Estate car max budget of 10k - BMW E90/Volvo V50/Audi A4 or?
Discussion
Hi All,
Hoping i can get some advice or guidance.
Looking to buy a small estate car with a max budget of 10k
Not keen on French cars nor Ford or Vauxhall or Skoda (badge snob) My yearly mileage will be 6-9k therefore want a petrol car (all issues with DPF on modern Diesels) something that is still good on road tax and fuel economy, no more than 70,000 miles or so ideally, although would buy on condition. Like a newish car nothing older than 6 years.
Narrowed it down to the choices below:
BMW E90 estate – 318i or 320i in M sport (4 cylinder) – like the look of the car but heard a few horror stories on the engine – any opinions? Is a 4 pot BMW any good?
Volvo V50 estate – 2.0 petrol. Issue here is there old ford engines, would get a newer car then the BMW but worried that the engines are not the best and transmission is still only 5 gears, would like 6 for motorway economy.
Audi A4 1.8 TFSI B8 model (2008+)– stretching the budget as I would like a S line version.
Wild card
Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TFSI (older model) – but Mrs says its too big – parking issues so probably a no
Any other opinions on the above or any other cars I should consider?
Many Thanks
Jay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Honda-Accord-2-4-i-...
Economy won't be great but this looks like a bargain.
Economy won't be great but this looks like a bargain.
The E90 estate (E91) would be my choice, its a nice looking car and very nice to drive if you chose the right spec - some points to look out for when choosing one (I've had a few):
Try and find one with sports seats as the standard SE leather seats are horrible (uncomfortable, very flat shape, whereas the sports E90 seats, either leather or velour, are superb and transform how the car feels to use, its strange just how much of a difference it makes). Also try and get one with idrive as the stereo is much better (in the standard model 325/320 the speakers/stereo is terrible, at motorway speeds you may as well turn the stereo off (shocking on such an expensive car!).
Look out for the 325i petrol, this is a jewel of an engine, and as most people only want the diesel models they are good value used v's diesel prices. Nothing wrong with the 4 cylinder petrol 2.0 either but the 6 cylinder is a joy in comparison.
The one to be careful of is the 4 cylinder 2.0 diesel which are known to have timing chain problems.
Try and find one with sports seats as the standard SE leather seats are horrible (uncomfortable, very flat shape, whereas the sports E90 seats, either leather or velour, are superb and transform how the car feels to use, its strange just how much of a difference it makes). Also try and get one with idrive as the stereo is much better (in the standard model 325/320 the speakers/stereo is terrible, at motorway speeds you may as well turn the stereo off (shocking on such an expensive car!).
Look out for the 325i petrol, this is a jewel of an engine, and as most people only want the diesel models they are good value used v's diesel prices. Nothing wrong with the 4 cylinder petrol 2.0 either but the 6 cylinder is a joy in comparison.
The one to be careful of is the 4 cylinder 2.0 diesel which are known to have timing chain problems.
siross said:
Very interesting regarding 325i, most people tend to shy away from them and recommend it's bigger brothers 330/335i. What are the benefits of the 325i in your opinion?
Don't mean to hijack the thread OP, I'm in a similar boat but have pretty much decided on an E91!
Well just based on the O/P criteria he said up to £10k max and no more than 6 years old so there is no chance of getting 330/335 unless its mega mileage, he might get a 325 if lucky within budget as its not popular (due to everyone wants the diesel, or if buying 6 cylinder want the 3.0 version).Don't mean to hijack the thread OP, I'm in a similar boat but have pretty much decided on an E91!
I've had a few E90/91/E92 models (320i, 325i, 330i n57, 335i, 320d and 325d 3.0) they each have their good and bad points, I'd put them in this order 335i, 330i, 325d, 325i, 320d, 320i but of course it depends on what you plan on using it for and what your budget is, one of the main things find sports seats when choosing one.
Biased, I know, but what about an Alfa 159 1.75 turbo (petrol - 200 bhp)?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Edited by phil1979 on Tuesday 25th November 19:33
The 5 cylinder turbocharged engine in the T5 is the only decent petrol engine in the V50, IMHO. The Ford Duratec is alright but totally uninspiring and the NASP 2.4 is really quite surprisingly poor. Equally well I'd say the only diesel engines worth having are the 5 pot D5 or later D4 and D3. So in summary you'll want your Volvo with a Volvo engine rather than a Ford one.
