A4 Avant vs 3 Series Touring (MY07-10)

[Mr Taxpayer]

OK, it's been asked before but not since 2009, so here goes...

I need something larger than my Impreza WRX wagon. The driver for change is rear legroom and boot space (children getting bigger). My budget is £8-10k, not interested in diesels, so that returns a lot of cars in the 2007-2009 model years. Have so far narrowed it down to 3-series and A4 Avants but have had a look at a few 5-series touring...

So PHers, what are your recommendations?

[Debaser]

My recommendation would be to get something RWD.

[Lozw86]

Those cars are not particularly spacious, you may want to consider 5 series /A6 / E class merc

[DoubleSix]

If it's rear legroom and boot space you need then look at 5 series and A6.

A4 and 3 series are really not very spacious.

[spreadsheet monkey]

Lozw86 said:

Those cars are not particularly spacious, you may want to consider 5 series /A6 / E class merc

Depends how old the OPs children are. With babies/toddlers still in bulky car seats you might want to go up to a bigger size, but if the kids are a bit older and only need booster seats, an A4 or 3-series touring has a decent boot and enough space in the back.

I've owned an E90 3-series (saloon) and a B8 Audi A4 (estate) in the past and they were both good cars. Out of the two, I preferred the BMW but both were good.

My children are 2 and 5 and two years ago we found the A4 estate was too small for us so we switched for a Honda CRV. We plan to change back to a normal estate car in a few years when the children are older and no longer need bulky car seats.

Edited by spreadsheet monkey on Saturday 4th February 09:08

[Mr Taxpayer]

Kids are 14 and 11. So small adults really. They only go in the car at weekends; we don't do a lot of miles (hence no need for diesel). They've outgrown the Impreza. Mahoosive boot space is not important as we have a roof rack/top box for the annual holiday.

It's clear from pictures on Autotrader that the A4 has a bigger boot because the 3 series boot has the suspension towers invading it. More interested in rear occupant space.

I know that both cars had a model change around 07/08 amd interested in the effects of that.

[spreadsheet monkey]

Mr Taxpayer said:

Kids are 14 and 11. So small adults really. They only go in the car at weekends; we don't do a lot of miles (hence no need for diesel). They've outgrown the Impreza. Mahoosive boot space is not important as we have a roof rack/top box for the annual holiday.

It's clear from pictures on Autotrader that the A4 has a bigger boot because the 3 series boot has the suspension towers invading it. More interested in rear occupant space.

I know that both cars had a model change around 07/08 amd interested in the effects of that.

I had a late 2007 3-series and a 2013 A4. The changes on the 3 series in 2007 were mainly centred on the engines. The diesels all got a 15-20bhp bump in horsepower and lower CO2 figures making the road tax cheaper. The Audi went from the B7 to the B8 model in 2009. This was a more significant change, with the car growing 4 inches longer and riding on a new chassis with more interior space, as well as getting the DRLs beloved by everyone on PH.