The best 2 litre diesel estate.....

The best 2 litre diesel estate.....

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Discussion

RizzoTheRat

25,949 posts

198 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
OMG_TURBOZ said:
RizzoTheRat said:
Depends how big the kids are, Octavia is probably about the bottom end of your size requirements. Fits 4 adults in comfort, 5 is reasonably comfortable, and has a decent sized boot, but if you're looking at booster seats or child seats then it might be a bit cramped in the back. I've averaged about 47mpg over several years in my vRS, and regularly get mid 50's on longer journeys.
I shall check 'em out. What are they like to drive?
Road noise is a bit more noticeable than more "premium" cars, but the CR170 ('59 plate onwards, I've not driven the older PD170) is pretty smooth, handles reasonably well, and the vRS comes with comfy seats and most of the toys. Door seal leaks tend to be quite common (get the occasional drip from the top in really heavy rain), but other than a problem caused by a bad dealer service (leaking fuel filter caused some follow on issues) I've had no trouble in 105k miles. Plenty of companies will remap them them to 200ish bhp (Shark Performance get a lot of love on Briskoda.net) but I've never bothered.

OMG_TURBOZ

Original Poster:

976 posts

120 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
Road noise is a bit more noticeable than more "premium" cars, but the CR170 ('59 plate onwards, I've not driven the older PD170) is pretty smooth, handles reasonably well, and the vRS comes with comfy seats and most of the toys. Door seal leaks tend to be quite common (get the occasional drip from the top in really heavy rain), but other than a problem caused by a bad dealer service (leaking fuel filter caused some follow on issues) I've had no trouble in 105k miles. Plenty of companies will remap them them to 200ish bhp (Shark Performance get a lot of love on Briskoda.net) but I've never bothered.
The door seal leaks have put me ever so slightly off.

RobM77

35,349 posts

240 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
There's no such thing as 'best' - each car offers its own pros and cons. For example:

320d: Rear wheel drive and a well sorted chassis gives great weight distribution and handling (the standard E90 is great, which is what £7k will get you - whereas the new shape needs MSport to re-create this), but RWD also removes interior space, making it one of the smaller estate cars in its class, particularly in terms of rear passenger space and boot space. Very quiet at speed (with standard wheels and tyres...) and great mpg/bhp ratio.

Mercedes C Class: As above with more room, but tuned more for relaxed cruising than keen driving. Hard to find with a manual gearbox, although they're more common on the cheaper 2L models as sought by the OP.

Audi A4: Well thought out, high quality feeling and cossetting interior, and a bit bigger inside than the 320d, but somewhat wobbly handling when pushed and worse mpg/bhp than the 320d (I had an A4 2.0TDi on hire for three months so that is an informed opinion, not a prejudicial one). Like all Audis, they're dull and efficient to drive.

Ford Mondeo: Another car I've spent some time with up and down the country, but I won't give my opinion on PH because I don't want to be shouted at for fifteen pages. New prices are surprisingly close to the above, but as usual the secondhand market is a better judge and you'll get a newer car for your money.

Citroen used to do huge estate cars with really practical loading space and lots of waftability, but I've not driven one, only been a passenger, so won't comment in too much detail. My friends have found theirs reliable and dependable though.

Sadly there is no one answer, you just have to decide on your priorities, make a shortlist and then look at and drive the cars. Beware of the usual PH image and marketing centered opinions when reading this thread though.

RizzoTheRat

25,949 posts

198 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
It's fking annoying but I don't get it that often. I tend to give the seals a clean and wipe with some silicone grease and it stops doing it. If I could be bothered to replace the door seals that would probably fix it.

OMG_TURBOZ

Original Poster:

976 posts

120 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
It's fking annoying but I don't get it that often. I tend to give the seals a clean and wipe with some silicone grease and it stops doing it. If I could be bothered to replace the door seals that would probably fix it.
bet it is. I'm tempted by the Pug 508 Station Wagon.

phil1979

3,594 posts

221 months

Friday 4th September 2015
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Blanchimont said:
159 Sportwagon.

the 2.0 is good (so I'm told) but the 2.4 is better.

Plus, those looks!
As an owner of one, three older kids in the back would be a squeeze - they are not that roomy.

scorcher

4,010 posts

240 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Sadly you're probably all wasting you're time anyway as OMG_TURBOZ is about 14 years old! It'll be a car for mummy or daddy or just another of his "what car?" posts he likes to make occasionally with no intent of ever buying one.

