What continent cruising estate car?
Discussion
Hi all,
Time for everyone's favourite topic, a what car thread!
So my trusty Volvo V40 T4 is coming to the end of its life. It has been great travelling all over Europe, I've done 40K in just over two and a quarter years. About 60-70% of that mileage has been travelling somewhere new rather than commuting.
It is a bit small though for us as we have a large dog who takes up almost the entire boot, so all the luggage is in with us. And it's getting uneconomical to repair
So looking for something that can take him, 6 months of clothes and stuff whilst being comfortable, quick and relatively economic we have averaged 35Mpg in the Volvo over our trips so something similar would be great.
For reference on the size of dog he is a Czech Wolfdog who stands 69cm at the shoulder and is quite long so he needs good head room as he enjoys watching where we are going. I got an E39 530d but with its flat boot it was too shallow for him.
I reckon a ph2 v70 d5 will probably be best but not sure if I'm missing anything else interesting. Oh and budget is maximum £2.5K.
Cheers folks.
Time for everyone's favourite topic, a what car thread!
So my trusty Volvo V40 T4 is coming to the end of its life. It has been great travelling all over Europe, I've done 40K in just over two and a quarter years. About 60-70% of that mileage has been travelling somewhere new rather than commuting.
It is a bit small though for us as we have a large dog who takes up almost the entire boot, so all the luggage is in with us. And it's getting uneconomical to repair
So looking for something that can take him, 6 months of clothes and stuff whilst being comfortable, quick and relatively economic we have averaged 35Mpg in the Volvo over our trips so something similar would be great.
For reference on the size of dog he is a Czech Wolfdog who stands 69cm at the shoulder and is quite long so he needs good head room as he enjoys watching where we are going. I got an E39 530d but with its flat boot it was too shallow for him.
I reckon a ph2 v70 d5 will probably be best but not sure if I'm missing anything else interesting. Oh and budget is maximum £2.5K.
Cheers folks.
Another volvo will fit the bill
Or a mercedes e class with airmatic, ideally the e500 for ultimate waft. But for cruising and e320 cdi or something like that.
Tidy Range rover? Not an estate but split tailgate means the dog will love it. And it’s the comfiest thing on the road with air suspension. Get the diesel
Saab 95 diesel
Jag x type estate but not the 2 litre diesel.
Golf diesel are actually comfy cars to be in, and bulletproof. But if you need bigger then go Passat. Not as nice to drive though. And the residuals are weaker.
Bmw 5 series with straight 6 in se spec
Or a mercedes e class with airmatic, ideally the e500 for ultimate waft. But for cruising and e320 cdi or something like that.
Tidy Range rover? Not an estate but split tailgate means the dog will love it. And it’s the comfiest thing on the road with air suspension. Get the diesel
Saab 95 diesel
Jag x type estate but not the 2 litre diesel.
Golf diesel are actually comfy cars to be in, and bulletproof. But if you need bigger then go Passat. Not as nice to drive though. And the residuals are weaker.
Bmw 5 series with straight 6 in se spec
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th May 11:31
Loving some of these - OP states a max 2.5K budget - so lets take it as a given that the costs are important. So we have stuff like E500s with airmatic and Range Rovers 
There's only one real option - V70
Six months ago I sold a mint 53 plate 2.5 turbo geartronic AWD V70 with every single extra including a TV and built in phone, everything worked. £700.
There's only one real option - V70
Six months ago I sold a mint 53 plate 2.5 turbo geartronic AWD V70 with every single extra including a TV and built in phone, everything worked. £700.
I do a lot of Europe driving; circa 8000miles a year. Mainly France. I had FFRR 2010 but found this to be too juicy (3.6TDV8).
I now have a Mercedes C Class C350CDI estate. Has plenty of poke, very comfortable and big for the family. 47mpg on a run and a lovely place to be; actually nicer than the FFRR in many respects.
I now have a Mercedes C Class C350CDI estate. Has plenty of poke, very comfortable and big for the family. 47mpg on a run and a lovely place to be; actually nicer than the FFRR in many respects.
A Honda Accord Tourer (up to 2008) has the biggest plan area in the boot out of all those estates and more headroom than the volvos (having compared like for like on a replacement).
An EX spec has leather and electric for most things and they will return reasonable economy in 2.2 Cdti engine with no dpf issues. Make sure the manifold has been changed.
I expect the Volvo and Merc can waft better but I have driven mine to the Alps and then done a 11 hr cycle ride and then driven back the next day. Not everyones cup of tea but most people who have one do wonder about what to replace one with.
An EX spec has leather and electric for most things and they will return reasonable economy in 2.2 Cdti engine with no dpf issues. Make sure the manifold has been changed.
