What cars are we all driving?

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Mike_c

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I'm on the lookout for a new (but used) car and I'm wondering what other photographers are driving?

The specification I've come up with is:
Ideally costing under £3K,
Economical on fuel and insurance,
Be able to fit all my kit in comfortably (big bag of cameras, laptop, 3x Bowens heads, stands, 6x7 hilight, overnight bag, etc),
Relatively newish and respectable looking!

Any ideas?
 
Mike_c said:
I'm on the lookout for a new (but used) car and I'm wondering what other photographers are driving?

The specification I've come up with is:
Ideally costing under £3K,
Economical on fuel and insurance,
Be able to fit all my kit in comfortably (big bag of cameras, laptop, 3x Bowens heads, stands, 6x7 hilight, overnight bag, etc),
Relatively newish and respectable looking!

Any ideas?
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Currently i am driving a Seat Leon 1.8 20v Turbo Cupra. The Cupra is far from cheap on Fuel or Insurance but there are cheaper to run versions of the Leon and the boot is massive.

Also have an Audi a3 2.0 FSI but thats a little small for work.
 
I currently drive a Honda Insight but as I've only averaged around 4,000 miles per year since buying it I'm on the lookout for a Ford Mustang to replace it!
 
I use a Ford Focus TDCI, average 40mpg on short/long journeys

Had it 4 years now and its been great ***touch wood***, would recommend one to anyone
 
I have a 2011 1.6tdi polo

average 60mpg on a mixed cycle and with the cruise control I can see 65 mpg on a long motorway run when full of camera gear (aprox 95kg).

Oh and tax is £30 a year
 
Daryl said:
Use a van for Photography work. Bipper. Secure and all kit out of the way.. My car is for driving and fun.. not to load kit in and out and ruin it. Our third car is a Peugoet 308 estate with dark windows all round. As a back up if the van wigs out.

Van does 61 miles to a gallon.
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What van you driving? As you said my car is for fun... When you have a bright yellow cupra that only does about 20mpg then its not really made for much else so also looking at a van right now. Was thinking about kitting a sprinter out with a genny or a couple of leisure battery's maybe also.
 
I drive a Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD (multiwagon) loads of room in it & goes like split *****...
had it for just over 18 months & only cost me for a couple of new tyres.. get around 45 mpg round town & around 55+ on long runs...
 
Lst year I looked to swop my Astra 5 door for a van as it was very tight getting my equipment in. I decided to go for an Astra van then looked and bought an Astra estate. Cheap on fuel and insurance. Same space as the Astra van and plenty to choose from. Used it for 6 months before deciding it was a mistake so looked and bought a Ford Connect van. So now have a 05 plate Astra in vgc anbd with a good spec for sale which is ideal for carrying camera bag and lights. Not only has it an immobiliser but alarm and tinted rear windows with a sliding cover to hide the contents in the rear.

Took it off the market just before xmas as I needed it to run around in while I had some repair work done to the van but now back up for sale. Well within your buget :thumbs:
 
Hi Andy, It's the Bipper or Nemo . Smaller than the Sprinter. looking for another van soon bigger for exhibition work and bigger stuff.

Not getting rid of the little beast. Huge bumper looks like it should be in Judge Dread.
http://www.peugeot.co.uk/showroom/peugeot-van-range/peugeot-bipper/

I put £2k down on it so claim the VAT back . and it worked out £240 a month Getting another for our next tog in the Summer.

all black paint job of course.......
 
Vectra 1.9CDti 150bhp, has a huge boot which was my reason for buying it, I have had the 8x7 highlite in the boot but normally just put it on the back seats. that budget your probably looking at a 2006 model but fuel ecconomy is great 47mpg combined with enthusiastic driving and goes up quite a lot with motorway miles.
 
Renault Scenic, just paid the last of the HP off and am going to sell it soon as I can, biggest piece of crap I've ever owned:thumbsdown:

It's a good job I'm handy with mechanics or I'd be out thousands !
 
I once asked a wedding photgrapher why she was driving around in a crummy Toyota, she said if she was turn up in a flash sports car, her clients would assume the price would be high on her work , and that the profits were helping fund an extravagent lifestyle.

This is a few years ago , when I assumed photographers drove around in E Type Jags, etc. "Yeah Baby Yeah" , or not as the case may be Austin old chap.
 
I'm driving a Nissan 200sx, not economical, not insurance friendly, not alot of space/room for equipment so.... Not very useful :P
 
Old N reg Civic Coupe, cheap to run and bulletproof. 150k and counting. Not especially practical mind, but not completely useless either.

Will be looking for an Integra if it ever expires.
 
'04 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDi (130bhp), I'm coming up to the 150,000 mile mark (owned since new) and it is still going strong. Will upgrade at some point, not sure what to though.

I will heartily recommend the Skoda Octavia TDi (get the PD engine)

I have a rather heavy foot, but still average around 45mpg (500 miles from a 50 litre tank). My sister has the newer 2.0 TDI and drives around 70mph on the motorway and she gets around 600 miles from a tank.
 
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X-trail 2.2dci averaging just over 40mpg and plenty of room for gear and the mutt
 
2012 1.4 Polo auto (daughters orders she likes it!!) not a bad little car. To early for average mpg
 
Mine's a generic tin-top, Ford flavour. 1.8 oilburner, with a turbo.

