Which Petrol Estate? Outback?

[roblpm]

I have lease Golf R Estate at the moment. Best car I have ever had...……………..

However due to impending business exit / divorce it's gotta go back!

My last 4 cars have been:

2003 Mondeo Mk 3 Estate. Petrol. I actually loved it as it was a shed. Awesome in the snow with winter tyres.
Then I got a business where we needed to look respectable...……...
2004 C class merc saloon. Ok but boring.
2010 BMW 320d saloon ok but boring
2014 E Class estate Bottom 2 litre diesel boring but comfortable on the motorway
2017 Golf R Estate - love it. Especially as my first car was a shagged out Mark 1 Golf

So.…………..

Budget is probably about 10k max

Needs to be an estate. And bigger than the golf might be useful.

Would like to have something interesting about it!

Diesel doesn't really appeal. Horror stories about older diesels are putting me off! Though the problem is all estates are diesel!

Don't really need 4wd though I do live in Scotland and might be useful. Actually might useful to tow a 1500kg boat. I will be commuting at some point. Trouble is will either be short or intercity 100 miles a day.

So options look like:

Mondeo Mk 4 Ecoboost 2.0L. Probably the sensible choice. But maybe not great for towing. Look cheap. c 12k for 3 year old?
Leftfield choice Suburu Outback 2.5L bit more expensive? Would 5 year old be a problem?

Not many petrol BMW or Merc and really not bothered by badge much. Would like a bit of reliability!

Hmmmmm. I like my golf R...… Auto. Fast.

Any ideas?

[ZX10R NIN]

Alfa 159 1.8T ti

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

2.0T Titanium X Mondeo

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

523i M Sport

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

335i M Sport

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

330i M Sport

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

A4 Black Edition

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

Saab 9-3 XWD

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

3.6 Skoda Superb

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

Octavia VRS

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

Insignia VXR a much better car than the badge easily on par with an S4 handling wise

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

R36 Passat

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

S4

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

Insignia Elite

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

Brave option:

High mile RS4

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

[roblpm]

Thanks for those. I have had new cars for the last 10 years so I am a bit nervous of getting a 10 year old car! Am I just a wuss! Should I go interesting and older or more boring and newer!?!

That rs4 would bankrupt me!

[rufusgti]

Ahh, interesting. I dont know anything about the Outback but i've noticed a few and thought they looked interesting and purposeful. Will be following the thread.

[stevemcs]

How about something a bit different ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JDM-SUBARU-LEGACY-GT-SP...

[Mr Tidy]

If you love your Golf R Estate why are you looking at a BMW 320d - it will be boring after that!

BMW 330i or 335i would be a much better option or if a hatch would work maybe a Seat Leon Cupra, but if it must be an Estate maybe a Skoda Octavia VRs.

[ZX10R NIN]

roblpm said:

Thanks for those. I have had new cars for the last 10 years so I am a bit nervous of getting a 10 year old car! Am I just a wuss! Should I go interesting and older or more boring and newer!?!

That rs4 would bankrupt me!

No but remember your paying a lot less than a new car so don't expect them to be new car perfect, do your checks & go in expecting to have to spend money at some point, do your checks or get your potential purchase inspected.

For example the VXR/R36 need oil changes every year or 10k which helps keep potential timing chain stretching issues at bay.

If you're towing you may want a diesel depending on how often you tow, also what's your annual mileage, if you're doing the miles then a diesel isn't a bad shout.

[roblpm]

Mr Tidy said:

If you love your Golf R Estate why are you looking at a BMW 320d - it will be boring after that!

BMW 330i or 335i would be a much better option or if a hatch would work maybe a Seat Leon Cupra, but if it must be an Estate maybe a Skoda Octavia VRs.

I don't think I mentioned 320d. That was a previous car! Can't think of anything less desirable for me!

Yes skoda octavia vrs is an option. But I think anything similar to my golf R but slightly less good is gonna be unsatisfactory. So thinking big lazy 6 cylinder petrol auto estate might do it!

[sawman]

Outbacks are great, although I would do for the 3.0 flat six, its a great engine, and doesnt cost anymore to run.
I ran one for a few years with no major issues. They do have a liking for brake discs and pads (about 20kmiles) and arb bushes are a not infrequent purchase. But overall a great car.mine was 10 years old when sold.

