Looking for an Interesting Family Estate Car
Discussion
Hi
My wife and I are expecting our second child in April next year and I have decided that my days of pretending that I don't need an estate car are numbered. After a succession of relatively interesting cars: Mk1 MX-5; Fiat Coupe Turbo; VX220; Alpina Roadster S; and E90 330i - it's time for an estate!
My criteria would be: budget of around £15-17k; ideally around 5 years old or newer; average mileage (40-50k); manual; petrol.
I have considered most of the obvious options: A4 3.2; S4; A6 3.2 or 4.2; (briefly looked at the current) S6; 330i; 335i; 530i - but i am struggling to find any that fit all of the criteria above. Also looked at Passat R36 and Insignia VXR (both out of budget) and Alfa 159 3.2V6 (average performance).
One option that does fit the criteria above (although doesn't have a nice 6 or 8 cylinder engine) is the A4 2.0T (with 217bhp) and the possible addition of some engine remapping to make it more interesting. E.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3220582.htm
So, are there any other options out there that I am missing and if not, what are people's views on the relative merits of the options that I have considered so far?
Grateful for any advice that you can offer.
Cheers,
John
My wife and I are expecting our second child in April next year and I have decided that my days of pretending that I don't need an estate car are numbered. After a succession of relatively interesting cars: Mk1 MX-5; Fiat Coupe Turbo; VX220; Alpina Roadster S; and E90 330i - it's time for an estate!
My criteria would be: budget of around £15-17k; ideally around 5 years old or newer; average mileage (40-50k); manual; petrol.
I have considered most of the obvious options: A4 3.2; S4; A6 3.2 or 4.2; (briefly looked at the current) S6; 330i; 335i; 530i - but i am struggling to find any that fit all of the criteria above. Also looked at Passat R36 and Insignia VXR (both out of budget) and Alfa 159 3.2V6 (average performance).
One option that does fit the criteria above (although doesn't have a nice 6 or 8 cylinder engine) is the A4 2.0T (with 217bhp) and the possible addition of some engine remapping to make it more interesting. E.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3220582.htm
So, are there any other options out there that I am missing and if not, what are people's views on the relative merits of the options that I have considered so far?
Grateful for any advice that you can offer.
Cheers,
John
The A6 4.2 estate or Allroad (with wafty air suspension) is high on my list (have an A6 saloon at the moment) but they are like hens teeth....
Great burble, with the option of a trip to MTM.
Don't discount the A6 3.0tdi though, esp with a better exhaust. Yes it's a diesel, but it's a very smooth 6 cylinder one.
Edit to add; the 4.2 Audi a6s will be auto/tiptronic, IIRC.
Great burble, with the option of a trip to MTM.
Don't discount the A6 3.0tdi though, esp with a better exhaust. Yes it's a diesel, but it's a very smooth 6 cylinder one.
Edit to add; the 4.2 Audi a6s will be auto/tiptronic, IIRC.
Edited by zaphod42 on Monday 14th November 23:51
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Or half the budget, save some money for the kids...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Or half the budget, save some money for the kids...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Subaru Legacy Spec B - great spec, good engine, 4wd, under budget - plus quite rare 
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3324802.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3324802.htm
Definetly look at the Legacy estate. We had a 2.0 petrol in the UK and have now got the 3.0R Outback in the UAE. The 2.5 Turbo is quicker but the 3.0 is more 'refined'. Great fun, corners on rails and does do the quoted 245Km/H. The 0-100 is scary fast when the S# mode is activated.
The boot is massive as well - apparently (accordong to Top Gear so it might be a LOB) only an E class estate is bigger with the seats down! But we get four dogs and all the wife's horsey kit in it no problem.
Not sure if they do a manual in the 3.0 though? Would expect so in the UK.....
The boot is massive as well - apparently (accordong to Top Gear so it might be a LOB) only an E class estate is bigger with the seats down! But we get four dogs and all the wife's horsey kit in it no problem.
Not sure if they do a manual in the 3.0 though? Would expect so in the UK.....
I was in the same situation as you a couple of years ago. Looked around for a while, wanted something fairly quick too, ended up getting a new Volvo V50 T5R. Cost a bit more than your budget, but mine is now worth within your price range (2 years old, FVSH, 17k on the clock, a few optional extras).
Decent motor though, very comfy.
