Estate, 20k, ULEZ, not depressing

[otolith]

Pistonheader101 said:

can you stretch a bit and get a 340i

No, they're mid twenties. I don't mind spending more money on fun cars, but this is already pushing what I'm willing to spend on something which is primarily a family bus.

[otolith]

stevemcs said:

Only thing I can think of is one of these

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...

Hmm, but it's dog slow, more than ten seconds to sixty, and thirsty at high twenties/low thirties to the gallon, and it has the same CVT transmission which has just failed and effectively written off my dad's XV - nobody can fix it, and Subaru wanted 8k to replace it on a 6k car. Think I'll swerve that one!

[otolith]

ChocolateFrog said:

I've no idea what is and isn't ULEZ compliant but vaguely remember some older petrols are OK.

So on that assumption and without doing any research a Porsche Panamera?

That is actually a better shout than I assumed, it's more practical than I thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dvteqt2_5w

Would be an older petrol model, 2010 ish and 80k miles, but maybe special enough not to feel too short changed.

Bit brave pill, I suspect, I should think they have a capacity to throw up properly eye watering bills.

[otolith]

ZX10R NIN said:

They can't make anymore restrictions on diesels as Euro6 is the highest you can get, the next restriction will be on Euro4 petrols.

Euro7 expected in 3 years, though. Would be harsh, I think, to start cutting off Euro6 diesels, but they do want them out of cities. I think on the whole probably safe for a while.

ZX10R NIN said:

Insignia VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202072...

Had discounted those, but that one is a lot of car (and performance) for the money. TCO could be not so good if it continues to depreciate heavily, I guess.

ZX10R NIN said:

2.5 Mazda GT Sport Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204204...

Bit slow, and front drive, and four cylinders. Just a bit ordinary, I think.

ZX10R NIN said:

3.0TDI A6 Black Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...

Yes, those are a possibility. Looked at one last time, an older one, but it had issues. Borked electronics and a built-in waterfall feature integrated into the tailgate Smart, nice interior, bit forgettable to drive by all accounts? But then if I'm going Euro6 diesel, the 335d might be more interesting.

ZX10R NIN said:

Volvo V60 Diesel Hybrid:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206156...

Those are more interesting than I thought. I don't mind a five cylinder. Definitely an option.

[otolith]

leef44 said:

Subaru Legacy 3.0R Save the pennies for fuel and maintenance. It won't depreciate.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

Too much of a Subaru enthusiast's car, I think. I want something reasonably new, modern, reliable, not needing much TLC.

I have actually run a Subaru estate once before, a non-turbo Impreza. It had a catastrophic engine failure on the M6, oil everywhere.

[otolith]

samoht said:

The current argument is whether Euro 7 will come in in 2025, 2026 or later https://www.fuelsandlubes.com/acea-says-2025-targe... .

It seems relatively unlikely that cars newer than three years old would be banned/surcharged from city centres for pollution reasons (?), so I'd imagine the earliest date for Euro 7 city centre requirements would be what, 2028-30 ?

The other thing we could see in this timeframe is all ICE cars being charged regardless of emissions status, but that wouldn't distinguish between petrol or diesel or old or new cars.

Fair points. Or just all diesels.

[Silvanus]

Doesn't quite tick all the boxes but ticks quite a few and is a bit of a wild card, how about a Kia Stinger

[otolith]

The cheapest 200bhp four cylinder Stinger on the market would be in budget, but not really practical enough or roomy enough in the back to replace an E class estate.

[ninjag]

otolith said:

ChocolateFrog said:

I've no idea what is and isn't ULEZ compliant but vaguely remember some older petrols are OK.

So on that assumption and without doing any research a Porsche Panamera?

That is actually a better shout than I assumed, it's more practical than I thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dvteqt2_5w

Would be an older petrol model, 2010 ish and 80k miles, but maybe special enough not to feel too short changed.

Bit brave pill, I suspect, I should think they have a capacity to throw up properly eye watering bills.

I like these, apparently bigger than they look. I think they are turbo? Re. bills, when I have been looking up parts for servicing the Audi quite often the exact same part number is for Porsche as well (and VW), but with a few quid stuck on for that Porsche stamp,

If serious about this car it may be worth looking up any common issues then cross checking compatible part numbers? I think it was the LLLParts site.

[otolith]

The Porsche is an interesting thought, but maybe strays too far from the brief of being sensible, reliable transport which doesn’t require too much time or money to run while not boring me rigid. It’s tempting but probably unwise.

[omniflow]

If you can get over your objection to a 4 cylinder turbo, then a Mondeo 2.0 Ecoboost Estate will tick all of the remaining boxes.

[otolith]

omniflow said:

If you can get over your objection to a 4 cylinder turbo, then a Mondeo 2.0 Ecoboost Estate will tick all of the remaining boxes.

Hmm. Front wheel drive. Two litre four cylinder turbo. 60 in 8 seconds.

It meets the "can get family and luggage from A-B" brief, but I think it falls down on the "not depressing" side. Suspect that the depreciation will be hefty too.

