Suggestions for replacing my shed of 5 years
Discussion
Morning all,
I've been shedding it in a 2004 B5.5 Passat Estate with the iconic PD130 still chugging away at 252k (115k of these have been done by me in the last 5 years). I can't fault the car but it's rough round the edges now and I'm getting a bit tired of it's nuances. It runs incredibly reliably and has never let me down but it has a few electrical gremlins, ABS Judder when braking and few rattles around the cabin. I bought it for £1500 and it's owes me nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I'm looking towards something like a 2008 3.0 TDI Touareg though the road tax is atrocious and I'm already paying top tax on a V8 S5. I'm normally pretty good at picking cars as I've had a few at this stage but replacing this Passat is proving quite difficult. Ideally I'm thinking AWD estate or SUV. Nothing newer than 2010 really takes my fancy. Curious to hear what people suggest as I'm at a bit of a loss.
I've been shedding it in a 2004 B5.5 Passat Estate with the iconic PD130 still chugging away at 252k (115k of these have been done by me in the last 5 years). I can't fault the car but it's rough round the edges now and I'm getting a bit tired of it's nuances. It runs incredibly reliably and has never let me down but it has a few electrical gremlins, ABS Judder when braking and few rattles around the cabin. I bought it for £1500 and it's owes me nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I'm looking towards something like a 2008 3.0 TDI Touareg though the road tax is atrocious and I'm already paying top tax on a V8 S5. I'm normally pretty good at picking cars as I've had a few at this stage but replacing this Passat is proving quite difficult. Ideally I'm thinking AWD estate or SUV. Nothing newer than 2010 really takes my fancy. Curious to hear what people suggest as I'm at a bit of a loss.
996Type said:
An XC90 up to that age might be interesting, I’ve got a 2014 version and it’s been a good car for the 75K I’ve put on it…
That's not a bad shout at all, I'd forgotten about the XC90. I'm assuming it your daily. Does it have enough poke for day to day as I've heard they're quite sluggish though they are behemothsVR6 Matt said:
996Type said:
An XC90 up to that age might be interesting, I’ve got a 2014 version and it’s been a good car for the 75K I’ve put on it…
That's not a bad shout at all, I'd forgotten about the XC90. I'm assuming it your daily. Does it have enough poke for day to day as I've heard they're quite sluggish though they are behemothsAnother reason to get one - they're often owned by gentlemen and ladies of a certain type, who like to maintain an impeccable service history and don't skimp on servicing. Both my cars came with nearly new Pirelli Scorpion tyres (the tyres they come out of the factory with) and full SH.
7 5 7 said:
Controversial but....keep the PD Passat and fix the niggles, you'll thank me when you go to anything newer wanting that incredible reliability your use too.
My heart is tempted to keep it as it hasn't missed a beat in 5 years, buts it got rusty arches, corroded wheels and more dents now than you can shake a stick at plus the niggles. I thought about tarting up a bit new wings etc but where do you draw the line between giving it a refresh and restoring itJQ said:
Or an XC70. I've had 2 - got rid of the first one at north of 250,000 miles and it felt like a 30,000 mile car. Only reason I got rid was because it was a V6 petrol doing 19mpg and £600 tax and I got offered another car very very cheap. Eventually ended up in another, a D5, which got written off by a double decker bus at 180,000 miles. My pick would be a post 2011 (more powerful engine (215bhp) and more modern entertainment system) D5 SE LUX. You can tell it's the refresh as the screen is built in, not the pop-up version of the older model.
Another reason to get one - they're often owned by gentlemen and ladies of a certain type, who like to maintain an impeccable service history and don't skimp on servicing. Both my cars came with nearly new Pirelli Scorpion tyres (the tyres they come out of the factory with) and full SH.
I've looked at these previously they do seem quite a capable all rounder for the money and as you say they are normally owned by rather fastidious ownersAnother reason to get one - they're often owned by gentlemen and ladies of a certain type, who like to maintain an impeccable service history and don't skimp on servicing. Both my cars came with nearly new Pirelli Scorpion tyres (the tyres they come out of the factory with) and full SH.
