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Please recommend an economical, easily-accessible car capable of driving over rough tracks?

Would you be kind enough, please, to recommend a car that will do approximately 10,000 miles per annum, and will last for the next ten years, will do at least 10 miles per litre in mainly rural and small town areas, will be able to carry two sets of golf clubs and fold-up trolleys in its boot and will be able to carry 4/5 adults (driver included) in reasonable comfort?

It needs to be easily accessible to a driver, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and has two new knees and should be able to travel over rough tracks, as well as cope with 'normal' winter conditions (without having to change tyres). It could be either petrol, diesel or anything else, and in as low a tax bracket as possible. It must have some style, used rather than new. I've got no idea about budget, but I want something with no more than 30,000 miles, maybe no more than four years old. My current car is an R-reg Subaru Outback, which I love dearly, but it is showing its age, and is more and more thirsty.

Asked on 2 October 2010 by MA, Haslemere

Answered by Honest John
10 miles per litre is 45mpg. A new diesel with a DPF could go through two DPFs, two DMFs and a turbo in 100,000 miles over two years, costing around £6,000 for those repairs alone. You need to set that cost against any likely fuel saving from diesel and any saving in VED. Probably your best bet is a Skoda Yeti 2WD 1.2TSI, but it will be pushed to do 45mpg.
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