Best estate car?
Discussion
I'm a big fan of estate cars. Maybe it's because my dad always had one when I was growing up but what is the best one? For a lot of people who for whatever reason can't have a huge fleet of cars and want something practical and car-like to drive they can tick a lot of boxes. I would still much rather drive an estate car than an SUV/MPV and would only consider one of these if I needed more than 5 seats. I quite like my 2004 Impreza WRX Estate for its blend of practicality, pace and fun but it is a bit on the small side to be really practical.
Obviously, practicality is really important in an estate car but the drive, performance, style, comfort and desirability would have to come into it as well. I'm going to rule out estates like the 159/A4/3-Series/V50 (stylish but too small) and I think that the BMW M5/Audi RS6/Mercedes AMG estates are too OTT. The engineering is impressive but Ferrari levels of fuel consumption aren't really practical in an estate car.
It's a shame that they didn't do an E39 M5 Touring as that would be the perfect estate car IMO. In the absence of this, my vote would go for the old-shape V8 RS6 Estate. It's big (so practical), fast, sounds awesome and I prefer the styling to the current RS6 (the A6 and A4 estates now look too similar in my opinion). The best bit is that you can now buy them for as little as £12k!
So, what's the best estate car and why?
Obviously, practicality is really important in an estate car but the drive, performance, style, comfort and desirability would have to come into it as well. I'm going to rule out estates like the 159/A4/3-Series/V50 (stylish but too small) and I think that the BMW M5/Audi RS6/Mercedes AMG estates are too OTT. The engineering is impressive but Ferrari levels of fuel consumption aren't really practical in an estate car.
It's a shame that they didn't do an E39 M5 Touring as that would be the perfect estate car IMO. In the absence of this, my vote would go for the old-shape V8 RS6 Estate. It's big (so practical), fast, sounds awesome and I prefer the styling to the current RS6 (the A6 and A4 estates now look too similar in my opinion). The best bit is that you can now buy them for as little as £12k!
So, what's the best estate car and why?
I agree that an E39 Touring would be a lovely thing. I think they did a prototype but for some reason chose not to run with it. There is a LHD only E34 though. Bet that would be fun but maybe also capable of generating wallet wilting bills. Why have BMW never made M3 Tourings as well?
Anyway enough waffle, I like my estates a little smaller so my vote would be either E46 Alpina 3.3 or the first shape Audi RS4. Both lovely things.
Anyway enough waffle, I like my estates a little smaller so my vote would be either E46 Alpina 3.3 or the first shape Audi RS4. Both lovely things.
Stil enjoying my X-Type estate. Comfy, well equipped, decent boot for dog carrying and 50mpg is possible. Downside is that it sounds like a tractor.
Can of course be had with a 3.0 V6 with 240bhp.
2nd hand they are cheaper than the equivalent A4 or 3 Series, because people are snobs and believe it's "just a Mondeo in posh clothes".
Maybe a bit soft if you're used to an Impreza and looking at an RS6 though.
Can of course be had with a 3.0 V6 with 240bhp.
2nd hand they are cheaper than the equivalent A4 or 3 Series, because people are snobs and believe it's "just a Mondeo in posh clothes".
Maybe a bit soft if you're used to an Impreza and looking at an RS6 though.
Gad-Westy said:
. Why have BMW never made M3 Tourings as well?
I have never understood this, considering that Audi can't build "hot" Avants quickly enough to satisfy the need, why don't BMW jump on this too?? (if BMW built an M3 Tourer, i'd buy one tomorrow (actually, i'd probably buy one this afternoon tbh!!) (if my garage wasn't so full of other unfinished projects i'd be "frankensteining" an M3 and a 3 series tourer together as we speak ;-)
mnkiboy said:
Stil enjoying my X-Type estate. Comfy, well equipped, decent boot for dog carrying and 50mpg is possible. Downside is that it sounds like a tractor.
Can of course be had with a 3.0 V6 with 240bhp.
2nd hand they are cheaper than the equivalent A4 or 3 Series, because people are snobs and believe it's "just a Mondeo in posh clothes".
Maybe a bit soft if you're used to an Impreza and looking at an RS6 though.
They are cheap, as they they are god awful cars. Nothing to do with badge snobbery & everything to do with a lack of build quality, the most uncomfortable driving position ever designed, woeful performance combined with awful fuel economy from the petrol variants (especially the 2.5 & 3.0, with a terribly power sapping 4WD system).Can of course be had with a 3.0 V6 with 240bhp.
2nd hand they are cheaper than the equivalent A4 or 3 Series, because people are snobs and believe it's "just a Mondeo in posh clothes".
Maybe a bit soft if you're used to an Impreza and looking at an RS6 though.
Sorry, but IMO, X Types are s
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