Workhorse Estate for 60k miles per annum

[CKR83]

Hi all,

I’m looking to replace my works car, currently a 2016 Honda Civic Estate. It’s just hit 200k miles, has been absolutely perfect apart from an oxygen sensor, otherwise tyres and oil and that’s it.
I travel the country and do 60-70k miles a year, so need a replacement for the Civic. My car history is pretty much Accord, Accord, Accord, Accord Tourer, Civic Tourer and Civic Tourer, a common theme somewhere there?
Either way, both are now no longer produced, so I’m a bit lost. Requirements;

1) Diesel
2) I need automatic as my knee is in pain from the manual/clutch etc
3) A big boot (I’m a security engineer)
4) very comfortable
5) economical and well built
6) chain timing and not belt, otherwise it’s a belt every year

I’ve been looking at the Hyundai i40 and Kia Optinum tourers. Not sure if they’re belt or chain engine timing. Not driven one yet. I’d love a SEAT LEON but again, they need a belt every 60k?

Budget is £16-17k
Needs to be 2017/18 or newer

I’m out of ideas, any help would be great.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I can't help, but 70,000 miles a year

[Jimmy Recard]

Mondeo?

[CKR83]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I can't help, but 70,000 miles a year

Yes, people always find that a bit shocking. But I live in Norfolk and it’s still possible to travel 70 miles in an hour and not just at a speed of 70mph

[Dusty964]

I've just bought a 2017 Skoda superb estate, albeit a manual.
Averaging 55 to the gallon currently, it's far from a dragster or indeed a sports car, but for cruising along its nigh on perfect for me. Huge boot, loads of room, decent spec, can't really find fault at the moment. I have a dodgy back and yet to have any issues from driving it.

[CKR83]

Dusty964 said:

I've just bought a 2017 Skoda superb estate, albeit a manual.
Averaging 55 to the gallon currently, it's far from a dragster or indeed a sports car, but for cruising along its nigh on perfect for me. Huge boot, loads of room, decent spec, can't really find fault at the moment. I have a dodgy back and yet to have any issues from driving it.

Do you know what the timing belt change intervals are by any chance?

[flatso]

Last of the Citroen C5 estates with the 3.0 diesel and hydropneumatic suspension. Well kept secret.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd recommend the Mondeo mines been faultless & in Vignale trim it ticks all of your boxes:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[MC Bodge]

My Mondeo estate is good to steer for a modern car (much better than some reviews suggested), decent sized boot (again, bigger and more useful than some reviews suggest) comfortable, full of gadgets (if that interests you).

Mine is a petrol, but fuel economy doesn't seem to be a strong point for any Mk5 Mondeo, though.

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 6th August 07:33

[scorcher]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I can't help, but 70,000 miles a year

I do nearly that and don’t go much further than 25 miles from where I’m based. I’m very familiar with a lot of the local A and B roads.

[Nickbrapp]

I’m also a travelling tech, for a big national, I barely do 20k a year where the hell are you going to do 70k?!

Even the specialist service guys who travel Birmingham to Scotland, Pembroke and Ireland weekly don’t do that!

Up to now I’ve have a insgina estate, golf, Astra, and a focus and a Mondeo estate

By far the mondeo is the best, mine was a titanium so loads of kit, Auto, on tiny wheels and the chairs where like sofas, boot was huge and most importantly had a flat floor. Good radio too

I’ve just changed over to a brand new transit custom trend auto as I was sick of £160 a month in tax for a car I didn’t use outside of work

It’s so refined and even better equipt than the mondeo, even a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control!

Plus it’s racked out with bott racking so I no longer have to rifle though all my kit, I just open the back door, open the draw I need and there it is.

It’s so refined too, a bit slow as it’s only 105bhp but there’s no engine noise and I feel just as fresh after a 2 hour drive in it as I did in the mondeo.


I would also look at the Skoda superb(massive boot but not quite as refined as a Passat) Or indeed a insgina grand tourer which are also great, although iffy reliability.

[Dusty964]

CKR83 said:

Dusty964 said:

I've just bought a 2017 Skoda superb estate, albeit a manual.
Averaging 55 to the gallon currently, it's far from a dragster or indeed a sports car, but for cruising along its nigh on perfect for me. Huge boot, loads of room, decent spec, can't really find fault at the moment. I have a dodgy back and yet to have any issues from driving it.

Do you know what the timing belt change intervals are by any chance?

From memory, 140k or 4 years... Fixed price through Skoda for 389 quid.

[Teebs]

Would also recommend the Skoda, mine did over 100k in 3 years and was faultless.

[Evanivitch]

Having driven plenty, I think the latest Insignia is a good steer. Much better place to be than the previous generation. I personally prefer it over the Mondeo.

[troika]

60K a year! Maybe you should stick a mattress in the back!

Has to be Japanese again, surely.

[CKR83]

I’ve spoken with Ford. Bluntly, they’re not interested in helping find a Mondeo. They’ve got one in, but it’s a hybrid. Went straight to “we only really sell Kuga’s”. I assume that’s because if you turn up for a Mondeo they refuse and sell you a Kuga. Strange

Booked to go to Hyundai (Lings) to see an i40 and a KIA Optima they have. Also going to see Skoda with a Octavia and Superb. Not fussed on VW as a brand, so assume Skoda is where I’ll get a better deal? Otherwise a Passat looks good, if a little dull maybe.

I tried to go Japanese but what is there? Honda aren’t making estates. Toyota are but they’re dull dull dull. Mazda, I’m really not sure about Mazda. Nissan? They don’t make anything Estate wise?

[MC Bodge]

Octavia Estates with the torsion beam rear suspension give an awful ride, poor handling over bumps and a horrible booming resonance. Be warned. The boot is not as big as reviews suggest either.

[Jimmy Recard]

Mazda 6 looks pretty good?

[GreatGranny]

CKR83 said:

I’ve spoken with Ford. Bluntly, they’re not interested in helping find a Mondeo. They’ve got one in, but it’s a hybrid. Went straight to “we only really sell Kuga’s”. I assume that’s because if you turn up for a Mondeo they refuse and sell you a Kuga. Strange

Booked to go to Hyundai (Lings) to see an i40 and a KIA Optima they have. Also going to see Skoda with a Octavia and Superb. Not fussed on VW as a brand, so assume Skoda is where I’ll get a better deal? Otherwise a Passat looks good, if a little dull maybe.

I tried to go Japanese but what is there? Honda aren’t making estates. Toyota are but they’re dull dull dull. Mazda, I’m really not sure about Mazda. Nissan? They don’t make anything Estate wise?

OP, it's not hard to search yourself.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

They may transport it to your local dealer or make a day of it when you go and view it.

They aren't many auto Mondeo diesels in Vignale trim on Autotrader.

[Nickbrapp]

R line Passat is a nice place to be

Or how about a Peugeot 507SW, you can get a lightly used 2018 one for your budget