16k... what fun estate?

[Doodles19]

The m135i has got to go! Way too small unfortunately.

So I'm after another car, requirements are as follows:

- Estate, (bonus points for bigger).

- Reliable (no 150k mile 10+ year old v8s with air suspension that has its own ideas about when it wants to work!)

- Quick enough (200bhp+)

- Auto, (bonus points for a good auto dsg or the zf 8 speed).

- Decent on fuel.

- ULEZ compliant (euro 6). Preferably petrol, they're more future proof. This is usually MY-2015+.

- Decent handler, something that doesn't fall apart the more you push it.

For my requirements, Octavia VRS obviously comes to mind first. But I just can't get particularly excited about them. Leon Cupra STs also spring to mind. But they are nigh on impossible to find.

Hoping PH can help me out!

Cheers!

Edited by Doodles19 on Thursday 2nd May 09:42

Edited by Doodles19 on Thursday 2nd May 09:48

[IAmTupperware]

Hmm, probably not ULEZ compliant but i'd want either an 850R or V70R. Bloody fun and different, plus they will retain their value at the least.

[Doodles19]

IAmTupperware said:

Hmm, probably not ULEZ compliant but i'd want either an 850R or V70R. Bloody fun and different, plus they will retain their value at the least.

Proper soft spot for those. Massively understated cool.

Sadly, not even nearly compliant for ULEZ.

I'd be looking for something late MY2015+.

[Belle427]

Golf R Estate

[BUG4LIFE]

BMW F31 328i/330i/335i/340i or 330d/335d.

Golf R Estate.

Ford Focus ST Estate.

Merc CLS SB/C-Class Estate/E-Class Estate.

Jag XF Sportbrake.

If you're feeling brave Merc C63 Estate!

Subaru Legacy.

Or if a big hatchback will do Audi A5 Sportback/A7.

Not sure all/any of these match with all your requirements but as you can see, I've been thinking the same thing!

[gazza5]

Mondeo estate? 2.0 ecoboost - wouldn't bother with 1.5 personally. Think they are 240ps.

Very left field choice, and quite rare, insignia vxr?

For 16k you could probably get a reasonable 320i estate.

I would of thought for 16k you would struggle for a golf r etc.

Focus st estate (although not a auto) - although possibly for legroom etc similar to the M135i

[ZX10R NIN]

Doodles19 said:

The m135i has got to go! Way too small unfortunately.

So I'm after another car, requirements are as follows:

- Estate, (bonus points for bigger).

- Reliable (no 150k mile 10+ year old v8s with air suspension that has its own ideas about when it wants to work!)

- Quick enough (200bhp+)

- Auto, (bonus points for a good auto dsg or the zf 8 speed).

- Decent on fuel.

- ULEZ compliant (euro 6). Preferably petrol, they're more future proof. This is usually MY-2015+.

- Decent handler, something that doesn't fall apart the more you push it.

For my requirements, Octavia VRS obviously comes to mind first. But I just can't get particularly excited about them. Leon Cupra STs also spring to mind. But they are nigh on impossible to find.

Hoping PH can help me out!

Cheers!

All Euro5 petrol cars are ULEZ compliant, on the mainstream cars the VRS is a good option but the Mondeo is the better steer & has the same amount of go but imo is the better place to be over the Skoda.

2.0T Mondeo Vignale ignore the headline on the advert it is a petrol.

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

Titanium

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

Now there is an interesting mainstream option that often gets overlooked but has a whole heap of go & is a rare sight as well as being a much better steer than it's given credit for, they're hard to find but worth a look as you can get them in Auto to:

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

The obvious answer is the 328i M Sport:

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

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

330i M Sport

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

Audi S4 they may be a bit older but they're a very good car.

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

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

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

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

[Maccles]

With vaguely similar criteria and a slightly smaller budget, I narrowed myself down to an E-class estate (you could get one with a V6, although the 250 CDI I bought has 201 bhp), a Jaguar XF Estate (again, with a V6 and in Porfolio trim is very well equipped) or a BMW 530d Touring (I liked these but the interior wasn't quite as good and the boot not quite as big as the Merc).

[Shiv_P]

ULEZ for petrol is euro 4 not euro 6. If diesel yes euro 6 which is post 2015 but petrol only post 2005 so you have a wide range of petrol options.

[sidekickdmr]

I sold my rather tasty Audi S4 for only 16k about a year ago, that was a great car, genuinely quick, comfy and roomy

[ninjag]

Unfortunately your budget limits you to the first generation XF Sportbrake which are diesel and Euro 5. There is a 5.0 V8 petrol version which is ulez compliant but it's rare and expensive.

The second generation will all be ulez compliant but you are looking at around £18k upwards. Personally I think the first gen has a nicer interior.

I've never been a fan of Audi except for the S4. Not sure why, just something about its sleeper looks with subtle hints of something special that I like. Would probably be my choice due to ulez.

[Doodles19]

Thank you all for the replies. Despite older petrol models being eligible for the ULEZ, purely from a maintenance and reliability standpoint, I'm not particularly interested. Unfortunately I simply don't have the time to fix cars myself, even small problems, any time in the garage without the possibility of a courtesy car is also unfortunately a deal-breaker.

I've been to test drive the Octavia VRS 230 petrol DSG.

Lovely car, but I'm not sure I love it enough to spend the money on it. Maybe it's a car that grows on you the more you own it and live with it day to day. Albeit, I'm sure it will be reliable and good enough fun when it needs to be.

I wanted to try to get into a Seat Leon Cupra ST, but they seem to be nigh on impossible to find in my price range. I don't think anyone bought one before they were 300bhp and 4wd!

[Doodles19]

As others have echoed, whilst the Golf R is the obvious favorite here. Unfortunately I simply don't have the cash and won't take out finance. Much to the bafflement of the dealer, who said people just simply don't buy cars for cash anymore!!

[DoubleD]

£16k will get you a good estate car, but you should split the budget. £6k on a good estate and the rest on something that will actually be fun.

[Doodles19]

DoubleD said:

£16k will get you a good estate car, but you should split the budget. £6k on a good estate and the rest on something that will actually be fun.

This would already be a second car.

I have had three before, not going to go back. Unfortunately, I very rarely have the time to actually go out for a drive by myself.

So the estate has to be a jack of all trades.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say with your specific requirements these are your real world options:

Mondeo 240 Vignale

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

Focus ST-3/2

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

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

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

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

Audi A4 SE

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

Leon ST 280/290

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

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

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

320i M Sport

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