Best VFM estate for £3.5K?

[warcalf]

Looking for the best value for money petrol estate for around the stated price!

Reliability is ultimately crucial, drivetrain and gearbox doesn't matter. Just needs to meet the budget and be a reliable car and not horrendous on fuel...

Currently preferring an Avensis or Passat, considering Mondeo/Insignia/Focus or Cee'd but no idea how reliable these are!

Any info is appreciated.

[Plate spinner]

At that price point it will be more about the particular cars you are looking at; age / miles / service history / condition.

All the models you mentioned can be very reliable.

Petrol / manual avensis or accord would be my recommendation.

[warcalf]

Plate spinner said:

At that price point it will be more about the particular cars you are looking at; age / miles / service history / condition.

All the models you mentioned can be very reliable.

Very true!

I won't buy anything but a car with an FSH, but looking at 07-10 plate depending really. So just going to have to make sure they are looked after ones!

[Jasandjules]

My old passat was awesome. Make sure cam and water pump are done

[BuzzBravado]

Accord 2.0i ? Haven't heard of any reliability issues around any petrol Honda so should be a good bet.

[warcalf]

Jasandjules said:

My old passat was awesome. Make sure cam and water pump are done

Passat was originally my first choice, especially the 2.0 fsi, petrol estate passats in general seem to be thin on the ground!

[Jasandjules]

warcalf said:

Passat was originally my first choice, especially the 2.0 fsi, petrol estate passats in general seem to be thin on the ground!

I've had three over the years. All have been good (actually still have my 2011 plate on the other driveway!). All diesel, good MPG< usually aircon, cruise etc and sat nav and whatnot....Comfy too for a long journey.

[ZX10R NIN]

It's hard to look past the Mondeo in either ST220 form or 2.5T/2.0 N/A version in Titanium X form:

ST220

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

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

2.0 Titanium X

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

2.5T Titanium X

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

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

Mazda6 2.5 Sport

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

If you can live with the looks the 407SW is an option

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

[V8RX7]

warcalf said:

Looking for the best value for money petrol estate for around the stated price!

Reliability is ultimately crucial, drivetrain and gearbox doesn't matter. Just needs to meet the budget and be a reliable car and not horrendous on fuel.

Simply take a look at what the Private Hire drivers are using

[Plate spinner]

V8RX7 said:

warcalf said:

Looking for the best value for money petrol estate for around the stated price!

Reliability is ultimately crucial, drivetrain and gearbox doesn't matter. Just needs to meet the budget and be a reliable car and not horrendous on fuel.

Simply take a look at what the Private Hire drivers are using

Octavia estate then!

[ZX10R NIN]

OP is looking for a petrol.

[Plate spinner]

Yeah, plenty of petrol Octavia Estates around.

[V8RX7]

ZX10R NIN said:

OP is looking for a petrol.

Yes - the majority of them (around here at least) use petrols - to avoid the large bills the diesels throw up

I asked as I was surprised

[ZX10R NIN]

Wow it's the opposite here, everyday's a school day

[Mr Tidy]

Somewhat different to what's been mentioned so far, but last February I bought a BMW E91 325i for well below that budget.

OK, it's on an 06 plate and had done 132K miles but it had full BMW SH up to 130K and is still going strong heading towards 138K.

Plus it's got heated leather seats, which are handy just now!

[stevemcs]

The 325i could throw up big bills, the Passat FSi isn't the best choice either, if you could find a TFSi version then it would have a bit more umph although both suffer from coking issues and neither have the greatest reliability, having said that our A4 2.0T with multitronic was fine.

I would probably go down the Accord route, if not a Mondeo, other choices are Saab 9-3 but the RFL is expensive on the facelift cars, the Subaru Legacy or Foresters are worth a look to .

[DoubleD]

Vauxhalls usual give good value for money. The astra estate is a pretty big car. Not sure about reliability though.

[V8RX7]

Honda or Toyota

[ZX10R NIN]

So OP do any of the above fit your requirements?

[ninjag]

BuzzBravado said:

Accord 2.0i ? Haven't heard of any reliability issues around any petrol Honda so should be a good bet.

I'd second this. 7th Gen Accord Tourer, 2.0 EX. Fully loaded, built in Japan and extremely reliable. Only downside is the Tourer looks a little like a floating coffin but that makes it incredibly practical with it's huge load space. They are chain cam so no timing belt to worry about, just keep the oil fresh.

Personally I'd get the 2.4 as it's almost as economical but has a lot more power and pipes on either side. The Type S loses some toys but looks better as it's lowered (15mm I think) and I think has some body kit which takes away the coffin look.