Fun, quick estate for £8-12k

[zebedee]

I may have to get round to selling my Elise, largely because I don't use it enough to justify the annual costs of insurance, servicing etc and because the times I get to head out just for the sake of it are getting fewer and further between. I'm doing a lot more mountain biking these days, so on a sunny dry day, I'll leave the Lotus and head off in the 306 estate with the bike in the back.

So the question is, what car could I get instead which will give me a grin on the way to the ride and back - along superb welsh A and B roads in the main. It has to be quite a big estate as well, as I want to be able to get the bikes in the back.

The Mondeo is huge for its size (if that makes sense) and the ST220 is an obvious choice, being quick and having an involving and grippy chassis. Depreciation means I could get into a pretty fresh one for about £10k as well, with good part and service prices. The Octavia VRs is I fear too small. Subaru Legacy scares me a bit with thirst (albeit Mondeo hardly frugal) and the cost of spare parts, assuming they are as bad as other Japanese cars.

So, does the Mondeo win hands down or should I look at anything else? I am assuming Passats and Audis in the price range will be too dull/slow, albeit well put together.

Any top tips folks?

[Podie]

ST220 is a good drive, and a depreciation monster... I know people who get 30mpg (unladen) out of their cars, so not as bad as you might expect.

Could have a nose for a Jag X-Type or a Volvo V40/60/80..?

Octavia seems to hold its money quite well... not sure on space though.

Scoob sounds the most "PH" of the lot, but the fun ones are pretty thirsty...

Edited by Podie on Tuesday 24th October 12:56

[tiga84]

Mitsi VR4 Legnum. 4WD, Active YAW, Twin Turbo 2.5 V6. 280+BHP. Big estate capacity.

Easy find a low mileage one for 10ish.

[baSkey]

nail. head.

i can't think of anything better at that size/age handling.

even a 530 touring or something would actually have a less useful load space, a volvo v70 would be older and handling not so good...

if the octavia is too small then i really think you have no choice!

focus st170 would be ok but same size as octavia in effect..

[big rumbly]

Friend of mine is selling an immaculate MG ZT V8 estate, e mail me if you want details.

[Podie]

tiga84 said:

Mitsi VR4 Legnum. 4WD, Active YAW, Twin Turbo 2.5 V6. 280+BHP. Big estate capacity.

Easy find a low mileage one for 10ish.

Good thought...

big rumbly said:

Friend of mine is selling an immaculate MG ZT V8 estate, e mail me if you want details.

Ooh.. tempting..

[Fruitcake]

Go for the Mondeo, it looks good and sounds great and is supposed to be great to drive.

Don't go for a Passat, it's about as interesting as clipping your toenails.

[jwyatt]

Err, one like mine? Not the largest estate in the world but plenty of room with the seats folded for loads of luggage and two bikes, I do exactly what you describe in mine and having the bikes in the car not on a rack makes for a superbly enjoyable drive there and back. The A-road handling and performance is superb. See my reviews at www.auto-journals.com/s2/content/journals.html or on this site. More than enough character, looks, and performance to feel you were not letting yourself down... £10-12k buys you a 2002-2003 model, they all come with a very high level of equipment, finding one will be the only hassle. BTW I had a passat V6 4WD before and while a worthy tow car when I was racing, it was far too dull to have as my only car, which the Alfa now is.

Edited by jwyatt on Tuesday 24th October 13:05

[pdV6]

Although not the best handling car in the world, an older V70 T5 would put a large on your face at the traffic light grand prix...

[zebedee]

good stuff people.

mitsi must have prodigious thirst and usual jap part price problems - they are also incredibly rare are they not? Doubtless they are very rapid with that engine, but are they fun?

The Alfa 156 is a good thought - what engine would I need for a properly quick car (sub 8 second 0-60 to match the Mondeo? Again, the estates seem quite rare though?

MG Z8 - now there is a thought...

[job38]

E34 M5, that's where I'm going next

[GravelBen]

tiga84 said:

Mitsi VR4 Legnum. 4WD, Active YAW, Twin Turbo 2.5 V6. 280+BHP. Big estate capacity.

Easy find a low mileage one for 10ish.

After the OP saying Subaru thirst and parts prices were a concern?



My vote goes for the Legacy, but I may be slightly biased. I probably average around 30mpg in mine (35+ on a long run) but mine is only a 2.0 na, the turbos and 3.0's are thirstier. 2.0 turbo is 280bhp though so they move ok. Magazine tests between the VR4 and Legacy (late-90s) when they were both new found the VR4 was slightly quicker in a straight line, the Legacy better through the corners (10% faster through any given corner according to NZautocar, on the same size rubber.)

[bint]

I'm in the process of buying an Alfa V6 wagon - wanted it for the same reasons jwyatt stated - can't wait!

Also looked at Mitsi V6's as well as VR4s (there's a fresh import VR4 on ebay in the process of being registered that looks mint - alas is a tiptronic ) also Saab V6 or Subaru wagons. Can you see a theme in my choice of estates?

[zebedee]

wow - the 3.2 V6 is seriously quick - 0-60 in 6.2 and onto 155, would leave the mondy looking where it went - boot space is 1180 litres max compared with 1,700 for the mondy, and with the seats up 360 to 540, so it is a smaller car.

Is it a reliable car though?

Legacys look big and are quick and I have heard good to drive, but no-one is reassuring me on parts prices yet....

[Road_Terrorist]

job38 said:

E34 M5, that's where I'm going next

Or a 540i Wagon if you dont like LHD

or even the last 5 cylinder Audi S6, bargain prices

www.pistonheads.com/sales/104416.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/100929.htm

they are getting on a bit now though.

[GravelBen]

zebedee said:

Legacys look big and are quick and I have heard good to drive, but no-one is reassuring me on parts prices yet....

Parts are cheap enough here, but I'm in NZ, Land of the JDM import, so you'll have to wait for someone in the know from your side of the world.


They do drive nicely (obviously no comparison to Elise etc though), great on loose/slippy stuff

heaps of space in the back, can fit bikes easily with seats folded down, seats fold flat so you can sleep in the back, I managed to fit a single bed in the back of my old '90 Legacy (which is smaller than the newer ones) with the boot shut. When helping a mate move flats, before anyone says anything

[andy jb]

If you are used to an Elise then try the Audi RS4 estate. Sublime and real Q car. I guess the mountain bike would stay in the back for longer. Insure it under a limited mileage policy & running costs needn't be too high at a specialist

[job38]

Road_Terrorist said:

job38 said:

E34 M5, that's where I'm going next

Or a 540i Wagon if you dont like LHD

or even the last 5 cylinder Audi S6, bargain prices

www.pistonheads.com/sales/104416.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/100929.htm

they are getting on a bit now though.

540 - yup, if I could find a manual one, not easy.

Audi - no way, engine in the wrong place.

[c7xlg]

I used to have a '97 Impreza Turbo estate which was perfect for the job. You could get 2 bikes and kit in the back with no real problems. Fast and great fun. It did eat fuel (low 20s) and servicing was pretty expensive (7.5K intervals and £400 a service).
I replaced it with a '98 BMW E39 540i estate, which I still have. Not THE most fun car, but handles pretty darn well for such a big car. Mine has 6spd manual box and m-sport suspension. 0-60 is just over 6seconds, so good fun for the traffic light GP. Overall fuel economy has been 24.7mpg in 80K miles of spiritied mixed driving. Servicing is about ever 12K miles and £2-300. Well worth a look if you can find one...

[zebedee]

I'm imagining BMW parts are service won't be cheap though - and who said M5 - did they do an M5 estate?

I doubt I could get an RS4 for 12k somehow