Very dIrty secret! Best petrol family wagon under 12k

[SouthmoorDad]

Which petrol estate with big boot or 7 seater for 10-12k?

I need a new family wagon (Toyota Avensis estate written off by an old lady in rear shunt). We are 2 adults and 2 kids.

I want either an estate with a massive boot...

... or a 7 seater, which i'd mostly use as 5, with a big boot in the 5-seat set up, and benefit of 3 seats across second row for hauling gran... and occasional option to haul kids mates.

Must be petrol - live in S London inside what will be ULEZ zone within 2 years.

Functionality and reliability are top priorities.

Estates wise - considering Skoda Octavia 1.4, or Superb 1.8. But what else should i be considering and why?

7 seaters - I struggle to find a good match in petrol. Considered older S-Max's but put off by Powrshift auto gearbox and realibility issues. Shoudl I consider Smax in .6? Friends have put me of Vaux Zafira/ Citroen/ Pugeot - unfair?

I struggle with knowing whether newwer smaller turbo engines give enough pull for motoreway driving with full holiday load.

What woudl you buy in each category for this price?

Thanks

Z

[sjg]

Would you consider a Japanese import? They do brilliant boxy MPVs in various sizes and levels of luxury. All petrol as they caught on to how bad diesel is decades ago.

Anything petrol and an import from 2007 onwards (when Euro 4 was compulsory) is considered Euro 4 equivalent and ULEZ compliant.

I’ve just imported a 2007 Honda Stepwagon as I had similar needs to you - it’s about as long as a Focus estate but slightly narrower than a Fiesta, seats 8, rear row fold up to the sides for a big and very tall load space (great for bikes), middle row tumbles forward to make a van-like space when I need it. Powered sliding doors for making getting kids in and out easy. 2.0 155ps petrol engine and gearbox are same as the CRV and similar of the era, simple and should be super reliable. Other mechanical bits seem to be shared with Civic, Accord or CRV of the time.

Your budget would easily get one of the later models (they changed in late 2009) with even cleverer rear seats that disappear into the already very low floor.

Edited by sjg on Friday 31st May 23:42

Edited by sjg on Friday 31st May 23:43

[SouthmoorDad]

Interesting. Hadn’t thought of that at all. Food for thought. Sounds brilliant in many ways. Can I ask you a few questions?

What are the risks with buying import?

How reliable are they - as in do you get reliable full service history? How do you sense check you buying something good? Particular importers?

What’s mpg like? and what’s it like to drive long distance on motorway?

Thanks.

Zac

[SouthmoorDad]

Thanks again for Stepwagon tip, SJG. Looking into it now online.

Any more suggestions on best petrol estate / 7 seater to use as 5 mostly for big boot. As per above.

Thanks all. Much appreciated.

[ZX10R NIN]

I have supplied a couple of these it may be a bit excessive but they're amazing vehicles you'll have to check there ULEZ status:

Nissan Elgrand Give the guys from the first link a call as you'll find them very helpful & good for advice

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-E51-3-5-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-ELGRAND-E51-4WD-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-Rider-S-...

The slightly smaller newer Elgrand

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Nissan-Elgrand-E52...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011FRESH-IMPORT-NEW-SH...

Honda Stepwagon

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2012-Honda-Stepwagon-Sp...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-StepWagon-Spada/3...

Honda Odyssey

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRESH-IMPORT-NEW-SHAPE-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-ODYSSEY-LI-EDITIO...

Toyota Estima these can be bought in Hybrid form too:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Estima-60-2010-E...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Estima-Hybrid-7-...

Petrol

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LATE-2012-62-PLATE-TOYO...

Toyota Alphard

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Alphard-2010-60-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Toyota-alphard-3-0...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Alphard-2-4-Petr...

Honda Elysion

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRESH-IMPORT-NEW-SHAPE-...

[Countdown]

Why not another Avensis Estate?

