Comfy economical diesel estate - £5k

[matt21]

My two old B5.5 Passats are getting on and I am looking for something which fits the following criteria.

Budget - £5000 (maybe slightly more for the perfect car)
Fuel - Diesel - Want something that does 50mpg+ on a run
Reliable & fair cheap on parts - Don't want it breaking much, and when it does want a local garage to be able to sort it cheaply. Don't want to be worrying about DPFs, turbos, gearboxes etc if I can help it.
Estate - Regularly need the additional space.
Auto - Wife can only drive auto
Comfy - Something luxurious which will soak up the miles.

I will be doing 20,000 miles per year, but at times lots of short runs. Something that is less likely to cause DPF headache would be good.

Thinking maybe an old E-Class (E220CDI)? Are these still reliable at 10 years + and easy to fix when they do go wrong? Anything else to consider?

Thanks!

[ChrisDT]

I've just done exactly this, came out of a BMW E61 and changed it for the newer BMW 520d M-Sport F11. E61 was fantastic, and can be had for under budget.

[Martin30]

matt21 said:

Thinking maybe an old E-Class (E220CDI)? Are these still reliable at 10 years + and easy to fix when they do go wrong?

Sample size of 1 admittedly, but I bought a 170k mile 2009 manual E220CDI estate for £1,250 a little over a year ago as a stop gap car. I have done 11k miles in the last year, and I would recommend it. Mine needed an a/c compressor replacement (£250, + 1 hour's work and a re-gas). The alarm siren needed to be unplugged to stop a battery drain, but bar a couple of minor things like one heated mirror not working, it is a nice, reliable, comfortable drive that seems very well engineered.

Averaged 45mpg since I have had it, and I have seen 60+ mpg average on many relaxed journeys. This era of 220 has no DPF or SBC brake pump to go wrong. I have done 300 mile days in it perfectly comfortably.

So far, DIY servicing and working on the car has been straightforward, and the lack of seized bolts and rust underneath is astounding for 181k miles.

£5k would buy the nicest one out there, and be aware that the next generation (W212) then comes with DPF and associated emissions complications. I believe the later W211 320CDI also has DPF et al.

Martin.

[pti]

V70? Unsure of the reliability of the P3s (which your budget would afford) but I've been running a P2 (2005, so facelift but EU3 therefore no DPF) for the past 2.5 years and ~50k miles. It's an auto which are notoriously 'fragile' but I've changed the fluid even though Volvo class them as sealed for life and I'm just about to tick over 150k. It's needed very little in the way of repairs, just an ABS ring to get through the MOT last week. It's an inoffensive design which I think has aged relatively well - looks better to my eyes than the P3. You could pick up a very good example for less than £3k.

I'm averaging around 46mpg according to the trip (which is a bit optimistic). It has as many toys as I need after adding a £20 bluetooth FM transmitter, ridiculously comfortable seats, and a fantastic stereo. And it'll swallow most things thrown at it. I've had a fridge and a 2 seater sofa in the back before - with the door closed. Admittedly, not at the same time. Here is is today with about 400 kg of rubble in the back:



And in it's more presentable guise:



I always look at replacing it, but for the money I can only think to replace it with another! With your criteria, it's definitely worth a look.

Edited by pti on Wednesday 20th January 17:39

[Jasandjules]

I would (and did for a few years) simply upgraded to the newer shape passat..........

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say you'd be hard pressed to beat the Mondeo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101137...

508

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010134...

Accord

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012217...

E220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

E280

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012197...

[ZX10R NIN]

I forgot to add the C5

[valiant]

Volvo D5 in whatever shape floats your boat S60/80 or estate V60/70.

May not crack 50mpg but it’ll get close.

Mine’s a 64 plate and owned for nearly 5 years and never had a problem with DPFs despite doing only 8k miles a year. Powerful enough, super comfy, very reliable and still looks good (in my opinion of course).

Engine is generally unburstable, just change the belts on time. Auto box is only weak point but cured by fluid changes every 50k or so.

Excellent cars.

[stevemcs]

The 508 is comfortable and good on fuel on a run, my 2.2GT is averaging less than 30mpg at the minute though but that's because its covering 3 miles per day.

At the moment the faults on mine are

air does not come out of the drivers side vent.
heated seats take 140 miles to get warm
lumbar support works up and down but not left to right
it has keyless entry but on the the nsr and boot actually work
the nav screen now has 10 lines, a mixture of blue, green and red - however that may be my fault for being aggressive cleaning it.

Tonights challenge was the heater blower didn't want to work and took 10 minutes before it sprang into life, my fault for not using it for 10 days i guess !

The leather is comfy though and much better than that of BMW's Audis and Mercs. Niggles aside its a nice car, the ride on 19's isn't great though.

[matt21]

Definitely up for the E-Class.

What age is the most reliable and is the 220 better than 280? Surprised there is no DPF at this age!

[DailyHack]

SAAB 9-3 TTid Estate (2010-11)

Get a good last editon ones for <£5k, Twin Turbo 180bhp 400nm diesel will show up most things of similar class, good solid engines will easily get up to 200k+ without breaking a sweat, great MPG, great VED band, very very good seats, always extremely well specced and very classy.

Terribly underated cars, which means they are cheap for those in the know

Edited by DailyHack on Thursday 21st January 23:37

[FHCNICK]

Sorry I can't add the link but there is a 1 owner 2011 C250 estate on autotrader for £4950 from a dealer in West Brom, it has 120k miles on it so should still run well.

[autocrazy]

This thread makes an interesting read. OP I went an bought a 2009 E220 Estate, obviously I cannot comment on reliability as I have not driven it much, but am mightighly impressed. Proper wafty, luxurious, comfortable. The size is huge and I keep looking out of my window in admiration of it looks.

Another recommendation for W211 E Class! I noticed last night High Peak Autos on youtube did a review on it too - worth the 10 mins as I am a big fan of the presenter and now the car!!

[88LG]

autocrazy said:

This thread makes an interesting read. OP I went an bought a 2009 E220 Estate, obviously I cannot comment on reliability as I have not driven it much, but am mightighly impressed. Proper wafty, luxurious, comfortable. The size is huge and I keep looking out of my window in admiration of it looks.

Another recommendation for W211 E Class! I noticed last night High Peak Autos on youtube did a review on it too - worth the 10 mins as I am a big fan of the presenter and now the car!!

A +1 for the presenter of HPA YouTube. Do like watching his videos!