Interesting shed estate

[CanoeSniffer]

Any suggestions welcome! 80 mile per day commute, A road or motorway but more often motorway. Budget anywhere up to £4K for the perfect thing but closer to shed money ideally as it’ll be given a hard life. Lots of lugging kit around, usually messy and bulky things. Open to any engine type or gearbox type, but needs to be reasonably economical and if towing is a possibility all the better. ‘Interesting’ is a subjective term, but so far I’ve been looking at Alfa 159, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Stagea (when available)- even Rover 75, just because they interest me. Basically if it’s lesser spotted, retro or cool, it scores many bonus points. Boring is a sin!

Musts-

Estate
35mpg+
Cruise Control
‘Interesting’
Reasonably reliable

Desirable-

40mpg+
Hewn from granite (supersedes reasonably reliable)
Nice interior
Heated seats
Capable of towing ~1500kgs
<£2k
Mechanical simplicity

I’m not too concerned about miles/condition, but lower and better is of course desirable!

Interested to see what ideas anyone has.

[anonymous-user]

Saab 9-5 estate in Aero form? Classy, fast, interesting, reliable.

ETA something like:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Saab-9-5-2-3t-AUTO...

(although personally I prefer pre-Edna cars, without the silly spectacles)

Edited by OpulentBob on Wednesday 16th December 08:27

[Azzurrinick]

This caught my eye, lots of extras, decent mileage and a GT badge thrown in

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

[CanoeSniffer]

OpulentBob said:

Saab 9-5 estate in Aero form? Classy, fast, interesting, reliable.

ETA something like:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Saab-9-5-2-3t-AUTO...

(although personally I prefer pre-Edna cars, without the silly spectacles)

Edited by OpulentBob on Wednesday 16th December 08:27

9-5s are certainly in the frame, they don’t really jump out at me though. I don’t find the Dame Edna look as offensive as some, but the big Saabs just don’t get my juices flowing. Apart from the very last gen 9-5 which I think is stunning but I’d do well to get one of those for shed money!

[CanoeSniffer]

Azzurrinick said:

This caught my eye, lots of extras, decent mileage and a GT badge thrown in

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

Now that is an awesome find and not something I would have considered at all, but those seats and that sunroof

In fact I think I might sneak off and do some further research.. I would need to overcome my anti-Peugeot prejudice, which has been burning strong for years. Shirley something as well-specced as this can’t be as nasty tacky plasticky and horrendous to drive as their shopping trolley fare. I hope, as that looks really lovely!

[ChocolateFrog]

You'll scoff but a Volvo V70 D5.

I love interesting estates too, have owned things like a Legacy GTB and E30 325i Touring but for what you're doing you won't beat a D5.

Awesome heated seats and stereo. Punchy engine that'll do 50mpg and 500000 miles.

Will fit a 3 seater sofa in the back or a garage door, I've done both.

Mine cost £1200 about 6 years ago now and I did 80odd thousand miles taking it up to 300k.

The legacy was similar money and certainly more fun, sounded way better but did 22-24mpg and if I was sat on the motorway would be offering less than the Volvo.

Edit. If you're considering Peugeots then the Volvo is a complete no brainer.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 16th December 11:11

[culpz]

Azzurrinick said:

This caught my eye, lots of extras, decent mileage and a GT badge thrown in

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

Is it bad that i really like that?

OP, what about a Subaru Forester Turbo S/XT? Lexus IS200/IS300 Sportcross? Volvo V70 T5? Saab 9-3 Aero estate? Mondeo 2.5 V6 estate (or a 2.0T/2.5T if in budget)? Honda Accord Tourer 2.4? Skoda Octavia VRS estate?

Edited by culpz on Wednesday 16th December 13:27

[ChocolateFrog]

culpz said:

Azzurrinick said:

This caught my eye, lots of extras, decent mileage and a GT badge thrown in

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

Is it bad that i really like that?

OP, what about a Subaru Forester Turbo S/XT? Lexus IS200/IS300 Sportcross? Volvo V70 T5? Saab 9-3 Aero estate? Mondeo 2.5 V6 estate (or a 2.0T/2.5T if in budget)? Honda Accord Tourer 2.4? Skoda Octavia VRS estate?

Edited by culpz on Wednesday 16th December 13:27

None of those would get anywhere near 35+mpg.

[culpz]

ChocolateFrog said:

culpz said:

Azzurrinick said:

This caught my eye, lots of extras, decent mileage and a GT badge thrown in

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

Is it bad that i really like that?

OP, what about a Subaru Forester Turbo S/XT? Lexus IS200/IS300 Sportcross? Volvo V70 T5? Saab 9-3 Aero estate? Mondeo 2.5 V6 estate (or a 2.0T/2.5T if in budget)? Honda Accord Tourer 2.4? Skoda Octavia VRS estate?

Edited by culpz on Wednesday 16th December 13:27

None of those would get anywhere near 35+mpg.

Neither would the 3 the OP mentioned, so i assume there's some flexibility there. There needs to be come kind of compromise, especially at this price point to be classed as interesting.

The Octavia and Mondeo 2.0T will do 35+ MPG on longer runs.

[A500leroy]

mondeo

[PrinceRupert]

A500leroy said:

mondeo

There cannot be many less interesting cars than a Mondeo estate.

[culpz]

PrinceRupert said:

A500leroy said:

mondeo

There cannot be many less interesting cars than a Mondeo estate.

They're good to drive, aren't they?

[CoreyDog]

Shame you mention interesting as I'm currently trying to sell my diesel Volvo V50, only really interesting thing is the blonde leather and real Norwegian wood dash!

I'm struggling to think of many things that would tick every box... Something like a Citreon C5?


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Citroen-C5-2-0HDI-...

[S100HP]

CoreyDog said:

Shame you mention interesting as I'm currently trying to sell my diesel Volvo V50, only really interesting thing is the blonde leather and real Norwegian wood dash!

I'm struggling to think of many things that would tick every box... Something like a Citreon C5?


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-Citroen-C5-2-0HDI-...

That a traditional spring version. Look for an exclusive of you want hydroactive suspension.

[GreatGranny]

I would got for a V70 or Subaru if you want towing capability.

[PrinceRupert]

culpz said:

PrinceRupert said:

A500leroy said:

mondeo

There cannot be many less interesting cars than a Mondeo estate.

They're good to drive, aren't they?

I wouldn't say it makes it interesting. Op seems to want something that isn't a common sight on the roads.

[randomeddy]

Passat B6 FSI T Estate. 200 bhp.

In SEL trim it has cruise as standard along with many other good bits of kit.
I am biased though.

[ZX10R NIN]

Laguna2 GT Line 180 last of the line cars loaded with kit & all the reliability issues were sorted by the time these were made:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012157...

C320cdi bulletproof drivetrain along with a smooth punchy 3.0d what's not to like & you don't see many for sale, those that you do have normally got high miles on:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011116...

Or you could go for the 300C it''s a win win something different but with a bulletproof Mercedes drivetrain.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008062...

[andburg]

The often forgottens...

Vauxhall Signum - ok its just a vectra estate with a shorter boot but its still pretty big!
Cadillac BLS - ok its just a vectra, pretending to be a saab, with a cadillac badge but its rarish and i think they look pretty smart.
Seat Exeo - its an A4 with nose job and badge
Honda Accord - its interesting to look at, economical and 2.4 icdti is cam-chain

[oceanview]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...

C5 Estate- has cruise and working hydro suspension.