Large Boot - £12k Budget

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Hi all.

Bit of background - currently have 2 cars, a Merc C-Class estate and a VW Transporter. Both do a job - wife is disabled so has hand controls and a wheelchair hoist in the Merc and she doesn't drive the van. The van is our camping/fishing/biking/holiday vehicle and is brilliant for that but for the amount of use it gets, its a fair chunk of money sat on the driveway and with a planned house extension we're thinking about getting rid which could potentially net us somewhere around £25k, shoving half into the extension pot and half into a replacement.

Key is that it'd do as much as what the van does as possible so probably roof box up top and a big boot for holiday trips. Currently thinking along the lines of a sensible, economic, E-Class given how much we like the C-Class but then also thinking that given it won't get used too much, that it might be my chance to get something like a Passat R36.

Suggestions? Stuff on my "5 minute thinking about it" shortlist are:
A6 Avant
5-Series
Mondeo (I am partial to a Mondeo)
Superb or Octavia (would like another VRS but not sure if the boot would be that much bigger than the C-Class so maybe need to go up a car size)
Passat (R36)
I'm not too keen on SUVs but would definitely consider one

Manual/auto or petrol/diesel, not too fussed.

Obviously well aware it won't do what the van does in terms of just swallowing 3 or 4 bikes fully built but as long as it takes my wifes wheelchair/scooter thing and enough space for holiday type luggage etc then bikes etc can always go on the roof etc.

[Silvanus]

Dacia Logan Stepway, will offer the newest/most car for your money, huge boot. Or hold out for a used Jogger.

[ingenieur]

Well the two biggest load luggers are the Mercedes e-Class and the Skoda Superb. Of the two I would go for the Mercedes and did on several occasions. If it's only occasional use why not try and find a V8. Bear in mind with any of the smaller estates from the likes of Audi or BMW that you'll be edging closer to the c-class in terms of capacity and therefore may as well not bother as you already have an estate that size.

The other thing is there are plenty of VW vans out there that are cheaper than the one you're getting rid of but would do all the same stuff.

[anonymous-user]

My first thought when I read the title was Mondeo Estate. For that budget you can comfortably get a nice spec with roof bars, fit a towbar and still buy a camping trailer/bike rack etc as necessary.

Although, if you can stretch to £13k you could have the R36 engine and running gear with a bigger boot and more luxury...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 12th October 15:44

[exelero]

Mondeo. Get the most fully specced Titanium X sport. Great cars

[ingenieur]

I quite like the look of Mondeo estates... but what about the dashboard (of all modern Fords)... ugh.

Also worth noting... the Mondeo is stupidly small. Back in the days of Sierra and Granada estate cars Ford was in contention but hasn't been for a long time. What's the point of an estate car if the boot is small. I know some people have made the choice and will endlessly bang on about how it's good enough for them... etc... but really!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd normally say the Mondeo but I don't think they're the best (but they are a good car) value right now.

Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209079...

Titanium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209089...

The E Class is the pick though:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...

[Brett748]

Superb Estate. They are enormous!

[What The Deuces]

E class wagon

100%

[RoVoFob]

MrBig said:

My first thought when I read the title was Mondeo Estate. For that budget you can comfortably get a nice spec with roof bars, fit a towbar and still buy a camping trailer/bike rack etc as necessary.

Although, if you can stretch to £13k you could have the R36 engine and running gear with a bigger boot and more luxury...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

Edited by MrBig on Wednesday 12th October 15:44

Or for £8,500 you can get an R36 with an R36 engine (with 40hp more than the Skoda). That’s what I bought mine for in May and sold it for a month back.

Took a looong time to sell, even as the cheapest R36 Estate anywhere. I’d be tempted to seriously push on price with any R36 that grabs your attention. Not the easiest sale right now…I’d imagine the Skoda has an even smaller market…

Here’s more detail about my R36 if it’s of interest: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[DaveyBoyWonder]

RoVoFob said:

Or for £8,500 you can get an R36 with an R36 engine (with 40hp more than the Skoda). That’s what I bought mine for in May and sold it for a month back.

Took a looong time to sell, even as the cheapest R36 Estate anywhere. I’d be tempted to seriously push on price with any R36 that grabs your attention. Not the easiest sale right now…I’d imagine the Skoda has an even smaller market…

Here’s more detail about my R36 if it’s of interest: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

actually replied to your thread RoVoFob... would be REALLY tempted by an R36. A E-Class maybe the front runner now though as with our C-Class, I quite like having a car thats so bloody good at what it does/refined that I have zero inclination to tinker with it which I definitely would if it was anything from the VAG stable!

That said, the Mondeo Vignale looks great too - I love normal cars with an oddball twist like that / R36 etc

[DodgyGeezer]

the Superb is HUGE...

[RoVoFob]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

actually replied to your thread RoVoFob... would be REALLY tempted by an R36. A E-Class maybe the front runner now though as with our C-Class, I quite like having a car thats so bloody good at what it does/refined that I have zero inclination to tinker with it which I definitely would if it was anything from the VAG stable!

That said, the Mondeo Vignale looks great too - I love normal cars with an oddball twist like that / R36 etc

Thought the name sounded familiar!

It’s all subjective, but mine had a slightly opened up exhaust and there wasn’t really anything I’d change about it. Not sure if it’s overly quiet without that, though…

As for the E Class, have you seen this one? https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1504477. The E350 CGI is pretty quick but does more than 30mpg and costs just £360 to tax, which isn’t bad for something so big, quick and petrol.

[GreatGranny]

V70?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209290...

[nobrakes]

Friday 2006 6.2 E63 estate £13k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209049...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209049...

[What The Deuces]

nobrakes said:

Friday 2006 6.2 E63 estate £13k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209049...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209049...

Brave

[WelshRich]

Disco 4?

[Roger Irrelevant]

One thing about the Superb - while it does have a very long boot in comparison to just about everything else if the seats are folded down, with them in place it's not that big, and the sloping roof doesn't help. Also the seats don't fold flat and there is a decent lip down to the boot floor. None of this may matter to you at all, but my brother finds it a bit annoying on his 2015 Superb (other model years might be different).

[ingenieur]

Brett748 said:

Superb Estate. They are enormous!

Not as big as the E-class.

[ingenieur]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd normally say the Mondeo but I don't think they're the best (but they are a good car) value right now.

Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209079...

Titanium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209089...

The E Class is the pick though:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...

With e-Class I think the 9-speed box is available from 2014 onwards... so if you're in the market it's better to stretch a little to get the 9-speed than to buy the slightly older 7-speed.