Does the job well enough and doesn't draw attention (from crim's, chavs or the Police).
 
Mondeo ST TDCi, few engine modifications and remapped to 190bhp. Loads of room in the boot in winter I average 620+ miles to around 12 gallons, in the summer I average 700+ miles to the same amount of fuel. I also have a heavy right foot on every journey too.
 
Peugeot 306 HDI, My first French car after years of German metal and I'm so far impressed. By far the easiest car I've worked on, cheap spares, 55mpg, comfortable and performance is ok.
 
Boxster S. Quite nippy (250bhp, top speed 161mph should I ever get it to a derestricted autobahn) although hardly earth-shatteringly fast, proper powertrain configuration, beautifully balanced and responsive, the engine having a decent torque curve that goes all the way to the rev limit, even if it's only at 7250. Two seats, so I rarely have to give people lifts, roof folds down so people following me can admire my bald patch.

Uses a lot of fuel compared to a turbo diesel (25-30mpg depending on commuting or motorway). Is that important? :eek:.

MARK AMIES said:
I once asked a wedding photgrapher why she was driving around in a crummy Toyota, she said if she was turn up in a flash sports car, her clients would assume the price would be high on her work , and that the profits were helping fund an extravagent lifestyle.
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:nono: I would assume she was a car enthusiast and be more likely to employ her as a consequence.
 
Donnie said:
Renault Scenic, just paid the last of the HP off and am going to sell it soon as I can, biggest piece of crap I've ever owned:thumbsdown:

It's a good job I'm handy with mechanics or I'd be out thousands !
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Funny old world, I had an 05 plate one for 3.5 years as a company car and it was fantastic, never gave me a days problem, went back with approx 130-140k on the clock then had a Honda civic on an 07 plate, took lease over from someone that left the company, now that was the biggest pile of poo that I have ever had the displeasure to drive.

I will never have a Honda again, Renault yeap, the wife got one year before last and again has been great.


I am now driving a Nissan Qashqui (SP) 1.5 dci ntec, again what a great carhad in approx 9 month and done approx 27k (light year so far on mileage) I had to take the lease over again and it had approx 8k on the clock so 35k on the clock and again no issues, still on its original tyres which I think s great when I consider that the civic was going through a set of tyres, discs and pads every 12k miles.
 
Here's how I roll! Hybrid style :D
01.jpg
 
snapzz said:
Took it off the market just before xmas as I needed it to run around in while I had some repair work done to the van but now back up for sale. Well within your buget :thumbs:
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You beat me to it Graham! I know this car, it's worth every penny! :thumbs:


Kev.
 
Davec223 said:
Funny old world, I had an 05 plate one for 3.5 years as a company car and it was fantastic, never gave me a days problem, went back with approx 130-140k on the clock then had a Honda civic on an 07 plate, took lease over from someone that left the company, now that was the biggest pile of poo that I have ever had the displeasure to drive.

I will never have a Honda again, Renault yeap, the wife got one year before last and again has been great.


I am now driving a Nissan Qashqui (SP) 1.5 dci ntec, again what a great carhad in approx 9 month and done approx 27k (light year so far on mileage) I had to take the lease over again and it had approx 8k on the clock so 35k on the clock and again no issues, still on its original tyres which I think s great when I consider that the civic was going through a set of tyres, discs and pads every 12k miles.
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Tis a funny old world as I bought an 07 Civic at 6 months old and after 4 1/2 years it drives as tight as the day I bought it. Never had the discs changed and only on second set of front tires.
 
Ive got a 53 VW Bora 1.9TDi PD and if Im lucky I get 43mpg. Nearer 40 lately.

I want to get shot and get something that returns 55+ mpg. Preferably over 60.
 
DorsetDude said:
Ive got a 53 VW Bora 1.9TDi PD and if Im lucky I get 43mpg. Nearer 40 lately.

I want to get shot and get something that returns 55+ mpg. Preferably over 60.
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Yeah, similar here (SEAT Toledo 1.9TDI PD) - but I do suspect it needs a good sensor and turbo hosing clean, and possibly a little remap to get to 55-60mpg. The poor thing must be clogged up with burnt oil and dust through all those years.

edit: a long list to work through http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=342274
 
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Dale_d3100 said:
'04 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDi (130bhp), I'm coming up to the 150,000 mile mark (owned since new) and it is still going strong. Will upgrade at some point, not sure what to though.

I will heartily recommend the Skoda Octavia TDi (get the PD engine)

I have a rather heavy foot, but still average around 45mpg (500 miles from a 50 litre tank). My sister has the newer 2.0 TDI and drives around 70mph on the motorway and she gets around 600 miles from a tank.
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I've had an '06 from new with bonkers mileage due to work driving (getting close to 150k). It is really getting a but bashed up so some work will be needed in the spring. I'm planning to run it into the ground as we need a newer family car (mk4 golf) is too small !!

The boot is huge and surprises everyone, considering it is based on a Golf !!
 
150k isn't bonkers mileage, I had a transit from new for 5 years, I sold it with 408,000 miles on it
 
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