After nearly 7 years of loyal service and at 111,111 miles I think my 1996 Citroen Synergie is ready for a new owner. I need an estate so I can put tools and assorted junk in the back as I pursue of my new career (!) of handyman/gardener. The car needs to have 100 - 110 bhp diesel engine and to be able to tow 1300Kg of caravan.
I believe that the local Citroen dealer will give me the best price on the Synergie, say £3.5K leaving me to put in £7K to get a year old C5 estate. So far I have got on well with the local dealer which has a value in itself. I don't want to sell the Synergie privately, I am not comfortable in a Mondeo and I will only have another Volvo if the gates of Hell freeze shut.
What other cars would you knowledgeable folk have me look at?
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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If it was me, I'd have a look at an Octavia estate - lots of room in the 'boot' there. Good diesel engine, and for what it's worth, a very good placing in the latest JD Power survey.
Soon to be replaced though.
But it's you, not me, so you may not like it. And is it heavy enough to go with your caravan?
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Handyman? Gardener? ooooo Dont thibk your average new fancy estate will stand up to daily abuse of lawnmowers, sacks of guano, fence posts, sacks of stuff to tip etc etc
I would get a big Mitsubishi L200 or something similar
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Dare I suggest a (new) Vectra Estate....
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A Citroen Berlingo multispace seems like the most sensible choice. There is tons of room in it and it has the kind of interior that would cope with all the stuff you are going to be chucking in the back. If you want a bit more style/ less of a van then the fiat stilo multiwagon has a huge boot which is slab sided. The tail gate drops down to so it is a doddle to load too.
teabelly
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My Accord has just reached 111,111 as well. Smooth as ever but about to be replaced by an Audi.
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>>I am not comfortable in a Mondeo
Hell of a car to write off so quickly. Why?
Splodgeface
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If you can't get comfortable you are not going to be a safe driver in it, that's why. I have the same problem with the Mondeo. Back to original question - If the Synergie has been good, why not a C8? Heavier unladen weight of an MPV should mean that it will stand up to heavier loads better. Not too many reasonably priced, large estates around, and as a majority are Volvos (by number sold in the UK) and our thread author will only consider travelling in the hearse version, this narrows the choice down somewhat! New-shape Vectra estate if cheap enough? C5 should be a good choice with potential for haggling a great price on a new one if VAT-paid offer is still on, plus there are rumours of a facelift meaning more discount on present-shaped ones.
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Except, Ivor, my reading of "I am not comfortable in..." within the context of the post, suggests less to do with physical comfort and more to do with image.
Splodgeface
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Dear splodgeface, please do not read anything between the lines when I didn't write there in the first place.
I am physically uncomfortable in a Mondeo after about 30 mins. It starts in my lower back. Can't pin the cause down but it is so. As for image, you don't get much of that in a Citroen anyway.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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Point taken! Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Splodgeface
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Toyota Hilux or something similar with a double cab if you need 4 seats.
Much better than destroying the boot of an estate with all your gardening gear.
mike
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I've had a C5 2.2HDi SX hatch and my Dad still has a C5 Estate 3.0 V6 Exclusive.
Neither of us have had any significant problems with them, my Dad's needed a new armrest after he leaned on it getting into the car and the rachet mechanism broke, no quibbles from the dealer who just swapped it under warranty. One thing I have noticed about all Citroen dealers is that they will readily undertake any warranty work, whereas Ford dealers seem to want nothing to do with warranty jobs.
The C5 estate is cavernous and if you're after a proper out and out estate car then its got to be the best choice in the class. The hydraulic suspension makes it a fantastic tow car. The interior is huge - I took 5 adults to the south of France in mine and had no complaints, the virtually flat floor in the rear makes the centre rear seat perfectly usable.
The suggestion of a Berlingo Multispace is a good one - but they're not really in the same class as the C5. The interiors, whilst undoubtedly practicle, are cheap and van like.
A C5 hatch plus a small trailer could make a cheaper alternative for your gardening empire though - the hatches are a fair bit cheaper and using a trailer would keep your car in better nick.
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Thanks, all for your replies.
Tcat, the Skoda is a bit lightweight for the caravan; now if they made a Superb estate ...
Tbelly, the Berlingo likewise
RF, Mab23, I suppose I should have mentioned the 5x4 trailer in which I cart around the mower, the fenceposts, the rubbish and the pressure washer. So a normal estate will do nicely without having to resort to a farm vehicle.
IE Tower, ah, yes, the C8. Logical choice I grant you were it not for the fact that they are vastly more expensive than equivalent estate cars and my prejudice against instruments in the middle of the cockpit. I'll have my speedo and tacho behind the steering wheel, thanks. www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=15617
PU, the Vectra is now on the list awaiting the laying-on of the tape measure.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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left field suggestion here
how about a vauxhall signum. almost a hatch, almost an estate and ridiculously cheap to buy after 1 year. loaded with kit as well and very good looking.
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