I want an estate - help me choose!

[Rosscow]

Hi All,

I am looking to get a new diesel estate car in the new year. Looking to spend a maximum of £14,500 and have narrowed it down to the following:

5 series tourer (either 525d or 530d)
E class estate (either E280or E320)
VW Passat (preferably 170bhp diesel)

Obviously there is a major difference between the top two and the VW.

My top two choices would be a 525d M Sport auto and a E280 Avantgarde. If I'm honest then I think the 530 or E320 would be too much money for me to run.

Really I'm looking for anybody with experience with either cars and information regarding running and servicing costs. If the BMW or Merc are too costly then I'll have to go for the VW.

I don't particuarly want to drop to a 520 or E220 as I feel both would be somewhat under-powered for such large cars.

Thanks in advance for any info!

Rosscow

[mammamia]

Alfa Romeo 159 2.4JTDm 'nough said

[chrisispringles]

The E class is likely to suffer from reliability issues as the S211 comae from the period where Mercedes were cutting corners to save money, you would be better off with a 530d. Although at £14.5k you really ought to be buying a 535d!

[evenflow]

mammamia said:

Alfa Romeo 159 2.4JTDm 'nough said

Never driven one, and they're probably not as good as the equivalent Germans, but they do look nice.

[anonymous-user]

chrisispringles said:

The E class is likely to suffer from reliability issues as the S211 comae from the period where Mercedes were cutting corners to save money

that money should get you into a facelift car if you're lucky (2006 onwards), which are a lot less problematic.

[robsco]

mammamia said:

Alfa Romeo 159 2.4JTDm 'nough said

I'd go with that. But if the OP is looking at German, I doubt he'd give one of these a try.

[stinkysteve]

robsco said:

mammamia said:

Alfa Romeo 159 2.4JTDm 'nough said

I'd go with that. But if the OP is looking at German, I doubt he'd give one of these a try.

My 159 2.4JTDM Ti is fantastic. Why buy an older german car?

[blueg33]

I read the title and immediatly thought that Gatcombe Park would be a good choice but on reading I see you mean Tourers or Avants

[anonymous-user]

stinkysteve said:

My 159 2.4JTDM Ti is fantastic. Why buy an older german car?

Well, I bought my E Class as I needed a car with load space. I like the 159, but total load volume of around 1200 litres compared to 1900 for the E Class doesn't even compare, and I assume load space is the reason most buy an estate?

[Rosscow]

Yep, love the look of the 159 and I had considered it but unfortunately it goes in the pot with the 3 series and C class - too small!

The 535d is just too much for me when it comes to insurance. My uncle has one and it sure does fly!!

I would be looking at a Facelift model E class - I'm hoping by the new year that a few more may drop into my price range.

Does anyone have any running/service cost experience?

Thanks all!

[morrellski]

how about an octavia vrs estate?

[morrellski]

how about an octavia vrs estate?

[CampDavid]

How many miles do you do? These big derv engines are not that great over short distance in my experience

[morrellski]

how about an octavia vrs estate?

[Rosscow]

morrellski said:

how about an octavia vrs estate?

Sorry Morrellski, just don't like the look of them I'm afraid.

[Rosscow]

CampDavid said:

How many miles do you do? These big derv engines are not that great over short distance in my experience

I don't do loads if I'm honest - I have done 23,000 since March '08 so less than 10,000 a year.

I had thought about a 523i or 525i but the urban MPG scares me a bit!

[spurs-442]

How about a Volvo V50/V70?

[CampDavid]

Rosscow said:

CampDavid said:

How many miles do you do? These big derv engines are not that great over short distance in my experience

I don't do loads if I'm honest - I have done 23,000 since March '08 so less than 10,000 a year.

I had thought about a 523i or 525i but the urban MPG scares me a bit!

A mate has a 535d and the urban consumption is horrendous.

I'd be tempted to go for a 530i. Just a great engine and should be a bit more reliable than the highly strung diesels

[petrolveins]

I don't think the running costs of the 525d against the 530d and the E280 and the E320 would be too different, because for both the bmw uses the same engine in both just with different power outputs, merc do the same with theirs. The mgp/co2 figures are almost identical for each.

[edo]

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