[Chris32345]

Fist Tipo estate can get a 17 plate one for like £8400

[sjg]

SouthmoorDad said:

Interesting. Hadn’t thought of that at all. Food for thought. Sounds brilliant in many ways. Can I ask you a few questions?

What are the risks with buying import?

How reliable are they - as in do you get reliable full service history? How do you sense check you buying something good? Particular importers?

What’s mpg like? and what’s it like to drive long distance on motorway?

Thanks.

Zac

Still waiting on DVLA to do the registration stuff so I can put number plates on it and use it but my dad had a couple of CRVs with the same engine/box and got high 20s to low 30s mpg, expecting around that or a little better.

I went the self-import route via an agent as I had time on my side (I started 4 months ago) and buying from auction gives more to choose from. They have a guy in Japan who attends the auctions and inspects in person, then calls to go through it and if you want to bid then you tell him how much. There are some dodgy dealers in the UK buying the poorer grade stuff at auction and selling here as immaculate (or with high grades claimed but no auction sheet to back that up). Clocking would be very easy to do as effectively you're resetting the odometer if you're changing to miles. Not to say all are bad, but imports do seem to attract that sort of thing.

That's probably the biggest risk with buying, particularly in the UK. Once it's in your ownership then certain parts can be a headache - the mechanical stuff is easy to find (mostly shared with other Hondas) but specific stuff like body panels or a windscreen can be bought just take a while to come over. If it was my only car and I needed it for work I'd be a little wary - for us if it was out of action for a few weeks we'd cope fine.

I got a load of service books in Japanese with some stamps but I'm not really bothering to translate it all. There's reminder stickers inside the door that show recent oil changes at a Honda dealer. The car's done just under 50k miles, I'll get all the service stuff done in one hit so I know it's done then just keep a new service record. Honda K20 engines are chain not belt so no worries there.

I'm in the process of writing all this up, it's not for everyone but I'm very pleased with the car and the process so far.

[sjg]

Here's an example of the later (RK shape) Stepwagon showing the even cleverer rear row of seats:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K7ym-_MmAE

That's the agent I bought from, contact details are in the description.

[NickGibbs]

Japanese imports! Are they a thing again?

I'd be looking at something originally sold here, if just for ease of servicing, parts supply etc.

We have the Octavia 1.5 turbo petrol estate and it's excellent. Big boot for loading up family holiday junk, great on fuel, drives well.
The 1.5 is an update of the 1.4 turbo but similar power I think. Does well in all the tests, eg what car.

[GreatGranny]

I would say V70 mas well but petrols are pretty rare for the OP's budget.

I would reduce my budget and go for an older shape V70.
You'll get lower mileage examples which have generally been very well looked after.

Yes expensive to run compared to more modern cars but they are superb load carriers, superbly comfortable and will be, if correctly maintained, very reliable.

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

or go for the T6 :-)

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

[SouthmoorDad]

Thanks so much for all this intel. Much appreciated. Doing bit of a look around. It would be our only car. So shipped parts issue could make it risky option - or at least a consideration. But they look like great vehicles.

sjg said:

Still waiting on DVLA to do the registration stuff so I can put number plates on it and use it but my dad had a couple of CRVs with the same engine/box and got high 20s to low 30s mpg, expecting around that or a little better.

I went the self-import route via an agent as I had time on my side (I started 4 months ago) and buying from auction gives more to choose from. They have a guy in Japan who attends the auctions and inspects in person, then calls to go through it and if you want to bid then you tell him how much. There are some dodgy dealers in the UK buying the poorer grade stuff at auction and selling here as immaculate (or with high grades claimed but no auction sheet to back that up). Clocking would be very easy to do as effectively you're resetting the odometer if you're changing to miles. Not to say all are bad, but imports do seem to attract that sort of thing.

That's probably the biggest risk with buying, particularly in the UK. Once it's in your ownership then certain parts can be a headache - the mechanical stuff is easy to find (mostly shared with other Hondas) but specific stuff like body panels or a windscreen can be bought just take a while to come over. If it was my only car and I needed it for work I'd be a little wary - for us if it was out of action for a few weeks we'd cope fine.

