Best sub £4K fast estate. 3 litre+ AWD/RWD.

[Kozy]

The Kozy household are in need of an estate car in the new year, and I have a hankering for something a bit sporty with a NASP engine of at least 3.0 litres and 6 cylinders, with either RWD or AWD. Not overly fussed on manual or auto, though I would prefer an auto with paddle shifters.

At the moment a 2007-2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec B is top of the list, but I have also been considering the X-Type 3.0 Sport, E46 and E90 330i and E60 530i Msports...

Would consider Audi, but not sure they offer anything in the price bracket. Would love a B7 S4, but that they tend to come in a bit higher and with huge borkability!

Am I missing any contenders in this?

[danster72]

Google 'X-type sill corrosion' and you may shorten your list...

[Xcore]

B6 s4 avant

[Croutons]

4k for the car but over 500 for tax?

Subaru pre Mar 23 2006 only to avoid that (still 315 mind).


ETA Passat 3.2 or 4.0 W8, or might find a Superb 3.6, although may need budget stretch.

Edited by Croutons on Sunday 30th December 13:28

[g7jhp]

E46 330i touring would be my choice.

[Kozy]

Croutons said:

4k for the car but over 500 for tax?

Subaru pre Mar 23 2006 only to avoid that (still 315 mind).

I’d want the facelift model for the better infotainment and paddle shifters.

Sure, It’s an extra £185 a year, but on a car that does 24mpg it’s not really a deal breaker.

[Hashtaggggg]

545/550 touring

[ZX10R NIN]

Alternatives to the Subaru:

E280

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

C280

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

C320

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

C32 AMG

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

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

3.2 A4 (same engine as the R32 so it may be prudent to get the chain checked) S Line

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

A6

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

IS300

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

325 M Sport

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

If you can live with FWD then the ST220 is well worth a look & on par handling wise with most of the other options:

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

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

If you don't mind 2.8 litres with a Turbo the the Saab 9-3 comes into play:

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

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

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

[couragebest88]

Personally I’d get a Saab for that money.

[Kozy]

Hashtaggggg said:

545/550 touring

Would love one, but they seem to be more in the £6-8k bracket.

[steve-5snwi]

I wouldn't get hung up on paddle shifters, in reality you very rarely use them.

[Kozy]

steve-5snwi said:

I wouldn't get hung up on paddle shifters, in reality you very rarely use them.

We had a on E39 530d auto for a couple of months at the start of the year, while the Mrs left it in D all the time I pretty much always drove it in manual mode, paddle shifters would have been awesome!

[Pistonheader101]

steve-5snwi said:

I wouldn't get hung up on paddle shifters, in reality you very rarely use them.

This.

[Brads67]

E46 330i is a super car.

[Pablo16v]

Something like this maybe?

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


My wife has a similar 2005 Audi A6 3.2 Avant, non-quattro, which we bought in Feb 2015. It has been very reliable and just sailed through yet another MOT.

[sawman]

I wouldn't look any further than the subaru outback/legacy 3.0 - that engine is awesomely smooth, and overall the car is painless to own - I ran one for 4 years and have regretted selling it ever since - averaged about 26mpg over 70k miles, the road tax at over 500 quid issue was solved by moving to monthly direct debit - didnt notice the payment going out so much!

as a second choice one of the 6 cylinder merc estates would be the other option.

oddly, my outback was preceded by a W202 C280. at changeover I felt that I had downgraded - interior quality mainly, but with use the awesome ground covering ability of the subaru became more obvious, esp in the winter (the merc was older, and it seemed that something always needed mending)

[anonymous-user]

If you can fnd one in Ti spec even better:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/alfa-romeo/alfa-romeo-15...

[FlatToTheMat]

ZX10R NIN said:

C32 AMG

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

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


If you can live with FWD then the ST220 is well worth a look & on par handling wise with most of the other options:

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

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

These two suggestions I echo, the C32 is a absolute wolf in sheeps clothing, ive had a few quick cars and driven plenty however this still is up their with one of the more shockingly quick ones, certianly felt more than the on paper power. I remember driving one in anger in less than desirable conditions, it was triggering the ESP at 90mph and 30mph-130mph was very impressive however i would worry about rust on the early 203's

St220; Great cars, cheap to run, probably the best FWD everyday chassis i've driven, can be driven on its door handles day after day. Very abjustable chassis and comfortable too. I ran a boggo LX for 18months and it was excellent, genuinely sad to see it go. Best on limit car ive owned, up their with my old tweaked Alpina B3 for balls to wall driving

[Martyn76]

Pistonheader101 said:

steve-5snwi said:

I wouldn't get hung up on paddle shifters, in reality you very rarely use them.

This.

And another, used the manual option on my auto (E91 330d) about 4 times in 5 years, unless your on track or hammering it why bother and even then the car does such a good job on it own, especially in Sport mode.

[Hashtaggggg]

Kozy said:

The Kozy household are in need of an estate car in the new year, and I have a hankering for something a bit sporty with a NASP engine of at least 3.0 litres and 6 cylinders, with either RWD or AWD. Not overly fussed on manual or auto, though I would prefer an auto with paddle shifters.

At the moment a 2007-2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec B is top of the list, but I have also been considering the X-Type 3.0 Sport, E46 and E90 330i and E60 530i Msports...

Would consider Audi, but not sure they offer anything in the price bracket. Would love a B7 S4, but that they tend to come in a bit higher and with huge borkability!

Am I missing any contenders in this?

I had the lust for a Subaru 3.0 some years ago. At 240bhp and 4WD it felt bit lacking in the trouser department.

I ended up with a Volvo V70R 300 bhp

and now a 545i touring, 333 bhp