What lairy familly 4x4 estate for me?

[10mpg]

Ok here goes, hope someone has the patience to read through all of this and hope even more someone has the answers!

I currently drive a 4.6 Range Rover HSE that I converted to lpg, it's a great car and I've had it 5 years now, but it's not the most fun to blast cross country, and to be honest aside from towing my car trailer for work i never really use the 'off roader side of it' but i live out in the sticks on a farm and if it snows I am stuck, so what I wanted was a fun fast and most importantly reliable 4x4 estate car.

I looked at Audi Allroads and Quattro avants (2.4/2.8 & 2.7T),Subaru Forester turbos, Legacy Outlander 3.0R's and and Volvo v70 AWD's . I got my Mrs an 05 Honda Accord CDti tourer last year and have been bowled over by how good it is, as a long time ignorer of Japanese cars I have truley been won over lately..

I have a small business restoring classic cars,so the odd bit of spannering doesn't bother me and routine maintenance is easy peasy however I do not want to be always fixing/tweaking something, i want turn key 'get in an go' reliability at all times, this also means that i have trade insurance so can drive anything i like ..

The thing that confuses me is what model and make to go for, Subaru seem to offer the most bewildering array of models/specs I've ever come across, the Audis while smart seem to be not terribly reliable esp the lairy 2.7T, 4WD Volvos are cited as dull slow and tiring to drive...

My needs in rough order of importance are:

RELIABLE
Estate
4x4
manual
As fast as possible in stock form (this one will NOT be modded at all)
Good handling
good noise would be nice
Good for towing large heavy trailer would be nice 2 ton plus (though i have a van as well so it's not essential)

The budget is only between £3000 and 3500 though i could stretch another 500 if something perfect came up, we spent most of the savings money getting my Mrs's Accord...

I don't mind mpg being 'bad' as the Rangy only manages low teens mpg on gas (works out to low 20's
Remember Reliability is top of my list but I also want to have fun to, whilst this car will be maintained religiously it will not be pampered one bit, i drive my cars hard and fast almost all the time, I cover big miles, I have small kids, big dogs and big trailers so I expect it to work and work hard for a living..

Most important question saved for last I am a dad so would love ISOFIX mounts for a rear child seat which models and years have these? and if not can they be retrofitted (i seem to remember Audi's and VW's often offer a conversion kit).

Options...

[SlimRick]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2251773.htm


ETA - missed the "manual" bit.

Edited by SlimRick on Tuesday 16th November 11:48

[Crusoe]

If insurance isn't an issue an import might be more fun than the uk cars.
Twin Turbo legacy
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2259336.htm

Legnum VR4
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1766689.htm

Stagea RS
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1473786.htm

[Crusoe]

If you already like the Rangerover this might float your boat, bound to make a nice noise, auto only though.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2226335.htm

Edited by Crusoe on Tuesday 16th November 11:58

[shoestring7]

VW Passat W8?

SS7

[JB!]

STAGEA!!!!!

[rb5230]

Crusoe said:

If insurance isn't an issue an import might be more fun than the uk cars.
Twin Turbo legacy
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2259336.htm

Legnum VR4
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1766689.htm

Stagea RS
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1473786.htm

1 of your options is even in budget. the others almost double it.

[rb5230]

shoestring7 said:

VW Passat W8?

SS7

in budget? where do i sign?

[RobCrezz]

Legacy TT!

[rb5230]

RobCrezz said:

Legacy TT!

DONE! http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2163657.htm
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-Wreg-SUBARU-LEGACY-GTB-...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sreg-SUBARU-LEGACY-TWIN-TURB...

Edited by rb5230 on Tuesday 16th November 12:26

[boomboompow]

Forester STI?



Damn it! Just saw your budget; well my vote would go on that Legnum second post down...

Edited by boomboompow on Tuesday 16th November 12:36

[10mpg]

The TT Legacy was what got me thinking, but a reputation for niggly turbo problems and ultimately head gaskets going made me question the sanity of trying to run a 14 year old 2.0 turbo putting out nearly 300bhp as a dependable daily...

I even registered over on Uk legacys (great forum BTW) and even they couldnt claim the twin turbo was dependable.. plus they are pretty low which would worry me over some of my local rural berkshire roads..

I'm loving the extra input you guys are giving me, if you could put WHY you would choose you choise and if you've owned or driven/been driven in one that'd be great as well

Damn they scoobies look good though, if only the interiors looked like the Audis..

Here's the one I have my eye on..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Edited by 10mpg on Tuesday 16th November 12:41

[rb5230]

10mpg said:

The TT Legacy was what got me thinking, but a reputation for niggly turbo problems and ultimately head gaskets going made me question the sanity of trying to run a 14 year old 2.0 turbo putting out nearly 300bhp as a dependable daily...

I even registered over on Uk legacys (great forum BTW) and even they couldnt claim the twin turbo was dependable.. plus they are pretty low which would worry me over some of my local rural berkshire roads..

I'm loving the extra input you guys are giving me, if you could put WHY you would choose you choise and if you've owned or driven/been driven in one that'd be great as well

Damn they scoobies look good though, if only the interiors looked like the Audis..

well if the head gaskets go i got all the engine gaskets done + new clutch, cambelt, tensioners etc for £800, mine is a 2.5 rather than a turbo but i cant imagine it costing that much more, and the head gaskets going is basically a worse case scenario (which could happen with any car).

[fluffnik]

SlimRick said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2251773.htm


ETA - missed the "manual" bit.

The INVECSII tiptronic 'box is pretty good though...

Legnums area hoot to drive, mine always put a grin on my face - AYC rocks.

High teens to low twenties economy and 4.5k fluids services are the only downsides.

Club VR4 is friendly and very helpful.

£3500 should get a good one.

[davepoth]

Nissan Stagea?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1968013.htm

The manual ones are well pricey though, given that they're basically an estate R33.

[shoestring7]

rb5230 said:

shoestring7 said:

VW Passat W8?

SS7

in budget? where do i sign?

Is £4500 a stretch?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

SS7

[rb5230]

shoestring7 said:

rb5230 said:

shoestring7 said:

VW Passat W8?

SS7

in budget? where do i sign?

Is £4500 a stretch?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

SS7

for the OP £4k was a stretch. for me the repair bills on something like that would far outweigh the what seems to be very cheap initial purchase price.


that really is lots of car (very nice indeed) for the money but one with the potential to double in price should a repair need doing.

Edited by rb5230 on Tuesday 16th November 12:56

[Jem0911]

shoestring7 said:

rb5230 said:

shoestring7 said:

VW Passat W8?

SS7

in budget? where do i sign?

Is £4500 a stretch?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

SS7

Not really an estate now is it?

Edited by Jem0911 on Tuesday 16th November 12:57

[matchmaker]

Mk 1 Octavia 4x4. 1.8T engine. Nice reliable 150bhp as standard.

[ian_c_uk]

Doesn't have to stay at 150bhp tho... plenty of 1.8t tuning options, depends on budget.

(remap will break 200bhp easily enough)