Horsey car query!!

katastrophykat

katastrophykat

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Apologies if this doesnt belong here- i cant think where else to put it! Ok, my first (now 12 year old!) car which my mum bought me has been declared officially dead, so I need a new yard proof vehicle. I have a discovery for heavy stuff/really bad weather so it doesn't need to be all terrain etc, but it does need to cope with more than a sniffle of snow. I have about £6000 to spend, and my list of requirements is a bit odd- my real query is what do you have for yard/some long distance and how do you rate it on rutted tracks/fields etc?

I want- an estate for space- I transport two saddles and at least two sets of harness most days.
- very good fuel consumption (preferably diesel..)
- it needs to be good fun to drive- I prefer them quick!
- decent suspension
- reasonable parts/repair costs

Any ideas?
 
I have a Peugeot Bipper van - ticks most of your boxes but fast it aint!

Even on short runs I get an average of 57mpg though and having a van is so fab as the cab stays clean and all the dust and mud stays in the back which I have lined with rubber matting

If looking for an estate car I dont think you can go wrong with the Vauxhall Astra 1.7 turbo diesels - they are so popular and are proper workhorses
 
We've recently bought a Nissan Qashqai. I do a lot of short runs (5 miles to the yard, 8 miles to work), but also quite a few in excess of 100 miles.

On longer journeys I get about 56-58mpg (and I'm VERY heavy with my right foot on the motorways), and on the shorter ones, about 51-52mpg.

We have the 1.5 diesel engine, and whilst it's not nearly as fast as my last car, it is quite nippy and not the sluggish, old mans car that these seem to be perceived as. There's loads of space in the huge boot, it's really comfy and there's loads of equipment.

We have the 2wd, but it does also come in 4wd. It's not my towing vehicle, and I don't think I would try to tow with it, but I love it.
 
We have a Volvo estate turbo diesel. Comfortable / safe ride holds the road well cruising at speed but likewise a real work horse, copes with rutted lanes & we pile it high with horse feed / shavings as the boots huge & massive space with seats down.
 
Well, I have a Fiat Sedici which is essentially a Suzuki SX4. I isn't an Estate but it is a decent enoug sized hatchback. I just have the 1.6 petrol but I believe they do 2ltr (I think) diesel which I imagine is more economical. I hve the 4WD version (no point getting a 2WD).It is 2WD but has an auto 4WD switch which means it will use all 4 wheels if it feels the need. It can aso be locked in 4WD ad this has been fab in the winter in soe pretty heavy snow and steep, icy hills.

It certainly isn't the fastest car i the world but they're not terribly expensive and, touch wood, mine's been pretty trouble free and is now 7 years old.

I can't think of decent estates you'd get as haven't looked myself by maybe try the Hyundai range of cars. You get 5 year warranty with them so could pick up a car with warranty still on and they're not excessively expensive.
 
I have a Skoda Fabia Estate 1.4TD which is yet to let me down (on my 2nd). Got me through several inches of snow without chains or snow tyres. Does about 53-55mpg on short journeys bit more on longer ones even though I drive like a ****** most of the time!
 
piebaldsparkle said:
I have a Skoda Fabia Estate 1.4TD which is yet to let me down (on my 2nd). Got me through several inches of snow without chains or snow tyres. Does about 53-55mpg on short journeys bit more on longer ones even though I drive like a ****** most of the time!
Click to expand...

My Skoda estate was fab in the snow too. (Towed my Mum's Vauxhall out with it!).
 
Thank you! I did love dad's Polo estate 1.9 turbo diesel, really nippy and comfortable on long trips- til I wrote it off... Mums suggested the yeti and the sedici, they look quite similar to each other, but I think I'd prefer an estate. The skodas seem to have mostly good reviews... Well, looks like a long weekend of car searching will be in order!! Nosey, how have you found garage costs for the Volvo? Thanks everyone!! :)
 
I have a clio. It does over 60mpg and costs just £35 for a whole year's tax. It is also reasonably fast and sporty. It is big for a hot hatch but not as big as an estate obviously. I use the 4x4 if I need to transport shavings or tow the trailer.

Before we had the 4x4 we had an old polo. Can't recommend them highly enough, it was quick enough, like a tardis inside, was better in snow than a discovery and was totally indestructible.

Size wise I can get 5 bales of shavings in the clio. Ten in the pickup, more if I fill the back seats.
 
Our polo went over the snake pass when it was closed due to snow. We passed many 4wds that had given up. We only ever had to turn back due to snow when it was over the height of the axel. It was great in mud too as we used to take it off road, again it often out performed 4wds.
 
Re Volvo servicing etc I have a lovely local man who sorts most things with it so I can avoid Volvo main dealer costs.
 
Volvos are fab, plenty of room, zoomy, good on diesel but do not buy a 55 plate v50, its the year volvo made a boo boo and anything and everything goes wrong :)
 
Subaru Impreza estate! Amazing cars.
Or a Volvo 850 T5. My brother had one and it was very quick, reasonable on petrol and really comfortable.
 
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