Fast old(er) large estates - moneypits?

[kmpowell]

With an imminent house purchase, I'm mulling over ditching the finance on the A6 (with monthly payment, insurance and fuel, it costs me about £450pcm) and instead buying outright a cheap (c£3-7k) run-around for the family. What with a lurcher and a baby the estate boot has to be of the bigger variety, so that rules out A4/3er/Mondeo/Octavia sized estates. A quick spin through the classifieds and the man-brain has spotted some interesting cars that appear to be fast & cheap, but carry the risk of being potential moneypits...

V70 R - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...
E55 AMG - http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

Apart form the V70R and the AMG, am I missing any other cars?

More to the point, am I mad for even considering moving to this sort of car that carries 'uncertainty'?

TIA

Edited by kmpowell on Thursday 27th February 10:44

[TwistingMyMelon]

Nice cars. I wouldn't if I was concerned with money and running costs, the standard running costs are high , let alone if you have issues that require specialist knowledge, but thats just my opinion

[Tuvra]

Saab 9-5 HOT Aero

[Med1c]

Tuvra said:

Saab 9-5 HOT Aero

+1 these like any cars can have a few issues but what a lot of car for little money and superb performance .

[kiethton]

E39 540i or even 530i? - may find a E61 545i also?

I would say RS6 but thats a path to bankruptcy!

[Ozzie Osmond]

Loads of Mercs around if you want a German - E-class or C-class. I'd avoid the AMG nonsense; kids and dogs don't really want to be thrown around the back of a hard-riding estate.

Otherwise don't overlook Mazda 6 or Mondeo. The Skoda Octavia is also a great value car.

[Bill]

The Mondeo and Mazda 6 are big estates IMO. For a "sensible" fast estate there's a lot to be said for the ST220.

I suspect the AMG has potential to be ruinous, as do the properly fast Audis. Things like the 540, V70R, Legacy Spec B, MG ZTT260 (if you can find one, and it's big enough) and Mondeo are far more mainstream.

[SilverSixer]

Mondeo estates probably have more room in the back than V70s. They certainly have more rear legroom, bigger boot too I expect.

I have a Mazda 6 (original shape, 06 plate) estate and find it plenty big enough - have 2 children and a dog. Mine's only the cooking 2.0 petrol (147PS), but there are faster ones. Reliable, cheap to run (40mpg on a run, and it's a TC auto), enough poke for me. Love it.

[Tuvra]

Med1c said:

+1 these like any cars can have a few issues but what a lot of car for little money and superb performance .

I bought a fully loaded 2003 car (Xenon's, heated leather, parking sensors on top of all the other kit) with 162k miles on the clock for £700. Granted it only had 1 month Tax and MOT but after 2 new tyres (£100) and an oil flush/full service (£90) it sailed through the MOT with an advisory that the back box will need replacing soon (£50). For what I paid its utterly superb.

The Aero is LOL fast, I have to actually look at the clock to realise just how quick I am going (its like sitting on the sofa in your living room). The old girl keeps on lifting her dress and humiliating people in proper expensive metal too, the guy in the brand new E220 CDI Sport didn't like it one bit

I have a few niggles to do on the car such as:

• Pixel Display
• Tint the rear windows
• Remove tow hitch
• Fix passenger side window (doesn't raise/lower)
• Re-allign gear linkage
• Small Bump on the rear side door

I expect the above to cost £180 so the car would have set me back a fraction under £1,100, allowing for a four wheel refurb, thats £1,300. Bargain!!

Edit to add: I had a Mondeo Ghia X Estate between two Saab 9-5's and in comparison it was st! The only thing it had going for it was its size.

[TTwiggy]

Audi S6 (C5 variant) or a similar vintage All Road (either with the 2.7t or 2.7D + remap )?

[PomBstard]

Perhaps not as big as some inside, but room for three blokes and three mountain bikes. 2.0 WRX engine, no badges, all the trimmings inside, just the little hole in the bonnet to give the game away. 3.0 Spec B loses the scoop but has smooth flat-6 and bigger wheels.