[roblpm]

sawman said:

Outbacks are great, although I would do for the 3.0 flat six, its a great engine, and doesnt cost anymore to run.
I ran one for a few years with no major issues. They do have a liking for brake discs and pads (about 20kmiles) and arb bushes are a not infrequent purchase. But overall a great car.mine was 10 years old when sold.

Aha. Problem is that there are no newer 3 litres. Newest one I can see is 2007! So anyone have any opinions on the 2.5l 4 cylinder?! I think I am too much of a wuss to buy a 12 year old car?! I can probably stretch to a 2013 2.5L! Did they stop making the 3 Litre?

[ElectricSoup]

Recently been through a similar exercise to replace an ageing E Class estate.

I have ended up with a 66 plate Honda Civic Tourer, 1.8 VTEC (petrol of course). I love it. Wasn't even on my radar until one popped up on an autotrader search at a Honda dealer near home. Loads more room for people and stuff than it has any right to have given its exterior dimensions.

[sawman]

roblpm said:

Aha. Problem is that there are no newer 3 litres. Newest one I can see is 2007! So anyone have any opinions on the 2.5l 4 cylinder?! I think I am too much of a wuss to buy a 12 year old car?! I can probably stretch to a 2013 2.5L! Did they stop making the 3 Litre?

The 3.0 finished in 2008/9 when the model updated, i think it was replaced by a 3.6 flat 6 but i suspect not many sold

[ninjag]

roblpm said:

Thanks for those. I have had new cars for the last 10 years so I am a bit nervous of getting a 10 year old car! Am I just a wuss! Should I go interesting and older or more boring and newer!?!

That rs4 would bankrupt me!

I hate getting a big maintenance or repair bill but I find that if I actually start to compare it to the costs of a new car then it's not so bad at all. Recently did my timing belt which was £550. Seems a lot, but then that can also just be one month HP/PCP payment. Doesn't seem so bad now, although obviously the cost of buying the used car has to be factored in but still acceptable in my eyes.

As for age it's not so much reliability but perhaps more the age of the tech which you could miss?

[roblpm]

ninjag said:

I hate getting a big maintenance or repair bill but I find that if I actually start to compare it to the costs of a new car then it's not so bad at all. Recently did my timing belt which was £550. Seems a lot, but then that can also just be one month HP/PCP payment. Doesn't seem so bad now, although obviously the cost of buying the used car has to be factored in but still acceptable in my eyes.

As for age it's not so much reliability but perhaps more the age of the tech which you could miss?

I think the only tech I will miss is android auto. So I will do some research on replacement units!!

[dhutch]

roblpm said:

awesome in the snow with winter tyres.

Surprise me....

[roblpm]

dhutch said:

Surprise me....

How?! It was!!!

[roblpm]

ElectricSoup said:

Recently been through a similar exercise to replace an ageing E Class estate.

I have ended up with a 66 plate Honda Civic Tourer, 1.8 VTEC (petrol of course). I love it. Wasn't even on my radar until one popped up on an autotrader search at a Honda dealer near home. Loads more room for people and stuff than it has any right to have given its exterior dimensions.

Aha interesting! Thanks

[dhutch]

roblpm said:

How?! It was!!!

I am not surprised.

[roblpm]

dhutch said:

I am not surprised.

Aha sorry. There was an epic winter in Edinburgh about 8 years ago I think when there was properly a foot or more of snow. Me and a mate impressed the locals driving up the steep road to the observatory while the 4by4s slid around on their summer tyres! I really boggles the kind that especially downhill people think 4wd helps in snow!

[ericmcn]

roblpm said:

Aha. Problem is that there are no newer 3 litres. Newest one I can see is 2007! So anyone have any opinions on the 2.5l 4 cylinder?! I think I am too much of a wuss to buy a 12 year old car?! I can probably stretch to a 2013 2.5L! Did they stop making the 3 Litre?

There is a big difference between the 4 cylinder and flat 6, you want the latter it's very reliable and gives effortless cruising. It can handle big miles, 100k and it's just getting worn in. A Audi RS or whatever would be a wallet busting Idea so don't be that silly.