Estate, £2500-£4000, what are the options?
Discussion
OK as mentioned elsewhere I'm considering opting for 2 cars rather than one, an estate and a fun car. The latter I can decide on my own, but I've never looked for an estate previously so just want to see if I'm missing anything glaringly obvious, or considering a potential money pit.
So budget as stated £2500 - £4000, the less I spend on this the more I have for the other.
Favourites at the moment are:
- e46 3 series M-Sport, previously owned a 330i so know these reasonably well
- Jag X type, never liked them previously but seem to have aged well and look nice
- Saab 9-5, know bugger all about Saabs, but appear good vfm
[snob mode] I know there are a lot more makes/models to choose from, however I'd quite like something with a slightly more premium feel to it than a Mondeo [snob mode]
What's it for...basically I want to fold the back seats down so I can just chuck my bike in the back of the car without taking the front wheel off, stick a cover down and not worry about it getting mucky.
It will be used for the 85 mile work commute (mainly b roads) when it's too cold or wet to take the other car, or I can't be arsed to walk down the garden to the garage.
But also for family duties on Sundays when the 3 of us are going out somewhere. This is where some of the preference for a premium feel comes in, my wife will not want to get in a snotter - her walking instead is not an option
- nor would I want one parked on the drive to be fair, and if my colleagues see me turn up in something crappy, they'll assume the company is going down the toilet.
As it will be doing around 10k miles a year and longish journeys then reasonable mpg would be preferred. I know the 330i will do around 28mpg and that would be the worst I'd consider, really mid 30's would be ideal.
Cheap to maintain and lacking in potentially ruinous bills would be a criteria, which is where Ithink the Jag as it's got Mondeo bits?? and the Saab with GM bits??? are good options.
Anyway, opinions please and suggestions of alternatives gratefully received.
So budget as stated £2500 - £4000, the less I spend on this the more I have for the other.
Favourites at the moment are:
- e46 3 series M-Sport, previously owned a 330i so know these reasonably well
- Jag X type, never liked them previously but seem to have aged well and look nice
- Saab 9-5, know bugger all about Saabs, but appear good vfm
[snob mode] I know there are a lot more makes/models to choose from, however I'd quite like something with a slightly more premium feel to it than a Mondeo [snob mode]
What's it for...basically I want to fold the back seats down so I can just chuck my bike in the back of the car without taking the front wheel off, stick a cover down and not worry about it getting mucky.
It will be used for the 85 mile work commute (mainly b roads) when it's too cold or wet to take the other car, or I can't be arsed to walk down the garden to the garage.
But also for family duties on Sundays when the 3 of us are going out somewhere. This is where some of the preference for a premium feel comes in, my wife will not want to get in a snotter - her walking instead is not an option
- nor would I want one parked on the drive to be fair, and if my colleagues see me turn up in something crappy, they'll assume the company is going down the toilet. As it will be doing around 10k miles a year and longish journeys then reasonable mpg would be preferred. I know the 330i will do around 28mpg and that would be the worst I'd consider, really mid 30's would be ideal.
Cheap to maintain and lacking in potentially ruinous bills would be a criteria, which is where Ithink the Jag as it's got Mondeo bits?? and the Saab with GM bits??? are good options.
Anyway, opinions please and suggestions of alternatives gratefully received.
BMW 325, 330, 535, 530 is the correct answer. Diesel option of same value will be higher mileage or older than a petrol equivalent. E46 3 series sport estates are lovely to drive and cope with high mileages with little drama.
Audi A4 avant 3.0 is worth looking at - 3.0 petrol being quite cheap to buy, nicely finnished, plenty fast enought to be fun and quite small.
Saab 9-5 2.3T great value but rubbery old thing to drive the other two much nicer to use.
Volvo T5 worth looking at as well but I'd avoid turbo cars of this price range for MPG and potential repair bills. The BMW or Audi gives good performance without a turbo.
Audi A4 avant 3.0 is worth looking at - 3.0 petrol being quite cheap to buy, nicely finnished, plenty fast enought to be fun and quite small.
