Estate or suv?

mr2turbogts

Original Poster

266 posts

147 months

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[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

Looking for some inspiration for a small family.

Bit of back ground, small family with a 7month baby and a dog.

My wife is currently driving a Saab 9-3 aero saloon which is a fantastic car, however recently I purchased a Merc c class estate for my daily, and since going out as a family in that, we discovered although the Saab does the job it’s just not as easy.

Have to put the dog on the front seat etc....

Where as the estate dog and other stuff in the back humans in front easy.

So thinking we might swap the Saab.

The wife likes the high seated position SUV’s offer (as does apparently everyone else by the number of SUV’s on the road)

Started looking at the first gen X5 then first gen Cayenne, (if we have to get a SUV I’m getting something I can enjoy) but then moved over to my way of thinking and s4 avants, and Bmw 335i tourings

So currently sitting between the two.

Looking for a petrol as the mileage is minimal, also not looking to spend loads of ££ 3-5k (aware the cars mentioned have high running costs)

Does anyone have any other recommendations?

tlema

4 posts

50 months

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[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

Check these....

https://ebay.to/39QEeqY

https://ebay.to/39KZxKc

https://ebay.to/2SJof8o

sinbaddio

2,371 posts

176 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

How about an L322 Range Rover? I know the world declares they fall apart.

However I've had mine just over a year (2005, 4.4 V8 done 104k), done 12k miles since I got it and apart from one service it's never missed a beat.

ChocolateFrog

25,295 posts

173 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

The PH answer is always an estate however if you look in the real world it would seem people like SUVs.

If it's for the OH and she likes a higher driving position then that would suggest a 4 x 4. Bit of a gamble at that price range however someone on my estate has 2 early Cayennes so they can't be that bad.

mr2turbogts

Original Poster

266 posts

147 months

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[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

I didn't even know that Toyota thing existed, haha

mr2turbogts

Original Poster

266 posts

147 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

sinbaddio said:

How about an L322 Range Rover? I know the world declares they fall apart.

However I've had mine just over a year (2005, 4.4 V8 done 104k), done 12k miles since I got it and apart from one service it's never missed a beat.

She has noted a RR is off the cards, I actually quite fancy and old range (not sure why tho)

mr2turbogts

Original Poster

266 posts

147 months

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[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

ChocolateFrog said:

The PH answer is always an estate however if you look in the real world it would seem people like SUVs.

If it's for the OH and she likes a higher driving position then that would suggest a 4 x 4. Bit of a gamble at that price range however someone on my estate has 2 early Cayennes so they can't be that bad.

Exactal this. If anything goes then I am aware its going to hurt.

Wonder why he's got 2?

S100HP

12,678 posts

167 months

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[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

tlema said:

Check these....

https://ebay.to/39QEeqY

https://ebay.to/39KZxKc

https://ebay.to/2SJof8o

That is the most bizarre list.

Cayenne yes, but then a 108 and then an Estima?

ChocolateFrog

25,295 posts

173 months

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[news]

Thursday 20th February 2020

mr2turbogts said:

ChocolateFrog said:

The PH answer is always an estate however if you look in the real world it would seem people like SUVs.

If it's for the OH and she likes a higher driving position then that would suggest a 4 x 4. Bit of a gamble at that price range however someone on my estate has 2 early Cayennes so they can't be that bad.

Exactal this. If anything goes then I am aware its going to hurt.

Wonder why he's got 2?

Incase one breaks

laugh

His and hers I think.

davek_964

8,813 posts

175 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

The Cayenne doesn't necessarily have high running costs.

Obviously parts can be expensive - and mine had a significant bill soon after I bought it 7 years ago. However, for the past few years - maybe even for the past 5 - it's cost me very little. Coolant overflow tank split last year - I assumed the coolant loss was something more serious, so took it to a specialist - but even that was only a few hundred pounds.

I used to get it serviced, but in the last few years done it myself - oil / filter change didn't cost much.

At the last MOT it got advisories for the brakes - think it was the pads and maybe the discs at the rear - plus corroded brake lines. I could do all that myself, but probably too lazy to do the brake lines so might get a local mechanic to do that. Will cost a few £s to sort that all out I suppose, but given how little it's generally costing me to run it, I don't think it's a big deal.

(As a guide, mine is a 2003 'S' with 108k miles on it).

RDMcG

19,142 posts

207 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

I have had a 2008 Cayenne S since new and have used it for lots of towing, horrible winters, off roading the lot. Has 270,000km on it.

