£2,500 estate: cheap, reliable, big boot, engaging to drive?

[RoVoFob]

Estates can be cheap, huge, reliable or fun to drive, but are there any that properly combine all of these factors for around £2,500?

I have a BMW 130i as my main car so I have a revvy engine, agile handling and small size/light weight covered off, but I’d like a practical second car for taking stuff to the tip, Ikea sprees and cross country road trips.

Hence I’m looking for something with a big boot, decent comfort and an enjoyable drive - I’m talking relatively precise steering, reasonable body control, good enough punch to be able to overtake easily enough on a country road etc. rather than sportiness here, but I’d like an interesting sounding engine - a five or six cylinder one would be perfect.

And it must be relatively solid and reliable enough to not need money pouring into it constantly.

My lockdown daydreaming has brought me to an odd shortlist of:

• BMW 530i/530d (e39)
• Volvo V70 T5/2.5T/2.4T/2.0T/D5 (2000-2007)
• Ford Mondeo ST220
• Vauxhall Vectra 2.8 V6 (invisible police-spec one not the VXR)

Thoughts? Anyone run any of these/other suggestions? Thanks.

[ZX10R NIN]

You won't get the sweetest steer for that budget but there are some good estates that you can have some fun with.

You won't get an ST220 for your budget but you will get a 2.5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102209...

Omega Elite (check for rust) 3.0i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035...

2.3T Saab 9-5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101228...

Aero 9-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102128...

C230

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102078...

[RoVoFob]

ZX10R NIN said:

You won't get the sweetest steer for that budget but there are some good estates that you can have some fun with.

You won't get an ST220 for your budget but you will get a 2.5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102209...

Omega Elite (check for rust) 3.0i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035...

2.3T Saab 9-5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101228...

Aero 9-3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102128...

C230

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102078...

Thanks for the suggestions.

Interestingly, I bought a Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B estate for £2,250 just over a year ago, and that was a very decent steer, but the ones around now are far more expensive.

I have found a £2,750 ST220, but it’s a little suspect...

Should have said, I really don’t want an auto, unless the car is spectacular. Omega is weirdly tempting, but the auto box puts me off. Have toyed with 9-5s but the prices seem to have gone up a lot and boot seems to be surprisingly small.

[namastebuzz]

You can still get 9-5 Aeros for reasonable money. Get the auto with paddleshift - it's stronger than the manual.

Amazingly rapid and comfortable plus you can get a N00btune ECU upgrade for £90 or so.

Small boot? Don't quite get that. You can fit a washing machine in the boot without folding down the rear seats......

[RoVoFob]

namastebuzz said:

You can still get 9-5 Aeros for reasonable money. Get the auto with paddleshift - it's stronger than the manual.

Amazingly rapid and comfortable plus you can get a N00btune ECU upgrade for £90 or so.

Small boot? Don't quite get that. You can fit a washing machine in the boot without folding down the rear seats......

A vast majority of new cars are automatics - there’s plenty of time to drive autos when petrol and diesels are outlawed!

Have toyed with a 9-5 before, but the boot seems to be substantially smaller than V70, Mondeo, Vectra etc. Having transported Ikea Billy bookcases in new CX-5, Q5 and Kodiaq and seen how much difference relatively small variations in boot sizes can make, if I’m getting a big car, it feels like the boot should be biiig.

Would still be tempted with one for the right money, but manuals that were £1k a year ago seem to be £2k now. For that money the V70 feels more appealing. Drove a tired £990 S60 2.0T 9 months back and was amazed how much I liked it - even with smoky interior, creaky suspension etc. Imagine V70 would feel similar...

[W201_190e]

One thing an E39 will require is lots of money pouring into it.

[RoVoFob]

W201_190e said:

One thing an E39 will require is lots of money pouring into it.

I’ve heard some people swearing that nothing ever goes wrong with them and others saying they cost loads to keep going...

Could it be a case of well looked after ones not needing much fixing and neglected ones becoming money pits?

[MiniMan64]

I’m just gonna go ahead and ignore your requirements for reliability and not needing to spend money

V6 MG

Go on, live dangerously...

[W201_190e]

RoVoFob said:

W201_190e said:

One thing an E39 will require is lots of money pouring into it.

