Recommend a family barge, ideally estate £5-7.5k

[MrSpanky49]

Potentially looking at chopping my 2024 Leon estate as we are more than likely putting the house on the market and the money would be useful.

Needs to be:


Priced between 5-7.5k
Reliable
Large boot, estate preferred but open to SUV or large hatch.
Ideally petrol
Ideally auto
Isofix


Bonus point for interesting/multi cylinder but not a deal breaker.
MPG not much of an issue, it’s a second/runaround car as my Tesla does the heavy lifting most of the time.


Shoot!

[macron]

3.0 V6 X-Type

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101672...

A6 2.7 if the Readers Cars thread doesn't put you off

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025072949...

Surprisingly cheap A6 3.0T estate, there's an old readers cars thread on one of these somewhere

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025100769...

545i

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025100669...

Spec B

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025091663...

Alfa 159

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101872...

Smaller but quick and cheap, C32

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025081955...

Edited by macron on Saturday 18th October 19:08

[MrSpanky49]

macron said:

3.0 V6 X-Type

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101672...

A6 2.7 if the Readers Cars thread doesn't put you off

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025072949...

Surprisingly cheap A6 3.0T estate, there's an old readers cars thread on one of these somewhere

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025100769...

545i

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025100669...

Spec B

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025091663...

Alfa 159

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101872...

Smaller but quick and cheap, C32

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025081955...

Edited by macron on Saturday 18th October 19:08

Big fan of the Alfa, 545i would be nice too although that looks a little tired.

[MajorMantra]

Given you're not fussed about MPG, how about one of the bigger engined V70s? E.g.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510187...

Huge boot and most are autos.

[MrSpanky49]

MajorMantra said:

Given you're not fussed about MPG, how about one of the bigger engined V70s? E.g.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510187...

Huge boot and most are autos.

Yep. That would definitely fit the bill.

Also considering the run of the mill stuff, Astra/focus estates etc. obviously much more boring but potentially (depending on engine chosen) cheap/bombproof for a couple of years…

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're willing to haggle & strtch the budget a bit then this is a winner as long as you don't mind it not being an estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510137...

Alternatively

M30d, these are ULEZ compliant & a very nice place to be:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509036...

FX37S:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/397105459835?_skw=infin...

E250:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509236...

3.0i X5, this one may well be worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510086...

4.8 S Cayenne:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509296...

[Cambs_Stuart]

macron said:

3.0 V6 X-Type

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101672...

A6 2.7 if the Readers Cars thread doesn't put you off

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025072949...

Surprisingly cheap A6 3.0T estate, there's an old readers cars thread on one of these somewhere

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025100769...

545i

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025100669...

Spec B

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025091663...

Alfa 159

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101872...

Smaller but quick and cheap, C32

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025081955...

Edited by macron on Saturday 18th October 19:08

That Spec B looks exactly like my old one. It was a brilliant family car, only let down by awful fuel economy and high tax. Fantastic to drive, comfortable, amazing engine, 6 speed box was brilliant, massive boot and the big windows meant no one got car sick.

[MrSpanky49]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you're willing to haggle & strtch the budget a bit then this is a winner as long as you don't mind it not being an estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510137...

Alternatively

M30d, these are ULEZ compliant & a very nice place to be:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509036...

FX37S:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/397105459835?_skw=infin...

E250:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509236...

3.0i X5, this one may well be worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510086...

4.8 S Cayenne:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509296...

X5 is lovely. Cayenne would be too if it had the original wheels!

E320 cdi?

[119]

I’d go for the V70.

Fantastic wafter, good turn of pace and your house will actually fit in the back.

Although you may need to put the seats down.

[ZX10R NIN]

MrSpanky49 said:

X5 is lovely. Cayenne would be too if it had the original wheels!

E320 cdi?

If a diesel works for you then the E350d is the answer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505222...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510026...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510157...

Or the XF, make sure the timing belt has been done:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506203...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508255...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504040...

[MrSpanky49]

ZX10R NIN said:

If a diesel works for you then the E350d is the answer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505222...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510026...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510157...

Or the XF, make sure the timing belt has been done:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506203...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508255...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504040...

I know you vouch for infiniti a lot. Wife likes the look of the fx30d, as do I. I can make diesel work.
Are these any good? What’s parts support like now the brand is no longer in the UK?

[ilikejam]

I bought a 2013 FX with the V6 diesel in 2022 - late one just before it changed name to QX70.

It was a great family bus. I really liked the looks - ours was an S in black with with the huge black wheels and chrome details - looked mean! There's a whiff of Cayenne about them when you see them in the flesh. Had heated and cooled seats, sat nav, sunroof, radar cruise, etc. Took it on a road trip around the UK and it was surprisingly (relatively) economical and supremely comfy. The interior is much, much nicer in the flesh than it looks in photos too.

Had a seemingly fairly common problem with the sunroof drain pipes being blocked which was a pain of a DIY fix. Found out in monsoon rain when freezing water poured over my head going round a sharp corner!

In the end it was sent off to WBAC about 2 years later after the auto box sh*t the bed and I couldn't find anyone willing to work on it (we're in north of Scotland, so maybe a busy area in England this wouldn't be such an issue). Got a friendly local guy to reset the code and it held up long enough to be sold off. Saw it on Autotrader at a dealer a few weeks later.

