Large Family Estate Upgrade Options for 20k?

[MiniMan64]

So this is all vaguely hypothetical-ish as the current Octavia VRS estate has just returned from an 1800 mile schlep across France and back and handled it without an issue. However with that success the likelihood of more cross continental jaunts with the family, both summer and winter, has increased and has got me thinking about a slightly larger upgrade on the Octavia. Such is reward for success.

Thing is, options appear rather thin on the ground thanks to the SUV issue.

20-25k
Larger than the Octavia
Petrol as longer journeys are few and far between and my commute is 5 miles across town.
Quickish, 250bhp plus
Well specced
Not older than current wheels 2014

What I really want is a C63/E63 for V8 goodness but I need to be realist about the yearly maintenance costs and the fuel bills on future cross-continenial trips would ruin me.

A Superb 4x4 Sportline/L&K 280 seems like the sensible choice. Budget friendly, quick enough and massively well speced but is it just more of the same after the Octavia. Oh and there are only two for sale in the UK anyway...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411086...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501158...

The only other options seem to be one of the Three German suspects A6, 5-Series, Merc none of which appeal massively for some reason. All mostly older, high mileage and lower speced than the Skoda. And everyone and their mother seems to own one although there's probably a reason for that.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411045...

Edited to add E43 as a possible shout, decent half way house between a 4 pot and a full fat 63?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412247...

Have I missed anything?

Where would your money go in this situation?

Edited by MiniMan64 on Wednesday 22 January 17:25

Edited by MiniMan64 on Wednesday 22 January 17:28

[skyebear]

Volvo V90/ Cross Country with T5 or T6 engine, R Design trim or above.

Nice cabins, comfy for long trips, R Design for a sporty look, Inscription for all the toys.

Volvo maybe not to your taste though.

Or a BMW 530d Touring.

[ZX10R NIN]

Well under budget but just as good as the Superb is the 2.0T Insignia:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501148...

508 GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501077...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407101...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412127...

V60 T6h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501117...

V90:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409194...

Passat R Line, a nicer car than the Superb & they're around the same price so that's what I'd go for:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410105...

Leftfield

Kia Optima h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

[MiniMan64]

Cheers for the inevitable link list ZX.

No matter how good they are, Vauxhalls will also be a no from me, sorry.

Bloody love how that Peugeot looks but engine is rather underwhelming and seems slow, likewise the Kia, need something with a bit more shove than those two.

Passat is interesting although white does it no favours.

The big Volvo is pretty cool and definitely goes on the hypothetical link. What’s with the high 335bhp but weedy top speed though, limited? And what how does a plug in hybrid work if you’ve no where to plug it in?

[ZX10R NIN]

Sorry for the list, the 508 is a decent engine obviously it's a detuned version of the GTI lump, I'd suggest test driving one.

Als keep an eye out for the sport engineered version:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411206...

But they're not quite in your budget yet.

[MiniMan64]

ZX10R NIN said:

Sorry for the list, the 508 is a decent engine obviously it's a detuned version of the GTI lump, I'd suggest test driving one.

Not all, a ZX link list is one of my favourite bits of this corner of PH. That Peugeot is a different thing, still looks great though, I guess my old fart head still struggles with the idea of sub 2 litre performance estates.

Unfortunately test driving, something I usually suggest straight away for anyone asking questions like mine, is somewhat difficult as I live in a far flung distant corner of this country where finding interesting performance estates for sale is vanishingly rare.

[Quattr04.]

If you fancy a c63 what about the c43?

There’s not many other options you haven’t highlighted tbh

S4 avant?

Jag did a 2.0 XF estate with 240bhp, more than the Skoda I believe? They are very cheap now too

A couple in the class below such as the focus ST, and Leon cupra but both smaller

Edited by Quattr04. on Saturday 18th January 20:58

[ZX10R NIN]

MiniMan64 said:

Not all, a ZX link list is one of my favourite bits of this corner of PH. That Peugeot is a different thing, still looks great though, I guess my old fart head still struggles with the idea of sub 2 litre performance estates.

Unfortunately test driving, something I usually suggest straight away for anyone asking questions like mine, is somewhat difficult as I live in a far flung distant corner of this country where finding interesting performance estates for sale is vanishingly rare.

Pop down to a main dealer & drive the hatchback version that drivetrain comes in a few trim levels so a main dealer should have one.

[JackReacher]

540i xdrive estate, 6 cylinders, 330bhp, 4 wheel drive, and the engine with the ZF gearbox gets decent mpg on a run, 40+ possible. This one is slightly over budget but you'd find them in budget.

[MiniMan64]

Quattr04. said:

Jag did a 2.0 XF estate with 240bhp, more than the Skoda I believe? They are very cheap now too

A couple in the class below such as the focus ST, and Leon cupra but both smaller

Edited by Quattr04. on Saturday 18th January 20:58

The Skodas at 276/280bhp so punching well above the Jag and I looked at the Focus and Cupra when I got the Octavia so both too small now.

