What brisk petrol family estate?

[edward1]

Possibly looking to swap the family wagon, currently a 2.0 mazda 6. Not looking new and will be buying cash so not interested in lease deals.

criteria are :
Less than £10k ideally around £8k
Petrol (don't do the miles for derv or the right type of driving to keep a dpf clear, also at the age and mile I would be buying at a diesel would be probably wanting a clutch)
Manual
Quicker than the mazda so no slower than 9 to 60, we do quite alot of single carriage way driving and would like to be able to pass the 40mph brigade with relative ease.
2007 or newer with less than 80k on the clock
Not an insignia, astra, focus or mondeo, nothing against them as cars but the other half percives the mondeo and insignia to be too big and the focus and astra both have in my opinion less than pleasant interiors, and the astra gives me back ache.

Thoughts so far,
Octavia Vrs or 1.8TSI
Saab 9-3 2.0 turbo possibly 4x4

No point in looking at Audi may as well just buy a Skoda for less money. Would love a 159 Q4 but a bit thirsty and very few around.

any thoughts on the above or other possibles I have missed. Anyone on hear know if the saab 4x4 system is robust or not? The 2l turbo engine I believe is pretty good.

[ben5732]

V70 T5

[Sf_Manta]

BMW's , E90's i think could fall in this price range, and yup, quick search on the classified turns up a few.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[GravelBen]

edward1 said:

...other possibles I have missed.

Subaru?

[Fleckers]

jag X type ?

if older is Ok MG ZT-t SE260

[eltax91]

The Octavia

[briang9]

eltax91 said:

The Octavia

all the way!!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[DJFish]

Forester?

[ZX10R NIN]

How about some of these:
FORD

Proper wolf in sheeps clothing this one.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://eu.hlserve.com/Delivery/Delivery.aspx?hm_CI...

VXR

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Not sensible but very fast

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 10th March 08:22

[iamed]

Remap a Saab 9-3 2.0t to 220bhp, or better, go for the V6.

[craig_m67]

Alfa Romeo 159 TBi Sportwagon (1750).

Reasonably rapid (get the V6 if you don't care about fuel)
Hewn from granite (compared to its predecessors)
Drop dead gorgeous (subjective yes, but rarely have I read opposition)

[Phil Dicky]

I'm in a similar situation although need a diesel...the 3 series
as a package is hard to beat

[schmalex]

Audi S4?

[kambites]

The Audi and the Skoda are very different cars, all they really share is some of the engines.

Having said that, we're very happy with our Octavia VRS - they're bigger inside than an A4 or 3-series and smaller outside. The don't drive as well and aren't as refined but you get what you pay for and for us, for a family car, practicality was more important. It's not a car that makes you want to drive for the sake of it but it's quick enough and handles well enough to never feel out of its depth and I have the Elise for fun.

The wife loves her VRS and I don't resent having to drive it, which was always the goal.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 10th March 08:14

[edward1]

This is on the list to have a look at as it happens to be close and where we bought the mazda from.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Audi s4 (ideally one of the newer v6) would be top of the list if I was going to spend more cash.

The Merc looks interesting but falls short on the wifes criteria, i.e each car must be newer than the one it replaces, also we already have one silly car an XKR. Not too worried about fuel but would like to keep it sensible.

I agree on the 159, the best looking estate ever made in my opinion. The trouble is finding one that is suitably local and isn't a dreaded diesel. The 1.7turbo variant would be spot on but nothing around at the moment that isn't too expensive and down south.

No comments on the saab? Living in the peak district whilst 4x4 is by no means essential and we've managed fine with 2wd, winter tyres and a snow shovel but the idea of a normal looking car with 4x4 is quite appealing.

[HonestIago]

Impreza Hawkeye WRX wagon - you'd have the pick of the bunch for considerably less than your budget. Smaller than a 9-3 or Octavia but massively capable, practical and guaranteed grin factor!

[HughS47]

Impreza wagon or a forester XT. Reliable, fast. I miss mine terribly, especially after an unsatisfying delve into BMW 330d estates

[rob.e]

Octavia vRS - I'm on my second and likely to order a third. Nothing else does the combination of performance space and value IMO.

Impreza boot is tiny compared to an octavia (600+ litres it's as big as an a6 avant).

[Jakey123]

Accord 2.4

Best value for money and rock solid reliable.

I would go for the mk7 with the K series rather than a later model though

[hornetrider]

Would sir care for a 5 litre V8?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...