|
As the owner of two dogs, one big (Anatolian Shepherd, and one smaller doodle) we get along fine with the Avensis Tourer.
The rear is slightly slopping but the dogs learnt to stay back when you shut them in, slopping roof line means the back window get filthy very quick so you need to keep on top with cleaning.
We found that most MPV'S didn't add much more usable dog space over an estate but there was an exception when we looked at the Berlingo type van based contraptions, these were on a league of their own, very clever cars. Still if you don't care about driving dynamics it can be a good place to look at.
If you have three dogs, I'd say you will want a big estate, not a small one.
Beg and rob if you must, but realistically you are looking at £5.5k for anything half decent www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181486125?a...3
|
I did think of the Honda Civic, havent actually been to see one yet but concerned a bit about what seems like a sloping boot. Wanted them at least to be able to sit up
But if you look properly, you will see that the point where the slope from the roof meets the vertical surface coming up from the rear bumper is very high. That is why there is the second window under the spoiler without which, you'd have a very limited view through the mirror. On top of this, looking at pics, the boot is actually very deep relative to the top of the bumper, maybe 6" below it.
But I'd still be trying to get an estate with, if not a lower step up for the dogs, at least not a drop inside. This would make entry and exit for the dogs easier, especially as they get older. Your budget is certainly limited, but a half decent Astra or Focus estate should still be doable. In fact looking on Autotrader, I see that there are 1.7CDTI (diesel) Astra estates available in budget. This is one of a very few Diesel engines I'd consider at this sort of budget, the 1.7 is made by Isuzu (rather than Fiat, who made the 1.3, 1.6 and 2.0) and is pretty dependable. I wouldn't be keen on a diesel Focus (nor the 1.0 Ecoboost), just the 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 petrol.
|
|
Thanks..I'll take a look at both the avenues and astra estates
Is the Golf Plus a decent car. It has a bigger boot than the normal golf ?
|
Thanks..I'll take a look at both the avenues and astra estates
Is the Golf Plus a decent car. It has a bigger boot than the normal golf ?
Problem with the Golf Plus, as with many VW's, is picking the right engine. If memory serves, the Golf Plus would cover the early days of the TSI engine, the problematic chain drive version which you'd want to avoid. You also have the FSI petrol, which if I recall correctly from SLO's posts, isn't that great either. The 'standard' 1.6 (this will have around 105bhp to the FSI's 115bhp) is fine, I believe a n/a (non turbo) 1.4 was also available which is also fine so long as you are not overly fussed about performance.
In terms of its design, it is a good car, unfairly ignored next to the Golf (same with its successor, the Golf SV). Just be aware that the extra boot capacity over a normal Golf hatch has more to do with height rather than extra floor space
|
|
Carrying on re the Golf Plus, just had a look on Autotrader and there are no 'non-FSI' 1.6's. There are n/a 1.4's, 1.4TSI's, 1.6FSI's, 1.9TDI's and 2.0TDI's. Of those, the n/a is probably the best bettor budget, pain free, motoring (at a fairly sedate pace!).
I also looked up (petrol engined) Golf estates in budget, there are only two!. One of those is an auto (which I'd actually prefer), but the other looks pretty nice assuming you can live with metallic gold. If you are not too far from Peterborough, this would be worth a look (assuming a check of the MOT history didn't through up alarm bells);
202110138457225
|
|
Nearly £2800 for a 20 year old Golf. The market is truly mad. I only got under £4K as a trade in price on my then 7 year old Civic in 2019. And we sold our immaculate 1999 Astra estate a couple of years earlier for £380. Changed days.
That aside this Golf looks OK and the reg no. is shown in one of the pictures and it’s fine. But I’d be looking at private sales at this end of the market.
|
|
I see £1950 for the advertised Golf but still seems a bit stiff. If the mileage is genuine and no advisories on corrosion it might be not too bad on the assumption it would go for £1650.
|
|
The cars on the link change. I guess it’s saved as a set of options so will bring up different cars as they are sold or added. Like you I now get another car, at a lower, but stiff price.
|
The cars on the link change. I guess it’s saved as a set of options so will bring up different cars as they are sold or added. Like you I now get another car, at a lower, but stiff price.
