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

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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

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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)

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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)

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

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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

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Mr E said:

Our 9-5 was excellent. Full bore in 3rd gear from about 40mph was genuinely startling. The Alfa wouldn't have seen which way it went.

Alfa interior looked much nicer. Saab seats were more comfortable. Alfa had a better gearbox and *that* engine. The Saab was probably a more complete and useful car.
Ours was cosmetically scruffy at the end of it's life, but only let me down once (and even then, it just started leaking coolant; it didn't actually fail to get us anywhere).

I'm embarrassed to say I was forced to trade it in rather than sell it (I simply had no time to deal with a sale).

Is that the estate?

I think my main problem with the saloon alfa is that it is hard to use all of it's space (no folding rear seats). I think even folding seats in a saloon would give me much more useable space (which I think they do in the Saab)

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Zad said:

Mondeo V6 estate. Preferably the 3.0 ST220, but the 2.5 has plenty of grunt and a really nice induction noise. Drives better than all the above FWDs too.

A lot of love for the mondeo! I will have to go see one, can't help but feel it may feel a bit 'ordinary' on the roads after having the alfa (maybe that's me being too picky!)

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OpulentBob said:

The mondeo 6 isn't a patch on the busso. Possibly more power but nowhere near as nice and silky IMO. Alfa 6 speed is a nicer unit too.

if i could find a 156 sw in spec then i'd have it away! Can't get enough of the noise and the currently slipping clutch only allows me to hear it even more

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I haven't really managed to shortlist a single model here now! Will have to get cruising for something nearby either Volvo, Saab, Mondeo, Alfa.....or maybe even something else again!

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

Not ideally located for me so will have to see if i'm down South any time soon to view.

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martin mrt said:

I'd also recommend an ST220 Estate.

A boot measuring in square acres, lovely recaro interior, cheap to fix, reliable, chain driven V6 and not at all common on the roads.

Nice steer too, a very underestimated car

A quick looks doesn't turn up many for SHED money though. Will certainly have a look!

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Maldini35 said:

Another vote for the Saab 9-5.

Go for the 2.3 Turbo or above. Lovely mid range shove as has been mentioned and another 30-40bhp is buttons if you crave a bit more.

Great interior and surprising characterful to drive too - not great dynamically but still fun.
One of the safest cars on the road in its' time. I always found the iron girder like B pillars very reassuring whenever I reached for the seat belt.

I even like the styling.

Hmmm maybe I need another one.

Just waiting for one to come up Looks like a lot of car for the money

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andy-xr said:

This isnt a car you'd buy for economy though, or is it? What's the 2.3T like on a run?

Not so worried for me as I do so little miles a year.

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otolith said:

Manual Aero is reasonably economical if you want it to be. Automatic less so. Long term average for our manual is 29mpg. With the cruise set to 70mph, it will get close to 40mpg on a run. Obviously with 250bhp under your foot, economy plummets if you start using the performance, but you can make adequate progress driving it gently and get decent fuel consumption in return. Or you can clog it in 3rd

way better than I see from the Alfa then.....especially with a slipping clutch!

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GeordieInExile said:

How about a nice MG ZT? Should easily find a 2.5 V6 in shed budget.

Note been totally inspired by these when I've been in them, seems the interiors are a bit bland compared to some of the other suggestions.

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I am also surprised by the lack of BMW love. Can a decent 528 not be had for the money yet or do people just prefer other things?

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That merc does look lovely and a very well written advert for it as well! I would be concerned that parts will cost a plenty and I'm not sure I plan to give it the love and care that it seems to deserve/require?

Volvos are high on the list too...almost too much to look at!

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andy-xr said:

I've been there over the years with various 3 and 5 series, and tbh they're a bit bland and boring now. Efficiency and Germanisms are great, but the price point and perception that people think is what their car should be for sale it is at odds with what it's actual value is to me. There's more interesting stuff out there with better value. I'm still not convinced on the Volvo thing, but adverts and market rates seem to agree that they're much better cars as was said earlier in the thread when I asked.

Pretty much the impression i've been getting. That and I totally agree that there is more interesting stuff out there for less coin!

Sticking autotrader/pistons heads on 'estate £<1000' doesn't seem to turn up many results within 50miles that are super interesting at the moment though....keep hunting

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I know it's a little above budget....but this is sorely tempting:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

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moustache said:

Another vote for the 9-5 Aero estate. Bought a manual a couple of months back and absolutely love it. £1600, 118k and its so comfy.

looking for this spec of car exactly. Not easy to find manuals about though