4wd Labrador hauler

[Speed addicted]

I currently have a BMW 420d Xdrive grancoupe, it looks nice but is dull to drive, and my rapidly expanding 5 month old Labrador is now getting a bit tight for the boot.
This means I have an excuse to 'need' a replacement car! I previously had a BMW 645 that I loved, but it's constant large repair bills got old after 4.5 years.

So I'm looking at estate cars or possibly SUVs, ideally 4wd because I live in NE Scotland and have inlaws that live 50 miles away in the middle of no-where.
I'm a serial BMW buyer, I've had 9 of them (including 2 X5s and an X6), I've also had 3 Audi's (including a Q7). I wouldn't mind a change but I think my requirements will push me back into the Germans.

Requirements, at least a 6 cylinder engine if it's diesel, the 420d is my first 4 pot diesel and it's a nasty clattery thing.
Reasonably speedy, 0-60 in mid 6 secs or below. I have motorbikes for screaming about the place but I drive a lot on country roads so mid range grunt is required for overtaking.
Reasonably economical, the glorious 645 did 18mpg, fine when I worked offshore and didn't drive it much. Less brilliant for a 12k a year commute. About 30mpg would be great.
Automatic, left knee is ruined and doesn't like manual in traffic.
Big enough to get a child seat in the back without the passenger leaning on the windscreen as my niece is now 2 and we have her regularly. Seriously, how big do child seats need to be?

Budget, Up to 20k.

What I've come up with so far.
BMW 335d, fast, possibly a bit small, same slightly cheap feeling interior as I have now. Xdrive is less involving that rwd but will work all year round.
BMW 535d fast, plush but not 4wd so may rapidly turn into a pain in winter. Better to drive than 4wd BMWs though.
Audi A6 Avant/Allroad, big and plush but possibly not involving to drive. Also finding one with a big engine and a decent spec seems complicated.
X5 Big and plush, not sure I want another SUV with the compromised handling that goes along with it. Also more expensive than cars for the same age.


Any thoughts on the list so far or suggestions on what else to look at?

[syl]

Other than the Germans:

I had an XF estate, which was great although I never got over the fact it was a diesel (even though it was six cylinders). Previous generation to the current one. Wasn’t 4WD though they might do those now.

There’s always the Range Rover options although the budget may limit choice. The Velar (or Jaguar F Pace built on the same platform) isn’t quite so high if you prefer being lower down - but I love the “command driving position”.

Edited by syl on Monday 24th August 09:31

[Pablo16v]

Golf R estate? Big boot, fast, 4x4.

[Lozw86]

Some sort of Mercedes 4x4, GLE etc
Range Rover Velar or Sport
Audi SQ5
Volvo XC60 / XC90 T8
Lexus 450
Mercedes E class wagon

[Phil Dicky]

If you go A6...go for the BiTDi....tried this motor in an A7..quick car.

[Speed addicted]

Thanks for the replies.

Jaguar XF. RWD in my budget, not sure about the interior as it looks a bit dated (I'm looking at around 2015) compared to the German stuff. Might be worth a good look at though.

Golf R estate. I'm not sure about the looks compared to the hatchback, but the dog would need the estate. They certainly deliver on the performance front though!

Mercedes 4x4 can't get into a GLE for the cash. M class are not fast. E class is huge but again RWD at my budget, might be worth a look around though.

Velar, too much money, Range Rover sport, I'd be looking at older ones that are surprisingly small on the inside while being very large on the outside, I'm 6'2" and find them cramped.I also get the fear about older Landrover product reliability.

SQ5, possible, it's got the BiTDI lump so goes well. I'll add them to the list.

Volvos, the newer facelifted XC60/90 are really nice but too much money. I also really like the V90 but the D5 is a bit slow (and above top budget mostly) while the fast version is just too much cash again.

Lexus, too slow and I don't get on with CVT gearboxes.

[dmsims]

We had a Lab, when she was alive her and the Nova Scotian retriever went in the back of the Golf GTE

How big is your dog?

[Speed addicted]

dmsims said:

We had a Lab, when she was alive her and the Nova Scotian retriever went in the back of the Golf GTE

How big is your dog?

She’s a 5 month old black lab, so not massive. The problem isn’t the size of the boot on the grancoupe (still a stupid name), it’s more her tendency to stand up when she sees you step back then get hit by the closing tailgate!

Plus it’s a good excuse to get something faster and more enjoyable to drive.

