2-4 K on good estate

[nozom]

I'm looking to spend between 2 and 4k on a decent second hand estate car. What is a good car to go for between that price?

[tigga]

I used a vectra estate as a company car a while back, i found it to be a great all rounder and it would be ideal for parts and servicing etc as it is a popular make.

[Ewood27]

Just what I was going to suggest, tigga.  I have a 6-year-old (S reg) 2-litre auto Vectra estate, CD trim (high spec).  Average mileage, full service record etc.  Cost me �10K 4 years ago, now under �3K.  Not a poser's car, but sound, reliable and thoroughly practical.  I have had a full-size 4-drawer filing cabinet in it.  30+ mpg, more on a long run, fast enough and adequate sprintability when needed.  It's worth a lot more to me than its market value.

[Skids]

You absolutely cannot beat an ex-police Volvo estate.  You'd be looking at an 850R or 850T5-R which are the sports models, T5 being a turbo.  They may be high mileage but they have a full Volvo service history where cost is no object.  The down side is a few holes in the dash where radios and the roof-light control units used to be fitted.  They generally come in white, but you can sometimes get an ex-undercover one.  Oh, and they replace the Police engine management chip with a standard one so you can't cruise at 150mph.