50mpg+ Auto Estate for £5k to £8k

[kprm77]

Does such a car exist?

Looking for an Auto estate that will do close to 50mpg (or more) in the real world.

It would be nice to have decent performance, though can't see that being possible with that mpg (and that budget).

An Octavia auto diesel estate gets close with 47mpg, though that's official figures.

Any other suggestions?

[djt100]

I had an Auto VW Bora 130 Tdi that would do 50mpg on a run, so maybe something from the VW stable with the same engine.
If I remember it comes in 110 / 130 / 150 bhp versions but with differing mpg results.

[rev-erend]

The Jag X type 2.0 diesel does 49 mpg .. I think they look good too.

But it in no way compares to the other estate car thread with C43 Mercedes
and the like.

[DavidY]

Saab 9-3?

I have an Auto saloon and get 55+ on long runs and am averaging about 48 overall.

[Munter]

My Avensis was averaging 54 mpg (some but not much town driving). Motorway runs at 70mph see closer to 57 mpg (got 60 when a lot of the M5 was 50mph zones).

Not terribly exciting but it does come in estate form.

Edit: Just remembered Toyota don't do an Auto Diesel option... D'oh!

Edited by Munter on Monday 28th June 11:10

[clonmult]

djt100 said:

I had an Auto VW Bora 130 Tdi that would do 50mpg on a run, so maybe something from the VW stable with the same engine.
If I remember it comes in 110 / 130 / 150 bhp versions but with differing mpg results.

Aye, something with one of those engines should get close. My A6 Avant (130bhp, manual) gets between 45 and 50mpg, 50+ on a longer run. Later/more efficient engines in a slightly smaller car should return better economy.

[300bhp/ton]

kprm77 said:

Does such a car exist?

Looking for an Auto estate that will do close to 50mpg (or more) in the real world.

It would be nice to have decent performance, though can't see that being possible with that mpg (and that budget).

An Octavia auto diesel estate gets close with 47mpg, though that's official figures.

Any other suggestions?

A TARDIS maybe

F$%* me, people don't want much from cars these days.... lol


I know what yo mean though, I really, really, I do mean really want a 2 seat sports car, but it must be able to seat 5 people and fit two mountain bikes, a dog and a new washing machine in the boot also.


On a more serious note, maybe an LPG converted petrol estate car would work better, ok it won't do 50mpg, but as LPG costs only half what diesel does, your petrol car would only need to manage 25mpg to produce the cost per mile ratio you seem to be looking for.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 28th June 11:05

[Munter]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Never find one in anything other than silver or dark colours though would you....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[kprm77]

300bhp/ton said:

A TARDIS maybe

F$%* me, people don't want much from cars these days.... lol


I know what yo mean though, I really, really, I do mean really want a 2 seat sports car, but it must be able to seat 5 people and fit two mountain bikes, a dog and a new washing machine in the boot also.


On a more serious note, maybe an LPG converted petrol estate car would work better, ok it won't do 50mpg, but as LPG costs only half what diesel does, your petrol car would only need to manage 25mpg to produce the cost per mile ratio you seem to be looking for.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 28th June 11:05

That's the thing, it seems to be a choice between cheap and dull, or expensive and interesting. Just trying to find a compromise that's as close to interesting as possible without too much of the expensive bit

I've been put off LPG after installing this on a Saab 9-5 I used to have. Got a multi-point injection one at a LPGA recognized installer. Turbo went soon after, had hesitation problems, power was down, "Check Engine" light on etc. Very, very wary after that.

Are there any cars that take well to a LPG conversion these days?

Think I will end up with a TDi as at least I'll get the torque.

Please tell me a Merc E320 CDi estate will do closish to 50mpg, and I'll get one of those

[300bhp/ton]

kprm77 said:

300bhp/ton said:

A TARDIS maybe

F$%* me, people don't want much from cars these days.... lol


I know what yo mean though, I really, really, I do mean really want a 2 seat sports car, but it must be able to seat 5 people and fit two mountain bikes, a dog and a new washing machine in the boot also.


On a more serious note, maybe an LPG converted petrol estate car would work better, ok it won't do 50mpg, but as LPG costs only half what diesel does, your petrol car would only need to manage 25mpg to produce the cost per mile ratio you seem to be looking for.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 28th June 11:05

That's the thing, it seems to be a choice between cheap and dull, or expensive and interesting.

Funny, as I'd have said its more a matter of physics and current engineering limitations.

kprm77 said:

Just trying to find a compromise that's as close to interesting as possible without too much of the expensive bit

I can understand that. But I guess it comes down to some other factors, as in, how much money to you have to spend on fuel and how many miles will you be doing?