Feels like the rise of the SUV and diesel has really killed off the big fast estate car market

[Quattr04.]

MiniMan64 said:

The Skodas at 276/280bhp so punching well above the Jag and I looked at the Focus and Cupra when I got the Octavia so both too small now.

Feels like the rise of the SUV and diesel has really killed off the big fast estate car market

Yes the SUV and cross over market has ruined everything, ford killed off the fiesta to pin its hopes on the gopping puma

At least Volvo saw sense and returned wagons to the Uk market after killing them off and going all SUV

sadly not its just the Germans charging mega money for mega estates that are so expensive and so quick I just can’t imagine they’re any fun on public roads

Even Subaru aren’t making any fun estates here now.

Maybe you could import something from Japan?

[omniflow]

MiniMan64 said:

Quattr04. said:

Jag did a 2.0 XF estate with 240bhp, more than the Skoda I believe? They are very cheap now too

A couple in the class below such as the focus ST, and Leon cupra but both smaller

Edited by Quattr04. on Saturday 18th January 20:58

The Skodas at 276/280bhp so punching well above the Jag and I looked at the Focus and Cupra when I got the Octavia so both too small now.

Feels like the rise of the SUV and diesel has really killed off the big fast estate car market

Jag did a 300 sport version of the 2.0 XF Estate - 300bhp and AWD

[MiniMan64]

Quattr04. said:

If you fancy a c63 what about the c43?

This comment slipped through my notice first time around. Interesting.

The C63/E63 V8 would be a lovely thing but the economics don't quite add up for me plus I'm pretty sure the one time I sat in a C-Class estate it felt smaller (but very lovely) than the Octavia I've got now.

But the E43 is a new one on me, I didn't realise such a vehicle existed. Yes it's not a V8 (maybe that comes later) but the V6 option is definitely punchy enough without breaking the bank.

Like the 280 Skoda option though, looks very rare and hard to find.

Any have any input on E43s?

[mmm-five]

MiniMan64 said:

The big Volvo is pretty cool and definitely goes on the hypothetical link. What’s with the high 335bhp but weedy top speed though, limited? And what how does a plug in hybrid work if you’ve no where to plug it in?

In 2020 Volvo committed to limiting all their cars top speeds to 112mph for 'safety'!

https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media...

[Quattr04.]

mmm-five said:

MiniMan64 said:

The big Volvo is pretty cool and definitely goes on the hypothetical link. What’s with the high 335bhp but weedy top speed though, limited? And what how does a plug in hybrid work if you’ve no where to plug it in?

In 2020 Volvo committed to limiting all their cars top speeds to 112mph for 'safety'!

https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/en-gb/media...

Plug in hybrids will never go flat but it will regen and add range too the battery, just not much range.
Pointless though if you’re not going to charge is as most of the time you’ll be lugging around the weight of the battery and motors for no gain

[mikef]

If you like your Skoda, maybe just buy a roof box for the occasional longer trip?

[Skyedriver]

Following this thread for ideas.

Have a Volvo 2013 V70 does everything but I hate the thing. Preferred the older Volvos I had previously.
Want something with a proper handbrake not the electric one.

Won't have another Jaguar after the X type I had
Won't have another MB after the 500SL I had.

[ZX10R NIN]

MiniMan64 said:

This comment slipped through my notice first time around. Interesting.

The C63/E63 V8 would be a lovely thing but the economics don't quite add up for me plus I'm pretty sure the one time I sat in a C-Class estate it felt smaller (but very lovely) than the Octavia I've got now.

But the E43 is a new one on me, I didn't realise such a vehicle existed. Yes it's not a V8 (maybe that comes later) but the V6 option is definitely punchy enough without breaking the bank.

Like the 280 Skoda option though, looks very rare and hard to find.

Any have any input on E43s?

The E43 is a great option but you won't get many within your budget but this one is is nicely spec'd:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409043...

[Chrisd83]

MiniMan64 said:

Quattr04. said:

If you fancy a c63 what about the c43?

This comment slipped through my notice first time around. Interesting.

The C63/E63 V8 would be a lovely thing but the economics don't quite add up for me plus I'm pretty sure the one time I sat in a C-Class estate it felt smaller (but very lovely) than the Octavia I've got now.

But the E43 is a new one on me, I didn't realise such a vehicle existed. Yes it's not a V8 (maybe that comes later) but the V6 option is definitely punchy enough without breaking the bank.

Like the 280 Skoda option though, looks very rare and hard to find.

Any have any input on E43s?

I can confirm the S205 C63 isn’t particularly big inside, especially in the back for leg room and I’m certain the Octavia will be bigger.

Agree as others have said a G31 530d / 540i would be my suggestion, I had a G30 530d it was a great mile muncher albeit a bit bland, ironically I part ex’d it for the ‘smaller’ C63!

[kiethton]

Would have suggested a VW Arteon but they seem to have a massive gap - 190bhp 2.0 which is easily in budget but slow, then a massive gap to the 2.0 R which is out of budget by some way....