Saab 9-5 2.3T great value but rubbery old thing to drive the other two much nicer to use.
Volvo T5 worth looking at as well but I'd avoid turbo cars of this price range for MPG and potential repair bills. The BMW or Audi gives good performance without a turbo.
The Jag doesn't share as many Mondeo bits as you might think, unless you go for the diesel in which case the engine is pretty much lifted from the Ford.
From your list I'd go for the Jag anyway, it's the nicest looking and goes well, but with 4wd on the V6 petrol's it won't be great on fuel.
Personally i'd choose a 530i.
From your list I'd go for the Jag anyway, it's the nicest looking and goes well, but with 4wd on the V6 petrol's it won't be great on fuel.
Personally i'd choose a 530i.
As a sort of left-field suggestion to the usual BMWs/Mercs etc. What about a Lexus IS300 SportCross? They're in budget, look quite good, and will be reliable and decent enough drive and handling. Also quite a rarity so it's an unique choice IMO.
The only 'downsides' are is that it won't be as big as a 'proper' estate - although still do the things you want - and i think they're all automatics?
The only 'downsides' are is that it won't be as big as a 'proper' estate - although still do the things you want - and i think they're all automatics?
Blimey that was quick!
I'm going to make myself unpopular now I'm afraid, however I find the e39 5 series a little dated now.
In terms of size, if my bike will fit in without the faff of taking it to pieces then it is big enough. In theory I could just buy a tow bar and bike carrier for any other car, but two cars imo is my perfect combination.
I spend 5 days a week in the car on my own, I only need 2 seats on the 6th day of the week, and 3 seats on the 7th. I only use the boot when I take my bike somewhere, and on the odd Sunday when we all go out.
Therefore imo there is little point in me taking another company car which is just a compromise to fit all of the above.
I did just look at the IS sportcross thingy and wondered if it was any good. I remember many moons ago borrowing a colleagues IS saloon, and thinking it was the most dreary thing I'd driven in a long time!
Nobody's championing the Saab then?? I thought they seemed very good vfm, probably get an 05 in budget, reasonable miles, well equipped. Are they that crappy to drive?
I'm going to make myself unpopular now I'm afraid, however I find the e39 5 series a little dated now.
In terms of size, if my bike will fit in without the faff of taking it to pieces then it is big enough. In theory I could just buy a tow bar and bike carrier for any other car, but two cars imo is my perfect combination.
I spend 5 days a week in the car on my own, I only need 2 seats on the 6th day of the week, and 3 seats on the 7th. I only use the boot when I take my bike somewhere, and on the odd Sunday when we all go out.
Therefore imo there is little point in me taking another company car which is just a compromise to fit all of the above.
I did just look at the IS sportcross thingy and wondered if it was any good. I remember many moons ago borrowing a colleagues IS saloon, and thinking it was the most dreary thing I'd driven in a long time!
Nobody's championing the Saab then?? I thought they seemed very good vfm, probably get an 05 in budget, reasonable miles, well equipped. Are they that crappy to drive?
V70 seems a good shout, even if I've never imagined myself driving a Volvo 
Doesn't necessarily need to be newer, I suppose it's that old argument of what's the best criteria - age, mileage, condition - personally I tend to shortlist using the first two and then buy on the latter. Might not be right, but gottta start somehwhere.
Legacy - knew I'd seen something else earlier that should be on my list, thanks for the reminder. You're right, the 2.5 appears in budget, don't know anything about their mpg or cost of maintaining though. Used to own an Impreza Sti and that was pretty bullet proof, assume other Subarus are similar?
Doesn't necessarily need to be newer, I suppose it's that old argument of what's the best criteria - age, mileage, condition - personally I tend to shortlist using the first two and then buy on the latter. Might not be right, but gottta start somehwhere.
Legacy - knew I'd seen something else earlier that should be on my list, thanks for the reminder. You're right, the 2.5 appears in budget, don't know anything about their mpg or cost of maintaining though. Used to own an Impreza Sti and that was pretty bullet proof, assume other Subarus are similar?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff