Because Estate Car

Author
Discussion

Veryoldbear

210 posts

103 months

Sunday 15th September 2019
quotequote all
I do feel that Volvo made a real mistake when they started rounding the corners off their estate cars. I like a big square load space to put STUFF in. It's essential for the second home owner / antique dealer / gardener / generally untidy person like wot I am. I have a Saab 95 estate which generally counts as "big" but I still run out of capacity on occasions. And I like cars which can still accommodate a proper spare wheel without impinging on my big square load space.

ATM

18,089 posts

218 months

Sunday 15th September 2019
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
What makes your Estate/Touring/Avant/etc great? What have they transported you never thought possible? Epic road trips? (Un)intented purchase? Pics? driving
Here is mine. It's a 2005 55 550i auto m sport. That means its massive and has a massive engine. I've had it over 4 years and done about 30000 miles I'd guess. Biggest single thing I've managed to fit in the back is an American fridge. I had to put the front seats so far forward to shut the boot I almost couldn't squeeze myself in - I'm 6 foot 2.

I've slept in the back a few times too. Rear seats dont quite fold flat but its fine if you're not too fussy.

This is my first estate and now I've had one I can't imagine being without. I dont use the car much these days as I have 1 or 2 other cars - 1 is broken.

Last year I bought a smaller 335i estate to replace it but just didn't fall in love with that car so I sold it and kept the old girl. I'm not sure if it's the size I like or the large arm chair or the big v8 or the general feel of the old girl. She's definitely got under my skin.

I've been through 4 or 5 seats of different wheels and now settled on some tiny 17 inchers with balloon tyres. Having an estate like this means I can fit 8 wheels with tyres in the back easily. I think my record is 11.


AC43

11,433 posts

207 months

Sunday 15th September 2019
quotequote all
majorjoy said:
bern said:
majorjoy said:
My 330i (in rare manual flavour) and my 156 V6 are both great at moving lots of things very rapidly biggrin
I like the BMW, but that Clio looks ace.
Cheers! My vision of how a ph2 Williiams might have looked - basically stick some gold 15" Speedlines on laugh
Great idea. It really caught my eye too.

Bobberoo99

38,362 posts

97 months

Saturday 28th September 2019
quotequote all
Well I'm finally back driving an estate, took me nearly two months to find the right spec and engine combination, and ended up being quite a faff to actually get to buy it, so here's my new(old) Focus 1.8tdci Titanium estate, 69k on the clock, huge service history, I paid £3000 and picked it up yesterday, more pics later if anyone's interested?

MC Bodge

21,551 posts

174 months

Saturday 28th September 2019
quotequote all
Bobberoo99 said:
Well I'm finally back driving an estate, took me nearly two months to find the right spec and engine combination, and ended up being quite a faff to actually get to buy it, so here's my new(old) Focus 1.8tdci Titanium estate, 69k on the clock, huge service history, I paid £3000 and picked it up yesterday, more pics later if anyone's interested?
That's dedication....

jagfan2

391 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
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Just ran into this thread so thought i would resurrect as am a dedicated estateaholic (MTB's live in the boot not on a rack) when i can between SUV's

Focus ZS petrol (white) - not bad, just about enough go and room
Mondeo Tit X TDCI (grey) - lots of room and toys, very comfy, quite dull
Jaaggg XFS sportbrake (grey)- lovely thing, did the trip to Le Mans in style
Mondeo ST TDCI (grey)- wanted one and was good, definitly handled, just old and wife didnt like it
Mazda 6 2.2 (grey)- great not quite banger doing the mile munching job, good poke and lots of room
currently lusting after something fast audi-ish, and probably grey biggrin


Weekendrebuild

1,004 posts

62 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
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After people thoughts on my e46 touring in m3 flavour bodyworks full m3 front wings rear arches just dropping an s54 in there or should I put a v8 in ??
Currently a 330d manual

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
quotequote all
Weekendrebuild said:
After people thoughts on my e46 touring in m3 flavour bodyworks full m3 front wings rear arches just dropping an s54 in there or should I put a v8 in ??
I would go for a V12.

g3org3y

Original Poster:

20,606 posts

190 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
quotequote all
Weekendrebuild said:
After people thoughts on my e46 touring in m3 flavour bodyworks full m3 front wings rear arches just dropping an s54 in there or should I put a v8 in ??
Currently a 330d manual
Which V8? E39 M5 or E92 M3?

All are VERY nice options.


LochTay

782 posts

64 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
quotequote all
We've two estates in the household.

Having diverted from the path of the estate to a Touran then Galaxy, is nice to be back in a wagon.

This is the big beast - the best car I've ever owned. It's little details like how good the lights are, how logical the dash is, seat comfort, the feel of the brakes, a properly square load area, service 'flaps' to access timing belt in the mudguard, and more.
Brakes (and many other bits) are cheap Mondeo.
The back is so square, totally flat load bay that's great to sleep in. 🛌
Of course it's winter pack and SE, so full heated leather, heated screen and washer nozzles. Teh awesome upgraded Premium Volvo stereo. 😎
It eats long journeys in comfort at 50mpg and £20 annual tax.
I just don't get owning a car that doesn't have a big boot.


nammynake

2,587 posts

172 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
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My first estate - 320i xdrive. Somewhat slower than previous M135i but it’s suiting us well after our baby arrived last year. Not the biggest of estates but big enough to fit the enormous buggy that the Mrs insisted on! Found one with a decent spec, including:

- Adaptive LED headlights
- Harmon Kardon sound
- Pro Navigation
- Panoramic roof
- Comfort access
- Heated seats and steering wheel
- Front and rear cameras
- Parking assist (never used)











Edited by nammynake on Thursday 9th January 22:17


Edited by nammynake on Thursday 9th January 22:17


Edited by nammynake on Thursday 9th January 22:18

PostHeads123

1,042 posts

134 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
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My first estate to, I feel very middle aged driving it smile 40tfsi BE cheap lease £219 a month, rude not to.



