New family bus thinking about a volvo

[tim61uk]

Hi all we have currently got a 2.0td mazda 6 which we were hoping to keep however what with having two little ones now i feel that we need an estate this with the poor economy its returning with my missus short journeys. The mazda is only doing 32mpg which is poor to say least. I dont believe we do enough milage to warrant buying a diesel car and just need more boot space.

Have been looking at volvo v50s which seem very welly specd and have my eye on a 1.8 petrol model with timing chain.
Other altenatives are a Honda accord estate or mazda 6 estate with a petrol engines. Looking a max budget of £3k

Ive tried sneaking in a bmw 330d estate but she hates bmws and i am not fond of french or VAG cars.

Has anyone any views or experience with any of the above.

Any help appreciated

[parker2245]

Volvo 850r

[tim61uk]

As nice as they are think the 850s are a tad too big my missus wouldnt be able to park it lol.

[Badboyrich]

ZT-T or 75 tourer?
This is a Rover forum after all!

[mg-richard]

v50's are not proper volvos! ford junk, might aswell buy a focus

Zt's and 75's are too old and can be a pain to keep on the road IMO, ran them for 4 years

[rpatten]

In my opinion you cant beat a 7 seat discovery 2 td5.
Get a later upgraded one with newer spec lights and air suspension, all the car you'll ever need.
7 seats, fold them away and you have a van
4x4 for the bad weather
Good towing for the rover lol
Great spec
Cheap to insure £335 I'm 33 years old
£600miles odd to a tank
Bmw did do this car right compared to the British Leyland boys, they made it slightly larger, better interior, neatened up the exterior.

Great car and value, I wish I hadn't bought a disco 3 and kept a disco 2

[tim61uk]

I have been looking at td5 discoverys and do like them and also been looking at v8s with lpg. Think the facelift version with newer lights and round fogs in bumper is out of price range. What average mpg do you get from a td5.
The missus just dosnt like mgs and they are long motors

[mg-richard]

Td5 discos are starting to rot.
Plus they are pretty old fashioned and un-economical.

[mg-richard]

air suspension
Great spec
£600miles odd to a tank
Bmw did do this car right compared to the British Leyland boys, they made it slightly larger, better interior, neatened up the exterior.

[rpatten]

Disco 2 td5 is excellent motor couldn't fault mine at all, economical, never went wrong once and mine never rotted at all not sure what mg-Richard is talking about? It was probably the best all round car I've ever owned, brilliant family wagon

[rpatten]

You can pick up a 2002 pre face lift model for around £3k and do the headlight conversion for £300. I did it, it weren't too hard. I wouldn't be to worried by high milers, mine had 160,0000 on it but had been looked after well and was strong

[mg-richard]

I'm not saying they are bad motors.
But age and allot of use are taking their toll, did you ever look at the chassis, ALLOT of them need welding now.
They are not economical.
They are not fast and quite old fashioned/outdated.
For ferrying the kids about not ideal at all.

[tim61uk]

Think she likes the refinements and look of the volvo or a focus estate. Although the focus are fairly basic. The volvo also has chain driven engines i believe although not sure if the petrol 1.8 will be underpowered.

Wouldnt mind a fully kitted up disco for playing in off road but do think it would be too big for the missus

[mg-richard]

I suppose if all the volvos are is a nicer version of a focus then you are onto a winner.
I wasnt suggesting there is anything wrong with them, but its just not the premium quiality mile muncher like we expect from the Volvo badge.

[Badboyrich]

Honda CR-V?

[black_sunrise]

Mondeo? I loved mine, well, apart from when the flywheel logger itself.

[Imran]

can you not get some D5 variant from Volvo? the 5 cylinder diesel engine they do is very good.

I would have thought a large hatch would be sufficient for the misses and kids.

[tim61uk]

The mazda has been brill so far but over past month have struggled for room that and the poor economy of 32mpg from a diesel is making me want something more economical for short journeys which is why have been considering a 1.8 or 2.0 petrol estate.