Yeah, I see that.
Not sure what is going on there, but I'm wondering if it has something to do with the way I am copying the link?. When I post it, it is just a number, no mention of Autotrader. Didn't used to be the case, but I'm not aware of doing anything different.
Actually scratch that, just had a look on Autotrader again, and the Golf estate in question is no longer there, presumably sold.
|
|
Thanks
Isn't the golf 1.9tdi engine a good engine ?... is it not the same as the one in the touran I was talking about which goes on forever ?
cheers
|
Thanks
Isn't the golf 1.9tdi engine a good engine ?... is it not the same as the one in the touran I was talking about which goes on forever ?
cheers
It is a good engine, but it is still a 'diesel engine'. And it is also going to be an old engine now, with the youngest Golf 1.9TDI being 2008ish 5th gen.
We can't tell you what buy, that is up to you, but you won't find many recommending a diesel with such a small budget. So unless you really need a diesel due to the miles you cover, it would be better to avoid them.
|
Thanks
Isn't the golf 1.9tdi engine a good engine ?... is it not the same as the one in the touran I was talking about which goes on forever ?
cheers
It was one of the best Diesel engines right up until they strangled it with a DPF it was never designed to take. But even the older PD versions that built this reputation are now old and most have done massive mileage and/or have been neglected. When shopping on a limited budget it pays to remember the three golden words… keep it simple. Avoid the added complexity of turbo diesels, complex automated manual gearboxes, four wheel drive, high performance turbocharged petrols etc etc etc and stick with the most basic straightforward petrol engined car you can find in the best condition you can afford. The Nissan Note my wife is using right now is a perfect example of this. I just sold it to my brother for £1750 and it is in near perfect condition. It’s immaculate and it runs without fault despite its 88,000 miles. It’s basic and mechanically simple, there’s little to go wrong beyond simple wear and tear and I’ve every confidence it’ll run for many years to come, something I couldn’t say about a similarly priced turbo diesel of any type.
Edited by SLO76 on 23/01/2022 at 18:50
|
|
The whole family had a chat today and I think you are right
We need to borrow more money and get a newer car with less mileage as a reliable everyday car.
So we are going to look for a hatchback first with a large lowish boot ( one that can let my daughters large breed dog sit up easily ) that does an average of ideally 45+ MPG and increase our budget to £4500.
Thanks again
|
The whole family had a chat today and I think you are right
We need to borrow more money and get a newer car with less mileage as a reliable everyday car.
So we are going to look for a hatchback first with a large lowish boot ( one that can let my daughters large breed dog sit up easily ) that does an average of ideally 45+ MPG and increase our budget to £4500.
Thanks again
With used car prices as they are, I don't think an extra £1k is going to make much difference with regards to what you are being advised to buy for the best chance of reliability. It is still going to be petrol all day long.
Thing is, from the late noughties onwards, diesel engines have had ever more troublesome (unless the type of usage dictates diesel) emissions equipment fitted. As these cars get older, they are going to be more prone to problems, very expensive ones!. With regards to 'younger' Diesel engines, one of the few SLO will recommend is the 1.6DTEC Honda unit as fitted to the Civic, CRV and HRV. But £4.5k is still about £1.5-2k short of what you'd need to pay for the cheapest of those (Civic) with reasonable miles.
Don't get me wrong, the extra money will give you more choices and get you into a younger car, but I still wouldn't be tempted into a £4.5k diesel unless I actually needed one.
|
You can borrow from high street banks from as little as 2.9% APR if you take £7500 or more. A 5yr loan of £7,500 at 2.9% costs roughly £134 a month and you’ll pay only £550 in interest over 5yrs. If you want a diesel Civic, or a nice Ford C-Max or similar you’ll need as a minimum around £8,000. If you’re still planning on spending under £5k then stick with a simple petrol engined hatchback.
It would make better sense to pay £550 in interest over those 5yrs than thousands on repairs with an older diesel MPV or estate.
Edited by SLO76 on 23/01/2022 at 22:14
|
|
