Estate... but I don't need one...

[Swampy1982]

I'm due my company car replacement soon and I can't stop thinking about getting an estate...

I'm torn between the usual suspects,

Passat
Merc 220
BMW 320
Audi A4
Mondeo 2.0

My issue is the boss (misses) is asking me why we need an estate (just me, her and a 3 yr old) and I am struggling to justify it, I just feel that I want one. I'm 34 years old so its not an age thing, and my tip runs, long haul holidays and pet requirements are limited to few to none...

So why do I want one? Have you got an estate and don't need one? Did you regret it and wish you got a saloon? How did you justify it to yourself/misses/husband?

Edit - I got a long one... got an a4 saloon originally for the company car, then got this to replace it, already it's proved it's worth with several tip runs and trips with multiple luggage

Edited by Swampy1982 on Saturday 3rd March 08:22

Edited by Swampy1982 on Saturday 3rd March 08:24

[Swampy1982]

Its not a case of justifying it to her, she has just made me question why exactly I want one, and due to a lack of a meaningful answer to myself I wondered whether it was just me.

Maybe justifying it is the wrong phrase, but the decision lacks logic, and wondered whether anyone else has been through the same illogical decision making process.

[Swampy1982]

patch5674 said:

Estates are cooler, end of story, I am only 24 and way way prefer RS6 to RS7 which my friends find hard to fathom for example, so not an age thing just a question of (good) taste.

Whilst in the models you have mentioned all look significantly better as estates particularly the Merc and Audi.

Got to agree with this that they look better, to my eye anyway, I think it might be something to do with the saloon versions of these cars seem to be driven by idiots where I live, the estate seems a bit more "grown up"

[Swampy1982]

Digitalize said:

They aren't any longer, arguably easier to park due to more window/rear window being the back. Don't weigh much more, negligible MPG difference if any, no tax difference, insurance grey area.

I was 19 when I got my estate, and know loads of people my age (early 20s) with them, they're pretty cool.

You don't need it, but there's no downsides to one, saloons might not have folding rear seats that the estate will too.

Now here's a guy giving me logic to an otherwise illogical decision! The only bit you mention which is a negative is insurance, and I won't be paying that as its company!

[Swampy1982]

underphil said:

apart from looks, price and refinement

Looks - subjective
Price - valid
Refinements - help me understand...

[Swampy1982]

gazza5 said:

I have managed to talk swmbo round from me getting a suv to a estate.

Simply my wife loves disney - so I said well when we go to disney in france and we go by car where are we going to put everything baring in mind I have a 2011 astra at the minute.

I then showed her some cars that looked better as estates - merc cls etc and shes now sold - jag sportbrake being another.

I currently have a 3 year old and also pointed out her bike is not going to get any smaller - and if we have another one the buggy and said bike will not fit in anything other than a estate.

SUV's are fortunately a big no-no because of the BIK i'd have to pay on the emissions are crazy... also, I think they are awful and wouldnt be seen dead in one!

Not sold on the CLS shooting brake, very much a marmite look, yet to see one in the flesh yet but from the net I just can't find an angle I find it a good looking car from.

[Swampy1982]

Craikeybaby said:

I also prefer estates and always have done. Maybe something to do with my Dad having Volvo estates in the '90s, and the Volvo 850 BTCC cars of course.

my dad had a 740 as one of his first company cars, we toured europe in it over one summer holiday, 4 kids, 2 adults, large tent and associated luggage, did the trip flawlessley. Perhaps this is factoring into my decision making, unfortunately I don't think Volvo will be on my car list to choose from!

Rickard Rydell getting that tank of a touring car sideways round many a corner was a sight to behold, and very much a staple diet of sunday afternoons for me as a child!

[Swampy1982]

underphil said:

Cabin road noise will be higher in the estate, due to a less isolated boot

Appreciate the clarification.

What is every ones experience with this issue - is it significantly different to the saloon versions...?

[Swampy1982]

JonnyTenny said:

Same here and I absolutely loved it, would never have swapped it for the saloon!

OP - the missus is asking you to justify getting one, what are the reasons for her not wanting you to get one? When I got my Subaru (that I now miss) she was less upset when I turned up with one that could do/fit everything.

Apparently they look like hearses!!

You lot are a godsend, I think the one statement that really struck a cord with me is that 95% of the time I don't need it, but that 5% of the time its a real godsend.

Has anyone got an estate and wished they hadn't? I will have this car for 4 years, so want to hear any negatives that people have had as well, so I have a well rounded decision.

I get the refinement point, but my logic is that if I've never had the saloon, I will never compare. And lets face it, i'm going from a 4 year old brown vauxhall insignia, so it can't be much worse!

[Swampy1982]

L500 said:

Estate's have their usage for certain 'camping' trips...

How do you find the VW, I got put off a bit by the styling but yours in that spec (r-line?) looks lovely.

The only other thing is the BIK seems very high and thats before the options you have to add to bring it to a c-class spec...

