car suggestions??

[5lab]

always a heated topic this one, so i thoguht i'd throw my situation into the fray

i've currently got a 20 yr old volvo 340, which for those of you who dont know is a escort size hatch the mot and insurance on which runs out in may. now i'll try sticking sticking her thru another mot, but if she costs a lot i wont bother. so it'd be new car time..

as a replacement car, i'd ideally prefer something a little bigger - pref an estate - i do a lot of biking and surfing with my mates, so the more i can fit in a car the better. split fold seats a must.. the other must is cheap insurance - my 340 (im 23, driving for 2 years, 2 years ncb) is about £310 this year, and i dont want to spend a huge amount more... i want to pay in 1 go, and i dont want to spend more than £800 for the car and the insurance, and at least a few months tax in there too

lastly - economy is important. a diesel would be nice as i'm going to be doing 2000 miles in france later in the year, and fuel over there is cheeep. i'd rather have a manual than an auto. if a car costs more than 10p/mile to run on petrol, i wont drive it much which means its not worth me getting that car..

i'd also like a lot of toys (lectric windows etc) and easyish to find parts.

what do you recon? i've naturally looked up volvo estates already, and the best bet i can find is a 740 turbo diesel estate which you can get with leather and every toy in the book, for around £250. what else can you think of??

[Konan555]

2L DOHC sierra estate it is then

I'm nothing if not predictable.

[5lab]

surely that'd drink wouldnt it?

[5lab]

£550 pa insurance - ouch!!

btw, it doesnt need to be quick enough - needs enough muscle to keep a FULL load going at 70mph (but even my 1.4 volvo can do that).. so its more price i'm bothered about

[Konan555]

Belive it or not, the DOHC varient's pretty efficient. It's a pretty light car all in all.

Just did 40MPG from Norfolk to Derby to london and back to derby.

But insurance IS a bitch - fogot about that. A Ghia's Group 12!

[[GSV]Trig]

40mpg on a decent run, mine does that as well

[Konan555]

Not got the boot space tho . I was quite chuffed with it, considering it's got quite a blow round the manifold/downpipe.

Can get 50's out of it if you're sticking to 60 (which i, of course, do).

[Fox]

Don't be fussy. Go to auction and buy the nicest Mondeo/405/Cavalier you can get for your budget.

[Konan555]

ah yes - the 405 Diesel estate. Good old runners.

Cavalier's not gonna be an estate.

[5lab]

where do i find a list of auctions? i've looked in the past and cant find anything of the scale that you see on 'telly