small economical run about ?diesel?

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Thu 13 Oct 2005 12:32
small economical run about ?diesel? - Editor
Morning all. Many thanks for all the advice on the dogs' limo. My turn now!

The other car is a lovely Golf Mk3 cab, which is useless for transporting a dog to Vet's if emergency occurs. Which it will, so she has to go.

What I need is as per header, smallish hatch with boot space & dead economical to run. Will be used to commute to work too, so thinking about it so much of a run about then.

What I'd like is one of those wee fast diesels that have arisen & looking through back threads I see the Seat Leon seems a better bet than the Ibiza. But, can I really justify this? If I feel the need for speed (OK, acceleration) my bike fulfils. Although a 106GTi might appeal-no be sensible!

A while ago I had a fab 205 Turbodiesel, not common rail HDI stuff, but it was great although bits did start going wrong towrds the end & the oil leak from the rear of the engine still shows on the driveway! Last of the old tech goodies I thought was a 306 Turbo Diesel-which would also suit assuming boot opens down to bumper.

Any other ideas? I know I'd like a fast one, but really I think I'd have to keep costs down & go for value for money as main criteria? Longevity & reliablilty too, don't have the time these days to be forever fixing something. Sufficient nouse to do home servicing up to a point. Suppose insurance an issue too, new 406 is a group 14. What??

Cheers all.
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Thu 13 Oct 2005 12:36
small economical run about ?diesel? - mss1tw
My 306 HDi:

600 miles to a tank (circa £55)
Comfy
Reasonably spacious (Took 4 adults to Cornwall with no complaints)
Engine seems bullet proof, good pull from 3rd onwards when the torque can be used to full effect.
Came with everything as standard.

Not sure what you mean by 'assuming boot opens down to bumper' but the boot's a good size and shape.

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Thu 13 Oct 2005 12:54
small economical run about ?diesel? - Editor
Sorry. I have long short dogs, so to get one in the back I put his front paws on top of the rear bumper, lift up the bag & they sort of front crawl in. If there's a lip there will be a problem!

Sounds good. What kind of age is it?
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Thu 13 Oct 2005 12:56
small economical run about ?diesel? - Editor
errr, for 'bag' read 'back'. No idea how THAT one happened, not as if the keys are close togther..
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Thu 13 Oct 2005 14:25
small economical run about ?diesel? - mss1tw
It's on a 51 plate, cost £4500, with 57,000 on the clock.

I think I know what you mean and from what I remember there isn't a lip, it's flat. I'll double check later though for you.
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Thu 13 Oct 2005 15:27
small economical run about ?diesel? - SlightlyFatRep
Would a Focus estate be too big?

They drive just like the hatch but with a far more practical load area. Not too unwieldy either. TDCi good too.
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Thu 13 Oct 2005 20:43
small economical run about ?diesel? - AlastairW
306 hatch has a very high lip to the boot,by modern standards. The estate opens down to the bumper though.
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Fri 14 Oct 2005 01:51
small economical run about ?diesel? - Avant
Try a Skoda Fabia estate - the 1.9 TDI is fast if noisy, and the 1.4 petrol 100 bhp is lively and still pretty economical.
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