Dog friendly, Unusual 5k Ideas Needed

[AceKid]

Time to probe the knowledge base of PHers....

Although my current Audi A6 Avant is ok, I'm already wondering what my next steed could be.. I only do 5k a year so definitely petrol power, it needs to be pretty large as i take my dog out into the New Forest all the time and sometimes chuck the mountain bike in the back too. I dont want anything boring and would prefer retro with big power!
So what ideas for big powerful family wagons for around £5k?

[defblade]

Subaru Legacy estate/wagon, available at your budget in various versions of various retro-ness, with big power available as standard (or not, if you'd rather) and more big power obtainable with well tried and tested mods, again at all levels.

I've had 2 A6 Avants in years past and while they do the very-tidy-car-becomes-massive-van-then-very-tidy-car-again thing very well, not really great/interesting/fun to drive. The Legacy has a bit less room than the Audi, but the drive is (depending on model - you can buy cooking ones) completely the other end of the scale... In the Audi I was usually aware of hauling around a hunk of heavy, empty, space; my Legacy GT (which you may find in the classifieds #cough#) on the other hand shrinks around you and drives just like an estate really shouldn't

[exelero]

Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon or 2.8 V6

[mbwoy84]

Nissan Stagea

[designforlife]

Toyota Crown Athlete V Estate
Toyota Caldina GT4
Mitsubishi Airtrek Turbo R
Nissan Elgrand
Toyota Alphard

All unusual (cool, awesome) and should be sizeable enough for dog/bike.

[ZX10R NIN]

Vectra VXR

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

Saab 9-3 Aero

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

Legacy

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

Toyota Crown Athlete

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crown-athlete-v-1jz-tur...FgAAOSwAeBdjOy2



Nissan Elgrand

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

[ChocolateFrog]

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon V8.

Although 5k is the lower end of the market and I think 15mpg isn't doing too badly.

[TR4man]

mbwoy84 said:

Nissan Stagea

A what?

[iphonedyou]

TR4man said:

A what?

Nissan Stagea.

It's in the post you quoted.

[loskie]

Forester

[Dadoc2001]

Merc E500. Power and finess wrapped into one!

[TR4man]

Volvo XC70?

You may get a leggy one for your budget.

[AceKid]

Some great ideas here. . .

So far the E500 and legacy seem to appeal the most, already had a Saab so thats out, been down the Volvo route too and they are just as boring as the Audi!

Whoever mentioned the Vectra VXR? What where you smoking? A truely horrible horrible car!

[Fermit and Sexy Sarah]

My suggestion. Volvo, boring you say?

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

[AceKid]

Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:

My suggestion. Volvo, boring you say?

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

Unfortunately im just not a fan, used to have a V70, comfy and fast but i found them a bit soulless.

[ZX10R NIN]

AceKid said:

Some great ideas here. . .

So far the E500 and legacy seem to appeal the most, already had a Saab so thats out, been down the Volvo route too and they are just as boring as the Audi!

Whoever mentioned the Vectra VXR? What where you smoking? A truely horrible horrible car!

The drive better than you'd think & that engine has serious go, plus it was in budget, personally I feel the Legacy is overrated & not that good a steer but I recommend them as people like them.

[AceKid]

Fair enough....i have had the misfortunue to own a few Vauxhalls including a vectra for a brief period....pretty sure the Vectra was the worst built car i have owned....and my current count is 38!
Part of me did consider a BMW X5, but maybe the 545i might be an idea? But then it looks so dull.....had considered american, but then it would annoy me every day doing the work commute as i have to use a card to swipe into the work site....exactly the one downside of a LHD!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say look at the E500 they look a bit boring but a little bit of lowering & a nice set of alloys can make these a whole lot better imo.

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

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

[Tall_Paul]

Legacy or outback, 3.0 version.

I've just sold mine yesterday for £3250, piles of car for the money and, loads of space for bikes/dogs/stuff.