[Swampy1982]

captain haddock said:

Swampy1982 said:

I'm due my company car replacement soon and I can't stop thinking about getting an estate...

You should. Estates are cool and this is the reason.

top lurking, great picture, appreciate your imput sir!

[Swampy1982]

mikeN54 said:

Two adults and one child? We couldn't do more than an overnight stay in anything other than a estate. You must travel light!

Estates are great, but watch these "lifestyle" type estates with sloping rooflines and intruding wheel arches all taking space.

3 series estate we couldn't cope with us and just one baby. Useless couldn't even fit the pushchair in properly. A mini countryman has the same size but better shaped boot than a 3 series tourer (fact).

Try before you buy. But if you don't really need the space then you can go for style over space.

Edited by mikeN54 on Tuesday 26th July 16:45

didn't realise that about the 3 series and the countryman, will have a try of a few, again the perk of being a company car is i can test drive 4 cars for a week each. The other bonus being a whole month of no fuel bill as they come fully fueled!

[Swampy1982]

BenRichards89 said:

I'm 26, and have had this A6 Avant for nearly a year now. I bought it because I think it looks better than the saloon, I had absolutely no reason for the extra space. I went for the 3.0 TDI and its a fantastic car.

I have found a reason now though, I've recently taken up cycling again, and bought a road bike, which fits with room to spare.

So just do it! Find a reason for it afterwards!

Lovely looking car, engine to match, I think I'm just going to do it, car ordering time next week, will update with what I end up with after many boring BIK calculations coupled with exciting visits to car configurator websites

[Swampy1982]

Ozzie Osmond said:

That Audi is all very well, but you can buy,
1. A Porsche Boxster/Cayman, AND
2. A brand new Mercedes estate car
for the same money!

Wow... that really is some way to look at it. Is that actual maths or man maths as its a really interesting comparison.

[Swampy1982]

Defo resurrecting the thread, but with news...

I ended up with a A4 saloon straight after this thread, for various boring different reasons like BIK etc

Then moved jobs... and now have a choice, so got a A4 Avant... yes, I know its not the inspiring choice, but for the miles I do and car allowance I get, its the best solution to travel in comfort... I actually like the look of the thing as well!

Can honestly say I will now never not be able to have an estate in some form in my life... just so practical in every way...

[Swampy1982]

vrsmxtb said:

I've just got an Octavia VRS estate and love it. It feels like a "proper" car coming from fairly small hatchbacks. And as a quickish estate it's even cooler!

Love the VRS, like the styling of them and the fact that they are a "do anything" car...

paps said:

2x 240
2x 740
1x 940
1x V70
My dad's car history as I was growing up. All estates, all hugely practical and not having had an estate yet myself I can see how useful they are day to day. Hopefully after the S Max we'll down size to a wagon of some description. I like to use the Auto Trader app to see what I might get in a few years with certain parameters in the search. Estate, AWD, minimum 2 litre, etc. Urgh I'm a saddo!

defo not sad, I love an auto trader browes. The only regret with this one is that there was a red AWD one for £2k more and I wish i'd saved my pennies a little harder... your dad's car list is not dissimilar to my dads, in fact he still runs a volvo now, we were big touring car fans when rickard rydell was hooning around in the estates, I think thats when Volvo's first became cool to me

CarsOrBikes said:

Had my A4 Avant almost 12 years, 1.9tdi Sport 130 2wd 5 speed ~140mph, pre DPF and up to 850 miles to a tank, you cant buy a cars like these any more. Whether some view that as good or not I don't care haha.

Couldnt agree more, similar to mine all be it mine is a bit newer because of the car allowance rules

g3org3y said:

Congrats, welcome to the club. Post some pics: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...

guess I'd better work out how to post pics, not sure anyone with be interested in a boggy A4 Avant with blacked out grill and yellow fogs... will probably get hounded out the thread for those minor modifications!

Only thing I have left to change is the chrome window frames need to go black, but i'll get round to wrapping them eventually...

[Swampy1982]

RDMcG said:

Not quite an estate, but sort of is too....got it a few weeks ago:

Makes the wishlist, i know the looks are marmite but I love them, which engine did you get?

[Swampy1982]

RDMcG said:

Swampy1982 said:

Makes the wishlist, i know the looks are marmite but I love them, which engine did you get?

Twin Turbo V8..not the hybrid, just the regular. one.

Get some more pics up then, love the red, might inspire me to work harder!

[Swampy1982]

l354uge said:

Op. Take your OH to a dealer (any of the big brands) and tell her to put something heavy in the boot of a saloon, then ask her to do the same with the estate version. Then order yourself a damn estate man!

Or just buy an estate regardless, they're much easier to sleep in than saloons if she kicks you out for it... ;-)

Don't worry... I've got a long one...

[Swampy1982]

Anyone else got an estate that they don't need but somehow just felt right?

Just spotted the Rovers numberplate above as well, very good!