[Bumblebee7]

Skoda Superb 280 Sportline

All the space you will ever need, auto only, haldex 4wd, reasonably quick, mid 5's 0-60, good on fuel and a handsome looking car IMO.

Easily find a nice one, possibly still in warranty for the budget.

[Speed addicted]

Bumblebee7 said:

Skoda Superb 280 Sportline

All the space you will ever need, auto only, haldex 4wd, reasonably quick, mid 5's 0-60, good on fuel and a handsome looking car IMO.

Easily find a nice one, possibly still in warranty for the budget.

Now there’s something I didn’t know existed! Good shout

[Bumblebee7]

Speed addicted said:

Now there’s something I didn’t know existed! Good shout

Just had a look online and there's very few about! I think they must have gained in popularity as I've been monitoring prices for myself for a while and there's usually quite a few available.

Here's an estate just over budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008192...

And here's the hatchback that's slightly higher miles and older which is about the same money as an estate would be if one was available:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201909172...

[wiliferus]

Speed addicted said:

Now there’s something I didn’t know existed! Good shout

It’s what sprang to mind for me too. They’re not easy to come by, but theres one on AT at the moment that looks lovely. A decent haggle and a tiny bit of budget creep required at £22450. For some reason I can’t link the url here. But it should be easy enough to find.

[ZX10R NIN]

With the need for 4wd none of your options will be truly engaging at which point I'd be looking at an Audi S6 Avant you should see 27mpg with mixed driving:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001316...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

3.0T A6 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

SUV wise if you can live with the small interior then the SQ5 is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...

Or the X5 M50d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007221...

40d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007241...

[Speed addicted]

ZX10R NIN said:

With the need for 4wd none of your options will be truly engaging at which point I'd be looking at an Audi S6 Avant you should see 27mpg with mixed driving:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001316...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

3.0T A6 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008202...

SUV wise if you can live with the small interior then the SQ5 is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...

Or the X5 M50d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007221...

40d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007241...

You are a bad influence!
I hadn’t even considered the S6, mainly due to running costs. Looking online it appears low 20s is about average mpg, which would tie in with what I’d expect from something heavy using a twin turbo 4 litre v8!
Oh but what a nice way to spend it.

The S4 engined A6 appears to be a rare car indeed. I suppose an S4 would also fit the bill.

You’re right about the lack of involvement, it’s a major downside of wanting all weather ability on country roads.

SQ5, not sure about them but I can’t really tell why. It may just be styling.

Mentalist X5 May be a good option from the 4x4 side of things too.

And there we go, sensible head is loosing to the possibility of more power!

[Boosted Cerb]

Was used for rapid Labrador transport until we lost her in lock down. I couldn’t be further from you if I tried though.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10741460?c...
Rich

[phib]

I may be bias !!!

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10763568

Admittedly not £20k but I m sure you can find them cheaper, I came from a 2014 RS6 ... but the 9mpg was getting a bit ridiculous !!!

Now going to Granturismo

Phib

[Coxey]

Cayenne or Tourag - we have two golden retrievers and they fitted in the Cayenne perfectly - I had the 3D which was quick off the mark but did drive well

[RDMcG]

Coxey said:

Cayenne or Tourag - we have two golden retrievers and they fitted in the Cayenne perfectly - I had the 3D which was quick off the mark but did drive well

Had two Touaregs and a Cayenne V8 for this purpose...ideal for a Great Dane!

[Speed addicted]

Hmmm... I can see some (more) budget creep coming up.

I must admit I did wonder what Great Dane owners used, I imagined something more like a horsebox!

The A6 BiTDI seems to offer a good portion of S6 performance at a lower price point. I really like the S6 though.
I keep trying to remind myself that a lot of my driving is trundling to and from work rather than the much rarer blasting through the highlands.

Boosted Cerb said:

Was used for rapid Labrador transport until we lost her in lock down. I couldn’t be further from you if I tried though.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10741460?c...
Rich

You are somewhat far away! I notice that there doesn’t seem to be much out there locally, either the dealers aren’t advertising the big fast estates or 4x4s sell better in Scotland. I suspect it’s the latter.

Edited by Speed addicted on Tuesday 25th August 19:18

[loskie]

dmsims said:

We had a Lab, when she was alive her and the Nova Scotian retriever went in the back of the Golf GTE

How big is your dog?

That initially sounded like careless driving! I had to re read it.

OP: better with an estate, it's gentler on your jog's joints jumping in and out