Which Diesel Estate Car Is Best??? (Sorry)

[Downton Mini]

Hi PHer's

A colleage of mine has just been picking my brains as he is looking for a diesel estate car to run as a everyday car, he currently has a Landrover Defender which he is keeping to pull his caravan (the caravan is massive).

He wants something that isn't going to cost a fortuen to run as an everyday car (the landy isn't the car for this)

He has a few basic points he's looking at

Needs to be econimcal (they may use it to go down to the alps if they leave the caravan down there etc)

He want's it to be diesel

He is not bothered about what is it as long as it is cheap to run ie fuel, tax etc

He hasn't told me a budget yet but says he will basically look at which ever marque/model suits is needs the best and then look at the budget

Not much to go on I apperciate but over to you

Oh and sorry for yet another what car thread

[Codswallop]

He won't go wrong with a Ford Focus diesel. Relaible, decent to drive, and cheap to run. If that's too small, then tell him to get a Mondeo estate. Those cars were made to fulfil the dependable workhorse criteria

[littleredrooster]

Octavia Estate with the 130 PD motor. Unburstable, brilliant economy, huge payload area (+secret cavern underneath!).
Chip or remap to 170 for a real wolf-in-sheeps-clothing.

[dave_s13]

I wouldn't fancy a run to the alps in a focus. I've got one.

I also have a volvo v70 d5 auto. If you want something decent on fuel, supremely comfort to drive, safe and sure footed then it fits the bill perfectly. It'll probably also tow his van.

To be honest though, assuming an older car, no large diesel estate is going to be cheap to run.

[PaperCut]

littleredrooster said:

Octavia Estate with the 130 PD motor

This.

Or as a (very) leftfield suggestion, have a look at a SEAT Altea XL 1.9TDi/2.0TDi - you don't say budget, but these can be had for around £5-6k for 06/07 plates and are quite nice to drive - in a way - plus has lots of room inside. Admit it's a sort of MAV/MPV sort of look but essentially an estate car.

If the budget is less than that then the Octavia is the way to go.

[HustleRussell]

Budget dependant, But I'd be looking at:
-Mondeo TDCI
-Skoda Scout/Octavia/Superb
-Seat Exeo
-Volvo T5
-Passat

Low budget options:
-Citroen C5
-Peugeot 406
-Old Mondeo Mk3
-Skoda Octavia mk2

The Exeo is suprisingly compelling, take a look.

[PaperCut]

doogz said:

PaperCut said:

This.

Or as a (very) leftfield suggestion, have a look at a SEAT Altea XL 1.9TDi/2.0TDi - you don't say budget, but these can be had for around £5-6k for 06/07 plates and are quite nice to drive - in a way - plus has lots of room inside. Admit it's a sort of MAV/MPV sort of look but essentially an estate car.

If the budget is less than that then the Octavia is the way to go.

I had an Altea 4 as a rental car one day. Not quite the same thing, but similar.

For such a large car, it was very small and cramped inside, i didn't like it at all.

You mean the Freetrack? Yes it's pretty much the same car. I know where you're coming from the side glass is quite small so feels quite cramped and small inside. I wasn't implying that it was the biggest estate car, but it's not bad and has a taller load bay than an ordinary estate car.

[Ranger 6]

- BMW 325d/330d/525d/530d
- Mercedes 280/320 CDi
- Volvo V70 D5
- A6 Avant quattro
-Skoda Scout/Octavia/Superb
-Seat Exeo
-Passat

Low budget options:
- BMW 320d/530d
- Mercedes 220/270 CDi
- Volvo V70 D5
- A6 Avant quattro
-Old Mondeo Mk3
-Skoda Octavia

[frosted]

I have a diesel 170bhp passat estate from 2008, 100k on the clock and besides a lift pump at nothing ever went wrong with it. Half leather half suede, 11speakers , mp3 player, heated seats , comfortable, bigger than an a4 and it goes a bit. Towed my boat + 5 man up with no issue
My car is worth about 7k

[braddo]

This diesel estate car is best:

[pstruck]

littleredrooster said:

Octavia Estate with the 130 PD motor. Unburstable, brilliant economy, huge payload area

This.

The older PD's don't have DPF's either, which I see as a big plus point.

