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.

[mon the fish]

We have a 530d Tourer that we use for taking bikes on hols - 3 on the roof, one in the back. I'm seriously thinking about a van as it would make it so much easier to transport bikes about, safely inside.

Problem is I quite like the 5er, comfortable and quick enough. Can't see a 4-pot in a van being anything like as refined or comfortable on a long journey.

I was looking at sheddy £2k Transits, then seen Vanarama are leasing new ones for £150 a month, which seems a bit of a no-brainer at that price.

Decisions, decisions

[Swordman]

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

[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??

[spookly]

Swordman said:

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

SUVs don't generally have any more load space than an equivalent estate model. The floor is higher as well as the roof, and they aren't any longer. Due to 4wd systems and beefier suspension they can often have less load space than an equivalent estate.

SUVs and 4x4s are either for off road stuff or for posing. The only argument I've heard for practicality is a higher driving position.... which I don't feel the need for.

[Plate spinner]

You're ideal route is two vehicles - barge for motorways and van for weekends.

Unless you get one posh van that you can use everyday. My mate does that, some sort of VW thing. He seems to like it.

[ZX10R NIN]

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...

[Scootersp]

A possible route is a really cheap old disabled adapted vehicle instead of a van, they tend to be lower mileage and the rear drop ramp is perfect for push and motorbikes? Only downside to a Van is security but then at least if you know everything is on display then you feel the need to protect them, whereas Vans are broken into on their potential to hold stuff? I realise you need to leave your street cred firmly behind on this and it's a potential wife upsetter but perhaps she can be kept sweet by the nice BMW etc?

[Pica-Pica]

spookly said:

Swordman said:

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

SUVs don't generally have any more load space than an equivalent estate model. The floor is higher as well as the roof, and they aren't any longer. Due to 4wd systems and beefier suspension they can often have less load space than an equivalent estate.

SUVs and 4x4s are either for off road stuff or for posing. The only argument I've heard for practicality is a higher driving position.... which I don't feel the need for.

4x4s are not necessarily off-roaders. I wish people would be more specific. Also not all SUVs are 4WD. (It should be 'owing to' not 'due to')

[djone101]

kingb said:

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??

Depends on the size of the SUV

This is my setup in a Nissan Pathfinder:

[M-SportMatt]

Swordman said:

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

Yet to see an SUV that offers a load benefit over an estate, they are all about image, seating capacity and/or offroad capability.

Give me a decent estate any day of the week

[TiminYorkshire]

I did the estate thing for a while (e36 328, Octavia 1.8T L&K) and then bought a VWT4 - mainly for motorbikes at the time, but is great for fitting bicycles and surfboards in now. Plus I can sleep in it (folding bed in the back). For me load lugging a van is way ahead. The T4 averages 33-37mpg and can sit at 80mph if required.

[mon the fish]

I can't think of an SUV that would offer more boot space than our E61. There's only 2 of us so it's not a problem to run round with the seats down all the time. It's a huge car but can't take 4 bikes inside plus luggage for a fortnights hols.

Plus I'm an SUV bigot, can't stand them. Would rather drive a van.

My big worry about getting a van is becoming the family dogsbody

[ZX10R NIN]

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.

[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!

[milfordkong]

I've got a small van as a second vehicle (Nissan NV200) despite not being a tradesman or having any real need for one other than finding it an exceptionally handy thing to have ... I've built a little removable bed system and put a boxed in leisure battery in it so it can be used as a very basic camper if needed, but mostly it's just great to be able to take bikes or whatever wherever I like in it, and to just be able to chuck things in the back and go - No faffing with racks or removing bits to make them fit - Awesome for tip runs and general errand running too.

It was cheap (£4k), has been flawlessly reliable in the 2 years i've owned it, it's got sat nav, air con and the 1.5dci engine averages 48mpg....

Such a handy thing to have.

[RobM77]

I'm in a similar situation to you (the OP) as I commute a fair distance each day and like comfort, economy and quiet for that. However, my main hobbies are motor racing, SUP, windsurfing and cycling. The motor racing requires towing a large covered trailer and carrying lots of tools, spares, fuel and tyres around the country. The windsurfing and SUP requires carrying two boards and a 2.5 metre long kit bag on the roof for a three hour round trip to the coast each week, and the cycling requires carrying my bike in or on my car (road bike goes inside, off road bike goes on a tow bar carrier the back). For this lot I have a BMW 3 series, which is practical due to its extremely low roofline (actually lower than my chest!), which makes loading easy. The towing and racing stuff it just about manages, but I really am pushing it, and the bikes it manages with ease. The commuting is a dream with 70mpg achieved and very good levels of refinement at motorway cruising speed. If I had your budget and aspirations from the car I think I would go for a 5 series estate, just to get a bit more carrying capacity, but I agree we're both bordering on needing a van. The thing is, if you buy a van what car do you buy? It's a great decision if your commute suits an Elise or GT86, but you'll probably end up with something like a 3 or 5 series anyway, so running two vehicles seems like a bit of a waste; also £3k vans are often pretty nackered.

[TwistingMyMelon]

im in a similar position, but need 6 seats, although mostly it will be me , partner and two little ones

Difficult to get a decent van under 8k if you want dual cab (5/6 seats) , vans seem to lead a much harder life and hold their values better.

Vito Dualinners look good, but the ones i have seen at 5-8K are well used and a bit ropey

Transits are good, but bit unrefined , new transit looks great, but is holding its value well @ 12K for oldest new model

Transporters are good but hold their value well and have a bit of a scene tax. I couldn't see one that would suit me for under 10K , Im not knocking them but they hold their value well and some dubious conversions out there. I also dont want to spend 8k on something that is over a decade old and pretty tired

Im gonna get a Jap Import minivan/MPV instead , thinking of a Honda Stepwagon, or a Ford Galaxy , fed up of looking at tired vans

Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Friday 4th August 16:27

[Zad]

LR Discovery Commercial? Should be enough room for the motorbike?