Reliable estate car
Discussion
I'm an estate car fan too, and an SUV hater, but nobody has yet mentioned the halfway house, the MPV. I had a VW Touran when my children were babies, and it is a massive boon to be able to fit your baby carrier into the back seat without breaking your back bending down. For this reason, I'd recommend an MPV while you have babies/toddlers, they also generally have bigger, better spaced boots, with lower boot lips (for the dog to jump in) than an SUV.
If the OP is interested in this path, I'd be hard pushed to suggest anything other than a Ford S-Max.
But for an estate car as originally asked, then a Toyota Avensis or Mazda 6 (petrol in both cases) would be my choice. Also consider the Honda Civic Tourer, even though they appear smaller they are very well designed cars internally and offer great space and flexibility. I have one, and I have a dog, and 2 teenagers, one of whom is over 6 feet tall, and it's a great family wagon. Mine is a 1.8 petrol. We take it on long cross country/continent holidays with 4 of us, the dog and all our gear, comfortably. It's faultlessly reliable and surprisingly economical. There is also the Honda Accord estate, but they are rare sadly. The rush to "fashionable" SUVs has seen the decline of the estate car in the last decade, which for me at least is a matter of some regret.
If the OP is interested in this path, I'd be hard pushed to suggest anything other than a Ford S-Max.
But for an estate car as originally asked, then a Toyota Avensis or Mazda 6 (petrol in both cases) would be my choice. Also consider the Honda Civic Tourer, even though they appear smaller they are very well designed cars internally and offer great space and flexibility. I have one, and I have a dog, and 2 teenagers, one of whom is over 6 feet tall, and it's a great family wagon. Mine is a 1.8 petrol. We take it on long cross country/continent holidays with 4 of us, the dog and all our gear, comfortably. It's faultlessly reliable and surprisingly economical. There is also the Honda Accord estate, but they are rare sadly. The rush to "fashionable" SUVs has seen the decline of the estate car in the last decade, which for me at least is a matter of some regret.
I agree with the above. An MPV is ideal for babies and smaller kids. Except I think an SMax, whilst a great car may be overkill as they are massive. We had a first generation C-Max and that was brilliant. I would consider a 2nd generation C-Max in Titanium-X form with the 2.0TDCi engine (the facelift with the Aston Martin grille is ULEZ compliant) or the 1.6T ecoboost petrol.
if huge size isn't a worry, ULEZ isn't a worry and there is no need for 7 seats then seek out the best Mk4.5 Mondeo estate in Titanium X 2.0TDCi format you can find and keep a chunk of budget in your wallet.
if huge size isn't a worry, ULEZ isn't a worry and there is no need for 7 seats then seek out the best Mk4.5 Mondeo estate in Titanium X 2.0TDCi format you can find and keep a chunk of budget in your wallet.
Bannock said:
Well the OP did say "the bigger the better"!
Apologies! They certainly did! In that case, given S-Max will give more height for the dog in the boot as well as 3 individual middle row seats I also vote for it. Not sure budget will get into current shape.No word yet from the OP on annual mileage or whether ULEZ is a showstopper..
There's a global shortage of microchips that's predicted to last another 2 years or so, so holding off isn't really an option in your case. Estate cars are relatively unfashionable in the mainstream just now so some bargains can still be had.
I'd be another one to recommend a Mazda6 - a lot of car for the money. We've got one alongside an Audi Q5 and the Mazda is much bigger inside!
There's also the generally very good, but very uncool Ford Mondeo.
Never driven one but you could get a fully loaded Peugeot 508SW in budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...
I had a pretty much identical car to this Audi A4 and really liked it. This specific one is a Cat N write-off, but it seems decent value. Would need a thorough check by someone knowledgeable:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...
I'd be another one to recommend a Mazda6 - a lot of car for the money. We've got one alongside an Audi Q5 and the Mazda is much bigger inside!
There's also the generally very good, but very uncool Ford Mondeo.
Never driven one but you could get a fully loaded Peugeot 508SW in budget:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111189...
I had a pretty much identical car to this Audi A4 and really liked it. This specific one is a Cat N write-off, but it seems decent value. Would need a thorough check by someone knowledgeable:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110228...
Thanks so much all! I would have replied sooner, but the forum wouldn't let me, as I'm a new member and might spam you all?!
In terms of SUVs - they're a no! Although they're a bigger car in general the boot space doesnt seem to match that of an estate unless you go for a tank. Also, my partner's sister is getting rid of her Volvo xc90 due to the running costs, so don't want to get stuck with something that costs a fortune to tax/is a fuel guzzler etc.