If you're doing 20k miles a year, you will notice an SUV uses more fuel than an estate.
That may or may not concern you.
Depending on the nature of your mileage, you could consider an EV for the local stuff?
TBH I think the best years of shed driving are behind us.
I don't see many cheap cars for sale and have confidence they will do another 5 years and 100k miles.
Too much to go wrong.
It may be better to spend more for a lower mileage car, or go cheap and only expect a couple of years from it.
Maybe try to be open minded and buy any make or model that ticks the essential boxes and looks a good price for the years and miles you reckon it's got left?
I know people who've been very lucky with high mileage Toyotas, BMWs, Citroens Merc's and Fords.
Equally here are people out there who have had expensive grief with the exact same models.
These days, doing 20k a year, seats which I find comfortable would be right up the list of essential features and that seems to be increasingly not a feature of cars which have done 150k miles.
That may or may not concern you.
Depending on the nature of your mileage, you could consider an EV for the local stuff?
TBH I think the best years of shed driving are behind us.
I don't see many cheap cars for sale and have confidence they will do another 5 years and 100k miles.
Too much to go wrong.
It may be better to spend more for a lower mileage car, or go cheap and only expect a couple of years from it.
Maybe try to be open minded and buy any make or model that ticks the essential boxes and looks a good price for the years and miles you reckon it's got left?
I know people who've been very lucky with high mileage Toyotas, BMWs, Citroens Merc's and Fords.
Equally here are people out there who have had expensive grief with the exact same models.
These days, doing 20k a year, seats which I find comfortable would be right up the list of essential features and that seems to be increasingly not a feature of cars which have done 150k miles.
OutInTheShed said:
If you're doing 20k miles a year, you will notice an SUV uses more fuel than an estate.
That may or may not concern you.
Depending on the nature of your mileage, you could consider an EV for the local stuff?
TBH I think the best years of shed driving are behind us.
I don't see many cheap cars for sale and have confidence they will do another 5 years and 100k miles.
Too much to go wrong.
It may be better to spend more for a lower mileage car, or go cheap and only expect a couple of years from it.
Maybe try to be open minded and buy any make or model that ticks the essential boxes and looks a good price for the years and miles you reckon it's got left?
I know people who've been very lucky with high mileage Toyotas, BMWs, Citroens Merc's and Fords.
Equally here are people out there who have had expensive grief with the exact same models.
These days, doing 20k a year, seats which I find comfortable would be right up the list of essential features and that seems to be increasingly not a feature of cars which have done 150k miles.
This is where I would be putting my money doing 20k a year, if I wasn't bothered about what I drive.That may or may not concern you.
Depending on the nature of your mileage, you could consider an EV for the local stuff?
TBH I think the best years of shed driving are behind us.
I don't see many cheap cars for sale and have confidence they will do another 5 years and 100k miles.
Too much to go wrong.
It may be better to spend more for a lower mileage car, or go cheap and only expect a couple of years from it.
Maybe try to be open minded and buy any make or model that ticks the essential boxes and looks a good price for the years and miles you reckon it's got left?
I know people who've been very lucky with high mileage Toyotas, BMWs, Citroens Merc's and Fords.
Equally here are people out there who have had expensive grief with the exact same models.
These days, doing 20k a year, seats which I find comfortable would be right up the list of essential features and that seems to be increasingly not a feature of cars which have done 150k miles.
Last model facelift Insignia with the 1.8 VVT petrol - bit of a plodder, but its gets it done rather reliably and good seats

Agree completely against what the OP is looking for, but more in relation to cheap modern sheds.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504181...
OutInTheShed said:
If you're doing 20k miles a year, you will notice an SUV uses more fuel than an estate.
That may or may not concern you.
Depending on the nature of your mileage, you could consider an EV for the local stuff?
TBH I think the best years of shed driving are behind us.
I don't see many cheap cars for sale and have confidence they will do another 5 years and 100k miles.
