SHED Estate "what car?" to replace Alfa 156 V6

[drummerian]

Good evening all,

3 years ago I posted a 'what car' thread on pistonheads and as a result was turned on the the Alfa 156, a car I may not have otherwise even considered an option!.... (so thanks very much PH community"!)

...A week later and I had bagged a cracking 156 for £670 with the fantastic 2.5L v6 engine, a car that has done me proud for the last few years requiring very little in terms or parts/upkeep. Unfortunately now it seems that my alfa is nearing the end of it's life, with some suspension worries, washer pump failed, brakes requiring pads and disks, cambelt well overdue and the clutch slipping I feel another MOT wouldn't be financially sensible I think it is time to break her for parts...

This experience has however totally sold me on shed motoring, as well as having a car that is just a little bit different/special. I could easily see myself in another 156 v6 but the recent purchase of a house has meant that something a little bigger is required for load lugging duties (estate!).

Here's some loose requirements:

1. estate (or at least a little more practical than the 156, for a largeish car not having folding seats makes carrying things other than people quite difficult
2. similar/more power than current v6, I do <5000miles a year so petrol>>diesel and not too worried about fuel costs
3. shed money

And here's some ideas I've had, would love to know if there's anything I've missed:

1. 156 sportwagon - been looking but hard to find a good one with the v6 engine for shed money
2. 9-5 aero estate - these look like a lot of fun, need to read up a bit more about them really
3. BMW 5.. touring (540 would be epic, but would also love to own the great i6 engine)
4. volvo (something) - know very little about these also but i've been advised that some of the bigger engines can be quite fun

Thanks all,
Ian

[klunkT5]

Volvo 850 (855) T5, Fast, Reliable if looked after, Do silly mileages (200K+ easy) Bulletproof and sound good, Structurally dont seem to rust at all and bodys rust very little (Mainly front wings caused by a support bracket and tailgates under rear screen seal) Manuals much better than auto's, Make sure the PCV system and turbo oil return pipe seal are OK and replace every vacuum pipe! Get one quick as prices of good ones appear to be on the up. If you cant find a good 850 a V70 phase 1 is a reasonable compromise

Edited by klunkT5 on Sunday 29th March 23:32

Edited by klunkT5 on Sunday 29th March 23:34

[ZX10R NIN]

Here are some options:

N/A
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

More Understated
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Or some Turbo power
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Monday 30th March 07:51

[V8forweekends]

MG ZT-T 190

[johnnyBv8]

My daiy runabout is an ex-unmarked/undercover police 2005 Volvo V70 T5. Still going strong, no noticeable wear in suspension etc, pulls strongly, and has just sailed through another MOT with no advisories at 186k miles! Not the last word in handling/feel, but very spacious, understated, reliable and swift.

I like the Saab 9-5, though it feels a bit dated inside - narrow feeling cabin perhaps?

Edited by johnnyBv8 on Monday 30th March 08:15

[Mr E]

We went from a 156 to a 9-5. The Aero was quite a bit bigger.

[Paradaxos]

I would think the 9-5 Aero would be the better handling out of your shortlist would it?

Of course the BMW's RWD but I've not seen those around for proper shed money.

[drummerian]

Thanks all, some good suggestions so far (clearly more for me to look in to!).

The RWD thing was a bit of a sticking point for me when I was buying 3 years ago (that I got over)....after having lots of driving fun in the FWD alfa I can't say it features too highly on my 'needs' list (will have to wait til my house has a driveway and garage built to get something fun to fill in the RWD duties, perhaps an Mx5)

[d3llams]

Audi A4 Avant
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Or it's bigger brother the Audi A6 Avant http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Subaru Legacy 3.0 Outback http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
or this one http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Lexus IS300 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[drummerian]

Some great suggestions but I am hoping for SHED money (which I thought the hard and fast rule was under 1k?)