[omniflow]

otolith said:

Hmm. Front wheel drive. Two litre four cylinder turbo. 60 in 8 seconds.

It meets the "can get family and luggage from A-B" brief, but I think it falls down on the "not depressing" side. Suspect that the depreciation will be hefty too.

I have a 156 GTA Sportwagon, A Maserati Gran Cabrio MC and a Mondeo Estate 2 litre ecoboost.

I really love driving the Mondeo - it really isn't depressing in the slightest. It's a lovely place to sit, and it's a good drive. I recently did a 2 day trip in to to Angouleme to bail out my parents. 1250 miles in 2 days - would cruise effortlessly at 100mph on the French Autoroutes. Fresh as a daisy at the end of both days.

Depreciation shouldn't be a problem either, they don't make them any more. I bought mine at 6 months old with 4,000 miles on the clock for £22K - after 3 years and 30,000 miles it was still worth £17K.

[otolith]

I can see that it works from a utilitarian point of view, and at a lower budget I would certainly consider one like this;

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...

But for close to 20k I can't help feeling that I'd resent it. Same as the Passat or the Mazda6 really. Perfectly good cars, nothing objectively wrong with them, but front drive, uninteresting engines, bit slow.

[ninjag]

The 2014/15 S4 Avant does seem to be the only thing which ticks all the boxes when looking at your original brief. Even the 520 miles once a month is nothing for it as it will return mid to high 30's.

Six Cylinder, Petrol, Euro 6, Supercharged, Estate, AWD, reasonably economical, reasonable maintenance costs etc

You may have to compromise somewhere if wanting something else?



---
I don’t particularly want a diesel. Check

I don’t particularly want a four cylinder car, or a petrol turbo. Check, Check

I’m a little nervous about whether further restrictions are coming on currently low emission compliant diesels. Check

So. Don’t want another E class. Check

Don’t need something as big as an A6 or 5 series, though wouldn’t rule them out. Check

Hot hatchback derived estates too small, often front drive, usually turbo 4, and a bit juvenile. AWD so Check
---

[ChattingWham]

Outside anything already suggested, Audi A7/S7 or BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo spring to mind, with a bit of squinting on the estate parameter. A 5 GT in particular is pretty practical, the boot is massive. And the 550i is a lovely engine. Although you'd be looking at a 2010, 2011 or 2012 one so possibly not new enough to justify the change.

Beyond that, I assume an SUV isn't your tas de thé? Speaking purely personally, I'd probably throw seven grand on a 2009 Nissan Murano V6 -- I've had one myself, they're pretty good cars -- and spend the rest on a holiday but that's my imaginary cash and not yours!

[otolith]

Yes, S4 might be the thing. I guess the shortlist is now something along the lines of;

S4 - aim for 2014, 50,000 miles
335d - aim for 2015, 45,000 miles
C350e - aim for 2017, 45,000 miles
Volvo V60 D6 - aim for 2018, 60,000 miles

And the 5 GT is an intriguing call - they seem to be a bit unloved, and as a result don't look bad value. Six and eight cylinder petrol options (older, but low mileage) and 35d options too. Look to be often well equipped. Look like they are pretty practical with the seats folded down - does that still work with the individual rear seats? Essential I can get fishing gear into it. And does the parcel shelf come out, although my big dog is no more we have my OH's little shih tsu to accommodate in the boot.

[aussieal]

otolith said:

Yes, S4 might be the thing. I guess the shortlist is now something along the lines of;

S4 - aim for 2014, 50,000 miles
335d - aim for 2015, 45,000 miles
C350e - aim for 2017, 45,000 miles
Volvo V60 D6 - aim for 2018, 60,000 miles

Without wanting to breach PH rules, I will be putting my S4 Avant up for sale in the next week or so. Doesn't quite hit the above as it's a 2013 car with just shy of 64k miles. Great spec and condition though, so would be happy to share details direct if it was of interest.

Incidentally, you've just had me looking at 6 series GT's, which seem to be better spec'd and better value than equivalent aged 5 series tourings.

[otolith]

aussieal said:

Without wanting to breach PH rules, I will be putting my S4 Avant up for sale in the next week or so. Doesn't quite hit the above as it's a 2013 car with just shy of 64k miles. Great spec and condition though, so would be happy to share details direct if it was of interest.

Incidentally, you've just had me looking at 6 series GT's, which seem to be better spec'd and better value than equivalent aged 5 series tourings.

I've got two cars to offload and was planning to trade one of them in against whatever I buy, so buying privately leaves me with the problem of having to sell another one - but I was interested in your reasons for selling. You mention in your thread that it feels cramped inside and there's little space behind you (6'2) for a tall 5 year old in a booster seat. I do have a slight concern about rear legspace. My OH and I are both 5'6 ish, but we've got two teenagers and their father is quite tall. The boy is a couple of inches taller than us already at 14 and still growing rapidly, and is moaning about legroom in the back of her CLK. I did read that the sports seats in the S4 reduced legroom compared to boggo A4s, and that they weren't all that spacious to begin with, is this likely to be a problem?

[Bannock]

Is there a VW Arteon Shooting Brake variant in this category, I wonder?