Automatic estate/ Small Automatic

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Wed 12 Oct 2005 07:31
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - swimfeeder
I currently have an omega estate and I need to swap it for another similar size automatic estate (2 kids at uni means i need a big estate),Daughter wants an astra sized automatic for when she is home from uni, just passed her test. Having 2 kids at uni also means i don't have a lot of spare cash, £10k for both cars.I do about 25k a year in the estate at the moment
Any advice on what I should get?
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Wed 12 Oct 2005 09:39
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - Flying Red
Citroen C5 diesel auto - search Autotrader and you'll find 30,000 miles on an 02 for under £7k. Enormous load space and self-levelling suspension.

The remaining £3k would get an Astra 1.6 auto on a Y plate although as your daughter has just passed her test I'd suggest you looked one size down where insurance groups are lower.
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Wed 12 Oct 2005 09:48
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - islandman
What's your thoughts on a new omega? If you present one is the older original model £5k will get you a good lowish mileage facelift model. I have a facelift 2.5 V6 Estate and whilst I concede the 'badge' has no cred, you just get so much good car for your money. If you're lucky you may find a good 2.5 diesel (BMW engine) but if not and you do alot of miles the later 2.2 diesel would suit. Nowhere near as fast as the 2.5 though.
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Wed 12 Oct 2005 11:10
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - Ruperts Trooper
The Omega was only available as a diesel auto with the earlier 2.5 BMW diesel - and that had a poor reputation for quality / reliability. The 2.0 and 2.2 GM diesels were manual only in the Omega.

The current Vectra Estate is available as an automatic with the 150 PS Fiat 1.9 diesel and the 180 PS Isuzu 3.0 diesel. The Vectra Estate is more spacious than the Omega was.
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Wed 12 Oct 2005 11:33
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - local yokel
"Kids at uni mean I need an estate"

Would it be worth considering hiring a Transit-sized van for the days when you take/collect the kids?

If you had a day's hire for each kid, each term (very generous?) that would be 12 days, at say £45/day = £540, but you have a vehicle suited to the task. Most people I know only have to do the big load at the start and end of the academic year - that would be £180.

Then you could have the car that exactly fitted your everyday needs.
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Wed 12 Oct 2005 11:47
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - madf
I found an Audi A4 saloon was OK for ONE at uni (required careful packing.. but

So an Audi A4 TDI estate?
madf
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Wed 12 Oct 2005 11:57
Automatic estate/ Small Automatic - deepwith
Or hire/borrow a huge top box for the university trips. Both in halls and in a house-share, we only needed to cart stuff in September/June. Amazing how little was needed for her post-grad year - which was collected by boyfriend this year in an Astra estate!!
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If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.

Is an electric car right for me?