[Mark-C]

pstruck said:

littleredrooster said:

Octavia Estate with the 130 PD motor. Unburstable, brilliant economy, huge payload area

This.

The older PD's don't have DPF's either, which I see as a big plus point.

Let me add another "This" ... was faced with a long commute just over a year ago plus needed something big enough to do the odd Uni run with the kids and it's been an absolutely amazing car. Nothing exciting but does it's job really weel and will happily rturn 60MPG on long motorway runs.

And the customer experience (Skoda Delear)at service time has been great as well.

[rllmuk]

doogz said:

Freetrack?

It was a Seat Altea 4. Raised up version, with stupid plastic bumpers, a 2.0T motor, haldex 4WD system, and a drinking problem.

Made "good progress" down the motorway, but given that i requested a 'diesel mondeo or similar', it cost me rather a lot more in fuel at the time.

A quick bit of googling, and you, it's basically the Freetrack, but if it was 4WD, they just called it a 4.

But then, wikipedia goes on to tell me the 2.0T petrol only came with a DSG box, or a DSG box, when i drove a manual, so i'll bow to your superior knowledge on this one.

Edited by doogz on Wednesday 2nd May 11:59

/pedant

The Freetrack only came out in the UK in 4WD, and it was called the Seat Altea Freetrack, with one spec. Petrol 200ps / Diesel 170ps, both manual. Europe gets 2WD/4WD options, and it's still available.

[Fox-]

The best diesel estate car is the F10 BMW 535d M Sport Touring.

So he should buy one of those.

[cerb4.5lee]

I have a 520d m sport touring & its economical, currently doing 46mpg & tax is £115 a year so its cheap to run & its a nice drive & relatively spacious, its really slow though only having 177bhp & sometimes its quicker walking!

The 6 pot diesel is a great engine so a 530d would be a good alternative, trouble with the 535d is if you gun it everywhere it wont return great economy.

I am happy with mine as a daily drive, i just spend most of the time wanting more power but you get used just thrashing it to death to get it to move, overall a good motor.

[BorkFactor]

My money would be going on a Passat 1.9 TDI, or a V70 D5.

[Super Slo Mo]

swerni said:

I've just picked up the E220 diesel estate.

While it's not the kind of car you wake in the morning and think "yes!!!! I'm going take that puppy out for some fun", it is the kind of car, when faced with a long journey or a day sat in traffic, you are ever so glad you went for it.

Fast enough, all toys, very comfy and heaps of space.
I got mine to replace the pathfinder which was huge.

It seems to to the job very well.

Without wishing to take the thread too far off topic, what do you think of it? I'm looking for alternatives for when I get rid of the V70, and have been considering them. I'm not hugely bothered about toys, priorities for me are a quiet cabin, comfy seat, comfy ride and a good stereo. Low fuel costs into the bargin would be good too.

How are the running costs panning out so far? The Volvo has been a bit costly for my liking, although I can't deny it's a quiet and comfortable place to be on a long trip (which I do rather a lot of)

[Downton Mini]

Thanks for the replies so far guys I will put the lists of cars to him when he's next in the office. I mentioned he liked the Skoda so good to get some opinons on that never gave the Mondeo a thought which was pretty stupid of me

Keep the thoughts a feed back coming I will let you what he chooses when he does

[rllmuk]

doogz said:

I'm just going on the paperwork given to me by the rental company, and the big letters across the bootlid that said "ALTEA 4"

Yes, we have one at home. Still called a Freetrack though.

[IT1GTR]

cerb4.5lee said:

I have a 520d m sport touring & its economical, currently doing 46mpg & tax is £115 a year so its cheap to run & its a nice drive & relatively spacious, its really slow though only having 177bhp & sometimes its quicker walking!

The 6 pot diesel is a great engine so a 530d would be a good alternative, trouble with the 535d is if you gun it everywhere it wont return great economy.

I am happy with mine as a daily drive, i just spend most of the time wanting more power but you get used just thrashing it to death to get it to move, overall a good motor.

I have an E46 330D estate and am loving it. Not the quickest thing in the world but still 200+ BHP with 450NM of torque when chipped, so you only have to worry about cars with serious power.

I can return 45mpg on a run when not being too heavy footed