Need some Diesel \ Estate Inspiration - £7k budget

[Zero7]

Having just seen my E92 M3 being driven off my driveway (sob sob) I am in need of a new car. I'm going back to two cars and will have a Caterham for weekend fun so need a daily lugger.

My requirements are:

Need to be able to lug load of wood in the back (moved to the country so need to fuel my log burners)
45+ mpg - Don't mind petrol but diesel may be better as quite fancy a far bit of torque.
Good sized boot, enough to fit wooden pallets
Reasonably quick \ exciting
Not a depreciation nightmare (had enough of that with my M3's)
Will be covering around 15k-18k P.A
Comfy and well loaded, could do with Sat Nav, iPOD connectivity etc..
No really high milers..

Looking at A4's but not much about that price for the money with good spec.
Not too keen on the plastic interior of the Mondeo

What' out there for around £7k that ticks these boxes.

[Vaud]

A6 3.0tdi is good - won't quite get 45 (38-40 is possible) and eats miles, plus very comfy place to be.

Honda Accord Tourer is a very solid car.

Saab 95?

[Fittster]

Vaud said:

Honda Accord Tourer is a very solid car.

The diesel aren't so solid.

[Somnophore]

Octavia vrs diesel

[CarlT]

Passat Estate

[Zero7]

Some links guys... THe accord estate is pig ugly.

[Vaud]

Zero7 said:

Some links guys... THe accord estate is pig ugly.

Yes, but it's quite effective.

[willmagrath]

Somnophore said:

Octavia vrs diesel

I'll second this, just an a4 that's cheaper, more interesting and better to drive

[Zero7]

willmagrath said:

I'll second this, just an a4 that's cheaper, more interesting and better to drive

Any particular model... or ones to avoid, find me a decent one..

[Hugo a Gogo]

pallets in the back?
not a Mondeo,
E class?

or a big MPV, like a Galaxy

I'd be hard pressed to see anything else fitting a euro pallet in the back

and a pile of logs?

get a towbar and a trailer ffs

[willmagrath]

Zero7 said:

willmagrath said:

I'll second this, just an a4 that's cheaper, more interesting and better to drive

Any particular model... or ones to avoid, find me a decent one..

Found this one....
www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20140311242...

Well there's 2 models the petrol 2.0 turbo (golf gti engine) with 200hp and the 2.0 diesel with 170hp. Both great engines, both torquey. Both motors are pretty bullet proof If well maintained and can see well over 100-150k miles

[willmagrath]

So it's up to you really on model, the diesel will lug logs around with over 45mpg pretty easily, but the petrol won't! Although it won't be too far off

[Zero7]

Hugo a Gogo said:

pallets in the back?
not a Mondeo,
E class?

or a big MPV, like a Galaxy

I'd be hard pressed to see anything else fitting a euro pallet in the back

and a pile of logs?

get a towbar and a trailer ffs

A6 will, my brother dropped off three pallets in his the other day.

[Zero7]

willmagrath said:

Found this one....
www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20140311242...

Well there's 2 models the petrol 2.0 turbo (golf gti engine) with 200hp and the 2.0 diesel with 170hp. Both great engines, both torquey. Both motors are pretty bullet proof If well maintained and can see well over 100-150k miles

That's quite nice, not the colour for me but pretty much meets my criteria, perhaps hasn't got as many toys as I'm after.

[willmagrath]

Here's one with more bits!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...