If you're sticking to 4 pots in any of those three though you might as well have a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide. They are all perfectly decent and competent cars, and despite what the motoring press are paid to say there is not some gaping chasm of experience between driving various 2 litre saloons/hatchbacks/estate cars. The Volvo will have the best seats and the best stereo, and that matters more than billy bulls
t about driving dynamics for your family car.
If you're sticking to 4 pots in any of those three though you might as well have a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide. They are all perfectly decent and competent cars, and despite what the motoring press are paid to say there is not some gaping chasm of experience between driving various 2 litre saloons/hatchbacks/estate cars. The Volvo will have the best seats and the best stereo, and that matters more than billy bulls
t about driving dynamics for your family car.Edited by dme123 on Tuesday 25th November 19:57
Hub said:
As a self confessed badge snob you're missing out on the best option for the money - the Octavia VRS. Seriously, why not? The most spacious, quicker and a lot better engine than the n/a 2.0 options, and better value than the equivalent Audi.
I'll see your Octavia VRS and raise you the Skoda Superb 3.6.Epic creamy/snarly engine.
150mph.
30mpg on a run.
6 speed DSG.
More toys than Hamleys
More space than Hamleys.
And..........Quad exhausts!
0-150mph vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWkdL2-PHOc
Exhaust mod:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw1x8ZQ0VaE
Enjoy.
Thanks for all the replies guys.
Accord - no not a fan
Skoda not keen on the interior or badge.
Bmw 6 cylinders would be great but I think out of my range in terms of running cost.
Prefer looks of the bmw over the Volvo but will get a newer car with the Volvo especially 2.0 petrol as they don't seem popular (everyone wants a diesel).
Anyone had experience of the audis?
Accord - no not a fan
Skoda not keen on the interior or badge.
Bmw 6 cylinders would be great but I think out of my range in terms of running cost.
Prefer looks of the bmw over the Volvo but will get a newer car with the Volvo especially 2.0 petrol as they don't seem popular (everyone wants a diesel).
Anyone had experience of the audis?
I've had my E91 for two years and covered 40k in it, it's a 320d but the 177 model, I'm going to sell it and get an alfa 159 as I fancy a change, but I'll give you my thoughts on it, in no particular order.
It's not very big the boot is a small estate I bought a roof box for camping trips.
I swapped the se spec for sport kit. Interior bumpers suspension and wheels. It's a bit of a taxi in standard form, but lovely in msport spec.
The only things to go wrong touch wood are the drivers door won't lock and I keep getting a bulb warning.
I really like the car it's not slow it's not remotely boring, I have the standard buisness stereo and it's great with an iphone plugged in.
It's not particularly special feeling though.
The parcel shelf/cover is rubbish a pain. I ditched the runflats and bought a space saver but that means carrying in the boot as there no space.
The sound of 325 is much more special than a 320. That's about it I'd give it 8/10
It's not very big the boot is a small estate I bought a roof box for camping trips.
I swapped the se spec for sport kit. Interior bumpers suspension and wheels. It's a bit of a taxi in standard form, but lovely in msport spec.
The only things to go wrong touch wood are the drivers door won't lock and I keep getting a bulb warning.
I really like the car it's not slow it's not remotely boring, I have the standard buisness stereo and it's great with an iphone plugged in.
It's not particularly special feeling though.
The parcel shelf/cover is rubbish a pain. I ditched the runflats and bought a space saver but that means carrying in the boot as there no space.
The sound of 325 is much more special than a 320. That's about it I'd give it 8/10
One of my work colleagues is selling an AUDI A4 (B7) 2.0T (non-quattro) although he is out of the country at presnet not seen it yet in terms of condition. This is significant cheaper than my max budget be it a older car.
Anyone had any experience of the B7 variant?
Had a quick look online like the look of them they seemed to be priced accordingly. £5 - 8k
Infact the B5 is even cheaper although a older car.
Anyone had any experience of the B7 variant?
Had a quick look online like the look of them they seemed to be priced accordingly. £5 - 8k
Infact the B5 is even cheaper although a older car.
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