Wouldn't like to think how it would be getting body panels if required. It was also in the top tax rate - given the relatively low price of the car I was happy enough with this, but worth being aware of.

All in all I really liked it - if you get a good one that's reliable they're superb cars for the money.

ETA: Just found these pics of it - still think it looks great even now!

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 3rd November 15:54

[biggbn]

The big Infiniti and Hyundai are the thread winners for me!! I'd dearly love a V8 Infiniti and I really love the Hyundai, understated, quite elegant, bound to be reliable, a bit like a modern day LS400....

[sjc]

ilikejam said:

I bought a 2013 FX with the V6 diesel in 2022 - late one just before it changed name to QX70.

It was a great family bus. I really liked the looks - ours was an S in black with with the huge black wheels and chrome details - looked mean! There's a whiff of Cayenne about them when you see them in the flesh. Had heated and cooled seats, sat nav, sunroof, radar cruise, etc. Took it on a road trip around the UK and it was surprisingly (relatively) economical and supremely comfy. The interior is much, much nicer in the flesh than it looks in photos too.

Had a seemingly fairly common problem with the sunroof drain pipes being blocked which was a pain of a DIY fix. Found out in monsoon rain when freezing water poured over my head going round a sharp corner!

In the end it was sent off to WBAC about 2 years later after the auto box sh*t the bed and I couldn't find anyone willing to work on it (we're in north of Scotland, so maybe a busy area in England this wouldn't be such an issue). Got a friendly local guy to reset the code and it held up long enough to be sold off. Saw it on Autotrader at a dealer a few weeks later.

Wouldn't like to think how it would be getting body panels if required. It was also in the top tax rate - given the relatively low price of the car I was happy enough with this, but worth being aware of.

All in all I really liked it - if you get a good one that's reliable they're superb cars for the money.

ETA: Just found these pics of it - still think it looks great even now!

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 3rd November 15:54

What sort of mileage was it when the autobox did that ??

[ilikejam]

sjc said:

What sort of mileage was it when the autobox did that ??

Can't remember exactly, but think it was showing around 80k when I got rid of it. Obviously can't be sure how it was treated before I came to own it of course. Maybe a month or so earlier it cut into limp mode when accelerating down a slip road. Pulled over, restarted the car and it carried on as normal so forgot about it until it went full red engine light.

Ended up still driving but the gearbox sounded like a turbine engine where before it had been silent. Imagine it was only a matter of time until a catastrophic failure if it didn't get sorted - like I say I tried and failed to find someone to fix it and would have been happy to pay for a fix (within reason!) as I liked it so much.

Hopefully sorted and giving the current owner a good experience.

[MrSpanky49]

ilikejam said:

I bought a 2013 FX with the V6 diesel in 2022 - late one just before it changed name to QX70.

It was a great family bus. I really liked the looks - ours was an S in black with with the huge black wheels and chrome details - looked mean! There's a whiff of Cayenne about them when you see them in the flesh. Had heated and cooled seats, sat nav, sunroof, radar cruise, etc. Took it on a road trip around the UK and it was surprisingly (relatively) economical and supremely comfy. The interior is much, much nicer in the flesh than it looks in photos too.

Had a seemingly fairly common problem with the sunroof drain pipes being blocked which was a pain of a DIY fix. Found out in monsoon rain when freezing water poured over my head going round a sharp corner!

In the end it was sent off to WBAC about 2 years later after the auto box sh*t the bed and I couldn't find anyone willing to work on it (we're in north of Scotland, so maybe a busy area in England this wouldn't be such an issue). Got a friendly local guy to reset the code and it held up long enough to be sold off. Saw it on Autotrader at a dealer a few weeks later.

Wouldn't like to think how it would be getting body panels if required. It was also in the top tax rate - given the relatively low price of the car I was happy enough with this, but worth being aware of.

All in all I really liked it - if you get a good one that's reliable they're superb cars for the money.

ETA: Just found these pics of it - still think it looks great even now!

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 3rd November 15:54

Thanks. Yes I do need to sit in one, I like the cream interior, but 2 young kids points to black being the correct choice.

I am in Nottingham with a good Indy network around me. I thought the 3.0 was either navara/pathfinder running gear or Mercedes? I am unsure which has what. Either way I’d have thought engine parts would be easy t come by. It was more suspension bits, brakes etc I’m concerned re parts availability.

Other option is a Q7 which may be better supported.

[Pickle_Rick]

MrSpanky49 said:

Potentially looking at chopping my 2024 Leon estate as we are more than likely putting the house on the market and the money would be useful.

Needs to be:


Priced between 5-7.5k
Reliable
Large boot, estate preferred but open to SUV or large hatch.
Ideally petrol
Ideally auto
Isofix


Bonus point for interesting/multi cylinder but not a deal breaker.
MPG not much of an issue, it s a second/runaround car as my Tesla does the heavy lifting most of the time.


Shoot!

That depreciation hit is going to be horrific.

As you'll likely have gap insurance I'd find a nice quarry.

/jk before the mods start shooting.


Lexus RX