Mk2 Touareg vs C7 A6 Avant vs F11 vs Octy VRS etc etc.... - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

103 posts

101 months

Sunday 1st March 2020

I've been window shopping for some time for a new family wagon. We have a 1 year old son, will likely have a newborn by Christmas, two dogs and make regular trips from Lancashire to North Wales and Devon and back to see family.
Currently in a e91 325i that is a good steer, but just not quite big enough in the back seat area, and could do with a little more room in the boot to make packing luggage easier without upsetting the dogs!
Criteria is: Estate/SUV with plenty of room in the boot/back seats, heated front seats (had them in one car, can't be without them now), plenty of grunt and a half decent steer - although power alone will suffice - to keep me from getting itchy fingers (a known issue), comfortable, reliable, not ruinous to run (35mpg avg will do) and sensible enough to sell to the OH as a family hack, max £15k outlay.
I hate small, slow, cheap crossovers (think qashqai, kadjar and the like)
I discounted E-class mercs for price and maintenance costs, and some questionable histories, LR Discovery 4 for potential borkage and Skoda Superb for poorer quality interior (and generally not fast enough for my liking).
I initially narrowed it down to:

C7 A6 Avant 3.0tdi 240ps/bitdi
F11 530/535d (looked for 530/535i but they're rarer than a rare thing and keep their value too well)

Then OH threw a possible spanner in saying the 325 is too low for her liking and she struggles to get our son into/out of the car seat, so looked at:

XC70/60 D5
7P Touareg (2010-18) 245/262

The more I look at the Toerag the more I like it, but I know it will be a little more expensive to run/maintain. All opinions are welcome.

Basically, Help!!!!

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

136 months

Sunday 1st March 2020

Audi Q5

Original Poster

103 posts

101 months

Sunday 1st March 2020

Should've mentioned - the 3 series is lacking in rear space for a car seat behind me, I'm 6'1 and very long in the limbs so an average sized rear seat space won't cut it! otherwise the Q5 would be right up there

clockworks

7,609 posts

174 months

Sunday 1st March 2020

I had a Touareg 262 for a year, having previously owned a 525d (E61) and a Ford Galaxy as my "big" cars.
The Touareg is a great car, but I found it just a bit too big for comfort once away from the main roads. Length is fine, but it is a very wide car.

I replaced it with a Skoda Superb 280 L&K estate, which is a fair bit quicker, has much more space inside, and is a little cheaper to run. Around 6" narrower too.

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Sunday 1st March 2020

Original Poster

103 posts

101 months

Sunday 1st March 2020

That is an interesting list of models. Hadn't considered the Jeep as I assumed (daftly) they would be miles out of budget - wrong!! That is a definite option opener there.

Ref the QX50, badge snobbery hasn't really got me in its grips but that car is ugly as sin!! Also looks to be a slight downsize from where we are now, rear seat space is a big must have and that just doesn't cut it Shame, because as you say it's very well specced as standard.

I'm considering the XC60 (and the XC70) as viable options, I just need to look at one in the flesh and check on room in the back of the '60 and it may be a front runner. I have noticed the XC70 has a factory fit dog guard which folds into the roof space - very clever addition which hasn't gone unnoticed!

I have kind of discounted the Benz estates on the maintenance front. Whilst I can afford to keep one (I wouldn't be looking at stuff like this if I couldn't), I have a hard time swallowing the parts prices I keep seeing should something go wrong. It is in the back of my mind as an option though, would be nice to waft around imperiously in complete luxury!

The other german estates are ones I'm already seriously considering - love the outside of the f10/11 5 series in any guise, and the interior is growing on me by the day. Love the interior of the A6, but the shell looks a bit porky still. I saw an Allroad in the flesh this afternoon, couldn't help but compare it to a tonka toy with the way it looks! Would tick all boxes though....

ETA:

clockworks said:

I get what you mean ref the width issue, it's something we'll have to look at and test for ourselves if it gets that far. I'd go for a Superb 280 in a flash, but there aren't any in my budget on autotrader (this is the cheapest nationally, and the only one below £20k: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202... ) or on here, bummer.

Edited by BornRageFree on Sunday 1st March 23:00

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

Monday 2nd March 2020

If you can afford the other german brands running costs then you can afford the Mercedes as they're pretty much the same when it comes to parts prices, oh yes looks aren't the QX's strong point smile

Now space wise the XC60 is pretty much the same as the QX so I'd say that rules it out.

MYOB

5,124 posts

167 months

Monday 2nd March 2020

The Volvo dog guards are not factory fitted. They are an accessory that can be fitted by yourself or the dealership. They are very good and useful to have, even if you don't have dogs.

dmsims

7,445 posts

296 months

Monday 2nd March 2020

MYOB said:

The Volvo dog guards are not factory fitted. They are an accessory that can be fitted by yourself or the dealership. They are very good and useful to have, even if you don't have dogs.

Original Poster

103 posts

101 months