'Prestige' load lugger to take from 100k to 200k miles

[Matt UK]

Keeping the same fleet structure, but need to refresh. So, the toy stays, the wife is happy running locally in a petrol hatch and I'll run the family work horse for work - it's this last one that needs an update. The Passat is good enough at it's job, but I need to throw a bit more cash at the daily driver.

So, requirements as follows:
Large-ish estate to ensure that holidays and weekends are comfy
30k miles a year so I guess I'm looking for a diesel engine with a bit of grunt returning about 40mpg on a good run
£8k purchase price, flex if required
Would like to buy at 100k miles and ditch 3 years later at 200k onto ebay
Auto, because I'm getting lazy, heated hide because I like it and a good stero - would prefer something without a satnav screen
Tough enough to stand up to being 'used' - this car will be a bit of a workhorse
'Prestige' enough to please my boss (I know, I know, but it is he who is giving me the allowance - alternative is a 530d company car on lease which is more of a monthyl deduction each month on a mule than I wish at present)
Reliable - like I say, happy to buy at 100k if I'm confident it will go to 200k. Understand servicing and running costs and will factor in consumables getting replaced - I just don't want 4 figure bills for lunched engines / gearboxes etc.
Age, I'm not too fussed about this as I'll pop the dateless plate on to keep work happy / in blissful ignorance, but thinking around 5 to 7 years old.
Focus is on comfort and quiet relaxed cruising ahead of handling - 99% of the miles racked up will be on the motorway.

So far I'm weighing it up between a Volvo V70 D5 SE or an E61 BMW 530d.

Any thoughts or experience on these options? Any others you would suggest?

[surveyor]

30k a year? 530D company car - if the CC tax is an issue, 520D instead...

ETA - I envisage every car having the potential to give grief between 100k & 200k. It's pot luck, but the odds are stacked against you with 5 year old cars as they are more complex than their predecessors.

[Hugo a Gogo]

E class, best load luggers in that class

[surveyor]

Hugo a Gogo said:

E class, best load luggers in that class

But V6 engine. Google inlet port shutoff motor. It's not a rare fault. Then there's the 7g gearbox...

[martin mrt]

E61 530d gets my vote

[Hugo a Gogo]

would it be already fixed by the time it got to 100k?

I see gazillions of half-million mile e-class taxis, they can't all be wrong, surely?

(not looking for an argument )

[Chrisw666]

For the job you describe a V70 D5 would be perfect, but I'd also consider an A6 Avant with either a 2.0 or 3.0 litre TDI lump depending on how important pace is to you.

[schmalex]

E220 / E320 Diesel would be my natural choice

Edited by schmalex on Friday 21st September 10:10

[jgy6000]

I have just picked up a 2008 Passat 2.0 TDI Highline with 99k on the clock for under £6000 - going to do a service on it and replace the cambelt and hoping it will do another 100K with few issues. Im also doing around 25k a year up and down the motorway and i have only had it for a few weeks but it seems to do a great job and is returning extremely good MPG (52 with most of the journy @ 80MPH)

[dave_s13]

Matt UK said:

......Focus is on comfort and quiet relaxed cruising ahead of handling - 99% of the miles racked up will be on the motorway.....

V70 all day long then.

[bakerstreet]

Audi A4 2.0TDI Avant would be my choice. You might even stretch a leggy S-Line for £8k too. Heated leather seats may be hard to find though.

[surveyor]

Hugo a Gogo said:

would it be already fixed by the time it got to 100k?

I see gazillions of half-million mile e-class taxis, they can't all be wrong, surely?

(not looking for an argument )

No argument - but I bet most of them are 220's.

[Grenoble]

Chrisw666 said:

For the job you describe a V70 D5 would be perfect, but I'd also consider an A6 Avant with either a 2.0 or 3.0 litre TDI lump depending on how important pace is to you.

3.0tdi might give you 40mpg with a remap for economy, but they tend to give about 34/35 average. I can get 40 if I'm gentle or sit at 65mph.

[Krikkit]

Read all your spec and thought Volvo V70 D5 until the auto box and prestige (although Volvo's are cool, right?). My folks had a 2.4 petrol one and it was a really fantastic cruiser, the seats were magnificently comfortable and the stereo was very good for a non-upgraded job.

[anonymous-user]

If you're really concerned with reliability and intend to go to 200K I would very strongly suggest a manual gearbox. Yes with a DMF a manual can give you a bill as big as an autobox rebuild, but I've never known a car with a £1500 refurbed/replaced autobox to drive quite right ever again.

V70 D5 would be a very comfortable way to do that mileage - no stupid crashy suspension in the name of marketing "sportyness", which is the absolute last thing you'll want to do 30K a year in. Superb seats too.

[Grenoble]

The A6 2.0tdi is good, and it rides much better as an SE spec on 16" or 17" wheels. S Line or Le Mans type spec on 18" or 19"s are too firm for UK roads.

[Hugo a Gogo]

surveyor said:

No argument - but I bet most of them are 220's.

good point!

[pjdow]

V70 D5

[dave_s13]

bakerstreet said:

Audi A4 2.0TDI Avant would be my choice. You might even stretch a leggy S-Line for £8k too. Heated leather seats may be hard to find though.

Crashy ride, rough as nails engine, cramped interior.

In this context....sheeite.

[Dalto123]

Thought I would chip in here and recommend the V70 D5. Dad has had one since 2002 and done 135000 miles

From our ownership a couple if things to point out is that they seem to go through light bulbs very quickly! And sometimes (like many cars) can throw up some big unexpected bills - notably the clutch going at approx 110k miles. Now the gearbox is crunching and needs replacing at current mileage.

That aside the motor is fantastically reliable. The car is well built and the seats are extremely comfortable. Plus the engine has a good amount of poke, and if we didn't have the faulty gearbox we wouldn't have replaced it.