As some of you might know, I am without a car and needing a new one. I am after somthing big enough to sleep in/carry bikes easily, good on fuel, repairs and is fun/nice to drive. I was tempted by a small van, but they are higher tax and boat travel costs, not very nippy either. This has led me down the road of the estates....can lie down in the back with the rear seats removed, can easily fit two or more bikes in, better on tax and boat journey costs and still car-like to drive. I don't want a peugeot as I don't trust the electronics in them despite the estates being decent in size. A german or Japanese car would be great, but they are a little out of my price range. The best value for money estates seem to be fords (booring), BUT, the Focus estates seems to get great reviews....roomy, great to drive, nippy, good on fuel and tax. Also insurance would save me around £200 over my 306tdi even if I went fully comp! I have seen 3 cars, my budget is around £1000, but I can stretch it if its worth it. 1) here, most exspensive of the three, but the newest and has 12 months mot. I like the colour, its got a tow bar, its the nippy 1.8 engine (they always get recommended over the tdi's), seems pretty good. High miles, but not over the top. No backup from a dealer if anything goes wrong though 2) 2nd one, middle price, I like black cars, only had one owner, fsh, 1.8 engine again. Miles are high, but not over the top. 3) here, cheapest car, lowest miles (but I think thats a mistake), colour is ok, but will need lots of cleaning to keep nice, its the deisel model, so sluggish but good on fuel. Those are the only ones I can afford really, they all seem like a pretty good buy, if the miles are correct on the last one that seems like a bargain! I would prefer a petrol one just for the fun factor, but I do drive 70miles a day for work, so maybe the deisel would be the smarter choice. What are your thoughts?