I'm headng across Europe to a festival in Budapest (Sziget) in august and I need a practical car for it.

 

We've been 5 times previously in an '89 Audi 80 sport, a '97 Peugeot 406 Estate and most recently a '95 Renault Espace.

 

Each car now has met it's own demise one way or another so now we are looking for something new.

 

Here's the requirements:

Spacious,

At least 4 seats,

Economical,

Reliable (Not French),

Air Con,

Driver arm rest (You wouldn't believe how much difference tha makes),

£1000 at most

 

Cruise control and possibly an auto box is preferred but never had them before so I can happily go without.

 

Who's got the answer..?

 

Checkout the Espace (The Spac™) in this video from one of our roadtrips...

 

shame you said not french i did a similar thing in a 300quid citroen cant remember off hand what it was called but it was hugely comfey, auto, and went the whole trip only needing brake light bulbs and some new brake pads plus it was 2.0 so plenty of poke for the mway

Lexus ls400

The Lexus is a 4.0 Petrol V8 automatic! Not really economical. Try again.

Can't go anywhere near French cars now. Too much bad history. I left the Espace at the side of he road in Austria last summer.

Comfort, over 50mpg and cheap as chips:yes:Have a look at some Merc's

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201204443755902/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/make/mercedes-benz/postcode/bt88bl/page/4/radius/1500?logcode=p#

7 series?

It's just not gonna be big enough. Need more of an MPV kinda size car. It's a 3000 mile trip, we need to stretch our legs.

The Spac was actually an ideal car. Only had two seats clipped into the rear and both of them were reclinable with dual arm rests. Also had flip up trays from the seats in front and a 14inch flip down directional tv with ps2 and wireless headphones. Not to mention mains voltage charging points for phones and cameras etc and a mountain of space for luggage.

It's only downside was it's plac of birth and last august the head gasket blew in the midde of Austria.

shame I have a nice little 51 plate vectra hatchback you could have for £500 87000miles from new and its a 1.8 so it is frugal

The Lexus is a 4.0 Petrol V8 automatic! Not really economical. Try again.

 

buuuuut on our trips to nurburgring/ spa etc the cars with th ebiggest engines do the best on fuel, i used to have a prelude track car and on way to nur last year it was using more fuel than two supras we had with us, in a ls you can sit at 70 doing something like 2500rpm in comfort, they also dont die

Omega or Senator, no question

Need bigger!

Toyota Space Cruiser?

Head gasket issues appear to be common with those.

Space wagon

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201201440150711/postcode/so224hx/radius/1500/quicksearch/true/price-to/1000/price-from/500/advert-type/featured-listing/dealer/475079/usedcars?logcode=flp

 

Chariot?

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201150435956563/sort/priceasc/usedcars/transmission/automatic/price-to/1000/price-from/500/body-type/people_carrier/quantity-of-doors/5/postcode/so224hx/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p

 

Estima?

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201203443109686/sort/priceasc/usedcars/transmission/automatic/price-to/1000/price-from/500/body-type/people_carrier/quantity-of-doors/5/postcode/so224hx/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p

i know where there's a saab 95 2litre turbo 500 quid. good car just wheels a bit tatty. t&t'd

Edited January 29, 201213 yr by mellowyellow
addin

Toyota Granvia, 3ltr TD

 

same engine as the Hilux, loads of seats and very economical, strong torquey' engine, auto + air con. I know because I've got one but mines only got two seats as it's been converted to a camper.

 

You'd pick up a very scruffy example for £1k but most are around £2.5k-£4k

Staying clear of all the Lucida/Estima things as they are forever having overheating problems and the engine is under the seats!

 

Already looking into that Chariot. Looks ideal. the guy wants £1200 for it. Mot'd, taxed, serviced and UK registered. HE doesn't wanna buge on the price.

 

As for the space wagon, not seen that one yet but damn that thing's ugly! haha! I might have to research them a little more.

Now, if I had £3k to spend on a roadtrip car I'd still only spend £2k and put the rest into my zed!

£1k and put the rest into my zed.*

Well the Grandis has the engine at the front and as you can pick up examples with 200k on the clock overheating isn't a problem unless they haven't been maintained

 

If an Omega/Senator is too small and a 7 series is out, then I'm struggling to think what you're gonna' find that's suitable

 

 

maybe a transit/DAF/Sprinter with club cab, granted not the most comfortable

 

 

what about a big Volvo and estate car of some description

Omega or Senator, no question

 

+1 , an omega is the perfect mile muncher and cheap as chips :)

 

If you need bigger how about an omega limousine?, funeral directors sell them cheap an a they aint been thrashed ;)

Edited January 29, 201213 yr by Rebel Scum

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Mitsubishi-Chariot-MPV-Jap-Import-6-Seater-/260939518957?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc13513ed

 

I'm liking the look of this. Just might have to haggle down the price a little. anyone got a generic car I can have for free as the seller has stated that any p/x is considered! HA!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-Mitsubishi-Chariot-MPV-Jap-Import-6-Seater-/260939518957?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cc13513ed

 

I'm liking the look of this. Just might have to haggle down the price a little. anyone got a generic car I can have for free as the seller has stated that any p/x is considered! HA!

 

 

Just be aware mate, to me this looks very similar to the Mitsubishi Grandis (which we are now on our second as they are fantastic vehicles) but the second time around we opted for the 2ltr TD version as our first one, the 2.4ltr petrol auto, albeit a fantastic vehicle with plenty of grunt, was in fact one of the worst cars we've owned for fuel economy. I'd hazard a guess and say that the 2.4ltr petrol auto in this ^^^^^^ is similar to the 2.4ltr petrol auto that was in our first Grandis.

 

Awesome drive, loads of power, quite nippy and very spacious with onboard DVD player in the back and near perfect for long drives. Neither model of Grandis has let us down, not even once BUT....in the real world the 2.4 ltr petrol auto's fuel economy is really bad!

Chrysler Voyager mate

How bad we talking? They'll be 4 of us in the car sharing the fuel costs. Last time we were in a knackered old 2.0 petrol Espace. Can't imagine that was any good on fuel economy.