I also have an estate, but the Cayenne is the default for my Great Dane and general dogsbody stuff,. Very reliable generally..one expensive fix for camshaft lifters ( its a V8). It is not a three-row car like some of them, and is a 4/5 seater. Immensely comfortable for a long journey. At this stage has a million dents and scratches but I will drive it until a fix is uneconomic. So far, so good.

edc

9,235 posts

251 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

I would focus on getting something as new and reliable as possible for your budget. If that's a Cayenne great but you or she won't want the stress of her going out on her own with a car that you don't trust.

NiceCupOfTea

25,289 posts

251 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

With your budget something like a Cayenne/X5 is going to be tired & leggy and not particularly enjoyable, I would have thought...

Chez NCoT we have an e46 330 Touring (mine) and a Mazda CX-7 (hers). BMW is better to drive but CX-7 isn't all that bad to be honest and she likes the elevated driving position. It replacaed a Nissan QQ which was horrible to drive.

If she wants an SUV probably better to get one TBH. I think a faux-by-faux is going to be a better bet than all the added expense of a real 4x4 that won't be used... You may find that big engined BMW estates are thin on the grand, particularly in your budget..

Rick-fgpe0

112 posts

104 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

I’ve recently been toying with whether I need an suv or estate and landed on estate. A 5 series is only 6cm narrower than an X5, is as wide as a jag f-pace and wider than a Q5 (Q5 is based on an A4 as I understand it so you actually get more internal space in an A6/5 series).

It depends on your requirements. If you’re genuinely going to go off road then perhaps you need huge travel in the springs, and complex and expensive 4wd options. But if you just need a big car you’ll get a lot nicer estate for your cash than you will in a suv.

KomodoWagon

156 posts

84 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

A £5k Cayenne or S4 would frighten me, to be honest (perhaps unreasonably).

You could probably pick up a decent Nissan Murano for that budget. 3.5 V6, same engine (slightly detuned) as the 350Z. Mazda CX-7 another thought. Subaru Tribeca? There's a terrific engine underneath that alarming styling.

Estates, again with the Subarus... Legacy or Outback spring to mind. Saab 9-5? Mondeo with the 2.5?

Something to consider (potentially) re dogs... you don't say what breed you have; some dogs don't like leaping up and down 'twixt SUV and ground. Greyhounds and whippets especially, they can even hurt themselves (or refuse to move unless they are lifted in and out, the great big divas).

warch

2,941 posts

154 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

Rick-fgpe0 said:

It depends on your requirements. If you’re genuinely going to go off road then perhaps you need huge travel in the springs, and complex and expensive 4wd options. But if you just need a big car you’ll get a lot nicer estate for your cash than you will in a suv.

I don't know what part of the country the OP lives in but raised ground clearance and high profile tyres have come in very handy in my neck of the woods, which has had severe flooding in October, November, December and this weekend. I have passed quite a few drowned estate cars in the floods.

That said I'd happily have a normal car again if they'd make them a bit more water and pothole resistant.

ZX10R NIN

27,598 posts

125 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

MrOrange

2,035 posts

253 months

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Thursday 20th February 2020

You might consider one of the "lifted" estates? Audi Allroad, Subaru Outback etc... best of both worlds IMHO.

My 55 plate (cheaper tax), 100k 3.0 Outback cost me £2k to buy 18 months ago and has been as reliable as David Attenborough and costs buttons to service/insure but fuel is a bit crap 26-30mpg. Even the wife likes driving it.

mr2turbogts

Original Poster

266 posts

147 months

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[news]

Friday 21st February 2020

ZX10R NIN said:

Thanks for this list, some good options there

sawman

4,919 posts

230 months

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Friday 21st February 2020

We have had a couple of rav4s for this role over the last 18 years interspersed with a couple of jeep cherokees (xj and kj) the jeeps have been characterful and very comfortable with lazy 6 cylinder petrol engines.

Currently have a 2012 rav4 which has been reliable over 5 years, fits everything in well, tows nicely and is just a good allrounder (if a bit dull) if i am honest i preferred the mk 2 version we had new in 2002.
I also ran an outback for a few years (3.0flat six) it truly was one of the best cars i have ever owned, and i regret letting it go. Probably accommodated all the junk of family life better, but wife preferred elevated position of the rav4
For your budget a mk3 rav4 would be a safe bet, but i would search out a subaru, theres not that many our there

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