New family wagon for family of 4 - Page 1 - Car Buying

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Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Wednesday 8th November 2017

Our leased Tiguan will be going back in April next year, so I’ve been trying to figure out what to replace it with.

It’s the main family car, used for occasional commuting, ferrying the kids (2 & 1) around and annual trips down to Cornwall from the NW. We’ll have averaged about 9k p/a over the 3 years by the time it goes back, but that will likely rise next year when Mrs Aussieal goes back to work and we are likely to be moving house.

I’ll be buying this one rather than leasing and have set a budget of £20k max, with the plan to keep it for 3 years minimum and ideally 5. I’ve considered the following:

• BMW X3 30d – not convinced it offers much more room than the Tiguan or that it warrants the premium over an F31
• BMW F11 530d – I like them, Mrs Aussieal thinks they’re too big/old for her – she’ll be the main driver
• BMW F31 330d sdrive – current first choice but wonder whether I’d be happy with pre LCI, although plenty to choose from in terms of colour, spec etc
• BMW E91 330d LCI – significantly under budget, used to have an E90 330i and always liked it. Well spec’d sub 60k miles cars do come up around £12/13k
• B9 Passat BiTDi estate – like the idea of this, but not sure if would be happy once new car novelty wore off
• Audi A6 Avant/Allroad – like them, but seem spec sensitive which then takes them over budget
• Skoda Suberb/Octavia estate – I like the Superb, Mrs Aussieal doesn’t like the badge

So currently weighing up between the F31 and E91 330d’s, man maths telling me that if I go for the F31, although I’ll pay £7/8k more for it, it’ll be worth that bit more in 5 years with another 60/70k on it compared to the E91.

Also conscious that all of the above are diesel and our mileage doesn’t really warrant it, but I’ve found it hard to find petrol options when looking for a decent sized family wagon.

Over to you PH – does it come down to the two 330d’s, or have I overlooked something obvious, petrol or otherwise that is within budget and will keep a growing family of 4 moving for the next 3 to 5 years?

Should add that I’ll be swapping my E87 130i for a Scirocco 2.0 TSI shortly which is a little weekend/station car.

steve-5snwi

9,835 posts

114 months

Wednesday 8th November 2017

Keep the 130i and buy a 335i touring.

ZX10R NIN

29,820 posts

146 months

Wednesday 8th November 2017

Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

Thanks guys, although I should have been more specific.

All of the cars I listed are estates, except for the X3, as it's an estate I'm after.

Appreciate there are lots of petrol saloon options, but the numbers of equivalent estates just aren't the same, limiting used purchases.

mindthegap

63 posts

120 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

I've been looking around at estates as got a leased A4 going back soon and wife's car is getting on a bit now so would be used as a main car for me and family duties and keep her car for short trips. The superb estates are hard to ignore tbh. You can get a diesel 2016 SEL Exec estate for £18000 - £19000 which are very highly speced with masses of room.They also do 1.4 and 2.0 petrols but there are not many around & 2.0 are DSG only.
Maybe try & get the wife to a Skoda garage and show her one of the higher spec models. They look pretty smart in SEL Exec, Sportline or L&K trims!

Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

The Superb does look pretty impressive doesn't it and seems to have loads of spec/room.

Will get her down to the local dealer to take a look at some point.

mindthegap

63 posts

120 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

Just looking on AT. You can get a 2016 4x4 DSG in SEL Exec trim with 15000 miles and the 190BHP engine for £20K :

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Actus Reus

4,296 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

Similar kinds of criteria as me - I drove a Mazda CX-5 a while back and I'm very tempted by the new one. The engines are smooth, and they're nicely put together cars. Not the biggest boot, but not bad. Just a suggestion - petrol and diesel options available.

ZX10R NIN

29,820 posts

146 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

I think the Mondeo is a good looking car, just couldn't live with that interior though.

