Big Estate vs Car and Van

[kingb]

Ok so this is close to a what car thread so Ill say sorry at the start.

I will be starting a new job next month so will be giving back my excellent Tit X Mondeo estate and will need new wheels.

My job will see me on the train 3 days a week but with some driving - mainly M25 and occasionally longer runs to Manchester and the North from Sussex.

At the weekends I tend to use the Mondeo as a van as spend my time mountain biking, paragliding or playing with motorbikes.


I want to be comfortable on longer journeys - the Mondeo has heated leather seat, sat nav etc but I also want to be able to easily carry the toys. I can do it with an estate but its a bit of a pain using a roof rack etc and I would really need a tow bar to move motorbike.

I was thinking something like a VW Phaeton or Merc CLS for the motorways and for work - maybe about 6-7k and then a transit for 3k for the weekends

The wife however thinks that I should just get another estate for less costs running 2 vehicles and because she dislikes the image of older cars. She suggests something like a 520d tourer for £14k.

I can afford either option tbh but would like to hear thoughts.

[kingb]

Swordman said:

These are the tasks that SUV's were made for. Plenty of those about from all sorts of manufacturers, too.

SUV is still going to be bikes on the roof and motorbikes on a trailer so not a huge benefit over an estate??

[kingb]

ZX10R NIN said:

djone101 said:

Depends on the size of the SUV

This is my setup in a Nissan Pathfinder:

You won't be getting a Motorbike in there.

Not saying it cant be done with an suv but my xl sized mtb wont fit and i dont want to take a wheel off! too much hassle!

[kingb]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd go down the two vehicle route as you'll be less compromised in your needs but I wouldn't get a Transit I'd get one of these type of vehicles as they really suit your (obviously you need to remove as many seats as you need) needs I'm starting to see a few of these at trackdays:

Nissan Elgrand

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-ELGRAND-3-5V6-8-S...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-3-0-TDi-H...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Elgrand-/25307199...

Then you can still get a decent barge for your budget:

E280 Elegance

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

E320 Avantgarde

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLS350 Petrol

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLS320cdi

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

this is the sort of thing i was hoping to discover!

[kingb]

Well i am glad there is plenty of debate about this. Means its not an obviously decision

We went to look at some stuff today - Golf / 3 series to go alongside a load lugger - 3 series wasnt too bad however to add a twist the wife has decided she likes the idea of a z4 and a van. Not going to be quite as nice on the motorway but much more fun when the suns out!!

Think thats gone well tbh!

[kingb]

Well just to tie this thread up I have bought a nice 56 plate transit with low (107k) millage as well as a lovely Z4 roadster with the 3.0 engine. Might not be exactly the motorway cruiser I was planning but the wife is happy and I have to say that the straight 6 makes a lovely noise - roll on a few more sunny days!