Running a Shed - 30k miles p.a. - viable?

[kprm77]

I'm bored with my Skoda Superb (owned for almost 4 years now) and am thinking about changing for an swift automatic estate.

I've looked at cars of similar value, and I've struggled to find anything half decent without dropping to an older car.

Is a shed a viable option if I'm likely to be doing up to 30,000 miles per year?

If it is viable, what sort of car would you suggest? I'm after a fairly big estate (family of 4 plus dog), automatic, and noticably quicker than my current VAG 130BHP diesel. Petrol or diesel is fine.

[Harry Flashman]

Stay with VAG group, and find a Passat W8.

Or, I found an old shape Audi S6 (340bhp V8) estate for about £7k. Was tempted - then reset my estate budget to proper shed levels i.e.under £2k when I realised it would do less than 2k miles a year.

Enjoy the fuel bills though. Personally, I'd stick with a diesel at 30k miles per year.

[MrLou]

E Class estate?

Plenty of space and the 3L diesels are reasonably quick once opened up, in true Teutonic barge style.

[kprm77]

MrLou said:

E Class estate?

Plenty of space and the 3L diesels are reasonably quick once opened up, in true Teutonic barge style.

Wouldn't shed money get me into one of the rusty E class's? Do like the sound of the E320D though.

Harry Flashman said:

Stay with VAG group, and find a Passat W8.

I'd like a W8, though that would be too thirsty for me..

ETA - I suppose I'd be looking around the £2k mark.

Edited by kprm77 on Wednesday 31st March 11:40

[MrLou]

kprm77 said:

MrLou said:

E Class estate?

Plenty of space and the 3L diesels are reasonably quick once opened up, in true Teutonic barge style.

Wouldn't shed money get me into one of the rusty E class's? Do like the sound of the E320D though.

Yes, it will have some rust, but if you're wanting to do 30k miles for shed money, you've got to make compromises somewhere, right?

I'd say if you find a good one there won't be many better places, for the money, to do 30k p/a.

[eltax91]

I run and Octavia TDi "shed" (cost me £2k 2 years ago) and have covered 60k in it with no worries, roubles or problems. Just servicing every 10k and a cambelt due this weekend. You can run shed's for big annual mileages, you just need to find the right one.

[kprm77]

MrLou said:

kprm77 said:

MrLou said:

E Class estate?

Plenty of space and the 3L diesels are reasonably quick once opened up, in true Teutonic barge style.

Wouldn't shed money get me into one of the rusty E class's? Do like the sound of the E320D though.

Yes, it will have some rust, but if you're wanting to do 30k miles for shed money, you've got to make compromises somewhere, right?

I'd say if you find a good one there won't be many better places, for the money, to do 30k p/a.

True. I suppose a bit of cosmetic rust would add a bit of character

[kprm77]

eltax91 said:

I run and Octavia TDi "shed" (cost me £2k 2 years ago) and have covered 60k in it with no worries, roubles or problems. Just servicing every 10k and a cambelt due this weekend. You can run shed's for big annual mileages, you just need to find the right one.

I would go for an Octavia estate, though they're very difficult to find with auto boxes at shed money.

[MrLou]

kprm77 said:

eltax91 said:

I run and Octavia TDi "shed" (cost me £2k 2 years ago) and have covered 60k in it with no worries, roubles or problems. Just servicing every 10k and a cambelt due this weekend. You can run shed's for big annual mileages, you just need to find the right one.

I would go for an Octavia estate, though they're very difficult to find with auto boxes at shed money.

Even at more than shed money it's not easy, anything good is gone within days of being advertised.

Thinking back to a time when I used to travel to Israel there was a time every taxi at the airport was a C or E class. Last time I was there, which is nearly 3 years ago, it was almost exclusively Skoda, either Octavia or sometimes Superb.

[snotrag]

'Under 2k' is not shed territory IMO.

Under about 750 quid, is shed territory.

[GreatGranny]

2002 (02) 4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 39,000 miles,with full service history genuine low millage, Metallic Green. ABS, Power assisted steering, Air Bags, Anti theft system, Radio/CD, Remote central locking, Electric windows, Electric mirrors, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, including with private plate worth £400. m.o.t and tax very good condition inside out. first to see will buy.

