big estates on a budget

[feef]

Looking for a decent sized estate, but on a budget of at most £4k, to replace an Alfa 159 Sportwagon.

Preferably 2008ish or newer, 2.0 or larger engine, not interstellar mileage.

Currently thinking the Volvo V50, Citroen C5 or Subaru Legacy.

I know Citroens well, having had many of them over the years.

Subaru seems to be a lot of car for the money, and have supposedly good reliability

And Volvo, well, it's a big estate isn't it?

More interested in comfort on distances than handling. (I used to have a Citroen C6, so yeah, comfort)

Dunno why but I just don't fancy a Mondeo or Vauxhall.
Used to have a Jag X-type and just didn't gel with it.

Anything else to consider?

[boyse7en]

The V50 isn't very big at all - more like a Focus estate.

The C5 is nice and feels quite special inside.

Other suggestions include Saab 9-5 (big, good value, Aeros are quick), Honda Accord (big, excellent diesel engine and manual gearbox, seem to live forever), Ford Mondeo (big, lots to choose from, good drive but interior is dull and the chrome trim/wheels were badly corroded on all the ones I looked at), VW Passat (dull but economical), Toyota Avensis (dull but economical and should live forever) and the Audi A6 (seen as a premium model for some reason so are often overpriced) and

[Harji]

I've had a Subaru Legacy Estate, 2.5, its massive . Mine was a 2004 , and I wish I had a reason to keep it. I currently drive a pre-dpf 2.7 A6 Quattro estate, Avant.

The A6 is also massive, and you should be able to find a well equipped one for peanuts. Mine was very well kitted out (I have the list) and I bought it just over a year ago for £5.1k at 88,000 miles. I've taken it over a 100k since at an average of 37mpg, my killer is when it's stuck in traffic.

The 2.7 v6 engine is a peach (diesel), and the oil change is easy to do (I used a suction pump, the oil filter is on the top), it also had no advisories at its MOT last month, the car is 12 years old.

[keo]

Passat estate? I think (but might be wrong) that they are based on the A6. You might get more for your money with VW as oppose to Audi.

[BugLebowski]

If you're going for a C5 estate, go for the Exclusive trim. It's the only version that gets the magic hydroneumatic suspension.

[blue_haddock]

I'm looking at the 08 on C5 as a replacement for my ageing 9-5 2.2 Tid estate.

They look great value but i keep wondering how well put together it will be and am i always going to be worrying over an expensive failure.

[feef]

blue_haddock said:

I'm looking at the 08 on C5 as a replacement for my ageing 9-5 2.2 Tid estate.

They look great value but i keep wondering how well put together it will be and am i always going to be worrying over an expensive failure.

I had a 1st gen C5 a few years ago and there really wasn't ANY problems with reliability or maintenance. I should have kept it really, but wanted something more 'fun' as most of my driving at that point was 20-30 miles on twisty A and B roads.

Now it's all around town or motorway, and I have the MX5 project for other stuff (when I finally get it finished anyway)

[loskie]

Superb estate but check the seats suit you or V70. V50 isnt a decent size as already said.
Or an old E Class?

[lornemalvo]

If by big you mean boot space I'd seriously consider a Skoda Octavia. Big enough to be roomy inside, they have an enormous boot, but are still a sensible size for parking spaces etc. IMO possibly the perfectly sized car. The Superb is even bigger but possibly too big physically and the additional space seems largely to be legroom in the back

[Tall_Paul]

3.0 gen4 legacy/outback. Mahoosive boot, fits 4x 6ft+ blokes with comfort, the higher specs ones have leather, cruise, big sunroof, electric seats, automatic with flappy paddles, xenon headlights, and so-on.

245bhp, AWD and a proper jekyll & hyde character. 25ish average mpg but the engine makes it worth that.

£4k would get you one, maybe not a spec b but deffo a 3.0Rn legacy or the equivalent outback. Mine was £4700 for a 2006 with 92k miles.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Mondeo 2.5T in Titanium X trim would be my first port of call, but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

ST220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes E280 Avantgarde would be my second choice but again it's hard to find them:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Saab 9-5 Vector Sport (joint third are the two Swedish options)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

V70 SE 2.5T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leftfield:

V6 Laguna

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[codenamecueball]

Superb V6?

After a quick investigation there's no estates around. Sorry chief!

[Mr Tidy]

BMW E91 maybe?

No huge loadspace, but a great drive.

I got change from £3K when I bought my 325i SE with heated leather in February.