Recommend me an alternative to my Alpina Touring

[Woody.GT]

The Mayor has said I've got to sell my beloved family wagon, 2011 D3 Alpina Touring. I need a ULEZ proof, interesting, dog carrying alternative but I'm not coming up with anything.
An RS4 is too juicy. Golf R Estate doesn't excite me. Not into SUV's. I have gone the other way and looked at W123's/ Amazons but I already have quite a few classics and really this needs to be a safe/ reliable family mover so I'm trying to be 'sensible'.
Budget is flexible £15-£20+. I'll probably end up with a newer D3 or B3 but I'd like to exhaust anything else first. Any ideas?

[Scootersp]

Part electric maybe?

Volvo 2.4 D6 Twin Engine R-Design Lux Nav Auto AWD Euro 6

[ninjag]

Woody.GT said:

The Mayor has said I've got to sell my beloved family wagon, 2011 D3 Alpina Touring. I need a ULEZ proof, interesting, dog carrying alternative but I'm not coming up with anything.
An RS4 is too juicy. Golf R Estate doesn't excite me. Not into SUV's. I have gone the other way and looked at W123's/ Amazons but I already have quite a few classics and really this needs to be a safe/ reliable family mover so I'm trying to be 'sensible'.
Budget is flexible £15-£20+. I'll probably end up with a newer D3 or B3 but I'd like to exhaust anything else first. Any ideas?

A less juicy S4 Avant B8.5 ?

Euro 6 petrol, so should be safe for a good while re. ULEZ and can return mid to high 30's on a run.
AWD (60% rear wheel bias), brake wash and electronic 4 wheel torque vectoring so safe in most conditions. Maintenance is routine and inexpensive.

[bigandclever]

Go mad, import a Forester STi

[ChocolateFrog]

bigandclever said:

Go mad, import a Forester STi

Or Nissan Stagea 260RS.

[Canon_Fodder]

if you fancy something completely different perhaps a JCW clubman? May need to be a small dog though

[Woody.GT]

ChocolateFrog said:

bigandclever said:

Go mad, import a Forester STi

Or Nissan Stagea 260RS.

Good call, always really liked both of these. Not sure they're really me but I'll enjoy some time perusing on classifieds!

[georgeyboy12345]

An F31 Alpina D3 Touring would be absolutely awesome, but they are extremely thin on the ground. If you find a decent one within your budget, snap it up!

Otherwise here's a nearly new one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204024...



Here are some other, more sensible ideas

Volvo V60 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206247...


Audi S4 Avant
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202242...


BMW 330i Touring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204114...


Peugeot 508 SW GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204134...



Couple of ULEZ compliant Euro 6 diesels

BMW 335d Touring xDrive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...


Mercedes C300d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202172...

[ZX10R NIN]

There isn't an alternative, you already know this, you're going to have to hunt for a D3/5 DiTurbo touring.

[Woody.GT]

ZX10R NIN said:

There isn't an alternative, you already know this, you're going to have to hunt for a D3/5 DiTurbo touring.

I suspect you are absolutely right!

[bigandclever]

Woody.GT said:

ZX10R NIN said:

There isn't an alternative, you already know this, you're going to have to hunt for a D3/5 DiTurbo touring.

I suspect you are absolutely right!

I think it's the answer too, it's just the effort of finding a good one. We all know the Alpina is greater than the sum of its parts. An alternative might be finding a decent state / spec 335 and take it to Birds for suspension & tune, maybe the LSD? Might be a budget stretcher, of course.