MPVs are also a no... as much as I say I'm not a car person, I can't bring myself to get a mum-wagon! Also the boot space is an issue.
I used to have a 2003 Volvo V40 estate and that was great size-wise. Could fit a pushchair and the dog (smallish lab sized) in the back without any problems, so need a boot that kind of size again. The issue with the volvo was that it's was a 2 litre turbo diesel and I felt like I was filling it up every 5 minutes. We've currently got an Astra hatchback which is fine, but dog and pushchair won't fit in the boot together... if prices are likely to come down in the next 6 months we can survive, as have a roof box and the dog can sit between my legs for journeys less than 30 mins or so! If it's going to be longer than that we'll just have to bite the bullet.
In terms of other questions - we live fairly near London so something ULEZ compliant would be ideal, but not a deal breaker as we'll be keeping the Astra and that is ULEZ compliant. In terms of mileage... I'd say useage would be pretty average?
Thanks so much for the car suggestions. I think I'm still pretty open to models - there have been quite a few mentioned here and they all look good to me. Particularly liking the Mazda 6 in terms of looks... seems pretty solid too. The Toyota looks good too in terms of economy, which the more I think about it, the more important that is. As I'm not a massive car person I resent pouring my earnings into a fuel tank!
In terms of SUVs - they're a no! Although they're a bigger car in general the boot space doesnt seem to match that of an estate unless you go for a tank. Also, my partner's sister is getting rid of her Volvo xc90 due to the running costs, so don't want to get stuck with something that costs a fortune to tax/is a fuel guzzler etc.
MPVs are also a no... as much as I say I'm not a car person, I can't bring myself to get a mum-wagon! Also the boot space is an issue.
I used to have a 2003 Volvo V40 estate and that was great size-wise. Could fit a pushchair and the dog (smallish lab sized) in the back without any problems, so need a boot that kind of size again. The issue with the volvo was that it's was a 2 litre turbo diesel and I felt like I was filling it up every 5 minutes. We've currently got an Astra hatchback which is fine, but dog and pushchair won't fit in the boot together... if prices are likely to come down in the next 6 months we can survive, as have a roof box and the dog can sit between my legs for journeys less than 30 mins or so! If it's going to be longer than that we'll just have to bite the bullet.
In terms of other questions - we live fairly near London so something ULEZ compliant would be ideal, but not a deal breaker as we'll be keeping the Astra and that is ULEZ compliant. In terms of mileage... I'd say useage would be pretty average?
Thanks so much for the car suggestions. I think I'm still pretty open to models - there have been quite a few mentioned here and they all look good to me. Particularly liking the Mazda 6 in terms of looks... seems pretty solid too. The Toyota looks good too in terms of economy, which the more I think about it, the more important that is. As I'm not a massive car person I resent pouring my earnings into a fuel tank!
Skyedriver said:
Just a random thought (I've seen both around our area recently).
Any love for the Ford S Max or Galaxy. Both largeish People carrier Estate type things.
Don't look that exciting but hey, they're Fords so should be reliable and relatively easy/cheap to repair shouldn't they?
Wife's mate, ironically called Karen has one... an S-Max that is and it's proving to be very good thus far and a mate has just offloaded a Focus ST estate in lieu of an older S-Max diesel with the powershift box and he's happy with it aside for a few of the usual issues - rear trailing arm bushes, get the box serviced and the like. They seem ok, just do your research and don't buy an ex-taxi. Any love for the Ford S Max or Galaxy. Both largeish People carrier Estate type things.
Don't look that exciting but hey, they're Fords so should be reliable and relatively easy/cheap to repair shouldn't they?
Davie said:
Skyedriver said:
Just a random thought (I've seen both around our area recently).
Any love for the Ford S Max or Galaxy. Both largeish People carrier Estate type things.
Don't look that exciting but hey, they're Fords so should be reliable and relatively easy/cheap to repair shouldn't they?
Wife's mate, ironically called Karen has one... an S-Max that is and it's proving to be very good thus far and a mate has just offloaded a Focus ST estate in lieu of an older S-Max diesel with the powershift box and he's happy with it aside for a few of the usual issues - rear trailing arm bushes, get the box serviced and the like. They seem ok, just do your research and don't buy an ex-taxi. Any love for the Ford S Max or Galaxy. Both largeish People carrier Estate type things.
Don't look that exciting but hey, they're Fords so should be reliable and relatively easy/cheap to repair shouldn't they?
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