Need advice on buying estate car, got about £15k

[crowsout]

Hello,

I'm a car dunce so I'm looking for some pointers on buying our next motor. We'll need it in about 4-6 months so I've started looking now.

Here are the requirements:

. Estate car, big enough to carry my large dog and sometimes a couple of grand kids, tip runs etc.
. Mostly used for transporting the above around with the odd motorway trip and one or maybe two trips to Europe to see family each year
. Needs to be able to have a roof box fitted
. Petrol, I think ,as I don't regularly do a lot of miles and I'm told I'll have problems with a diesel just pootling about?
. It needs to have a bit of go in it
. Needs to be reasonably cheap to run with average cost of parts etc.
. Needs to last another ten years or so

I've no idea if I'll find anything which fits those parameters but I've been looking on Autotrader, I've set my filters at £15k, estate, 60k miles(this was arbitrary), 200+bhp and found a few things which caught my eye.

. 2019 Kia ProCeed 1.6 T-GDI GT Shooting Brake DCT (you seem to get a lot for the money?)

. 2016 Skoda Ocativia 2.0 TSI vRS 230 DSG

Would these be reasonable choices?
Are there known issues with these motors?
Are there better choices for my needs?

Thanks for looking.

[bobclayton]

Are you willing to go a bit bigger?
Because for me there's only one car that smashes all of those boxes (perhaps in 2.0TSI guise):

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502159...

[66HFM]

Depending how much room you needed, you could go with the Octavia VRS's sibling a Seat Leon FR ST (estate), although I'd be the first to admit the Octavia's boot is enormous.

Volvo V60 R-Design in one of the petrol versions or its bigger brother the V90.

[otolith]

When I had similar requirements, I had E class estates (no longer have a big dog). They're great, but fail your cheap parts test.

[dhutch]

66HFM said:

Volvo V60 R-Design in one of the petrol versions or its bigger brother the V90.

We have a 20plate V60 II with the T4 petrol engine for my wife and I have to admit its a very nice car.

The MIL has a Gen3 Octavia we have used a lot, and we did consider a Gen4 Octavia in in fact did a side by side topgear style comparison at a local Skoda dealership the happened to have a V60 D4 in stock. Both are very good cars, but the Volvo clinched it on comfort and feel in the cab, as well as external appearance.

We where aiming for a D4 with adaptive cruise, but the latter was a rare option on the V60 ii (standard on the V90 I believe) so we compromised on a very nice T4 that came up, ex-volvo uk car (KW plate) as the circa £500/year additional fuel cost. You cant tell between a D4 and T4 from the cockpit, but its nice not to get diesel on your hands at the pump.


Check this spreadsheet of Estates i put together if you want.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XIAa0ahoG3...

[Jag_NE]

crowsout said:

Hello,

I'm a car dunce so I'm looking for some pointers on buying our next motor. We'll need it in about 4-6 months so I've started looking now.

Here are the requirements:

. Estate car, big enough to carry my large dog and sometimes a couple of grand kids, tip runs etc.
. Mostly used for transporting the above around with the odd motorway trip and one or maybe two trips to Europe to see family each year
. Needs to be able to have a roof box fitted
. Petrol, I think ,as I don't regularly do a lot of miles and I'm told I'll have problems with a diesel just pootling about?
. It needs to have a bit of go in it
. Needs to be reasonably cheap to run with average cost of parts etc.
. Needs to last another ten years or so

I've no idea if I'll find anything which fits those parameters but I've been looking on Autotrader, I've set my filters at £15k, estate, 60k miles(this was arbitrary), 200+bhp and found a few things which caught my eye.

. 2019 Kia ProCeed 1.6 T-GDI GT Shooting Brake DCT (you seem to get a lot for the money?)

. 2016 Skoda Ocativia 2.0 TSI vRS 230 DSG

Would these be reasonable choices?
Are there known issues with these motors?
Are there better choices for my needs?

Thanks for looking.

Fabulous. We've got the tip run and trips to the alps in scope. Petrol a great choice as we are doing low mileage. SUV's have terrible handling so stay with wagons for the true drivers experience. Personally I think you need a Japanese import V70 with a petrol lump. Lovely place to be.

[crowsout]

Forgive my replies all coming at the end of the thread, the forum says I can't post links(?) until I've been around for 14 days so I can't quote any post ...

. Superb - good shout but the missus wouldn't spring for anything bigger that a 'standard' estate

. I hadn't considered the Leon or the volvos (are the auto gearboxes reliable?) so I'll have a look

. thanks for the spreadsheet, it's a great help.

. I've no idea how to go about importing a car from Japan

Edited by crowsout on Wednesday 11th June 11:04

Edited by crowsout on Wednesday 11th June 11:49

[crowsout]

Oh, forgot to ask ...

... is there no love at all for the Kia Proceed?

[macron]

Not really, I mean they're fine, but they're not exciting- it won't have the "go in it" you mention, the angle of the hatch chronically limits how much space you actually get too. They do have a lot of toys and a decent warranty- subject to servicing etc, but the seats have oddly forward leaning headrests so if you're over 5'6ish I honestly don't know how you'd get comfortable. I'd think of it as an elongate hatch rather than a true estate because of that dumb angle.

I'd also look at an Auris estate, being a hybrid they are an easy sell and hold their money well, and a golf. Obvs that's the same as the Leon, but a range of engines, strong interior, and again an easy sell holding their money well. Plenty of choice. Last go, a bit cheaper maybe, the darling of the car price crash thread because they just haven't, Vauxhall make a 200bhp petrol Astra estate, this one's Cat S so don't buy it, but is the first example I found, 10k should sort you with a 2018+ low miler, heated leather, go, not big... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505011...

