narrow estates...

[AceKid]

Interesting dilemma...the situation is we have a 3 car drive (side by side) that can currently just about accommodate my mk5 golf gti and my wifes 2016 bmw 530d touring and her bmw e46 convertible.
The impending arrival of a second dog will make my gti too small for carrying the dogs (cant use the 530d as that's her work commute vehicle), so I am looking to replace the golf (approx. 4.5k value) with an estate / suv, but the big stumbling block is that it cant be wider than the golf!
So what nice but narrow estate / suv cars can I get for my budget? (£5k)
I only do 5k a year mileage, but with dogs in tow will do the odd longer trip to beaches etc to allow a diesel to still work, no preference on auto or manual, just needs to be reliable (ish), and not the most boring of white goods car for when I am on my own in it!

Only thing I can think of is a e91 3 series touring!

Edited by AceKid on Tuesday 11th January 13:04

[Fore Left]

Golf estate or is that too obvious?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=price...

[AceKid]

Fore Left said:

Golf estate or is that too obvious?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=price...

I should have stated that a golf estate is not on the list as I dont really want another Golf, I find the gti pretty dull and the estate just looks hideous

[codenamecueball]

Leon Cupra estate? Also dull but 300hp and goes fart if you want.

Edit: Ignore me I missed the big 5K bit.

Edited by codenamecueball on Tuesday 11th January 21:45

[Big Pants]

I think a Subaru Legacy might fit the bill? Fun to drive too, if you go for the 3l H6.

Something like this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

[AceKid]

Big Pants said:

I think a Subaru Legacy might fit the bill? Fun to drive too, if you go for the 3l H6.

Something like this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

Good choice....although a bit above budget...and not sure i would be too happy with the £585 a year tax!

[Pablo16v]

Mini Cooper/Cooper S Clubman? Not the biggest of cars but reasonably roomy with the rear seats folded.

[Pat H]

Some flavour of Focus estate will have sufficient length, but not too much girth.

[CacheMonet]

perhaps not a helpful suggestion, but a Volvo 245 should get a mention:

- Incredibly reliable due to barn door simplicity, Volvo still carry parts
- Narrower than a Fiesta
- Massive amount of space, optional 7 seats
- Oddball near classic status, geography teacher chic

[SlowV6]

codenamecueball said:

Leon Cupra estate? Also dull but 300hp and goes fart if you want.

For £5k ?

[SlowV6]

AceKid said:

Only thing I can think of is a e91 3 series touring!

We have one of those (a 330d) and whilst it is nice to drive the boot is pretty pathetic, although it does have a built-in dog guard thing. I am not convinced it would be any bigger than your Golf. I think a small estate with a vertical as opposed to "lifestyle" swoopy tailgate such as a Focus or Golf might do it.

Is a Mondeo Mk3 ST220 too wide?

ETA: I saw a Volvo 850/V70 T5 on the way home from the school run today. I imagine that would do the job, but you may not want to enter into the 20+yr old car ownership prospect!

Edited by SlowV6 on Tuesday 11th January 16:33

[AceKid]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.....I have done a bit of digging and my golf is coming up as 1760mm wide, so I have decided anything over 1800mm is too wide (4cm may not sound much, but in terms of car space on our driveway,,it is!)

So having a look...
Subaru Legacy
C Class w203 or 204
Volvo 245!
looks like older will be the way forward as everything new is just too damn wide!

[arfur]

AceKid said:

Thanks for the suggestions so far.....I have done a bit of digging and my golf is coming up as 1760mm wide, so I have decided anything over 1800mm is too wide (4cm may not sound much, but in terms of car space on our driveway,,it is!)

So having a look...
Subaru Legacy
C Class w203 or 204
Volvo 245!
looks like older will be the way forward as everything new is just too damn wide!

Subaru Forester XT or XTeN ... Fun cars especially if remapped and upgraded. I sold mine with 160k miles on it a few years ago, I'd had it from new

[Scrump]

Saab 9-5 estate 2.3 turbo (Google says 179cm wide)

Reliant Scimitar GTE (164cm wide)

[AceKid]

Hadn't considered the Saab 9-5....used to have a saloon, comfiest seats ever!

[ZX10R NIN]

2.5i Mazda Sport very good option for you budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112300...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...

325i SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...

M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...

[21ATS]

I had a Saab 9-3 estate when they were new I remember that not being particularly wide. EDIT - 176cm.

Petrol engines are better than the oil burners in these. I remember even new the diesel sounded like a bag of spanners.

Volvo V50 estate is another alternative.

[RoVoFob]

Big Pants said:

I think a Subaru Legacy might fit the bill? Fun to drive too, if you go for the 3l H6.

Something like this: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

Two years back, I had a Legacy 3.0R Spec.B estate and a 2005 BMW 1 Series: the Legacy was narrower, despite being impressively practical.

In manual Spec B form, it’s a lovely thing to drive and pre-23/3/06 models are only £340 to tax. I’d personally stay well clear of automatic models, though, as what made mine fun was the super-slick gearbox and very short gearing - both of which the auto lacks…

ETA: I sold my 87k-mile Legacy for £2,900 18 months back. Prices have gone up a chunk since then, but there are still decent value ones regularly appearing on uklegacy.com.

Edited by RoVoFob on Tuesday 11th January 18:01

[Pistonheader101]

Skoda yeti

[georgeyboy12345]

All these are narrower than a mk5 Golf and look like good buys for what you need

Best first - Lexus IS300 Sportcross - too nice to be putting dogs in really! Lovely 3 litre NA straight 6, silky smooth auto box, high build quality and reliability
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107245...


Seat Ibiza 1.4 SE Sport Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Low mileage Peugeot 207 SW 1.6 VTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...


Renault Clio 1.2 16v Sport Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102028...


Citroen Berlingo 1.4i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112140...