Decent motor though, very comfy.
sanf said:
Subaru Legacy Spec B - great spec, good engine, 4wd, under budget - plus quite rare
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3324802.htm
£400+ tax bracket for that though. Does look nice though I agree.http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3324802.htm
I've got another one on the way and I'm hoping that we can make do with our S3 Sportback, which has been just fine with one - and is the first car to be faster than my old Fiat Coupe 20V Turbos (those old 20VTs are sooooo rapid on the move!). I'd highly recommend an S3 if you can a) sacrifice a little space over an S4 and b) stretch a little on budget. I think the most sensible next step is to add a roof box!
A Golf R32 does similar things for less outlay, but costs so much to run that a newer S3 is pretty much even for 2+ year ownership costs. If you can do without 4WD, then the GTi is a great all-rounder.
Going up a size, I seriously considered a B7 A4 2.0T quatto S-Line SE (220PS). These seem to be in demand on the used market and hold their value well, along with the 3.0TDI and 2.0 TDI (170PS). At the time, an E90 BMW 330/335i/d looked like more motor for the money.
I also looked at the B7 S4, B7 RS4 and B5 RS4. I ruled out the pair of B7 4.2s, but as a pure daydreaming exercise, the B5 RS4 is the ideal car as it's affordable, depreciation proof and even has some mod cons. However, again, overall running costs aren't much different from a fresh, new(ish), warranty'd S3 Sportback.
A Golf R32 does similar things for less outlay, but costs so much to run that a newer S3 is pretty much even for 2+ year ownership costs. If you can do without 4WD, then the GTi is a great all-rounder.
Going up a size, I seriously considered a B7 A4 2.0T quatto S-Line SE (220PS). These seem to be in demand on the used market and hold their value well, along with the 3.0TDI and 2.0 TDI (170PS). At the time, an E90 BMW 330/335i/d looked like more motor for the money.
I also looked at the B7 S4, B7 RS4 and B5 RS4. I ruled out the pair of B7 4.2s, but as a pure daydreaming exercise, the B5 RS4 is the ideal car as it's affordable, depreciation proof and even has some mod cons. However, again, overall running costs aren't much different from a fresh, new(ish), warranty'd S3 Sportback.
Edited by Basil Hume on Tuesday 15th November 19:53
Edited by Basil Hume on Tuesday 15th November 19:55
If you can step outside the derv hating box and not hate diesels, a 335d Touring is a nice, quick motor.
Not very big for an estate but RWD, rapid and 400+ miles from a tank. Alternatively, 335i Tourings sound nicer and are a bit quicker off the line - values seem to have bombed recently so you should be in budget. They are less reliable and a lot thirstier though.
Not very big for an estate but RWD, rapid and 400+ miles from a tank. Alternatively, 335i Tourings sound nicer and are a bit quicker off the line - values seem to have bombed recently so you should be in budget. They are less reliable and a lot thirstier though.
McMacro said:
I was in the same situation as you a couple of years ago. Looked around for a while, wanted something fairly quick too, ended up getting a new Volvo V50 T5R. Cost a bit more than your budget, but mine is now worth within your price range (2 years old, FVSH, 17k on the clock, a few optional extras).
Decent motor though, very comfy.
I was going to suggest a quick Volvo too.Decent motor though, very comfy.
VW Passat R36
3.6l V6
4-Motion
Max Power: 220kW @ 6600rpm
Max Torque: 350Nm @ 2400rpm
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100km/h: 5.6 seconds
Only one in the classifieds...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3315651.htm
3.6l V6
4-Motion
Max Power: 220kW @ 6600rpm
Max Torque: 350Nm @ 2400rpm
Top Speed: 250km/h
0-100km/h: 5.6 seconds
Only one in the classifieds...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3315651.htm
Edited by Glade on Tuesday 15th November 20:45
Lots of interesting options to consider - thanks.
The Legacy is one that I hadn't considered, but it does qualify for £460/yr tax.
I am not absolutely against diesel, just that I don't do that many miles a year (around 10k) and prefer the sound of a nice petrol engine.
Will have a look at all of the suggestions and let you know what I think.
The Legacy is one that I hadn't considered, but it does qualify for £460/yr tax.
I am not absolutely against diesel, just that I don't do that many miles a year (around 10k) and prefer the sound of a nice petrol engine.
Will have a look at all of the suggestions and let you know what I think.
Ok - after looking at many different options, I can't get away from the idea that a Merc C55 AMG Estate might just tick all of the boxes. It would have to be slightly older than 5 years and mileage might be at the upper end of what I would like, but it seems like an awful lot of car for the money. I have seen a few examples of 2005 cars, with about 50k miles for £12-14k.
Anyone have any experiences of the C55 - good or bad?
Anyone have any experiences of the C55 - good or bad?
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