Looking for an Interesting Family Estate Car

[redgriff500]

Your doing it wrong.

Set your budget.

Find the car YOU WANT.

Buy it at whatever age / mileage that your budget dictates.

[Dracoro]

I do not understand why the OP is quibbling over the fact that a Legacy (or any other 06+ car) is £460 p/a in road tax when at the same time considering RS/S/AMG cars that will far wipe out this "saving" in fuel, servicing/running costs (mores when you consider that the Subaru is likely to be better built/reliable/cheaper to run). It's still about £250 for a pre 06+ car so seems strange to be bothered about an extra £200 a year when looking at £15k+ cars......

[nobrakes]

johnboy_78 said:

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?

I've no expeince of one, but I guess you'll need a pilot's licence!

[SWoll]

johnboy_78 said:

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?

TBH the previous model C Class was one of the cars designed and built during MB's lean spell quality and styling wise and isn't something I would go for personally.

My wife has a 57 plate e60 5-series Touring, and although not to everyones taste styling wise we are very pleased with it. Bags of room, loads of kit, very well built and a nice steer. Definately feels a real step-up from the C-class, 3-series, A4's we considered at the time, and a better drive than the equivelant E-Class/A6. Get one with the 3.0> petrol or diesel engine and plenty quick enough also.

[Simes110]

I'm in a very similar position to you with similar options.

We already own a 10 year-old E55 Estate, which replaced an older E240. The E55 is more economical on long runs and a hell of a lot of fun! And I reckon that at £8,000 for a 63,000-mile fastidiously-maintained example, it's a bit of a bargain. It's my wife's everyday car.

I imagine the C55 would be a good bet, but do urge you to consider the E-Class as the space inside is so much more for a family. It's the main reason we're on our second E.

However, power corrupts and I'm now looking for a Legacy Spec-B or S6 to replace my old V8 Discovery as my own everyday car at some point in 2012.

Some VW/Audi forums talk of the S6 and RS6 gearboxes as 'being made of glass' and prone to failure. Accordingly, the Spec-B has, apparently, a dislike of BP fuel, but benefits massively from a remap and better exhaust.

The noise of the Audi's 4.2 V8 has kinda got me, though. But then again, the Spec-B's reliability and chassis kind of equals things in a sensible-type way.

Enjoy your search, whatever you decide.

[angusc43]

johnboy_78 said:

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?

Well worth looking at one of these - there are (ex) owners over on mbclub.co.uk

Merc had pretty much sorted out their quality issues by the time these came out.

Over in E class world you can get a 300 or 400bhp n/a V8 (5.0 and 5.5l respectively) or the faintly barking 450 bhp E55K.

[angusc43]

Simes110 said:

I imagine the C55 would be a good bet, but do urge you to consider the E-Class as the space inside is so much more for a family. It's the main reason we're on our second E.

This is the main reason why I migrated from a C43 to an E500. Bags more rooms. And also for the fact that you can't get self levelling rear susp on a C.

Handy when loaded up for camping trips with a full boot, full roof box and four family members, for example.

I used to fill the C and now fill the E but it takes a lot more gear and also takes it more in its stride.

[r-kid]

Ok so it doesn't quite fit the OP's criteria, except maybe the interesting bit.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3376059.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3402672.htm

[SWoll]

r-kid said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3402672.htm

£17K for a 7 year old 70,000 Mile MG ZT

I know it's the V8 and has had a supercharger conversion done, but seriously?

[aberdeeneuan]

One of the cars you mentioned in your first post is a 2.0T A4 - I have that car in Special Edition Quattro Avant form. It's decent family transport - quick, quattro is superb and they are usually well equipped. Plus it'll do 30+ MPG. Special Edition has 20BHP more than standard and better looking wheels (though the ride suffers).

It's not in the same league as a C55 but will be much easier to keep on the road (financially - though I suspect a C55 would be quite a handful!)

[Downton Mini]

SWoll said:

r-kid said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3402672.htm

£17K for a 7 year old 70,000 Mile MG ZT

I know it's the V8 and has had a supercharger conversion done, but seriously?

Think someone has over vauled their car a bit mind you if you pulled up somewhere in that people would probally think god himself had arrived with the noise itt should make

[Bill]

Those ZTTs are way over-priced IMO, although it may explain why mine sold within 2hours of the ad going online (for a slightly more realistic £6.5k).

ETA I'd look at Forester turbos too, although that E55K will take some beating.

[SWoll]

Downton Mini said:

Think someone has over vauled their car a bit mind you if you pulled up somewhere in that people would probally think god himself had arrived with the noise itt should make

And then once they turned and looked at you they would realise it's just that prat in the silly coloured old Rover. A bit like Susan Boyle really, sounds alright I'm sure but look at the state of it.

The seller is clearly obsessed with his car, to the point of being quite annoying IMO based on the advert, and as has wasted spent a huge amount of money on it that he seems to think someone is going to be willing to pay him back for...

[rob.e]

A brand new petrol Octavia vRS from drivethedeal.com is a smidge over £17k.

Add a remap and you'd have 250bhp and 400+Nm.

.. with a 3 year warranty, 600 litre boot, high thirties mpg on a run etc. Works for me.

[angusc43]

rob.e said:

A brand new petrol Octavia vRS from drivethedeal.com is a smidge over £17k.

Add a remap and you'd have 250bhp and 400+Nm.

.. with a 3 year warranty, 600 litre boot, high thirties mpg on a run etc. Works for me.

That's a LOT of car for the money.

[rob.e]

angusc43 said:

rob.e said:

A brand new petrol Octavia vRS from drivethedeal.com is a smidge over £17k.

Add a remap and you'd have 250bhp and 400+Nm.

.. with a 3 year warranty, 600 litre boot, high thirties mpg on a run etc. Works for me.

That's a LOT of car for the money.

Correct. The drive train / chassis is Mk6 Golf GTi. Interior is different and of course the Octavia has a huge boot, but spec a mk6 GTi to include 18" wheels, cruise and touch screen radio (which the vRS has as standard) and it lists at £26,990. Yes, that's almost ten grand more for the same car but with a smaller boot. Nice badge though..

[5lab]

merc r500? 4 year old example in your budget here

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[cat220]

5lab said:

merc r500? 4 year old example in your budget here

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I know I shouldn't but I like those (in a sleeper sort of way)

Worth also considering a Saab aero, I don't know much about them but something like this looks excellent value:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2975811.htm

[johnboy_78]

Apologies for the delay in responding - have been a little busy elsewhere recently!

Many thanks to everyone for all of the interesting and helpful suggestions. After much tooing and frooing, I have finally settled on a new car to replace the 330i.

I have put a deposit down on a 2008 Deep Sea Blue Audi A4 Avant S-Line Quattro with the 3.2 V6 (261bhp) engine and a manual gearbox. Test drive next week and subject to everything being ok, it will be on my drive shortly after.

Granted it's not out there with some of the more special/fast/unusual options, but having tried out a saloon version of the same car locally it will be a worthy replacement for the current car.

Thanks again for all of your inputs.

John

[5678]

Mind if I ask what you paid?