What Estate for under £12.5k

[Kingdom35]

Hi All

So ive had my Kia Proceed GT Tech for 18mths now, nice car, probably bought a petrol at the wrong time but it is what it is, 2023 plan is to move to an Estate, take my Cycling to the next step, buy a Gravel/MTB and have more room for trips away at the weekend plus more economical.

Looking for ideas on

Estate up to 12.5k
No more than 70-80k on clock
Ideally no older than 2013 (But depending on price maybe as old as 2010 - key thoughts here, see below)
0-60 ideally under 8 secs
Diesel - for economy purposes
Road tax under £350pa

Ideas so far
Higher end of Budget

Jag XF Sportsback - ideally 3.0D version
BMW 320/330D M Sport - Best year and Spec i can afford OR back to 2010 and under £8.5k price range (not sure on the N57 engine and reliability)
Mazda 6 Sport Nav - A lot of car for the money and newer
Audi A4 Allroad/Avant - 3l TDI - Best spec - S-Line/Ultra

Slower/Leftfield/Lower Budget

Volvo V50/V60 R-Design
Older BMW 320D
Alfa Sportswagon

Basically i started off looking at cars around the "swap" budget of £8.5k - Really like the Alfa Sportswagon in TI trim (seeing threads lately) i can probably get a half decent one for under this budget but age is not on that choices side, same with BMW 320D M Sport both around the 2011 mark, along with the V50.
All three of those choices in the lower budget i like.

As for the higher budget for me i really like the Jag XF but maybe a little too big.

Interested in peoples thoughts/what they would go for, experience, real economy and any aspects to be wary of.

Thanks in advance

[Ryan_T]

I’d be buying the nicest Skoda Superb I could find.

[SlowV6]

Appreciate this is at the low end of your budget, but IMHO an E91 is too small for your purpose if you are going to want to put a 29er in it.

In fact in general they are very pokey inside! (we have one). If you do go for it then a 330D is much nicer than a 320D and less worry about timing chain issues. That said there do seem to be a fair few N57 ads with "new timing chain" mentioned. Have you considered a very late model E61 530D/535D - these stuck with the M57 and had the later 7-button iDrive. A very nice one would perhaps not be much more than half budget.

I agree with the Skoda Superb suggestion above, although not sure the 8s 0-60 will be achieved. It would however be much more modern.

[Fastdruid]

SlowV6 said:

Appreciate this is at the low end of your budget, but IMHO an E91 is too small for your purpose if you are going to want to put a 29er in it.

In fact in general they are very pokey inside! (we have one).

100% this. When we went on holiday earlier this year had a 3-Series Touring turn up to take us to the airport. We struggled to fit two cases+ hand luggage in (had to have some in the back). I swear the boot is barely larger than our Golf (non-estate).

In comparison on holiday, we had a Nissan Altima, managed *three* suitcases (we bought one on holiday) plus *all* hand luggage in the boot, while it is 20cm longer than the 3-series it is still a saloon!

Does mean the 3-series is firmly off the radar as our next car though which is a shame.

[ingenieur]

I'm on my 5th e-class estate. So I know what I'd say to anyone looking to buy an estate car.

[Ankh87]

Octavia VRS estate is nearly always the answer. They are reliable if serviced and drove correctly. Get a lot of tech for your money. Personally think they are one of the nicest looking estate cars you can get.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211292...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210261...

[Pixelpeep Electric]

Eccleshill and/or Ravenscliffe ?

[Ankh87]

Pixelpeep Electric said:

Eccleshill and/or Ravenscliffe ?

Care to explain?

[Pixelpeep Electric]

Ankh87 said:

Pixelpeep Electric said:

Eccleshill and/or Ravenscliffe ?

Care to explain?

Yes, they are deprived estates in Bradford, i imagine you could purchase either of those for under £12,500.

[Stuart70]

Pixelpeep Electric said:

Eccleshill and/or Ravenscliffe ?

Hahahaha, haha, ha, ha…ha…….huh

[Ankh87]

Pixelpeep Electric said:

Ankh87 said:

Pixelpeep Electric said:

Eccleshill and/or Ravenscliffe ?

Care to explain?

Yes, they are deprived estates in Bradford, i imagine you could purchase either of those for under £12,500.

Both the cars I put up are for £13k but you could easily get them down to £12.5k. There's also plenty of none VRS models for less than that.

Another option which is cheaper but is SEAT LEON FR estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211302...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211141...

[Kingdom35]

Hi
Thank you for the responses so far especially the feedback on the BMW 320D size.
Probably means that the Volvo is also out of the question.
The next class up is probably where I’m supposed to be looking, which realistically means the budget should be at the higher end.
Good shout on the Skoda’s. Not really sure what my thoughts are there. Not a fan of the SEAT’s.
I do like the 5 series, Jag XF, Merc E class too.

[ingenieur]

Ankh87 said:

Personally think they are one of the nicest looking estate cars you can get.

Looks pants to me. But that's the great thing about personal taste, we're all entitled to our own version of it.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd be looking at these:

Insignia SRI VX Line Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209240...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...


SRI Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212062...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211282...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209109...

Elite Nav Auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212142...

508 GT 180 auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210311...

GT Line 150:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210271...

Mondeo Titanium 180 with the X Pack:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210251...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211111...

[DickP]

Skoda Superb will do what you want if you want luggage space and good back seat leg room. They used to be better spec than an equivalent priced Octavia etc. though don't know if still the case.

[Flumpo]

ingenieur said:

I'm on my 5th e-class estate. So I know what I'd say to anyone looking to buy an estate car.

Don’t buy an E class they don’t last long?

[Kingdom35]

Thanks ZX10. None inspiring me out of that range of Choices to be honest sorry

[Flumpo]

Kingdom35 said:

Thanks ZX10. None inspiring me out of that range of Choices to be honest sorry

Sounds like you know what you want and it’s premium branded.

Just test some jags vs bmw and pick the one you prefer. It’s going to be older and more to run, but will always feel more special to you than the insignia or superb.

[Kingdom35]

I think Premium Brand yes.
But I’ve always had an itch for the 320d M Sport and the Alfa SW.
But then Premium wise and newer I do like the Jag Sportsbrake, Mercs and BMW’s

I think you’re right I need to head down to somewhere like CarGiant. My only concern is the size of the car too. I’ve only really owned smaller sized cars. Hatchbacks.
Biggest car was probably a Peugeot 308 way back.

[addey]

I've had a 2013 XF sportbrake for just over a year now, its the 3.0 V6 in premium luxury spec. Overall very happy with it, its comfortable and a nice place to sit and the meridian sound system is great! I generally get 40mpg from it but did mange 50mpg driving down to Switzerland (fully loaded) in the summer. Despite being a pretty long car the boot space isn't as big as others in the class, but I can easily fit in my bikes (road and 29er mtb). Its actually the size of the boot opening that is probably most limiting for getting bikes in/out. Need to probably sell mine soon though due to impending ULEZ changes

ETA mine has reversing camera and sensors all round which makes the size much more manageable when parking/manouvering

Edited by addey on Friday 16th December 21:11