Need a workhorse.

[Ghostrider]

Ok, so I'm just about to complete on a property which means my immediate future holds lots of trips to B'n'bloodyQ. Thing is, the little eunos just isn't going to cope with, say, loft boarding or sacks of gravel and helping me move my meagre possessions or pick up a washing machine - items like that..... so I need a workhorse.
Head says look at dreary diesel estates but heart keeps tugging me towards x-types and impreza wagons. Budget is about £1200 at a push. Would consider a 4x4 as you need one sometimes in Cumbria. Any recommendations for something reasonably economical yet slightly interesting?

[Lazza]

I used to have a 99 Focus 1.8 Zetec. It's a surprisingly good car, very good to drive, loads of grip, much lighter than you'd expect for a fairly big car, loads of feel and feedback, big load space with the rear seats down, goes pretty well (roughly equivalent to an MX5 from the feel of it), and pretty economical - I was getting 36mpg very reliably on my commute which is 45 miles per day of B-roads so no A-road cruising.
I bought it hoping I wouldn't really like it (it was supposed to be a boring work-horse) but I actually never felt short-changed having to drive it instead of the MX5 and was sad when I had to let it go.
Mine had heated windscreen & mirrors, A/C, T/C etc. so was reasonably spec'd too. The boring looks were a bonus for me as I felt happy to take it anywhere knowing nobody would give it a second look and never worried about slinging a muddy mountain-bike in the back.
As a bonus, they are dirt cheap now too.

I wouldn't recommend the later Focus's though as they "improved" them i.e. made them more comfortable and took away most of the fun-factor.

[Ghostrider]

Yeah, I'd been looking at Focus estates. Had a marathon sesh on ebay last night and there is a lot you can get for the money. The above, V40's, 406HDI's, a Saab 9-5 aero would you believe, 156 sportwagon - all estates, about 10yrs old and almost all of these cars are coming (they say) with service history. In addition you have the scoobies and 'Lunacy's' which, frankly, look a little dog-eared and I'm way too scared of liking them too much (can't afford to run two cars). Choices are there....

[Lazza]

Personally I wouldn't touch an older diesel. I've seen to many with injector failure and that's a very expensive job to fix on diesels.

[Ratz]

Honda CRV? Quick search on Autotrader reveals a good few around that budget.

[DavesBRG5]

Honda CRV? Quick search on Autotrader reveals a good few around that budget.

Good option! Almost bought one myself recently when i needed a bigger daily but opted for another Zafira in the end........Better the devil you know & all that!

[Ghostrider]

Yep - have looked at CRV's too but the alfa 156 sportwagon is also being considered. I know that they have horrendous reliability issues but as I don't plan on keeping this car more than a year, it is a serious consideration...