I expect the Volvo and Merc can waft better but I have driven mine to the Alps and then done a 11 hr cycle ride and then driven back the next day. Not everyones cup of tea but most people who have one do wonder about what to replace one with.
ALawson said:
A Honda Accord Tourer (up to 2008) has the biggest plan area in the boot out of all those estates and more headroom than the volvos (having compared like for like on a replacement).
I had a one for a short while.Likes: Ride quality was excellent. Seats as good as Saab/Volvo (my benchmark). Load space.
Dislike: Auto box was a bit agricultural. Satnav was slow.
Dog Star said:
Loving some of these - OP states a max 2.5K budget - so lets take it as a given that the costs are important. So we have stuff like E500s with airmatic and Range Rovers
So you’re going to pretend a 15 year old V70 is a bulletproof tank and absolutely nothing will go wrong?I’ve had a 2001 E Class for yonks, since around 2003 and absolutely nothing has gone wrong except a radio. I’ve also got a Range Rover and an Audi Allroad. It’s nothing like the scaremongers will have you believe. I’ve only had one air suspension fault and that was just a coding error rather than actually a problem with the suspension. I’ve owned the Range Rover nearly 17 years and the only problems have been water ingress to the headlining and a couple of coolant leaks?
I know for a fact the TDV6 engines in the FFRR are quite the workhorse too. But again if it aint a Discovery it ain’t reliable am i right?
Self proclaimed genius are you?
Thank you all for the very varied replies. I suppose I should have mentioned that lpg is out due to many reasons to long to get into.
We had thought 4x4 before for the space but the running costs are just too high. I would adore a big e430/500 but I fear the wallet won't stand the abuse
I like the idea of an A6 but having looked at them I am concerned with boot height for the wolf is it taller than an e39 5-series?
Accord diesel has been popping up a lot and they are massive so quite interested to hear about them likewise with the c-class 350cdi i'm guessing auto only for that? I have been looking at the Mondeo estate too anyone got experience of the 2.2tdci is it worth the premium over the 2.0?
Please keep the suggestions coming I'm going to fire up autotrader and ebay and have a look.
Thanks,
Fraser.
We had thought 4x4 before for the space but the running costs are just too high. I would adore a big e430/500 but I fear the wallet won't stand the abuse
I like the idea of an A6 but having looked at them I am concerned with boot height for the wolf is it taller than an e39 5-series?
Accord diesel has been popping up a lot and they are massive so quite interested to hear about them likewise with the c-class 350cdi i'm guessing auto only for that? I have been looking at the Mondeo estate too anyone got experience of the 2.2tdci is it worth the premium over the 2.0?
Please keep the suggestions coming I'm going to fire up autotrader and ebay and have a look.
Thanks,
Fraser.
I have a 2007 Accord 2.2Cdti bought in 2012 for £5.5k at 70k odd miles, 1 owner from new and FHSH. I was lucky that the ABS system fault light came on between shaking on the deal and picking it up, the sell paid Honda £3.3k for it to be repaired (silly as I had asked if this issue had happened and if it should to take it to a Indy and get the module sent back to Bosch for a £300 repair).
Anyway, the car is now on 134k miles and has had the following issues -
- Exhaust manifold, apparently the early ones cracked and the facelift cars (which mine is) were supposed to be sorted. Honda provided a free replacement at 11 years old and 120k miles (outside the 9 year extended warranty).
- 1 rear brake caliper has stuck and needed replacement
- various ARB bushed and drop links, two front lower arms
Apart from that its slow satnav frustrates but always get you there unless the road is out of date, it is comfortable and will return 45-50mpg at 65-70 without a roof rack, very low 40s is you are on the autoroute doing 140kmph.
It can take a standard under counter units i.e. washing machine in the boot seats up easily and with the seats down lots of big stuff. The handling is ok and it has never really let me down (bar 1 battery replaced a few years ago).
Only other weakness that I am aware off is the clutch and dual mass flywheel which is circa £1k to get sorted via honda and not much cheaper via an Indy.
I like the car a lot so am always checking to see if there is a late 2.4 petrol manual for sale on AT with low miles!
Anyway, the car is now on 134k miles and has had the following issues -
- Exhaust manifold, apparently the early ones cracked and the facelift cars (which mine is) were supposed to be sorted. Honda provided a free replacement at 11 years old and 120k miles (outside the 9 year extended warranty).
- 1 rear brake caliper has stuck and needed replacement
- various ARB bushed and drop links, two front lower arms
Apart from that its slow satnav frustrates but always get you there unless the road is out of date, it is comfortable and will return 45-50mpg at 65-70 without a roof rack, very low 40s is you are on the autoroute doing 140kmph.
It can take a standard under counter units i.e. washing machine in the boot seats up easily and with the seats down lots of big stuff. The handling is ok and it has never really let me down (bar 1 battery replaced a few years ago).