[66HFM]

crowsout said:

Forgive my replies all coming at the end of the thread, the forum says I can't post links(?) until I've been around for 14 days so I can't quote any post ...

. Superb - good shout but the missus wouldn't spring for anything bigger that a 'standard' estate

. I hadn't considered the Leon or the volvos (are the auto gearboxes reliable?) so I'll have a look

. thanks for the spreadsheet, it's a great help.

. I've no idea how to go about importing a car from Japan

Edited by crowsout on Wednesday 11th June 11:04

Edited by crowsout on Wednesday 11th June 11:49

I think the Volvo gearboxes are ok, as long as you get the oil changed in them, every 8 years from meory, don't believe the 'sealed for life' statement.
You could also go Vectra estate, Mondeo / Focus estate, or a Corolla estate, although don't wait outside a station or a nightclub as you'll have a queue of people trying to get into it... make sure aits not an ex-private hire car (taxi)

[dhutch]

Golf Estate is a thing, an uncle has one as likes it.
Focus Estate is another option, got a friend with one.

[dhutch]

66HFM said:

I think the Volvo gearboxes are ok, as long as you get the oil changed in them, every 8 years from memory, don't believe the 'sealed for life' statement.

I have not looked into it in any detail, but I understand it is an Aisin TG-81SC which is also used in a lot of Toyotas, GM, PSA group etc and is reasonable well respected.

During test drives I did think the shift on the DSG (7sp?) in the Gen4 octavia was maybe fractionally better, and you get flappy paddles if you are into that, but the Volvo 8sp auto is certainly a perfectly pleasant box and in no way lets the car down.

Our car is now 4 years old on 65k so I will have a bit more of a look into the advisory/optional gearbox oil change intervals.

[crowsout]

Great info for me, thanks.

Well, it looks like I need to concentrate on either:

. Octavia Vrs as it will have enough space and a bit of 'go' to it

. Volvo V60, nice motor but not as much 'go' as above? One of our lads said these can be 'remapped'(?) to give more power, is this correct?

Is there anything about the above two motors apart from FSH, condition etc. I should look out for in particular?

I'll also have a look at a Mondeo (but I won't park outside a nightclub, lol).

Thanks again, it's a great help to me!

[66HFM]

crowsout said:

Great info for me, thanks.

Well, it looks like I need to concentrate on either:

. Octavia Vrs as it will have enough space and a bit of 'go' to it

. Volvo V60, nice motor but not as much 'go' as above? One of our lads said these can be 'remapped'(?) to give more power, is this correct?

Is there anything about the above two motors apart from FSH, condition etc. I should look out for in particular?

I'll also have a look at a Mondeo (but I won't park outside a nightclub, lol).

Thanks again, it's a great help to me!

You can get a Volvo Approved Polestar map on some of the V60s, along with a yellow Moose badge.
If you go VRS you have to get a Racing Blue one, as they are the quickest....

The comment re taxis was more around the Corolla estate, as where I live everyone white or silver Corolla estate is a taxi.
Good luck, I'd be happy with either

[Hub]

Mk3 Ford Focus ST estate another option if you aren't looking exclusively for autos - mine's been pretty good reliability wise, big and decent shape boot, rear legroom not so great but it depends what you need. Ride is a bit harder - probably more fun at the expense of a bit of practicality compared to the Octavia VRS.

[ZX10R NIN]

crowsout said:

Oh, forgot to ask ...

... is there no love at all for the Kia Proceed?

I'd take the Insignia 2.0t over the Octavia VRS, they're quieter inside just as well built & they have a conventional auto, so no potential dual clutch issues:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505272...

Also the 1.6T 508 GT Line is another very good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505072...

T6 V60:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503270...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506023...

Mondeo Vignale 2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505102...

The Kia ProCeed is a good car maybe just a bit vanilla.

[crowsout]

I'll take a look at the insignia too, I hadn't considered it before, thanks.

The T6 looks very tempting but the mpg looks awful and I kind of wince spending that sort of money on so old a car, should I be wincing?

I've recently watched some videos about avoiding the puretech and ecoboost engines, are there valid concerns about them.

So far my list is:

Octavia Vrs
Volvo v60
Insignia Elite Nav

Thanks.

Edited by crowsout on Wednesday 11th June 20:42

[ZX10R NIN]

crowsout said:

I'll take a look at the insignia too, I hadn't considered it before, thanks.

The T6 looks very tempting but the mpg looks awful and I kind of wince spending that sort of money on so old a car, should I be wincing?

I've recently watched some videos about avoiding the puretech and ecoboost engines, are there valid concerns about them.

The 2.0T engine is fine with no issues, people will say the DCT gearbox has issues but it's no better or worse than the VAG dual clutch boxes all need to be serviced as per the schedule.

[macron]

The Insignia is 4.98m long, and you said your missus won't drive something too big. The astra is the smaller one, similar to the Octavia in size (the Superb, ruled out, equivalent to the Insignia).

[dhutch]

66HFM said:

crowsout said:

. Volvo V60, nice motor but not as much 'go' as above? One of our lads said these can be 'remapped'(?) to give more power, is this correct?

You can get a Volvo Approved Polestar map on some of the V60s, along with a yellow Moose badge.

The T4 V60 II is 187bhp and 0-60 in 7sec.
Vs Octi Gen4 VRS petrol at 217 and 6.8sec