As in, would the difference between 38mpg and 50mpg really be that much of a burden on a monthly basis?

Example:

If you did 8000 miles a year, a car doing 38mpg would only cost you £292 more a year. Or about £24 a month more. Seems pretty trivial to me. Or course, if you are doing 4 times the number of miles, then it'd be just under £100 more a month.


So my question is, does it really need to do 50mpg?

And then how important is speed and handling? And to offset this, how important is age, badge and toys? An e36 Touring 328i might make better sense, it'll have better residuals, cost less to begin with and will be a better drive and performance.

And just for the record, does it need to be an estate?

kprm77 said:

Please tell me a Merc E320 CDi estate will do closish to 50mpg, and I'll get one of those

mpg is a difficult thing to gauge IMO as it is vastly dependent on the types of roads you drive on and your own driving style.

Motorways can be economical, but if you drive at high speed and tend to floor it (even if it labours the engine) at every opportunity to increase speed, then many a car will return poor mpg driven like this.

Country lanes can be economical, but if you like using the revs, then they might not be. And of course town driving, if you sit in a lot of jams and traffic and then use the loud pedal between lights and junctions, it'll affect mpg.

Example, I used to use an old Pug 106 1.5 diesel, driving it in one fashion it'd do 45-48mpg. Slightly alter how I drove it and it'd do over 62mpg+

[maccas99]

kprm77 said:

300bhp/ton said:

A TARDIS maybe

F$%* me, people don't want much from cars these days.... lol


I know what yo mean though, I really, really, I do mean really want a 2 seat sports car, but it must be able to seat 5 people and fit two mountain bikes, a dog and a new washing machine in the boot also.


On a more serious note, maybe an LPG converted petrol estate car would work better, ok it won't do 50mpg, but as LPG costs only half what diesel does, your petrol car would only need to manage 25mpg to produce the cost per mile ratio you seem to be looking for.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 28th June 11:05

That's the thing, it seems to be a choice between cheap and dull, or expensive and interesting. Just trying to find a compromise that's as close to interesting as possible without too much of the expensive bit

I've been put off LPG after installing this on a Saab 9-5 I used to have. Got a multi-point injection one at a LPGA recognized installer. Turbo went soon after, had hesitation problems, power was down, "Check Engine" light on etc. Very, very wary after that.

Are there any cars that take well to a LPG conversion these days?

Think I will end up with a TDi as at least I'll get the torque.

Please tell me a Merc E320 CDi estate will do closish to 50mpg, and I'll get one of those

A friend has one of these and it will definitely not do 50mpg or anything close to it. Try a maximum of 40mpg on a run with mid 30's at other times...

[Rawwr]

That Volvo V-series hyperdiesel manages >70mpg.

[kprm77]

300bhp/ton said:

kprm77 said:

Just trying to find a compromise that's as close to interesting as possible without too much of the expensive bit

I can understand that. But I guess it comes down to some other factors, as in, how much money to you have to spend on fuel and how many miles will you be doing?

As in, would the difference between 38mpg and 50mpg really be that much of a burden on a monthly basis?

..

So my question is, does it really need to do 50mpg?

And then how important is speed and handling? And to offset this, how important is age, badge and toys? An e36 Touring 328i might make better sense, it'll have better residuals, cost less to begin with and will be a better drive and performance.

And just for the record, does it need to be an estate?

Doesn't have to do 50mpg, just the best possible. I've budgeted for 41mpg, so anything more than that would be a bonus.

I'm currently doing 30,000 miles per year, so the difference between 38mpg and 50mpg becomes signigicant

It doesn't absolutely have to be an estate, a large hatch would also suffice (will be carrying a Springer Spaniel).

As for handling, not that bothered as long as its not terrible. I likes me barges. Age is more difficult. The Mrs wants something as new as possible, though I'd be quite happy with something up to 7-8 years old as long as it had good history. (Whenever I get anything older, I always spend that much on them it would have been cheaper getting a newer car!)

[kprm77]

maccas99 said:

kprm77 said:

Please tell me a Merc E320 CDi estate will do closish to 50mpg, and I'll get one of those

A friend has one of these and it will definitely not do 50mpg or anything close to it. Try a maximum of 40mpg on a run with mid 30's at other times...

That's a shame - they're lovely cars..

[Vidal Baboon]

I run a Passat 2.0TDi estate & it's ok on fuel. I think* I get around 45mpg on mixed driving & around 48mpg on a Motorway run.

