Cheap estate car for long European trip?

[993kimbo]

Hi all,

I’m planning on a long euro trip with wife, son and dog.

I’d appreciate your recommendations for an estate car up to £5000 that’s going to be reliable, not cost a fortune to run or repair if it breaks down.

I’ve previously had a Merc e class 320cdi diesel estate but that cost a bomb in injectors and an sbc pump. 30mpg.

After reading the many helpful threads on here, a Volvo V70 D5 seems to be the obvious choice for reliability, low running costs and comfort.

Interested in what you’d go for. I’m not really a Volvo man but it does seem to fit the bill, especially with the world’s comfiest seats, but it is a big beast.

Appreciate any replies.

Cheers.

[citizensm1th]

Audio a6 or a range rover that has been put on springs and shocks

[CornedBeef]

530D/330D potentially? The M57 engined ones are lovely, and reliable if you get a half decent one. I just sold my 335D which has the same lump, which got to 200k with genuinely very little going wrong.

[Arj256]

X7 Citreon C5 with the Hydropneumatic suspension.

[Osinjak]

I'll be in a similar position in about 12 months or so and was leaning towards a 520d Touring. I've done European round trips in a 3 Series and it was plenty comfortable enough, just think a 5 will edge it in terms of comfort and space.

[993kimbo]

Many thanks.
I had a bmw 330i estate se in the past and have to say the ride was way too firm, so I hadn’t considered another. Is there a soft version or would the 5 series be better?

[DoubleD]

Maybe try a Mondeo or Mazda 6.

[ZX10R NIN]

2.0T Insignia SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.0d Elite

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.5 N/A Mazda6 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.0d 508 Allure

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[DoubleD]

That elite insignia is a lot of car for such a small amount of money!

[993kimbo]

Thanks for those links - appreciated.

[mickyh7]

DoubleD said:

That elite insignia is a lot of car for such a small amount of money!

Until the pick up gasket says New bottom ends please. Avoid like the plague unless said gasket has been replaced on cars up to 12 plate.
Check Ebay for non runners requiring bottom end work.
It starts with low oil light flash on start up.

[DailyHack]

E91? Not a load lugger, but definitely more fun and engaging to drive on the twisties (e.g Alps) than a Mondeos or Insignia, can't believe how cheap the E'series models are now.

900+ miles on one tank of diesel is nice aswell, my '12 318d goes back and to, to Northern Italy every couple of years from Northern England, and shrugs it off remarkably well, SE form on 16" wheels it's very supple and smooth.

Maybe bit tight for the dog, pending on what breed

Edited by DailyHack on Tuesday 10th December 19:27

Edited by DailyHack on Tuesday 10th December 19:28

[vaud]

A6 Avant SE (3.0 quattro if you can find one) would be a good one. Avoid the 2.7 multitronic.

V70 or XC70

[RoverP6B]

E39 Touring, petrol, if you can find one. E61 but beware the rear air suspension - whereas the E39's compressor breathes cabin air, I'm told the E61 takes its air from the rear wheelarch and so suffers compressor failures!

W211 Mercs are pretty cheap now, get a V8 (E500) if you can, quick and totally unassuming to look at. Comfy and huge inside.

V70 seats are overrated. Nothing like as comfy as my E66 760Li...

[pti]

mickyh7 said:

DoubleD said:

That elite insignia is a lot of car for such a small amount of money!

Until the pick up gasket says New bottom ends please. Avoid like the plague unless said gasket has been replaced on cars up to 12 plate.
Check Ebay for non runners requiring bottom end work.
It starts with low oil light flash on start up.

And the fact that one of the xenons appears to be fked.

[Marcellus]

We’ve got an 11 plate c180 estate merc and use it a lot for us and dog to go across the Europe now got 110,000 on the clock, returns 40mpg

Similar would fit the criteria for you.

[blue_haddock]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Ive done many euro trips in my old saabs and had no trouble doing 500+ miles in a day and get out feeling fresh.

[vaud]

blue_haddock said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Ive done many euro trips in my old saabs and had no trouble doing 500+ miles in a day and get out feeling fresh.

I had a 900 and a 9-3, then an A6 SE. All of them were wonderful for long haul; I did 900 miles in the A6 in one run and was tired but no seat issues.

[talksthetorque]

Passat Estate.
Had one of these for a year when I was travelling from Bournemouth to Livingston on a weekly basis. Felt fine when I got out half way each time for a pee. Whether the dog lasts that long between relieving himself is another matter.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[Osinjak]

993kimbo said:

Many thanks.
I had a bmw 330i estate se in the past and have to say the ride was way too firm, so I hadn’t considered another. Is there a soft version or would the 5 series be better?

Aye, I had an M Sport 335d Touring and whilst it was absolutely fine on glass smooth European roads it was pretty average on UK roads. I was thinking of a 520d SE and avoiding M Sport altogether. It would be nothing more than a hack backwards and forwards from the UK in a straight line for us, no need for welly or stiff suspension just space (Spaniel) and comfort (my puny spine).