OMG_TURBOZ

Original Poster:

976 posts

120 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
phil1979 said:
As an owner of one, three older kids in the back would be a squeeze - they are not that roomy.
Heard that before.

OMG_TURBOZ

Original Poster:

976 posts

120 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
scorcher said:
Sadly you're probably all wasting you're time anyway as OMG_TURBOZ is about 14 years old! It'll be a car for mummy or daddy or just another of his "what car?" posts he likes to make occasionally with no intent of ever buying one.
Obvious troll is obvious.

Blanchimont

4,078 posts

128 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
phil1979 said:
Blanchimont said:
159 Sportwagon.

the 2.0 is good (so I'm told) but the 2.4 is better.

Plus, those looks!
As an owner of one, three older kids in the back would be a squeeze - they are not that roomy.
My sister manages a 12,14 and 17 year old in the back seats of the Focus ok?
Are they on par with those?


scorcher

4,010 posts

240 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
OMG_TURBOZ said:
scorcher said:
Sadly you're probably all wasting you're time anyway as OMG_TURBOZ is about 14 years old! It'll be a car for mummy or daddy or just another of his "what car?" posts he likes to make occasionally with no intent of ever buying one.
Obvious troll is obvious.
Yes Zachary! AKA OMG Turboz/CoolFool/ZNSSUPERCARS

Estate car for 3k?Toyota Supra? Imprezza estate?Saab 9-5 estate? Alfa 156? MX5? And probably others. And here you are doing you Ice bucket challenge last year. You don't look much older than 14 to me!
Zachary........... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNNraXegOY

Slow

6,973 posts

143 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
scorcher said:
OMG_TURBOZ said:
scorcher said:
Sadly you're probably all wasting you're time anyway as OMG_TURBOZ is about 14 years old! It'll be a car for mummy or daddy or just another of his "what car?" posts he likes to make occasionally with no intent of ever buying one.
Obvious troll is obvious.
Yes Zachary! AKA OMG Turboz/CoolFool/ZNSSUPERCARS

Estate car for 3k?Toyota Supra? Imprezza estate?Saab 9-5 estate? Alfa 156? MX5? And probably others. And here you are doing you Ice bucket challenge last year. You don't look much older than 14 to me!
Zachary........... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNNraXegOY
So he's looking for his parents probably.

RicksAlfas

13,609 posts

250 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Skoda Superb?

wal 45

745 posts

186 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
phil1979 said:
Blanchimont said:
159 Sportwagon.

the 2.0 is good (so I'm told) but the 2.4 is better.

Plus, those looks!
As an owner of one, three older kids in the back would be a squeeze - they are not that roomy.
I'm in the same situation with 3 teenagers, they prefer going in our Focus than the 159 because of how tight space is in the back. Apart from that the Alfa 159 is the answer to your question!

frodo_monkey

671 posts

202 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
RicksAlfas said:
Skoda Superb?
Seconded, I have one and it's epic.

IanCress

4,409 posts

172 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
frodo_monkey said:
RicksAlfas said:
Skoda Superb?
Seconded, I have one and it's epic.
Less than 70k miles and sub £7k? I had a look a prices a few months ago when I was looking for an estate and I don't think they were that cheap.

Edit: had a quick look and you're looking at more like £9k

austinsmirk

5,597 posts

129 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
mondeo- about 39 ish around town and an easy 55mpg at lots of leptons on the motorway. a vast well equiped car.

willmagrath

1,244 posts

152 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
sonarbell said:
Insignia Elite Nav 160 Diesel. Loads of toys and pretty good value for money. 50mpg etc
From experience, its a terrible engine!

phil1979

3,594 posts

221 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
wal 45 said:
phil1979 said:
Blanchimont said:
159 Sportwagon.

the 2.0 is good (so I'm told) but the 2.4 is better.

Plus, those looks!
As an owner of one, three older kids in the back would be a squeeze - they are not that roomy.
I'm in the same situation with 3 teenagers, they prefer going in our Focus than the 159 because of how tight space is in the back. Apart from that the Alfa 159 is the answer to your question!
It's because the 159 is so low slung, and the doors are Bentley-thick. Combine that with average forward leg room, your knees get to know your chin quite well.