Dr_Grip
Made from concentrate
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2008
- Messages
- 15,215
- Location
- HEL
- Car(s)
- 79 Opel Kadett|72 Ford Country Sedan|03 Volvo XC70
As my girlfriend is looking for jobs in western germany, there's a 50/50 chance i'll need a dedicated long-distance driving car that's not my 30-year-old classic within the next six months.
Here are my criteria:
-Should not cost more than 3000 Euros including necessary repairs to get it MOT'ed
-Should be at least a full-size saloon or estate, maybe even executive/luxuary size (Size does matter when driving long-distance at highway speeds)
-Should do around 30 mpg, maybe even 35 at german highway speeds (80 to 85 mph)
-Can be a non-Umweltzone diesel, as i don't intend to use it in town
So far i looked at:
-90's VW Passats (B3/B4 35i), mostly TDIs... my dad had one, my gf's dad had one, i once had one as a company car... these things are reliable, reasonable comfy, spares are cheap - they just lack any style or exitement, are boring. And most inexpensive ones are white.
-Citroen XM, maybe not the obvious choice. On the up side, i get an executive saloon for family saloon money, hydropneumatic suspension, which in combination with the magnificent king-size windscreen gives you a ride comfort and feeling of security unheard of outside of trucks (and i mean real trucks) and a certain french flair. On the down side, i get a car that even the owner's club calls a 'nightmare for DIY wrenching' and that has a history of electric failiure that would make British Leyland proud.
-Ford Sierra/MK I or II Scorpio - these are no-brainers. They are RWD, easy to maintain, run like clockworks, but lack any credibility or fun attitude (eventhough Posmo might disagree). I had a Sierra when i was 18 and the only thing that i really liked about it were this low-cut windows which, even when closed, gave you some kind of low-budget BMW Z1 feel).
-Opel Omega A V6 estate - my first boss had one and they are great long-distance drivers, but i dont think they'll fit my fuel economy requirements.
-Jaguars. Reading Spectre going on and on and on and on about how great and at the same time cheap these cars are, i got to look into them, even if they'll double my budget. Current status on Jags is that my father killed the idea with some snide remarks about fuel economy and i asked Spectre for numbers to prove him wrong
Any other suggestions?
Here are my criteria:
-Should not cost more than 3000 Euros including necessary repairs to get it MOT'ed
-Should be at least a full-size saloon or estate, maybe even executive/luxuary size (Size does matter when driving long-distance at highway speeds)
-Should do around 30 mpg, maybe even 35 at german highway speeds (80 to 85 mph)
-Can be a non-Umweltzone diesel, as i don't intend to use it in town
So far i looked at:
-90's VW Passats (B3/B4 35i), mostly TDIs... my dad had one, my gf's dad had one, i once had one as a company car... these things are reliable, reasonable comfy, spares are cheap - they just lack any style or exitement, are boring. And most inexpensive ones are white.
-Citroen XM, maybe not the obvious choice. On the up side, i get an executive saloon for family saloon money, hydropneumatic suspension, which in combination with the magnificent king-size windscreen gives you a ride comfort and feeling of security unheard of outside of trucks (and i mean real trucks) and a certain french flair. On the down side, i get a car that even the owner's club calls a 'nightmare for DIY wrenching' and that has a history of electric failiure that would make British Leyland proud.
-Ford Sierra/MK I or II Scorpio - these are no-brainers. They are RWD, easy to maintain, run like clockworks, but lack any credibility or fun attitude (eventhough Posmo might disagree). I had a Sierra when i was 18 and the only thing that i really liked about it were this low-cut windows which, even when closed, gave you some kind of low-budget BMW Z1 feel).
-Opel Omega A V6 estate - my first boss had one and they are great long-distance drivers, but i dont think they'll fit my fuel economy requirements.
-Jaguars. Reading Spectre going on and on and on and on about how great and at the same time cheap these cars are, i got to look into them, even if they'll double my budget. Current status on Jags is that my father killed the idea with some snide remarks about fuel economy and i asked Spectre for numbers to prove him wrong
Any other suggestions?
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