Estate car needed... which one? Help!
Discussion
Hi all, I need some help... estate/barge wanted £4-10k budget - German barge preferred..
I appreciate that's a varying budget but I can't quite decide what I want/need!
Kind of needs to be a workhorse but also want something relatively clean.. haha.
Essentially need;
Daily driver - 15 mile each way commute. Takes 20-25 minutes - Fast B road and 5 miles on dual carriageway? Is this enough to get to temp / not cause DPF issues?
Mrs doing lots of baking stalls so need to lug gazebos and tables in the boot.
Want to tour Scotland and Wales and visit fam in Cornwall so long distance bashing every couple of months.
Must be manual. I can't stand auto's at all!
I'm thinking along the lines of....;-
Audi A4 Avant black edition (But these aren't actually that spacious from doing some reading?)
Audi A6 Avant - S line / Ultra / 2010-2015 esque.... 2 litre dervs, 190bhp, very large.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308201...
(Way over budget but same model - seems do able in budget)
BMW touring.... Not ventured into this at all in research - anyone know what the engines are like - I assume chain but I'm sure I saw some horror stories but might have got mixed up.
320d touring would probably fit the bill?
Something like this for £6k ish seems good value for money (if the engine is decent?)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308261...
Any thoughts on the above or any others I need to consider would be very much appreciated!
Cheers all
I appreciate that's a varying budget but I can't quite decide what I want/need!
Kind of needs to be a workhorse but also want something relatively clean.. haha.
Essentially need;
Daily driver - 15 mile each way commute. Takes 20-25 minutes - Fast B road and 5 miles on dual carriageway? Is this enough to get to temp / not cause DPF issues?
Mrs doing lots of baking stalls so need to lug gazebos and tables in the boot.
Want to tour Scotland and Wales and visit fam in Cornwall so long distance bashing every couple of months.
Must be manual. I can't stand auto's at all!
I'm thinking along the lines of....;-
Audi A4 Avant black edition (But these aren't actually that spacious from doing some reading?)
Audi A6 Avant - S line / Ultra / 2010-2015 esque.... 2 litre dervs, 190bhp, very large.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308201...
(Way over budget but same model - seems do able in budget)
BMW touring.... Not ventured into this at all in research - anyone know what the engines are like - I assume chain but I'm sure I saw some horror stories but might have got mixed up.
320d touring would probably fit the bill?
Something like this for £6k ish seems good value for money (if the engine is decent?)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308261...
Any thoughts on the above or any others I need to consider would be very much appreciated!
Cheers all
Tony, I find that interesting - why wouldn't you buy a diesel?
I have a petrol runaround at the minute and it's great - far less to go wrong, economical etc. But for big long journeys and a loaded estate car I think diesels are fairly well suited, mileage doesn't tend to bother me I generally buy on condition/service history/enthusiast owner is a big plus for me!
Thanks, will check out the Skodas..
I have a petrol runaround at the minute and it's great - far less to go wrong, economical etc. But for big long journeys and a loaded estate car I think diesels are fairly well suited, mileage doesn't tend to bother me I generally buy on condition/service history/enthusiast owner is a big plus for me!
Thanks, will check out the Skodas..
The 3 series actually isnt that big when it comes to loading space.
I would potentially be looking at an F11 5 series.
520d I find underpowered - the other half has an F10 520d, its nowhere near as sprightly as my older e60 520d.
You should be able to find a good 2013-onwards (LCI) F11 530d touring sport for your budget.
You will struggle to find one in a manual, but the ZF 8 speed is a very good box - they changed my mind on the whole auto/manual debate.
I would potentially be looking at an F11 5 series.
520d I find underpowered - the other half has an F10 520d, its nowhere near as sprightly as my older e60 520d.
You should be able to find a good 2013-onwards (LCI) F11 530d touring sport for your budget.
You will struggle to find one in a manual, but the ZF 8 speed is a very good box - they changed my mind on the whole auto/manual debate.
tommysport said:
Essentially need;
Daily driver - 15 mile each way commute. Takes 20-25 minutes - Fast B road and 5 miles on dual carriageway? Is this enough to get to temp / not cause DPF issues?
