing this would apply to Audi's, Seat's and Skoda's of that era too as they're all VAG motors. (

)

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:42 pm

indigolemon wrote:V70 is under a grand for one isn't it? The 850 and phase one V70 are the best choice anyway, after that Ford stuck their neb in.

The mark 1 V40s are excellent cars. Very well built, comfortable and ride/handle well. (also nowt to do with Ford, as it was a Mitsubishi/Volvo joint venture).
I was really pleasantly surprised about them (Lisa had one when I started going out with her). I think they look pretty good too, especially with the facelift egg-crate grille and own hid headlights.

Never tried to sleep in it, but I'm sure you could?
Give them a look Ammo? I think the diesels are meant to be pretty good too?

Post by **Doggo** » Sun May 05, 2013 11:53 pm

Ammo wrote: Nah I get to abuse a drift car once a month on track, really taken the need to drive like a spanner on public roads right out of me. But camper golf has taught me you can take roundabouts at 40-50mph cos you can't slow down enough

Does that actually work like that? Always been sceptical, but sounds like what I need to be doing

If you want off the wall (Don't like auto's myself but...) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-HONDA-S- ... 6871548%26

OK, that's enough daft suggestions from me!