I’ve heard some people swearing that nothing ever goes wrong with them and others saying they cost loads to keep going...

Could it be a case of well looked after ones not needing much fixing and neglected ones becoming money pits?

I can only talk in regards my 4 years experience with a 1999 528i then 3 years with a 2002 530i Sport which I never should have sold. Absolutely fabulous cars, I loved them but to keep them tip top was a lot of upkeep as a daily.

[88LG]

Owned a E39 530i saloon for a few years. Great car. Would buy another in the future that's for sure.

Look out for a rust as that's a common issue for them. Arches and sills.

Have a look here - a great example of a E39 530i - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[meb90]

On the mondeo theme, I'd suggest a Mk4 with the 2.5T engine (5 cylinder as per the focus ST).

Mines been brilliant, and very reliable.

[RoVoFob]

MiniMan64 said:

I’m just gonna go ahead and ignore your requirements for reliability and not needing to spend money

V6 MG

Go on, live dangerously...

Love it!

I have been watching this. The fact they’ve ‘just’ spent £2,200 on it and it’s worth £1,000 tells you how much the rest of the car is worth, right?

My dad test drove a MG ZT 190 saloon when they were new and I remember the sound - it was glorious.

[RoVoFob]

W201_190e said:

I can only talk in regards my 4 years experience with a 1999 528i then 3 years with a 2002 530i Sport which I never should have sold. Absolutely fabulous cars, I loved them but to keep them tip top was a lot of upkeep as a daily.

Hmm. Spending a little to keep them in good condition is one thing, spending lots of unexpected repairs is another. How much of that spending was unplanned?

I’ve watched the Top Gear Africa special with the 528i Touring, 850 R and WRX again and it’s completely selling me on the e39 - especially in pre-facelift, small-wheeled SE form.

I’m oddly attracted to a 530d for the torque. I imagine a 193hp 528i or even a 231hp 530i Touring would feel pretty gutless compared with the 265hp, short-geared 130i. What was the comfort difference like between the 528i (SE?) and 530i Sport?

[RoVoFob]

88LG said:

Owned a E39 530i saloon for a few years. Great car. Would buy another in the future that's for sure.

Look out for a rust as that's a common issue for them. Arches and sills.

Have a look here - a great example of a E39 530i - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Good to hear.

Yes. I looked at a couple last year - both manual 530is and with a price premium to suit, despite the seller having done nothing to get them up to scratch - and there was loads of visible rust. One of them is still for sale I think - 9 months on.

[RoVoFob]

meb90 said:

On the mondeo theme, I'd suggest a Mk4 with the 2.5T engine (5 cylinder as per the focus ST).

Mines been brilliant, and very reliable.

This is top of my maybe list. Makes a lot of sense, but the interior keeps putting me off. Hate the dials and bulkiness of the pillars (do things like this ever put anyone else off cars?). Think the drive would probably suit me very well though.

Might try one when such things as driving are allowed again.Good to hear it’s been reliable. If I remember rightly 2.5T Focus STs cost a lot to maintain (I think some of that is engine related)...

[MiniMan64]

RoVoFob said:

MiniMan64 said:

I’m just gonna go ahead and ignore your requirements for reliability and not needing to spend money

V6 MG

Go on, live dangerously...

Love it!

I have been watching this. The fact they’ve ‘just’ spent £2,200 on it and it’s worth £1,000 tells you how much the rest of the car is worth, right?

My dad test drove a MG ZT 190 saloon when they were new and I remember the sound - it was glorious.

I nearly bought a blue one years ago but ended up with a 156 V6 instead. Bullet dodged me thinks

[Eyersey1234]

I'd suggest a Mk2 Focus, I've found mine very dependable. Avoid the 1.6tdci though.

[RoVoFob]

MiniMan64 said:

I nearly bought a blue one years ago but ended up with a 156 V6 instead. Bullet dodged me thinks

You’re not seriously saying that an Alfa was the reliable choice are you?

[W201_190e]

RoVoFob said:

W201_190e said:

I can only talk in regards my 4 years experience with a 1999 528i then 3 years with a 2002 530i Sport which I never should have sold. Absolutely fabulous cars, I loved them but to keep them tip top was a lot of upkeep as a daily.

