What "sensible" 2k mid-size estate car?

[white_goodman]

After 3 years of full-size MPV ownership, we are considering downsizing the 4 year old family car, as we're out of the pram/pushchair/travel cot/high chair phase, want to go debt-free so that we can upsize our house! Despite being one of the least cool cars that you can buy, a full-size MPV is simply the best vehicle if you have young children, so practical, comfortable and easy to get young children in and out of but on the other hand it's not the most fun or economical vehicle to drive and is a bit of a tank to park. I predict that once the MPV is sold, we should have 2-3k equity to spend on a "new" family car and I'm thinking a mid-size estate car. My wife will likely be the primary user, as she takes the kids to school and works more locally but it may be something that I drive on occasion to give my Cooper a bit of a break and if she doesn't like it, I may well take it over as my daily, so it needs to be fairly economical. For this budget, I'll probably be looking at something 10-15 years old and probably quite high mileage (100k+) too but that doesn't bother me, as I once owned a 200k W202 C-Class diesel estate as a stopgap and it was great (although very scabby cosmetically and I would prefer something a bit more presentable). I'm fairly open-minded on make, petrol/diesel, man/auto but probably something bigger than a Focus/Astra but smaller than a 5er/E-Class/A6/newer Mondeo/V70. I would also prefer something relatively simple that I can do some work on myself and although I would be willing to stretch the budget over 2k a little for the right car, I would rather pay 2k or a bit less.

My initial thoughts are:
A4 Avant/E46 3-Series Touring/W203 C-Class Estate
pre-2000 Volvo V70 or Volvo V40/V50
Saab 9-3 Wagon
B5 Passat TDI Estate (B6 a bit big and overly complicated)
mk1 Skoda Octavia
Peugeot 406/Citroen Xantia HDi
Rover 75 Tourer/MG ZT-T
Jaguar X-Type
Honda Accord
Maybe something like a Mitsubishi Shogun Sport appeals but perhaps a little crude and more complicated and expensive to run than an estate.

I know that's a pretty long list and a lot of it will come down to condition and what comes up in my area but from experience, should any of those models be avoided, is there a good/bad engine to go for on those models and which jumps out as potentially the best buy? I'm looking for at least 2 years relatively trouble-free motoring.

Edited by white_goodman on Tuesday 2nd October 17:58

[ninjag]

At that money I'd say reliability should be the main thing to focus on.

Honda Accord 7th Gen Tourer EX petrol. 2.0 is good but the 2.4 is almost as economical but has far better performance.

The 7th Gen are built in Japan and the petrol (unlike the diesel) is all Japanese parts. I had the 2.4 saloon EX version and it was bomb proof. Brilliant seats and lots of toys. 0W20 oil is a must to get the best out of this engine.

Only downside is that the 7th Generation tourer does look a bit like a hearse but the boot is massive considering the external dimensions. The 8th Gen Tourer is lovely looking but more expensive. 2.4 tourer almost impossible to get in 8th Gen

[white_goodman]

ninjag said:

At that money I'd say reliability should be the main thing to focus on.

Honda Accord 7th Gen Tourer EX petrol. 2.0 is good but the 2.4 is almost as economical but has far better performance.

The 7th Gen are built in Japan and the petrol (unlike the diesel) is all Japanese parts. I had the 2.4 saloon EX version and it was bomb proof. Brilliant seats and lots of toys. 0W20 oil is a must to get the best out of this engine.

Only downside is that the 7th Generation tourer does look a bit like a hearse but the boot is massive considering the external dimensions. The 8th Gen Tourer is lovely looking but more expensive. 2.4 tourer almost impossible to get in 8th Gen

Thanks for that endorsement. I'd heard that those 7th Gen Accords were pretty solid. Are the diesels best avoided? The only potential issue with this car that I can foresee is that it seems quite big, so my wife might not take to it and it might end up being my daily, for which the diesel might be a better fit.

[ALawson]

I have a 2.2 Cdti, on about 123k now on a 57plate car. Engines are good make sure the oil is changed as required and with the correct grade.

Make sure exhaust manifold has been replaced, mine was done 3 years outside the extended 7 year warranty (125k), honda supplied it I paid parts.

Suspension components may need doing, drop links and ARB in the rear are cheap. Front lower control arm bushes are expensive if bushes have gone.

I like the shape, they are massive tourers 610l seats up, the 8th generation are something like 430l boot (tiny), EX has adequate kit, sat nav is a bit old but most addresses are in it.

As I have said on other threads struggling to find anything as large and (potentially reliable) as the Accord. Does 43mpg on a run and it doesn't have dpf.