[Steve_F]

Sounds right into Volvo T5 territory to me. Maybe even a T5-R but a remapped T5 is as quick. Probably an 850 but maybe a V70 although fuel costs will be interesting.

Or the alternative on these threads the Saab 9-5 Aero.

Legacy?

5 series touring (or 3 if if doesn't need to be huge)

[VXED]

kprm77 said:

thinking about changing for an swift automatic estate.

I didn't know Suzuki made an Estate version of the Swift...

[kprm77]

snotrag said:

'Under 2k' is not shed territory IMO.

Under about 750 quid, is shed territory.

Don't know why I said shed. I was thinking cheaper cars and shed just came out

Steve_F said:

Sounds right into Volvo T5 territory to me. Maybe even a T5-R but a remapped T5 is as quick. Probably an 850 but maybe a V70 although fuel costs will be interesting.

Or the alternative on these threads the Saab 9-5 Aero.

Legacy?

5 series touring (or 3 if if doesn't need to be huge)

Volvo / Legacy and Saab are all worth looking into - I like all of those. Have had a 9-5 before so that could be an option.

Not sure on the BM's. I have had an irrational dislike of BM's for years, though I am softening in my older years. I think the 3 series would be too small.

Always like the Omegas too as GreatGranny mentioned.

As for the swift comment - that's exactly what crossed my mind when I typed it. I initially typed it with a capital "S", but changed it to the lower case "s" thinking this would stop any potential Suzuki references

[kprm77]

I'm definately going to need an estate within a few months so I may have to come up with different options.

I suppose I could go for a straight swap, which would get me something like this :

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...
http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...

AutoTrader Ad said:

2002, MERCEDES E320 CDI AUTO 7 SEATER DIESEL ESTATE 2002 02 REG, Brilliant Silver,Blue Graphite Leather, 120k Full Service History, Climate Control, Cruise Control, MFS Wheel, HLWash, Mercedes Stereo /CD, Leather Steering Wheel/Gear selector, roof rails etc £5995 0116 2624847 or 07710 995770 (Town). £5,995.

Is rust still a problem on late models such as this one?

Alternatively, I could just buy something boring and excellent on fuel for the commute, and a nice estate for home use. That way I wouldn't have to worry too much about the fuel.

Having done my sums.... Fuel bill is currently £325 per month. On something like a 540 Touring, but this fuel bill would jump to £580 per month, so not really viable for the long commute..

Any more comments / ideas?

Edited by kprm77 on Thursday 1st April 10:54

[HellDiver]

I thought 2003 was the first of the non-rusty E-class?

Edited by HellDiver on Thursday 1st April 11:01

[MrLou]

kprm77 said:

I'm definately going to need an estate within a few months so I may have to come up with different options.

I suppose I could go for a straight swap, which would get me something like this :

http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...
http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...

AutoTrader Ad said:

2002, MERCEDES E320 CDI AUTO 7 SEATER DIESEL ESTATE 2002 02 REG, Brilliant Silver,Blue Graphite Leather, 120k Full Service History, Climate Control, Cruise Control, MFS Wheel, HLWash, Mercedes Stereo /CD, Leather Steering Wheel/Gear selector, roof rails etc £5995 0116 2624847 or 07710 995770 (Town). £5,995.

Is rust still a problem on late models such as this one?

That's looks to be one of the last of the W210 type, rust still an issue. But if that example is OK then could be a good option.

The W210 was replaced in 2002, by the W211 (original, eh?!). Many people will tell you that up until the 2006 facelift, the W211 had too many electrical problems. But if you can find a good one...

[kprm77]

MrLou said:

That's looks to be one of the last of the W210 type, rust still an issue. But if that example is OK then could be a good option.

The W210 was replaced in 2002, by the W211 (original, eh?!). Many people will tell you that up until the 2006 facelift, the W211 had too many electrical problems. But if you can find a good one...

Can't win - older shape have rust, newer shape has electrical problems

[Harry Flashman]

On the Volvo thing - I run a V70R shedd, 1999 vintage. And the fuel economy is shocking: hig teend in town, low twenties elsewhere. Admittedly it's auto and 4wd - but apparently even the 2wd manual isn't massively better.

Mine is an occasional use car - as a 30k a year hack? Forget it.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

I have a 2001 audi 1.9tdi "shed" and do 50 odd k a year in it just passed the 270k mile mark and its been very little trouble.