Hmm. Spending a little to keep them in good condition is one thing, spending lots of unexpected repairs is another. How much of that spending was unplanned?

I’ve watched the Top Gear Africa special with the 528i Touring, 850 R and WRX again and it’s completely selling me on the e39 - especially in pre-facelift, small-wheeled SE form.

I’m oddly attracted to a 530d for the torque. I imagine a 193hp 528i or even a 231hp 530i Touring would feel pretty gutless compared with the 265hp, short-geared 130i. What was the comfort difference like between the 528i (SE?) and 530i Sport?

The majority of it was common issues, mostly cooling related. If either engine is cooked there is no going back, it's basically scrap. The 528i wasn't too needy but the 530i needed quite a bit. I also dropped £1300 on fixing the rust on one rear arch and two sill ends.

On balance the 528i, which was an SE with the shadowline trim, so very little chrome, was the better engine, the most comfortable and the most economic. The 530i Sport looked the part but seemed more fragile and whilst it was quicker the engine didn't sound as nice. The 528i ran on 16 inch turbine wheels so was very smooth and just glided along, the 530i Sport was on 18 inch staggered M Para's. It wasn't uncomfortable but definitely compromised. The 34 year old me would probably edge towards a 528i SE again, as comfort means more to me now.

There is a wealth of knowledge in the PH forums for the E39, but when I purchased my 528i in 2008 when I was 21, the rust issue wasn't that common and they weren't that old then. It would be like buying an F10 5 Series today. There was a member on here called Fox who was like an E39 bible, his posts helped me a lot and it would be worth seeking out old threads to properly read into them.

I think it I had £2.5k to spend I'd be seeking a lovely late SE with as little rust as possible and with nice service history.

Now sadly scrapped. The couple of owners after me didn't take the best care of it unfortunately.

[RoVoFob]

W201_190e said:

The majority of it was common issues, mostly cooling related. If either engine is cooked there is no going back, it's basically scrap. The 528i wasn't too needy but the 530i needed quite a bit. I also dropped £1300 on fixing the rust on one rear arch and two sill ends.

On balance the 528i, which was an SE with the shadowline trim, so very little chrome, was the better engine, the most comfortable and the most economic. The 530i Sport looked the part but seemed more fragile and whilst it was quicker the engine didn't sound as nice. The 528i ran on 16 inch turbine wheels so was very smooth and just glided along, the 530i Sport was on 18 inch staggered M Para's. It wasn't uncomfortable but definitely compromised. The 34 year old me would probably edge towards a 528i SE again, as comfort means more to me now.

There is a wealth of knowledge in the PH forums for the E39, but when I purchased my 528i in 2008 when I was 21, the rust issue wasn't that common and they weren't that old then. It would be like buying an F10 5 Series today. There was a member on here called Fox who was like an E39 bible, his posts helped me a lot and it would be worth seeking out old threads to properly read into them.

I think it I had £2.5k to spend I'd be seeking a lovely late SE with as little rust as possible and with nice service history.

Now sadly scrapped. The couple of owners after me didn't take the best care of it unfortunately.

Thanks for that. Very useful.

Do you have any idea how the 530d compares? I’ve read that the manuals avoid the swirl flap issue and think I saw something about cooling issues being less of a problem with diesels. Oof, that’s quite a big spend for rust.

An SE on 16s sounds very appealing - I like the idea of gliding along but without being in a slow barge. A big estate is never going to be super sharp (although I was amazed by how close my old Legacy 3.0R Spec B got), so I suppose Sport trim and 18s are a bit superfluous...

Interesting to hear that you preferred the sound of the 528i - I always preferred the sound of the e46/e39 530i to the newer 130i engine; the older engine sounds more silky and sonorous to me while the newer one is more ‘racecar’. The 2.5-litre in my old 325ti sounded even better though - beautiful musical sound.

Thanks. Will do some digging for Fox threads. Yep, a late SE with decent history would be great. Think I’ve narrowed the hunt down to an e39 or 2000-2007 V70. Would you steer clear of a pre-facelift e39 if a good one came up? Apart from design changes, I’m not sure how much changed...

That is lovely. Such a shame it was scrapped. Especially given what the current 5 Series looks like!