What "interesting" £10k estate?

[white_goodman]

I'm looking to "upgrade" my 2004 Impreza WRX Estate (80k) with something younger, lower miles and slightly bigger, particularly in the boot department. I would still like something that has a decent turn of speed but lower running costs would be a bonus. I like the traction and surefootedness that the 4WD of the Impreza gives me but don't see this as an essential feature on my next car. The other annoyance with my Impreza is that I like to put my daughter's car seat in the centre (as I figure she is safest in the middle of the car and it is a 3-point belt). However, this means that I am unable to fold either of the back seats down to increase the loadspace. I have considered but not yet driven the following:

Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTD Ti Sportwagon (looks stunning but not sure if it drives as well as it looks)
Saab 9-5 Aero Estate (always liked these but not so keen on the bespectacled facelift)
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate (petrol)
Subaru Legacy diesel/Spec B Estate
Subaru Forester Turbo

Any thoughts or recommendations? Have I overlooked anything?

[falkster]

S4?

[anonymous-user]

The Forester is no bigger, essentially the same as yours but on stilts. The Legacy Spec B is a lovely car.

[the stigs dad]

Audi s4 avant foots the bill perfectly. Or an M5 touring

[white_goodman]

falkster said:

S4?

I think the latest S4 would be my ideal car and just about affordable enough to run. Sadly, I think an older V8 S4 would be too expensive for me to run and not much bigger loadspace than my Impreza by the looks of it!

[falkster]

white_goodman said:

I think the latest S4 would be my ideal car and just about affordable enough to run. Sadly, I think an older V8 S4 would be too expensive for me to run and not much bigger loadspace than my Impreza by the looks of it!

I was going to actually suggest an rs6, you can get a newer one cheaper. They do cost about £18m a year to run but great super quick luggers. I drove my friends and it felt so small and agile rather than cumbersome as they look.

[basehead]

Currently looking at a Spec B myself. The only thing putting me off is what appears to be a pretty poor range from a tank, and a twice weekly fill up is not going to go down well!

Any owners care to reveal what they can achieve from a tank?

[CarlT]

the stigs dad said:

Audi s4 avant foots the bill perfectly. Or an M5 touring

M5 Touring for £10k - I don't think so!

[TACottle]

Passat R36.

V6, good noise, 300bhp, 4WD, huge boot, supposedly fantastic DSG box, rare as hens teeth.

Might be a bit out of your budget... Think estates start at around £13k... Although they're coming down all the time.

I think I'll be in the market for one in a year or so! I really like 'em.

[CaptainSlow]

rovermorris999 said:

The Forester is no bigger, essentially the same as yours but on stilts. The Legacy Spec B is a lovely car.

It is, especially the boot.

[white_goodman]

CaptainSlow said:

It is, especially the boot.

I see you've owned a Forester, a vRS and an Alfa diesel CaptainSlow. Any thoughts on the relative merits of the 3 cars?

[yorkebar]

interesting you say?

[Lefty]

rovermorris999 said:

The Forester is no bigger, essentially the same as yours but on stilts. The Legacy Spec B is a lovely car.

We've had a few Foresters and a few Imprezas and every Forester has been bigger than every Impreza.

Same wheelbase, I think? Forester has a bit more rear legroom, a lot more rear headroom and tons more boot space.

[Burrito]

yorkebar said:

interesting you say?

That's lovely.

It's possibly a bit sensible, but what about 5 series touring?
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[PaperCut]

Lexus IS300 Sportcross?

SEAT Exeo ST 2.0TFSI?

[white_goodman]

Hadn't considered a 5-Series to be honest. I guess I thought they would be overbudget. That one is quite nice but the mileage is a bit higher than I would like. Jaguar X-Type Estates are quite cheap. Are they any good?

[dave_s13]

I'm biased but I do love E61's. Nothing else has the correct balance of front engine, RWD loveliness.



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[Lotusevoraboy]

An estate for 10K...that will only get you an acre around here!

[billywhizzzzzz]

white_goodman said:

falkster said:

S4?

I think the latest S4 would be my ideal car and just about affordable enough to run. Sadly, I think an older V8 S4 would be too expensive for me to run and not much bigger loadspace than my Impreza by the looks of it!

My v8 s4 isn't THAT expensive to run. Got 27mpg on a 120 mile run to Gatwick last week (and the same back). My e91 330d touring did a lot more MPG but by dingo I lost a lot on depreciation...

Edited by billywhizzzzzz on Sunday 2nd December 20:37

[dave_s13]

falkster said:

white_goodman said:

I think the latest S4 would be my ideal car and just about affordable enough to run. Sadly, I think an older V8 S4 would be too expensive for me to run and not much bigger loadspace than my Impreza by the looks of it!

I was going to actually suggest an rs6, you can get a newer one cheaper. They do cost about £18m a year to run but great super quick luggers. I drove my friends and it felt so small and agile rather than cumbersome as they look.

Just as an aside...I was out for a run earlier and heard what sounded like God shouting really fcvking loudly at some miscreant non believer. Then an Audi RS6 saloon flew past at full tilt, he was proper caning it. Not everyday you see a car like that been driven at full pelt, sounded properly angry.

Made me smile.