Estate Car Needed - Advice! - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

14 posts

213 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Hi All,

My 04 Passat Estate is nearing 158k and needs to go.

I have had a look at some cars and am almost decided on the Audi A4 Avant here:

https://www.lanepearson.co.uk/vehicle-details/Audi...

However, the CVT gearbox and lack of real power is a slight worry - Although it is low mileage and really good condition.

Also, i would love a BMW 520d Touring - something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-BMW-520d-Msport-To...

Any advice would be brilliant.

Thanks

Edd

pb8g09

3,205 posts

98 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

Can you creep another 2 cylinders into that budget? Makes these diesels so much better...

You’ve got an A4 there, what about the BMW equivalent in the 330d?

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

BFleming

3,908 posts

172 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

I do a lot of work travel, and whenever I order an Uber in France it's generally a Mondeo - and every time I get in one it impresses me!
But as an owner of a 5 series (2013) I have to say it's a fantastic bit of kit. Best car I've ever owned. Whilst looking though, I also looked at the A4 Avant (too small for my needs), A6 Avant (almost bought one except the dealer messed me around), Merc E Class (it left me cold), A5 Sportback (rear headroom was a disaster). I had a 3 series saloon before this car, and it was too small as a family car (with teenagers). The Touring would be better, I did a few hundred miles in a 2014 330d X Drive a few years ago and it was very impressive. Definitely worth a look, and no CVT gearbox (which I would personally avoid).

nobrakes

3,782 posts

227 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

You’re definitely sure about an A4 estate ? They’re very smart, but quite a bit smaller than a Passat.

stevemcs

10,270 posts

122 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

I like the CVT box and prefer it to the S Tronic, i'm not an Audi lover but if you wanted a big estate i'd be looking at an A6 3.0 quattro. Although my preference would be the Mondeo.

defblade

8,048 posts

242 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020

I wouldn't touch the Audi Multichronic CVT again with someone else's barge pole...

Original Poster

14 posts

213 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020

I spoke to the people selling the Audi A4 Avant and they said the CVT Gearbox oil needed changing every 60,000 miles.
I spoke to 2 mechanic friends and my local Audi dealer who all said every 40,00 miles.
I might give that one a miss.

BFleming

3,908 posts

172 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020

On the CVT (Multitronic) box, only the front wheel drive cars have it. Buy a Quattro, no more CVT.
On the space thing, I would also agree that an A4 is smaller than a Passat. A 5 series would be a better bet all round (lovely ZF 8HP (8 speed) gearbox to boot).

P700DEE

1,196 posts

259 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020

I've got a 62 plate 520D F11 and it is great although not cheap when bits need doing. I'm really thinking about a Euro 6 version when I retire. I've also got a 66 plate Mazda which feels faster but in all respects cheaper. No Ad blue on mine either , £30 tax and Euro 6. The Nav is poor compared to the BMW the wheels peel like mad , I've had all four replaced under warranty. The LED lights are awesome.
In picking these I tested a 320D so much less of a car than the 5. I've had an XF Touring as a loaner, very nice , felt faster than the BMW but didn't make me think I'd have one over the BMW and I am a Jag fan (XKR). Not sure I would go VW/Audi after the emmissions trouble a friend with a 10 plate A6 has not been impressed after the re-tune. Mondeo is the low cost option with all the toys, I wouldn't consider as I had a life on the road with a sucession of Vauxhall and Ford rep mobiles. Nothing has ever been as bad as a 1.6 Sierra estate back in 1990!!

stevemcs

10,270 posts

122 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020

CVT is 40k for its oil change

Original Poster

14 posts

213 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020

The people selling the A4 TDi with CVt have got back and the Gearbox oil was changed at 36,000 miles.

Original Poster

14 posts

213 months

Monday 3rd February 2020

Just a quick update on what I chose - Went quite boring in the end and bought a 2016 Audi A4 Avant 190 Ultra Sport - Has the S-Tronic Gearbox and an unusual interior colour but I really liked it. It has a bit of pull and decent MPG - Should do me for a few years.

The only thing it needs if possibly an alloy wheel upgrade!

Thanks for all of your help! Edd

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months