Bonkers Estates under 10k

[Jam3s.bradbury]

Hi all,

I love estate cars and have got a new job which gives me the budget to waste all my money on a stupid car. What do we reckon is the best estate with a large engine. I'm looking at the S6 V10 but there aren't many around and I'm not sure how they handle. I don't know much about the Mercs and which engines are best but I'm struggling to think of much else.

Cheers

[benwoodcock]

Subaru have some fast legacy estates too, 4wd I think, might be worth a look.

[Roboticarm]

They sure do
2 fast legacies to choose from
3.0 H6 which was available as a UK car
2.0 Twinscroll Turbo which was JDM only

Both 4wd

I own a Twinscroll, 280 bhp stock but most have to be mapped for UK fuel so can have more power of you so desire.

The Twinscroll is the faster of the 2 but when I was looking both were on my list

[Roboticarm]

Volvo T5, R and T6 should also be on the list for any fast estate search

[QuartzDad]

This would be fun

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

5.7l V8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

E39 540i Touring

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110248...

Would need She Sells Sanctuary playing on a continuous loop

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109277...

[nuttywobbler]

Have you given consideration to a Ford S-max? In 2.2 TDCI trim, mated to the Powershift box, it's a real contender.

[Jam3s.bradbury]

Some awesome ideas, I did have a look at the S-max with the 2.5 (lovely noise?) but heard possible build quality issues. The boxer engines are nice and I would love a v70r but would need an exhaust.

[ConnectionError]

I had a V70R some years ago.

Wonderful understated car, but I would be very cautious getting one now as I hear that some R specific parts are very hard to come by.

Suspension springs to mind.

[Easternlight]

nuttywobbler said:

Have you given consideration to a Ford S-max? In 2.2 TDCI trim, mated to the Powershift box, it's a real contender.

Username checks out

[Cascade360]

nuttywobbler said:

Have you given consideration to a Ford S-max? In 2.2 TDCI trim, mated to the Powershift box, it's a real contender.

Other than being neither an estate nor bonkers

[Jam3s.bradbury]

ConnectionError said:

I had a V70R some years ago.

Wonderful understated car, but I would be very cautious getting one now as I hear that some R specific parts are very hard to come by.

Suspension springs to mind.

Interesting, maybe worth getting the 2.5 non R. Wonder if its tuneable to similar levels as the R.

[Fermit]

Nothing wrong with an S6, in fact I've been given the OK to get one at some point in the not too distant, when funds allow. 465bhp is a just £300 remap away too.

[Fermit]

QuartzDad said:

5.7l V8 300C

Needs the pretentious Bentley badge binning.

[Jam3s.bradbury]

Fermit said:

Nothing wrong with an S6, in fact I've been given the OK to get one at some point in the not too distant, when funds allow. 465bhp is a just £300 remap away too.

Is there any better noise under 10k?

[Fermit]

Jam3s.bradbury said:

Fermit said:

Nothing wrong with an S6, in fact I've been given the OK to get one at some point in the not too distant, when funds allow. 465bhp is a just £300 remap away too.

Is there any better noise under 10k?

For all they offer (and we need a large estate) I suspect not. Especially with a Milltek stainless fitted (which I also plan)

[ZX10R NIN]

Insignia VXR but 320bhp might be a bit light on the BHP front

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...

5.5 E500 pretty much bulletproof in a bit of a sleeper package:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...

C55 AMG neither this or the E Class are bonkers but they're a very good option

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324834172581?hash=item4...

If you want bonkers then it has to be the RS6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109277...

V10 S6 a bit of a safer option to the RS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108186...

[Fermit]

ZX10R NIN said:

V10 S6 a bit of a safer option to the RS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108186...

I've been eyeing up that very one, along with a blue one on the bay of E's.

[a7x88]

I currently have a V10 S6 Avant. I’ve done circa 30k miles in it. It genuinely is a brilliant family car. Handling is good but it’s a big heavy car - much more suited to fast sweeping a roads than tight and twisty b’s. Just be aware on the maintenance side when looking for one

They are hard on suspension - cost me around 1k for a front suspension rebuild. Expect to refresh around 80-100k miles.
Gearbox needs servicing around 80k - £300 or so
The big one which no one seems aware of is the inlet manifold. It will fail from around 80k onwards. Just had mine replaced - managed to source a brand new genuine OEM part for £1100 plus fitting. Audi want £3.8k just for the part…. If you don’t replace it the little plastic flaps will fall of and work their way into your engine….

Go in with your eyes open - not many people seem to be aware of the inlet manifold.
I have thoroughly enjoyed mine but will likely be putting it up for sale soon as my company car scheme has been updated and a free Tesla is calling me….

I have a readers ride thread about and it featured on a PH article when I first got it if you want some more info on my running experience

[stevemcs]

Cascade360 said:

nuttywobbler said:

Have you given consideration to a Ford S-max? In 2.2 TDCI trim, mated to the Powershift box, it's a real contender.

Other than being neither an estate nor bonkers

I've got the Mondeo 2.2TDCi estate....... bonkers it ain't

I'd look for a C32AMG estate

[samoht]

ZX10R NIN said:

C55 AMG neither this or the E Class are bonkers but they're a very good option

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324834172581?hash=item4...

My C55 reader's cars thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
5.4L engine in a small estate perhaps sounds bonkers on paper, but is entirely reasonable on the road.

Probably worth considering which size you want to go for - I picked the C55 as it's smaller, which is of course both positive (on B-roads) and negative (for rear passengers or antique furniture logistics). The most direct equivalent would be the Audi S4 I guess, a few under £10k.


Sadly the E61 M5 Touring, E63 Merc estates and even the E55s are well out of budget.