I got a load of service books in Japanese with some stamps but I'm not really bothering to translate it all. There's reminder stickers inside the door that show recent oil changes at a Honda dealer. The car's done just under 50k miles, I'll get all the service stuff done in one hit so I know it's done then just keep a new service record. Honda K20 engines are chain not belt so no worries there.

I'm in the process of writing all this up, it's not for everyone but I'm very pleased with the car and the process so far.

[designforlife]

NickGibbs said:

Japanese imports! Are they a thing again?

I'd be looking at something originally sold here, if just for ease of servicing, parts supply etc.

We have the Octavia 1.5 turbo petrol estate and it's excellent. Big boot for loading up family holiday junk, great on fuel, drives well.
The 1.5 is an update of the 1.4 turbo but similar power I think. Does well in all the tests, eg what car.

Depending on which import you buy, parts are not a problem.

OP, I would be looking at a Nissan Elgrand or Toyota Alphard, if you want something that can fit everyone in comfort and still have a bit of go.

[ZX10R NIN]

SouthmoorDad said:

Thanks so much for all this intel. Much appreciated. Doing bit of a look around. It would be our only car. So shipped parts issue could make it risky option - or at least a consideration. But they look like great vehicles.

sjg said:

If you choose something like the Elgrand (same drive train as the 350Z) or Alphard parts are plentiful so I wouldn't let that be a reason not to get one, we've had an Elgrand for six years with the team & it's been pretty much faultless apart from an AC pump & a few suspension components & we had those within 24hrs.

[SouthmoorDad]

Thanks for the V70 tip. I can see the appeal....

Also going to see a Ford S-Max 1.6 Ecoboost Petrol tomw.... like the look of them as cars but heard such bad things about the power shift auto gearbox that Ive avoided the Ecoboost 2.0 The 1.6 is manual.

GreatGranny said:

I would say V70 mas well but petrols are pretty rare for the OP's budget.

I would reduce my budget and go for an older shape V70.
You'll get lower mileage examples which have generally been very well looked after.

Yes expensive to run compared to more modern cars but they are superb load carriers, superbly comfortable and will be, if correctly maintained, very reliable.

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

or go for the T6 :-)

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

[SouthmoorDad]

Ok so I reckon, from your advice here, and a bit of looking around, its between

- Ford S-Max 1.6 Ecoboost Petrol (around 2012 if I'm lucky)
- Skoda Superb 1.8TSI Petrol (around 2010 plate)
- Volvo v70
- or the outsiders are either Nissand Elgrand or Toyota Alphard, but maybe bigger than I need.

I know For is smallest but without going 8 seater van it looked like best option for big boot plus alt extra seats.

What do you think?

[KarlMac]

SouthmoorDad said:

Ok so I reckon, from your advice here, and a bit of looking around, its between

- Ford S-Max 1.6 Ecoboost Petrol (around 2012 if I'm lucky)
- Skoda Superb 1.8TSI Petrol (around 2010 plate)
- Volvo v70
- or the outsiders are either Nissand Elgrand or Toyota Alphard, but maybe bigger than I need.

I know For is smallest but without going 8 seater van it looked like best option for big boot plus alt extra seats.

What do you think?

I'm massively biased as I've owned Japanese imports for the last few cars but I'd always go Elgrand.

[SouthmoorDad]

Parts eve an issue? What mpg do you get on elgrand? Why you so pro Japanese imports? I fear I’m gonna play to safe and go SMax. But I’m curious.

Size?

KarlMac said:

I'm massively biased as I've owned Japanese imports for the last few cars but I'd always go Elgrand.

[KarlMac]

SouthmoorDad said:

Due to regulations (2 yearly Shaken test) in Japan they are almost always in better condition and better specified than European equivalent. Each car also goes through a pre-auction inspection highlighting any flaws etc.,

[jontykint]

What about a Grand Tourneo Connect?
Bit van like, but a great drive and loads of space and versatile seating

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