I believe that will not be enough to passively clean the DPF. Your journey is probably good enough to get an active regen cycle in as long as the B-road isn't too stop-start. Might be a good idea to take a slightly longer, ideally higher-speed route to work once a month or so though. Daily driver - 15 mile each way commute. Takes 20-25 minutes - Fast B road and 5 miles on dual carriageway? Is this enough to get to temp / not cause DPF issues?
2 weeks ago I picked up a 2011 A6 Avant S-Line 2.0TDi 170bhp, 110k for £4,750, manual as well! Its one of the last of the C6 models.
We moved house last weekend and after x number of trips in a Luton it was used to transport everything else.
The 170 has loads of torque and flies when in that power band.
As others have said both the A4 Avant and 3 Series Tourings are not that big boot wise.
If not an Octavia VRS estate why not one of the Superb estates, especially the 280 ones.
The other option I was looking at was a Seat Leon FR ST, although as before they aren't as big as the A6 Avant.
I've also previously had 2 A4 Avant Special Editions, a 220bhp petrol and a 170bhp diesel, both great cars but getting older now.
Good luck and let us know what you choose.
We moved house last weekend and after x number of trips in a Luton it was used to transport everything else.
The 170 has loads of torque and flies when in that power band.
As others have said both the A4 Avant and 3 Series Tourings are not that big boot wise.
If not an Octavia VRS estate why not one of the Superb estates, especially the 280 ones.
The other option I was looking at was a Seat Leon FR ST, although as before they aren't as big as the A6 Avant.
I've also previously had 2 A4 Avant Special Editions, a 220bhp petrol and a 170bhp diesel, both great cars but getting older now.
Good luck and let us know what you choose.
I use a 2009 530D (E61) Touring which is a manual. I have a similar usage profile to you, with my commute miles being 9 miles one way. At the weekend I probably do around a 40-60mile journey once every other weekend. I.E Not much. I have done 30k miles in it and have not had any DPF issues.
I would have preferred a petrol, but my criteria was "Has to be a touring BMW, has to be a sport model, has to be a manual, has to be a 6 cylinder." It took 6 months to find one that met that criteria. Its a bit rough around the edges but you basically buy whatever you view as there is little choice. With the equivalent Audi you will be able to be more picky.
I went for the 530d over the 520d as the 4 cylinder has some well known chain dramas (whether that is inflated internet sensationalism I don't know!). Its nice, but over my mileage case I get 38mpg (not great) and there is usually something that needs fixing every 3-4 months. Or ignoring. Tows nicely and is generally a nice place to be. I paid £4.5k in 2019 on 125k miles.
I would have preferred a petrol, but my criteria was "Has to be a touring BMW, has to be a sport model, has to be a manual, has to be a 6 cylinder." It took 6 months to find one that met that criteria. Its a bit rough around the edges but you basically buy whatever you view as there is little choice. With the equivalent Audi you will be able to be more picky.
I went for the 530d over the 520d as the 4 cylinder has some well known chain dramas (whether that is inflated internet sensationalism I don't know!). Its nice, but over my mileage case I get 38mpg (not great) and there is usually something that needs fixing every 3-4 months. Or ignoring. Tows nicely and is generally a nice place to be. I paid £4.5k in 2019 on 125k miles.
Have a look at a VW Passat. Biggest boot in its class (OK, beaten by a tiny bit by the Superb). Good range of engines and smart looking. The interiors are clean and functional and you should get in to a B8 with your budget (2015 on). They still look current as the 2020 facelift didnt change much. I have the 190bhp engine on a manual box and its a sweet thing. I love it.
Forget the Germans. Here is a little slice of Scandinavian Cool. 5 Pot, 48,000 miles from new (06 plate), and only one of a few petrol variants of this special edition in the country.
I’ve owned some special/interesting cars and i’ve honestly never had more people stop and ask/talk to me about the car.
And shall i mention the seats?