Your other options kind of prove my point, very few good petrol estate options around - 328i/330i would be perfect, but very few of the former and don't think any of the latter on AT.

Other options take me over my £20k budget.

Which is when I end up back thinking get a 330d rolleyes

Ranger 6

7,508 posts

270 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

I found the X3 had a considerably larger boot than the Tiguan when I looked - and that was the old shape.

I went from a 3 series touring to an X3 for the extra space, not just in the boot, but also the head and legroom. Our children are now 17 and 14 and the difference when they were in the back was worthwhile.

It's interesting that you're comparing like for like engines with the 30d, it really is a very good engine and you'll find it a big change after the Tiguan's 4 pot.

Good luck with the search.

Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

Ranger 6 said:

You're right about the X3 c/f with the Tiguan, but just wasn't sure what it offered over and above a 3 series touring aside from driving position and xdrive. Need to get out and view/drive some options, which I plan to do over Christmas.

Definitely a big draw to the 30d, suspect it will be night and day compared to the Tiguan's 4 pot - it's been a very good family car for shipping around new borns, but it's a dull engine and a dull drive, especially on longer trips.

Ranger 6

7,508 posts

270 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

aussieal said:

...just wasn't sure what it offered over and above a 3 series touring aside from driving position and xdrive.

That's a very personal thing which you'll be able to find on your test drives. We found the extra space was the key element. With growing children my wife found the extra height was also useful with baby carriers, then boosters etc.

I'm now on my third X3 (2.0d, 3.0d and now 35d) and have just found that for all the various tasks that I throw at it they just keep doing them very well. Alpine skiing trips, rally duties and tip runs.

familyguy1

785 posts

153 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

I've read internet forum rumours that the BiTDi is not a good engine with VW being tefalon shouldered on the issues.

Again its internet rumours with no personal experience.

Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

Ranger 6 said:

Were all three of yours F25's? Any views on 20d vs 30d, given it's a family wagon? What about LCI, from what I've seen worth aiming for this as it seems to change quite a bit in terms of quality.

Sorry for all the questions!

Original Poster

531 posts

182 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

familyguy1 said:

I've read internet forum rumours that the BiTDi is not a good engine with VW being tefalon shouldered on the issues.

Again its internet rumours with no personal experience.

That's interesting, suspect it's one of those cars that appeals on paper (200+bhp, 4motion etc), but maybe the reality doesn't stack up.

familyguy1

785 posts

153 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

its the same engine as in the transporter T6 and that's where I've heard/seen the postings. newer models appear to be better. Again it could be a few postings amongst many many owners with zero issues.

Ranger 6

7,508 posts

270 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

aussieal said:

Happy to help!!

No, my first two were both E83, the 35d is an F25. My 2.0d was one of the first with a 150bhp engine, so I don't really have a view on the F25 20d. I've heard it's good, but to be honest the 30d is such a good engine I'd really recommend the 6 cyl.

Quality wise, I haven't driven a facelift car (mine's a 2012) and my perception is from the pictures it's the same interior with a couple of tweaks to the nav. The nav was actually given a big update before they did the facelift so I wouldn't worry about that, 2013 cars are the ones with the new nav.

I'd suggest the facelift car is worth aiming for simply because of residual values. Having said that, if you can find a car with VDC (variable damper control) then that's a very worthwhile extra to have and I'd take that over an LCI.

My thinking would be engine first - 30d, then VDC, then LCI.

CJG98

470 posts

99 months

Thursday 9th November 2017

The newer 2011 onwards F25 BMW X3’s despite what a lot of people will say are lovely cars, I have often driven a 2016 30d M Sport X Drive at work, and all of us agree it is much more enjoyable on the road than the X5’s. And with the 30d Engine almost feels faster! The Auto gearbox is a must have too.

They are now available on Autotrader used for around £15k for a nice one.

Benjijames28

1,702 posts

113 months

Friday 10th November 2017

Almost any car will be big enough for a family of 4, it's just about what you like.

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