What 3k diesel estate?

[white_goodman]

My dad retired last year and traded his "sensible" car in for a new MX5. He loves the MX5 but would now like an additional vehicle that is more practical and more economical, as he does some voluntary work that involves doing some extra mileage and also wants to be able to take stuff to the tip and take the bikes on the walking holidays that him and my mum go on.

He only wants to spend a maximum of 3k though (ideally 2k but up to 3k for something really nice). He would prefer diesel, as he has ptimarily driven diesel hatchbacks/estates for the last 20 years (I think he would have bought a diesel MX5 if they made one)! He also doesn't like automatics, so would prefer a manual.

He asked my opinion and the following all seem like solid choices (I have driven most of them when they were new/newer and used to sell the Rovers and VWs when they were new) but as most of them at this age and budget are going to be north of 100k, I don't know how they each stand up to this kind of mileage and looking on www.honestjohn.co.uk, they all seem to have a few potential issues. As ever, condition and service history at this age will be more important than what it is in some ways. By the way, my dad favours comfort, practicality and good fuel economy over performance and handling!

So, what to go for?

B5 Audi Avant TDI?



E46 BMW 320d/330d Touring?



Peugeot 406 HDi Estate



Skoda Octavia TDI Estate



Rover 75 CDT(i) Tourer (or a ZT-T but my dad would probably prefer the Rover)



B5 Volkswagen Passat TDI 130 Estate (Highline spec seems the nicest in terms of features and comfort)

[t400ble]

How many miles a year is he going to do?

[mybrainhurts]

Not sure if a diesel for short runs is ok, soot filter won't regenerate as it should.

However, I've run a Mondeo estate 130Tdci up to 350,000 with no bother, still on original suspension, except for one track rod end. Injectors last to about 200,000 if run on BP.

Currently on a 2008 Volvo V70 2.4 diesel, with 230,000 on the clock.

At these mileages, I expect values will be low, but I'd go for one without hesitation. High miles generally mean much motorway work, where the car isn't really stressed.

Volvo's got loads of luggage space.

[RKDE]

Have to say the ZT-T you should get the most for your money, all engine parts if any are needed can be purchased from BMW. Should be able to get a nice facelifted model and if a rover version should be able to get it with all the options and it would be lower miles or better spec than the other listed. Have owned the diesel ztt in the past and it was a great car. Good MPG and a real load lugger

[white_goodman]

t400ble said:

How many miles a year is he going to do?

Probably only about 10000 miles but his voluntary work/the tip are all 10+ miles away and do any of the models we discussed even have DPFs? My parents have both had diesels for years and never had any major problems (they normally buy new/nearly new though).

[ch427]

Big passat fan here, owned a 2002 petrol model a couple of years ago and do miss it. I'd consider another one if the right car came up, high line models as suggested are the most comfortable but rarer.
Just make sure the climate control works as it gets hot with the leather seats.

[Pebbles167]

My money would be going into an E39 530d estate with its decent auto box if it was for the old man. My colleagues one has just hit 260k miles amd still going strong.

[Zoobeef]

I bought an 02 reg avant 130bhp a year ago with 158k on the clock for £2k. Now on 183k and it's been spot on. No DPF and returns 55 mpg.

[Motorrad]

fk an E39 with it's bork prone auto box.

[Sensibleboy]

white_goodman said:

do any of the models we discussed even have DPFs?

Was thinking the same. They all look at least a generation before DPFs were introduced.

[Pebbles167]

Motorrad said:

fk an E39 with it's bork prone auto box.

Get the manual in that case, my colleagues is but hes in his 20's.

[Deerfoot]

Passat B5 out of your list.

[d3llams]

Jaguar X-type estate? manual, very comfy, good fuel economy...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[white_goodman]

Pebbles167 said:

My money would be going into an E39 530d estate with its decent auto box if it was for the old man. My colleagues one has just hit 260k miles amd still going strong.

Sounds like a good combination, although doesn't the auto box significantly dent fuel economy on these? I've been trying to get my dad to try an auto (I've owned a few and like them) but he says that a manual is more economical (on this age car he's probably right) and he likes to use the gears and engine braking when he's slowing down. Otherwise, I would have thrown a C-Class Estate into the mix. I had a W202 C250TD Estate Auto with 218k on the clock for a while and it was awesome. An easy 40mpg, very comfortable and a massive boot. They're all rusty now though, so he wouldn't really be interested (he's very car proud even if it's a cheap car) and I'm not sure if a W203 would be as bombproof mechanically (and possibly just as rusty)?

[white_goodman]

d3llams said:

Jaguar X-type estate? manual, very comfy, good fuel economy...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Good shout. We hadn't considered one of these (didn't realise they were in budget) but I hear they're pretty good cars and economical. He might think a Jag's a bit fancy though!

[Pebbles167]

white_goodman said:

Pebbles167 said:

My money would be going into an E39 530d estate with its decent auto box if it was for the old man. My colleagues one has just hit 260k miles amd still going strong.

Sounds like a good combination, although doesn't the auto box significantly dent fuel economy on these? I've been trying to get my dad to try an auto (I've owned a few and like them) but he says that a manual is more economical (on this age car he's probably right) and he likes to use the gears and engine braking when he's slowing down. Otherwise, I would have thrown a C-Class Estate into the mix. I had a W202 C250TD Estate Auto with 218k on the clock for a while and it was awesome. An easy 40mpg, very comfortable and a massive boot. They're all rusty now though, so he wouldn't really be interested (he's very car proud even if it's a cheap car) and I'm not sure if a W203 would be as bombproof mechanically (and possibly just as rusty)?

I admit I missed the bit where you said he liked manual, which would be my choice. The auto does decrease the average MPG figure, but not hugely I dont think. I have driven the manual and thought it was excellent, plenty quick enough with good handling and supreme comfort. Just make sure you do a bit of pre purchase research, my friends needed several hundred pounds worth of exhaust work doing shortly after buying as he didn't know what to look for. As for the Mercedes, I can't comment as I know little, but I was under the impression that ones from that era can easily be crippled by rust if not looked into.

[Jasandjules]

Well I've had two B5 Passats, think I'd happily have another. In fact I will just be buying a newer Passat in due course.

Looked at the X-Type but the boot is tiny IMHO, certainly not big enough for my dogs.

[va1o]

Just the newest/ most modern you can find. These cars are quite capable of taking big miles so I wouldn't be looking at old French sheds like a 406 myself

Probably an early E91 3er or B6 Passat

Edit: e91s are slightly pricier than I thought (start at £3500) but you could comfortably get a nice b6 for that money:



I just think that all of the cars in the original post look about 2 decades old

Edited by va1o on Sunday 27th July 21:35

[white_goodman]

va1o said:

Just the newest/ most modern you can find. These cars are quite capable of taking big miles so I wouldn't be looking at old French sheds like a 406 myself

Probably an early E91 3er or B6 Passat

Edit: e91s are slightly pricier than I thought (start at £3500) but you could comfortably get a nice b6 for that money:



I just think that all of the cars in the original post look about 2 decades old

Edited by va1o on Sunday 27th July 21:35

The B6 Passats are nice cars but a lot bigger than the B5 (we thought the B5 was quite a nice size but still with a nice, practical, square-shaped boot) and assumed that we would get a nicer B5 than B6 for the money. Also, aren't the newer VAG diesel engines and electronic parking brake more troublesome? I thought the B6 Passats were always nicer with the 2.0 TDI engine and the DSG box (which also comes with its own set of problems) and the 1.9 TDI felt a bit underpowered in such a big car.

[white_goodman]

Bump