I’ve owned some special/interesting cars and i’ve honestly never had more people stop and ask/talk to me about the car.
And shall i mention the seats?
Genuine Barn Find said:
Forget the Germans. Here is a little slice of Scandinavian Cool. 5 Pot, 48,000 miles from new (06 plate), and only one of a few petrol variants of this special edition in the country.
I’ve owned some special/interesting cars and i’ve honestly never had more people stop and ask/talk to me about the car.
And shall i mention the seats?
Another vote for the Scandi load lugger, it's a manual D5 and is surprisingly quick... only owned it 8 weeks but already it has proved it's worth with "stuff" it's carried.I’ve owned some special/interesting cars and i’ve honestly never had more people stop and ask/talk to me about the car.
And shall i mention the seats?
At that budget, I'd keep well away from anything German, particularly if it's "premium". Even at the top of your budget, it will be at least 10 years old, high mileage or both, and probably cost nearly as much again to fix over the next few years, if it lasts that long.
If its primarily to be used for carrying stuff and going up and down the motorway, it's best to give up on the idea of getting something with any kind of image and find the newest car you can which is big enough and drives acceptably.
Newest you'd get would be a 3 year old Dacia Logan, but they are perhaps a bit too basic and not that comfortable. To get a decent level of comfort it would be a 5 year old Astra, Focus or possibly a Leon. The minicab effect means the Octavia or anything made by Toyota is out of budget at that age unless you're happy to have something quite high miles.
If its primarily to be used for carrying stuff and going up and down the motorway, it's best to give up on the idea of getting something with any kind of image and find the newest car you can which is big enough and drives acceptably.
Newest you'd get would be a 3 year old Dacia Logan, but they are perhaps a bit too basic and not that comfortable. To get a decent level of comfort it would be a 5 year old Astra, Focus or possibly a Leon. The minicab effect means the Octavia or anything made by Toyota is out of budget at that age unless you're happy to have something quite high miles.
Genuine Barn Find said:
Forget the Germans. Here is a little slice of Scandinavian Cool. 5 Pot, 48,000 miles from new (06 plate), and only one of a few petrol variants of this special edition in the country.
I’ve owned some special/interesting cars and i’ve honestly never had more people stop and ask/talk to me about the car.
And shall i mention the seats?
I like that. Needs a darker roof box though I’ve owned some special/interesting cars and i’ve honestly never had more people stop and ask/talk to me about the car.
And shall i mention the seats?
I bought an E91 320d late last year and love it. How about a petrol Allroad if diesel not suitable for the short commute.
https://www.boccars.co.uk/used-cars/audi-a4-allroa...
https://www.boccars.co.uk/used-cars/audi-a4-allroa...
I've never owned one of these, but they look damn good.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023082311...
Many moons ago I had a vectra (yes.....I know) with this engine in it, after a remap it was nippy enough to squirt past traffic with relative ease.
The alfa still looks good today, can't say the same for the vectra.
Edited to add:
Ok not the same 1.9 cdti engine as I thought (I presumed some rounding up of the cc's in Alfa's naming convention). Still sext tho.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023082311...
Many moons ago I had a vectra (yes.....I know) with this engine in it, after a remap it was nippy enough to squirt past traffic with relative ease.
The alfa still looks good today, can't say the same for the vectra.
Edited to add:
Ok not the same 1.9 cdti engine as I thought (I presumed some rounding up of the cc's in Alfa's naming convention). Still sext tho.
Edited by Pyrolysis on Friday 1st September 00:02
Not German, Swedish, had one of these with a stage 3 NOOB tune (Just over 300bhp) capable of 30+mpg on a run, huge inside, the most comfortable seats you've ever sat in (and that includes your front room) with that tune its midrange was unbelievably quick I ran mine for just over 100,000 miles on top of the 85,000 I bought it at never missed a beat there's a thriving on-line community and a lot of great specialists that still cater for them SAABtec in Glossop, Malcolm Miles In Leicester and of course Abbott Racing in Suffolk.
Left field I know, but worth a look.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...
Left field I know, but worth a look.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308301...
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