Cheap estate car for long European trip?

Cheap estate car for long European trip?

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Discussion

RoverP6B

4,338 posts

127 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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E39 ride is firm-ish but compliant and not crashy, certainly smoother than my old E46. F11 ride in my experience is way too harsh. Never been in an E61 so not sure what they're like.

vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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The M-sport always seemed overly sprung for UK roads, especially in the back.

DailyHack

3,123 posts

110 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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vaud said:
The M-sport always seemed overly sprung for UK roads, especially in the back.
SE with M-sport seats, perfect compromise smile

stevemcs

8,593 posts

92 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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Mondeo or 406 diesel and no more than £1500 for me.

993kimbo

Original Poster:

2,972 posts

184 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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Thanks again for your suggestions. I may stay clear of BM's as the tyre walls all seem to be fairly skinny and the back seats don't look that comfortable, and the word Sport on anything makes me think 'hard ride'.

The Audi A6 appeals, and maybe the Saab and Mazda 6.

The next stage - and the difficult one - is trying to get a test drive in a few different models to see which one suits me best.

When I last bought a car from a village car dealer they were reluctant to let me have a test drive without putting down some form of deposit. I understand it's their petrol and I'd be prepared to pay for it.

I was told to try different models at a main Dealer, then come back to them when I had chosen what I wanted.

Is that normal these days?


indigostr

305 posts

125 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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On my 3rd trip now in similar to this, easily cover 500 miles plus in a day without any problem. Last year did Malaga to Pamplona in 9 hours, no aches or pains. Mine's petrol but diesels more commonly available. Rear seats split 2/1 and slide to give extra boot space, mine has tow bar for bike rack and roof bars with box. Loads of interior head height ,good back seat space, many cubby holes & large boot. Nice ride height for those high European curbs. Not to everyone's taste but a good workhorse.


Osinjak

5,453 posts

120 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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993kimbo said:
I was told to try different models at a main Dealer, then come back to them when I had chosen what I wanted.

Is that normal these days?
Funny one this, I used to do this when I was younger but now not so much. I hate having my time wasted and I'm loathe to waste anyone else's. I dare say a few on here would properly lambast you for it but you make your own choices. I suppose the other thing to consider is that main dealers will not have the cars in the price bracket you're talking about, I just can't see main franchised dealers with £5k cars on their books so it would be a pretty pointless exercise really.

Goldfever4

113 posts

73 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
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Not very much to add on model advice, but everything I have read and understand about a big trip is to really economise on the vehicle and you will thank yourself for prioritising funds for enjoying the trip itself.

Think how far 2k can go, once you're abroad!

993kimbo

Original Poster:

2,972 posts

184 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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Yes, I agree on the spend. Ideally I'd like to spend about £2500 but worry slightly that at that price you maybe looking for trouble and obviously I don't want to break down.

I suppose if I got the car thoroughly checked over before I left then it should give me a few months trouble-free motoring if I'm lucky. I'm nervous because my 2005 E-Class estate left me at the side of the road one day after the brakes failed - only 120,000 miles - and cost £1200 to repair.

993kimbo

Original Poster:

2,972 posts

184 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Osinjak said:
I suppose the other thing to consider is that main dealers will not have the cars in the price bracket you're talking about, I just can't see main franchised dealers with £5k cars on their books so it would be a pretty pointless exercise really.
Yes, that's the problem. So where does one go to try out a car?

Superchickenn

687 posts

169 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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Id vote for A6 or A4.

If you picked up a nice PD130 they have the reliability and fuel economy.

You could spend £1500 and get a very decent example..

I own a few PD130's and they are all 230k plus.

Every year me and a few buddies do European road trips in cars that cost sub £500. A bit of preventative maintenance and you'll be golden.

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

150 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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993kimbo said:
I was told to try different models at a main Dealer, then come back to them when I had chosen what I wanted.

Is that normal these days?
You want something under £5k, then you're not going to find any examples of models that old at a main dealer.

SAAB 9-5 is my suggestion. I had an old 2.2 TiD for years, did lots of European road trips in it, it was a more comfortable car than the Merc E320 CDi which replaced it, and even though it had almost 100bhp less it didn't struggle on motorways, even fully laden. I had the same experience as you with my Merc, you can add the torque converter and the air springs to the list of expensive failures you had though.

DaveTheRave87

2,079 posts

88 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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How big is this trip?

Is renting a car not an option?

£2,500 would get you pretty far in a nice newish rental car.

993kimbo

Original Poster:

2,972 posts

184 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
I'm not sure, we're doing a recce for a holiday/permanent house in either France or Spain and visiting different areas to see what we like. Open-ended ticket. Sounds luxurious, but it's not. Simply cannot afford to live in the South East of this country.

993kimbo

Original Poster:

2,972 posts

184 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
ElectricSoup said:
I had the same experience as you with my Merc, you can add the torque converter and the air springs to the list of expensive failures you had though.
That's nasty, bad luck. I love older Mercs but would never buy another. The actual engines might 'go on for ever' but the rest doesn't.

I did have a Saab on the list and I'll give one a try. Thanks.

Edited by 993kimbo on Wednesday 11th December 09:40

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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This will do the job in immense comfort. This era of Volvo seats are some of the comfiest I've ever used

Not fast or flashy, but loads of interior space and you'll probably get back what you pay on your return if you get it valeted!

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

150 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
993kimbo said:
I'm not sure, we're doing a recce for a holiday/permanent house in either France or Spain and visiting different areas to see what we like. Open-ended ticket. Sounds luxurious, but it's not. Simply cannot afford to live in the South East of this country.
Eek. Have you considered no-deal Brexit is still a possibility, meaning you'll only be able to stay in France or Spain for three months at a time? Assuming you only hold British nationality. In fact there's a risk with any form of Brexit to our right to live in EU countries unhindered.

Apols if that's not the case, but worth pointing out at the moment, as it's a big risk for a lot of people.

vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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A6 SE Quattro for 5k- will give 33-36mpg
A6 SE Quattro

E320CDI for 5k, less than 70k miles
link

dmsims

6,450 posts

266 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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vaud said:
A6 SE Quattro for 5k- will give 33-36mpg
A6 SE Quattro
Given it's a diesel why is the mpg so bad ?

vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
dmsims said:
Given it's a diesel why is the mpg so bad ?
It's an older engine (2005 IIRC) and is has permanent quattro. Great cruiser though. You can get a little more with a delicate right foot and good tyres.