[S100HP]

Should be able to pickup a V50 in budget

[ZX10R NIN]

Mondeo Titanium

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

Mondeo 2.5 Ghia X

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

2.2 Vectra Elite

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

2.4 Accord Executive

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

2.0 Executive

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

Mercedes C240 Elegance

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

C200 Avantgarde

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

407SW SE

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

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

BMW 320i SE

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

Lexus IS300 Sportcross

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

2.5i Legacy

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

[skip_1]

white_goodman said:

Thanks for that endorsement. I'd heard that those 7th Gen Accords were pretty solid. Are the diesels best avoided? The only potential issue with this car that I can foresee is that it seems quite big, so my wife might not take to it and it might end up being my daily, for which the diesel might be a better fit.

Against my better judgement I bought a 2004 2.2 cdti. When it was working it was a good economical engine. Unfortunately it suffered a intermittent fault that would put it into limp mode, (once during an overtake!).

Neither Honda or a specialist could work out the cause (thoughts on vacuum, turbo, front or rear cats etc.). In the end I used it as a part exchange as a lease deposit.

Never again, sticking with petrol for future barges.

[ninjag]

The EX has parking sensors and reversing camera if that helps.

[Squirrelofwoe]

ninjag said:

The EX has parking sensors and reversing camera if that helps.

Not sure on reversing camera as standard (mine is an EX and doesn't have one- and it has everything)?? It seems a common aftermarket modification though. Due to the shape of the back though you get great visibility anyway and obviously with the parking sensors too it makes reversing a breeze.

Mine is the 2.4 petrol and the performance is very decent, the driving position is also very good compared to some of the other cars in this class. The EX comes with all the toys - Electric leather seats (heated), premium sound system, cruise control, elec sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, electric tailgate, dual-zone climate etc.

The load space in these is superb and puts pretty much every newer estate car to shame- with the almost upright tailgate (which is also electric and can be opened remotely), there isn't much that won't fit in there. Running a mobile DJ business this was my main requirement when I bought mine, and for me it came down to a straight choice between one of these or a V70 Volvo- I went for the Accord in the end purely because I found it the more enjoyable drive.

I bought mine 3 years ago on 98,000 miles and it's now done a shade over 130,000. Aside from putting a new clutch in as soon as I bought it (factored into the price), it's had a service once a year, a couple of new wipers, anti-roll bar bushes, and some tyres.

Things to look out for on the tourer include;

-general suspension components but in particular the rear shocks- these can be knackered if it's regularly carried heavy loads but aren't that difficult/expensive to replace.

-electric tailgate- the motors in these can fail as the cars age and are likely not cost effective to replace (tailgate still works manually) Worth finding one that still has it working though as it's brilliant!

-RFL- if you get a pre March 06 car the road tax is significantly cheaper (mine is an 04). Roughly £280/yr vs £500/yr due to the legislation change.

-roof bars- if you want roof bars buy one that already has them, they are like gold dust to obtain separately.

-as with all Honda VTEC units the 2.4 petrol does need revs to get the performance (red line is 7.5k IIRC), which can take some getting used to if you've come from diesels or torquey turbo petrols. Personally, having owned a DC2 Integra and an Accord Type R, I found the K24 engine a comparative torque monster It's a very satisfying engine to use though, and the K24 is often put into Integras/Civics and the like.

[Richard-390a0]

I've got a Mk1 Octavia vRS petrol estate, it's easy to work on (dependant on your skill level) & the boot is huge. Insurance is cheap (£200 fully comp) but tax is not (£280). The only common thing they seem to suffer from is rust along the edge of the tailgate below the rear window.

[MrOrange]

£2k bought me this. A minty 55 plate with 13 services, 3 litre flat 6 Subaru. It’s been lovely, has a reputation for being thirsty (28 mpg so far), but being fairly bulletproof.

[NickGRhodes]

Avensis estate is worth a look, it may suck out your will to live due to a dullness blackhole located somewhere under the dash, but it will do with excellent reliability (mostly. 2.0 petrol is best to get IMHO), that will leave you with a which magazine owning level of smugness.

The only dervs I could consider at that price point are the V70, VAG group 1.9 engines or the Rover 75 with the BMW derv, as the most reliable/least likely to cost more than the car is worth to fix.

Edited by NickGRhodes on Wednesday 3rd October 10:55

[white_goodman]

Thanks, lots of useful advice and suggestions there. A petrol Accord EX Tourer looks like a great option then. Parking sensors would help and although it's a little visually challenging, that dark blue one looks alright. I do like the older Subarus too but having owned one in the past, they are quite expensive to run. Also, good advice to stick with the VAG 1.9 PDs, V70 if it has to be diesel. Thank you!

[MC Bodge]

Mondeo.

I have a Mk4. Big, but not unwieldy. Very comfortable and drives well.

Mine has had nothing (other than air con gas leaking) go wrong with it in 108K miles.

The "140" TDCI engine is very, very good.

[kurt535]

Honda Accord or Toyota Avensis ? Id also say the Toyota will be potentially more achievable, Honda appears to carry a premium as I discovered when I did this exact same buying research 5 weeks ago.