Mid size estate, £15k budget

[KurtKlaus]

On my short list so far I have Leon ST 1.4/1.5 with the 150ish bhp engine, Audi A4 with the 1.4 TFSI, 3 series estate (not too many 320i around, I have no experience with the modern 2l Diesel engines )

Downsizing from my 2005 X3, which I have owned since 2010 and disliked most of the time.

I only have to drive into work 3 days a week, which is a 65 mile round trip of almost exclusively motorway. For that the X3 was nice, but my two kids only have booster seats left so no need for a car that big and heavy, and a tractor around town for the 4 days I only do short distances.

I enjoy driving, so I do have to like the car, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. But I am trying to be somewhat sensible in terms of running costs and environment.

Thanks for reading

[Mo28]

Skoda Octavia vRS 245 or a Skoda Superb of some sort

[p4cks]

KurtKlaus said:

Audi A4 with the 1.4 TFSI

I had one of these recently, albeit the Sportback and it was great on fuel and pokey when it needed to be. It won't win any drag races but it was a good all rounder.

[ED209]

p4cks said:

I had one of these recently, albeit the Sportback and it was great on fuel and pokey when it needed to be. It won't win any drag races but it was a good all rounder.

A4 spotback?

I have the engine in an A4 avant and have averaged 40 mpg over 14000 miles. Not too bad, not too good, ok.

[p4cks]

Ah you're right, my error.

I meant the A3.

Having said that, 40mpg for an A4 with the same engine is decent. I managed about 42.5 mpg in the A3

[KurtKlaus]

Thanks guys. 40 isn’t amazing by today’s standards, true, but still better than the 33 I average in my X3.

[ZX10R NIN]

A very good shout is the Astra in 1.6T Elite/SRI Nav 200 form it's just as good a steer as the Leon they come loaded with kit & 200bhp is a nice cherry on top:

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

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

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

T4 V60 SE Nav 190

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

Focus Titanium X 180

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

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

The Focus ST-2/3 is a very good shout & you should be able to land a 2016 car for your budget:

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...

1.8T Leon FR 180

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

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

1.8T A3 S Line 180

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

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

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

[KurtKlaus]

ZX10, thank you for taken the time for so many links, greatly appreciated. I had forgotten about the Focus, a surprisingly good looking car.

You shouldn’t have shown me those A3s. I owned a 99 plate A3 1.8T once upon a time and absolutely adored that car. I just worry that once ever 2 years I might want to buy something at IKEA that won’t fit.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Focus is a great pick & in ST form would be my personal pick, the Audi's have the nicer interior but the Focus is the better drive.