Perhaps I am asking too much with the estate thing (does seem to push value up a good bit, certainly looking at the 156's)

[Busso GTA]

After a succession of 156's the last being a V6, also I moved onto a phase 2 Volvo V70 D5 massive load lugging exceptionally comfortable and good solid engine did 55k in it with little or no maintenance, secretly the best car I ever owned did not realise how much till I got my current Audi A6 seriously considering swapping back to a Volvo at some point in the future.

[andy-xr]

In my sheddy eBay watch list I currently have a Signum, a 3.0 TiD Saab 9-5, a Ford Maverick, a C5 HDi and a Mondeo, all 55 plate or newer, all under a grand.

I keep looking at Volvos but they seem to sit at mega money for the age vs miles compared to other stuff out there. An average V70 is twice the price of an Ford/Vauxhall/Citroen type similar car and I'm not sure they're twice the car.

[Warnie]

Not looked but the Omega 3.0 is a nice place to be, lots of toys and very spacious. Beware though as nothing will touch the 156v6 engine wise and that important 'sense of occasion' you get for a grand.

On second thoughts what about an e36 328i estate?

[ChasW]

I had an Omega 2.5 V6 as a new company car. It was solid comfortable with no faults up to 60k when I handed it back. Could get 30mpg on a run otherwise around 26. I imagine a 3.0 would be nicer.

[d3llams]

Some nice fast estates for shed money on ebay, i have found this rather nice Volvo 850 t5 with some nice black leather interior £650
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-850-t5-estate-auto...

Another Volvo, this one is newer but not as fast £675
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-VOLVO-V70-T-GREEN-E...

A rather fetching Audi A6 3.0 Quattro for £970
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-AUDI-A6-Avant-Estat...

[klunkT5]

andy-xr said:

I keep looking at Volvos but they seem to sit at mega money for the age vs miles compared to other stuff out there. An average V70 is twice the price of an Ford/Vauxhall/Citroen type similar car and I'm not sure they're twice the car.

They are twice the car, Superbly engineered, Well built and dont rot like the above do, I would go as far to say the build quality is slightly better than German stuff of the same era. I was in the motor trade for 30+ years and have owned, Worked on and driven alot of cars, I have 2 850's (855's), A TDI for lugging stuff and economy (Audi AEL engine BTW) and a T5 on a classic policy, Though all this is just my opinion.

Edited by klunkT5 on Monday 30th March 20:16

[drummerian]

Lots of good options here....best get hunting!

[londonbabe]

My Mercedes 300TE-24. Yours for a grand, just serviced, 4 new Conti's lots of MoT.

[anonymous-user]

I went from a 156 V6 manual (saloon) to a 2004 9-5 aero Estate slusher. I don't regret it. The 156 was superb, and that engine is a real treat. I won't lie, the 4 pot in the saab wasn't as smooth but the power was amazing, the mid range pickup is comedy. Genuine 150mph car. Similar mpg, a lot more barge like but very very comfy, as good as the momo in the Alfa for its own reasons. Very sympathetic on mechanicals compared to the Alfa. And huge. I got an entire kitchen, including flooring and plumbing, in the Saab in one trip. Sadly gone now as I fancied the gayness of a convertible but I miss the 9-5 every day. For the amount of toys and bang for buck, they would be a mistake to overlook. IMO.

[drummerian]

OpulentBob said:

I went from a 156 V6 manual (saloon) to a 2004 9-5 aero Estate slusher. I don't regret it. The 156 was superb, and that engine is a real treat. I won't lie, the 4 pot in the saab wasn't as smooth but the power was amazing, the mid range pickup is comedy. Genuine 150mph car. Similar mpg, a lot more barge like but very very comfy, as good as the momo in the Alfa for its own reasons. Very sympathetic on mechanicals compared to the Alfa. And huge. I got an entire kitchen, including flooring and plumbing, in the Saab in one trip. Sadly gone now as I fancied the gayness of a convertible but I miss the 9-5 every day. For the amount of toys and bang for buck, they would be a mistake to overlook. IMO.

Good to hear, not sure what it is but currently the Saab seems to be the top of the list