Too much to go wrong.
It may be better to spend more for a lower mileage car, or go cheap and only expect a couple of years from it.
Maybe try to be open minded and buy any make or model that ticks the essential boxes and looks a good price for the years and miles you reckon it's got left?
I know people who've been very lucky with high mileage Toyotas, BMWs, Citroens Merc's and Fords.
Equally here are people out there who have had expensive grief with the exact same models.
These days, doing 20k a year, seats which I find comfortable would be right up the list of essential features and that seems to be increasingly not a feature of cars which have done 150k miles.
Fuel doesn't really concern me as long as I get 30mpg any less and I might aswell take my S5. An EV isn't an option due to the amount of distance I do. That may or may not concern you.
Depending on the nature of your mileage, you could consider an EV for the local stuff?
TBH I think the best years of shed driving are behind us.
I don't see many cheap cars for sale and have confidence they will do another 5 years and 100k miles.
Too much to go wrong.
It may be better to spend more for a lower mileage car, or go cheap and only expect a couple of years from it.
Maybe try to be open minded and buy any make or model that ticks the essential boxes and looks a good price for the years and miles you reckon it's got left?
I know people who've been very lucky with high mileage Toyotas, BMWs, Citroens Merc's and Fords.
Equally here are people out there who have had expensive grief with the exact same models.
These days, doing 20k a year, seats which I find comfortable would be right up the list of essential features and that seems to be increasingly not a feature of cars which have done 150k miles.
I know what you mean about the lack of cheap reliable cars these days hence why I prefer to stick to pre-2012ish as I personally think that's when reliability took a run and jump off of a cliff face
VR6 Matt said:
Fuel doesn't really concern me as long as I get 30mpg any less and I might aswell take my S5. An EV isn't an option due to the amount of distance I do.
I know what you mean about the lack of cheap reliable cars these days hence why I prefer to stick to pre-2012ish as I personally think that's when reliability took a run and jump off of a cliff face
I know some people get acceptable mpg from petrols and hybrids these days.I know what you mean about the lack of cheap reliable cars these days hence why I prefer to stick to pre-2012ish as I personally think that's when reliability took a run and jump off of a cliff face
But some people don't.
I do about 10k miles a year, that's about £1500 or something. Doing double that would make me think about fuel cost.
And also, I like a car with good range.
Sometimes the difference in cost to run something you at least vaguely like is not huge, there is no point driving a car you hate to trim he last few quid off the cost.
If a tidy one came my way at the right time, I'd be tempted by another Alfa. 159 Sportwagon.
996Type said:
An XC90 up to that age might be interesting, I’ve got a 2014 version and it’s been a good car for the 75K I’ve put on it…
I suppose it's all relative but a 2014 XC90 must be pushing ~£10k as far as buying a decent one goes... tat's not what I'd call a shed as far as monetary value goes. Though on the Volvo SUV front, a P3 XC70 is a strong should. I ran a sheddy one for about 50k (up to 240,000 miles) and it didn't do anything badly at all. Far better built mechanically than the P2 / XC90 platform as they like to consume... well... everything really. Other option that I have always thought is a pretty versatile little tool is the Skoda Yeti... has a similar classless, simple, robustness about it and in 4x4 guise, I suspect pretty capable things too?
VR6 Matt said:
That's not a bad shout at all, I'd forgotten about the XC90. I'm assuming it your daily. Does it have enough poke for day to day as I've heard they're quite sluggish though they are behemoths
No they dont. We have the later MK1 XC90 D5 with the 200ps engine (Polestar tune to 215ps) and its still slow as hell. Can't imagine how bad the 180 and 165 versions are.