Edited by PostHeads123 on Thursday 9th January 22:37

Weekendrebuild

1,004 posts

62 months

Thursday 9th January 2020
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Which V8? E39 M5 or E92 M3?

All are VERY nice options.


I have an e92 with a manual box would need to source a loom however I’ve already got an s54 compact nearly complete so need another project , wife says I can’t have anymore 2 seaters or super saloons /coupes , she never mentioned estates be handy for tip runs laugh

ATM

18,089 posts

218 months

Friday 10th January 2020
quotequote all
Weekendrebuild said:
g3org3y said:
Which V8? E39 M5 or E92 M3?

All are VERY nice options.


I have an e92 with a manual box would need to source a loom however I’ve already got an s54 compact nearly complete so need another project , wife says I can’t have anymore 2 seaters or super saloons /coupes , she never mentioned estates be handy for tip runs laugh
I had an e46 with the small block Chevy 5.7 litre ls1 - so think original monaro engine and gearbox. Car was a beast and I called it the beast. Loads of info on here so wont go on - or ask me anything. The car was too low geared really as it had e46 m3 LSD diff which has very short final drive and gearbox which was designed to work with diff with very long final drive. But you have to expect problems with cars thrown together by skilled individuals rather than massive engineering departments.

So without any idea of your skillset and what floats your boat it's hard to suggest what to do but I'd be thinking about just using e46 parts bin stuff because then it's easier to build the car but that's not a v8 it's just another m3 converted estate.

If you must go v8 I'd think about the gearing of whatever box you can use and diff combo first. There are longer geared diesel diffs from e46 parts bin but they wont be LSD. If that doesn't bother you then fine. Or you pay to modify an e46 diesel diff to LSD with Quaife or whatever. Never got to the bottom of figuring out if the diesel diffs can deal with 400bhp and 400ft lbs torque which is a bit more than an oil burner.

Or you think about fabricating a bespoke rear end to accept a totally different diff and then maybe use the one from the donor car which matches better to the gearbox from the same donor car. Anyway you get the idea. Make working out which diff a priority in your deliberation on which v8 to use.

nobrakes

2,970 posts

197 months

Friday 10th January 2020
quotequote all
ATM said:
g3org3y said:
What makes your Estate/Touring/Avant/etc great? What have they transported you never thought possible? Epic road trips? (Un)intented purchase? Pics? driving
Here is mine. It's a 2005 55 550i auto m sport. That means its massive and has a massive engine. I've had it over 4 years and done about 30000 miles I'd guess. Biggest single thing I've managed to fit in the back is an American fridge. I had to put the front seats so far forward to shut the boot I almost couldn't squeeze myself in - I'm 6 foot 2.

I've slept in the back a few times too. Rear seats dont quite fold flat but its fine if you're not too fussy.

This is my first estate and now I've had one I can't imagine being without. I dont use the car much these days as I have 1 or 2 other cars - 1 is broken.

Last year I bought a smaller 335i estate to replace it but just didn't fall in love with that car so I sold it and kept the old girl. I'm not sure if it's the size I like or the large arm chair or the big v8 or the general feel of the old girl. She's definitely got under my skin.

I've been through 4 or 5 seats of different wheels and now settled on some tiny 17 inchers with balloon tyres. Having an estate like this means I can fit 8 wheels with tyres in the back easily. I think my record is 11.

Looks like a heavy set bouncer in a suit.

It must be a riot to drive.

Well played.

g3org3y

Original Poster:

20,606 posts

190 months

Friday 10th January 2020
quotequote all
Weekendrebuild said:
g3org3y said:
Which V8? E39 M5 or E92 M3?

All are VERY nice options.


I have an e92 with a manual box would need to source a loom however I’ve already got an s54 compact nearly complete so need another project , wife says I can’t have anymore 2 seaters or super saloons /coupes , she never mentioned estates be handy for tip runslaugh
To me, sounds like a very sensible and practical decision. winkbiggrin

waynedear

2,157 posts

166 months

Friday 10th January 2020
quotequote all
Bought this old girl a few weeks ago, rough but eager, 1997, 20v, 180k and a long mot, steering and gearbox feel tighter than the d5 I had last year.
All I have done so far is new tailgate shocks, removed the interchanger from the glovebox, fitted a rear view mirror and passenger kick panel and cleaned around drivers (very heavy smoker) area.

cpazza69

1 posts

32 months

Tuesday 20th July 2021
quotequote all
Daaaveee said:
Recently joined the estate world with an F11 535i. Loving the extra space now we have a little one in tow smile gratuitous photos in 3, 2, 1...



Hey Dave,

This car is currently for sale on Autotrader, I am looking to buy it. Was there anything wrong with it when you sold it?

I want to join the Estate club!

thanks!

ThomasWB

44 posts

32 months

Tuesday 20th July 2021
quotequote all
If pickup trucks are so popular in the United States, then is the estate really the UK version and the reason we don't have pickup trucks is because we know stuff would more than likely get nicked from the bed here in Blighty?
Just a strange idea I know.