Only other weakness that I am aware off is the clutch and dual mass flywheel which is circa £1k to get sorted via honda and not much cheaper via an Indy.
I like the car a lot so am always checking to see if there is a late 2.4 petrol manual for sale on AT with low miles!
Vaud said:
You might find the odd high mileage Audi A6 (go for 2.0 manual or 3.0tdi auto, not the 2.0 or 2.7 CVT) estate?
Not sure what a 2.7 CVT is and what's wrong with it? I've got a 57 reg manual 2.7 tdi Audi A6 (C6?) Avant that I've had to 9 years. Its on 130k miles and I've done 100k in it. A great cruiser over long distance, a great load lugger which has been more than fast enough as well. I'd say it would suit the OPs requirement perfectly.I imagine mine is probably worth £1.5k now (though its not for sale!) and despite the exterior bodywork dings and and filth in the back from 9 years of growing kids, it feels like it has many years to go (much to my annoyance, as I quite fancy a 3.0 petrol quattro, an allroad or even an S6, but won't treat myself until this one really dies).
I've been to the South of France and the alps several times and loads of trips to Dorset and Devon with ease, and countless runs to the tip with the back seats folded down and the large load areas filled to the brim. I've just been down with my son for a Rugby tour to Somerset and back with the group camping gear, food, a BBQ and two big gazebos in great comfort. Now the kids have stop using their buggies we don't have to have a roof box for camping trips which is great when everything can be kept safely in the very large boot. We do have bike racks on the roof when we take those though. Our next car will hopefully have a towbar so we can put them on the back instead of on the roof.
The biggest work I had done on it was before Christmas was to replace pads and discs all round and the rear brake calipers as both were showing signs of seizing, and a replacement locking mechanism on the passenger door. Otherwise it' s just been regular servicing and no major outlays.
It has a nice large (75 litre?) fuel tank out of which I've gone easily over 700 miles down the Autoroutes having set the cruise control to 80mph.
prand said:
Not sure what a 2.7 CVT is and what's wrong with it? I've got a 57 reg manual 2.7 tdi Audi A6 (C6?) Avant that I've had to 9 years. Its on 130k miles and I've done 100k in it. A great cruiser over long distance, a great load lugger which has been more than fast enough as well. I'd say it would suit the OPs requirement perfectly.
I had a 2005 3.0tdi auto and looked carefully at the time. The 2.7tdi is both an older design engine and I was warned by indy specialists that the CVT (auto) box was very poor compared to the tiptronic. The 3.0 tdi quattro is a better package, though obviously quattro reduces the MPG - and in used form it retains it's value.I'm not knocking the car - I loved the A6.
A manual 2.7 might be a good compromise.
Right so had a look at some of the suggestions through autotrader and ebay. The A6 looks a good bet in 2.7 flavour as they are available at good prices with a manual 'box which is preferable. Merc C250cdi's look good but rare at my price range
Old Merc E & C 220's are nice but I'm not keen, my dad had a C220 when new and I hated it, plus it's no larger than the Volvo so there's no point. I can't imagine that the 220 engine has enough guts for the weight of the E-class either.
I have been looking at petrol engined variations of everything but I fear that the fuel consumption is going to make that decision for me as I can't see them getting more than 40mpg on a very conservative run and if you add in the fact that diesel is cheaper on the continent it doesn't make sense. Though we'll see I can always hope I can sell the other half on a T5!
I'm still in the Czech republic atm so won't be able to check any out in person just yet so it's still a bit theoretical until I can actually see the space they have and get a feel for what would tick all the boxes.
Old Merc E & C 220's are nice but I'm not keen, my dad had a C220 when new and I hated it, plus it's no larger than the Volvo so there's no point. I can't imagine that the 220 engine has enough guts for the weight of the E-class either.
I have been looking at petrol engined variations of everything but I fear that the fuel consumption is going to make that decision for me as I can't see them getting more than 40mpg on a very conservative run and if you add in the fact that diesel is cheaper on the continent it doesn't make sense. Though we'll see I can always hope I can sell the other half on a T5!
I'm still in the Czech republic atm so won't be able to check any out in person just yet so it's still a bit theoretical until I can actually see the space they have and get a feel for what would tick all the boxes.
can you find another 500 quid?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I have one of these and they are very useful and economic buses with a surprising amount of room. and the diesel pulls very well.
i appreciate that it isnt going to give you the same drive as an E class or whatever but if you want something newer, thats fairly comfortable then it might be just the job.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I have one of these and they are very useful and economic buses with a surprising amount of room. and the diesel pulls very well.
i appreciate that it isnt going to give you the same drive as an E class or whatever but if you want something newer, thats fairly comfortable then it might be just the job.
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