• think because it's the wife's car & I rarely check the MFD.

I can't 100% recommend the 2.0TDi because it's caused a couple of aborted overtakes- due to going into limp mode.

Apparently (if I understand it correctly) the turbo has a variable vane which can clog up with carbon. The vane moves to adjust boost, when it fails to move, the car senses overboost & goes into limp mode.

Either that, or something called an N75 vacuum valve can cause problems.

Also, the injector wiring looms can get a bathing in oil & break down (IIRC £70 a time to replace). And early 2.0TDis had oil pump issues.


It's got bags of grunt though when you need it & can carry an awful lot with the seats folded (I managed to stuff a bath in the boot with the door closed)

I've started to view the dashboard as a bit of a Christmas Tree, everyday I get a new light flashing Only yesterday did I get an Airbag warning light on.



I think if I was looking to buy an estate car again, I'd have bought a Ford S-Max/Mondeo TDCI or a Volvo V50 TDi both apparently use the same engine.

[MrLou]

kprm77 said:

I'm currently doing 30,000 miles per year, so the difference between 38mpg and 50mpg becomes signigicant

E220 Estate, it'll have good fuel economy and a more relaxing place to spend all that time.

In a previous job I used to travel frequently and was often transported to and from airports in an E220 estate, it was usually much nicer than the plane trip that followed/I'd done.

[300bhp/ton]

kprm77 said:

300bhp/ton said:

kprm77 said:

Just trying to find a compromise that's as close to interesting as possible without too much of the expensive bit

I can understand that. But I guess it comes down to some other factors, as in, how much money to you have to spend on fuel and how many miles will you be doing?

As in, would the difference between 38mpg and 50mpg really be that much of a burden on a monthly basis?

..

So my question is, does it really need to do 50mpg?

And then how important is speed and handling? And to offset this, how important is age, badge and toys? An e36 Touring 328i might make better sense, it'll have better residuals, cost less to begin with and will be a better drive and performance.

And just for the record, does it need to be an estate?

Doesn't have to do 50mpg, just the best possible. I've budgeted for 41mpg, so anything more than that would be a bonus.

I'm currently doing 30,000 miles per year, so the difference between 38mpg and 50mpg becomes signigicant

It doesn't absolutely have to be an estate, a large hatch would also suffice (will be carrying a Springer Spaniel).

As for handling, not that bothered as long as its not terrible. I likes me barges. Age is more difficult. The Mrs wants something as new as possible, though I'd be quite happy with something up to 7-8 years old as long as it had good history. (Whenever I get anything older, I always spend that much on them it would have been cheaper getting a newer car!)

Probably not the most fun, but good value for money (until you sell it on), but the big French motors probably offer a good blend of economy, toys and pace.

One of the big Pugs and I think a Citroen use the PSA 2.7 V6 diesel, lovely motor and is also found in Range Rover's and Jags. Not quite sure on economy but the Jag XJ did well on Top Gear when used long distance.


Apart from that I quite like the Jaguar X-Type. The 2.0d is more economical than the 2.2d. Good chassis and a good steer, plus you get a Jag cabin and interior.

Or as a cheaper option how about a late (2003/4) Rover 75 estate (or MG ZT-T equal). They use a BMW diesel engine and are a good drive and again have a really nice cabin. They are also half the cost of most of the others suggested so far.

[kprm77]

300bhp/ton said:

Or as a cheaper option how about a late (2003/4) Rover 75 estate (or MG ZT-T equal). They use a BMW diesel engine and are a good drive and again have a really nice cabin. They are also half the cost of most of the others suggested so far.

There's one not too far from me that doesn't look too shabby:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Might have a look at that one.

[300bhp/ton]

kprm77 said:

300bhp/ton said:

Or as a cheaper option how about a late (2003/4) Rover 75 estate (or MG ZT-T equal). They use a BMW diesel engine and are a good drive and again have a really nice cabin. They are also half the cost of most of the others suggested so far.

There's one not too far from me that doesn't look too shabby:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Might have a look at that one.

Very good cars and often over looked. A friend has had two V6 75's, and apart from a silly alarm issue on the 2nd one, both have been faultless.

[DaveL86]

Passat TDi 130 Estate

Shouldn't be too hard to find and I would image it can do above 50mpg, I've got the same engine in my Bora and last week we went camping, three people with the car fully loaded with equipment (very heavy) and managed 55mpg to and 57mpg home which I was impressed with, with just an overnight bag on my own I can get ~65mpg but I drive like miss daisy and only go off the OBC as I'm too lazy to brim and calculate but seems pretty right mileage and money wise.