VR6 Matt said:
Morning all,
I've been shedding it in a 2004 B5.5 Passat Estate with the iconic PD130 still chugging away at 252k (115k of these have been done by me in the last 5 years). I can't fault the car but it's rough round the edges now and I'm getting a bit tired of it's nuances. It runs incredibly reliably and has never let me down but it has a few electrical gremlins, ABS Judder when braking and few rattles around the cabin. I bought it for £1500 and it's owes me nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I'm looking towards something like a 2008 3.0 TDI Touareg though the road tax is atrocious and I'm already paying top tax on a V8 S5. I'm normally pretty good at picking cars as I've had a few at this stage but replacing this Passat is proving quite difficult. Ideally I'm thinking AWD estate or SUV. Nothing newer than 2010 really takes my fancy. Curious to hear what people suggest as I'm at a bit of a loss.
Mondeo Mk4 ( 2007-14) diesel manual estate. Well built, a decent drive, just enough electronics, but not too much, very reliable, cheap to insure, cheap parts, cheaper end of road tax.I've been shedding it in a 2004 B5.5 Passat Estate with the iconic PD130 still chugging away at 252k (115k of these have been done by me in the last 5 years). I can't fault the car but it's rough round the edges now and I'm getting a bit tired of it's nuances. It runs incredibly reliably and has never let me down but it has a few electrical gremlins, ABS Judder when braking and few rattles around the cabin. I bought it for £1500 and it's owes me nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I'm looking towards something like a 2008 3.0 TDI Touareg though the road tax is atrocious and I'm already paying top tax on a V8 S5. I'm normally pretty good at picking cars as I've had a few at this stage but replacing this Passat is proving quite difficult. Ideally I'm thinking AWD estate or SUV. Nothing newer than 2010 really takes my fancy. Curious to hear what people suggest as I'm at a bit of a loss.
santona1937 said:
Mondeo Mk4 ( 2007-14) diesel manual estate. Well built, a decent drive, just enough electronics, but not too much, very reliable, cheap to insure, cheap parts, cheaper end of road tax.
The trouble is, most of them for sale seem to be quite awful.It seems to be a general problem with estates.
You see loads of tidy ones around, but they are never for sale.
People who have a nice estate often seem to keep it until it falls apart.
Other people with estates abuse them, many are squalid things which stink of dog, or they've been used by gardeners or something.
I have wasted many days driving around looking at estate cars.
If a nice one comes your way, you have to be ready to jump at it around here.
VR6 Matt said:
Morning all,
I've been shedding it in a 2004 B5.5 Passat Estate with the iconic PD130 still chugging away at 252k (115k of these have been done by me in the last 5 years). I can't fault the car but it's rough round the edges now and I'm getting a bit tired of it's nuances. It runs incredibly reliably and has never let me down but it has a few electrical gremlins, ABS Judder when braking and few rattles around the cabin. I bought it for £1500 and it's owes me nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I'm looking towards something like a 2008 3.0 TDI Touareg though the road tax is atrocious and I'm already paying top tax on a V8 S5. I'm normally pretty good at picking cars as I've had a few at this stage but replacing this Passat is proving quite difficult. Ideally I'm thinking AWD estate or SUV. Nothing newer than 2010 really takes my fancy. Curious to hear what people suggest as I'm at a bit of a loss.
QX70:I've been shedding it in a 2004 B5.5 Passat Estate with the iconic PD130 still chugging away at 252k (115k of these have been done by me in the last 5 years). I can't fault the car but it's rough round the edges now and I'm getting a bit tired of it's nuances. It runs incredibly reliably and has never let me down but it has a few electrical gremlins, ABS Judder when braking and few rattles around the cabin. I bought it for £1500 and it's owes me nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I'm looking towards something like a 2008 3.0 TDI Touareg though the road tax is atrocious and I'm already paying top tax on a V8 S5. I'm normally pretty good at picking cars as I've had a few at this stage but replacing this Passat is proving quite difficult. Ideally I'm thinking AWD estate or SUV. Nothing newer than 2010 really takes my fancy. Curious to hear what people suggest as I'm at a bit of a loss.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410175...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504171...
QX50:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503220...
ZX10R NIN said:
QX70:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410175...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504171...
QX50:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503220...
21st century's answer to the VanDenPlas Allegro?https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410175...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504171...
QX50:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503220...
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