Best estate car?
Discussion
My wife would probably like an SUV or an MPV as our family car but I would much rather drive an estate. Just as much space, better looking and cheaper to run but which estate is the best? On which criteria do you decide?
I would suggest:
Alfa 156/159 (best looking)
Audi RS2/RS4/RS6 (coolest)
Volvo (most practical? - although I gather the newer Volvo estates i.e. V50/V60 aren't that large)
Does anything combine these qualities better? An old-shape Legacy estate perhaps? I know this is a bit subjective but what's the best estate car out there, old or new?
I would suggest:
Alfa 156/159 (best looking)
Audi RS2/RS4/RS6 (coolest)
Volvo (most practical? - although I gather the newer Volvo estates i.e. V50/V60 aren't that large)
Does anything combine these qualities better? An old-shape Legacy estate perhaps? I know this is a bit subjective but what's the best estate car out there, old or new?
My mate bought a 2.0 twin spark 156 estate 2 years ago when the had their first baby. His wife loves it! it's also been 100% reliable even though it had done 120k miles...
although, the boot's tiny...
The previous generation A4 Avant was good and very well built, so long as it wasn't a 1.8T...
although, the boot's tiny...
The previous generation A4 Avant was good and very well built, so long as it wasn't a 1.8T...
il sole said:
My mate bought a 2.0 twin spark 156 estate 2 years ago when the had their first baby. His wife loves it! it's also been 100% reliable even though it had done 120k miles...
although, the boot's tiny...
We had a 156SW with the V6 lump. Nice place to be, drove pretty well, had that engine. Not big.although, the boot's tiny...
Replace it with a hulking great Saab, which is pretty big.
There are loads of bear traps in this. I've been the owner of a Passat estate, a Mondeo estate, an Isuzu Trooper, a Landcruiser and a large MPV. A relative of mine owns an RS4 Avant.
Firstly lets dispell the size = space myth. The LC and the MPV have similar external dimentions. The LC has ground clearance and a bulky 4x4 transmission so internal hight is much less, coupled with a huge bonnet covering a longitudinal engine so the cabin is shorter than the MPV's (and the estate's) transverse layout. (The LC is for off-road work and towing stuff)
If, as the OP states, running costs are a consideration (especially fuel) the RS4 is ruiness. Of all the estates it seems to have least usable space of the bunch, although not awful. Some SUVs have extremely small usable space.
IMO I'd go for a large MPV if what you need is a child-carrier. Huge internal space designed for the job, not expensive to buy or run (as long as you steer clear of the Voyagers) The handling is better than you'd expect but the image is less good - depending on what type of person you want to impress.
Firstly lets dispell the size = space myth. The LC and the MPV have similar external dimentions. The LC has ground clearance and a bulky 4x4 transmission so internal hight is much less, coupled with a huge bonnet covering a longitudinal engine so the cabin is shorter than the MPV's (and the estate's) transverse layout. (The LC is for off-road work and towing stuff)
If, as the OP states, running costs are a consideration (especially fuel) the RS4 is ruiness. Of all the estates it seems to have least usable space of the bunch, although not awful. Some SUVs have extremely small usable space.
IMO I'd go for a large MPV if what you need is a child-carrier. Huge internal space designed for the job, not expensive to buy or run (as long as you steer clear of the Voyagers) The handling is better than you'd expect but the image is less good - depending on what type of person you want to impress.
I've got a P2 Volvo V70 T5. Does pretty much what I need for a family car - capacious, comfortable and tough/reliable.
It's never going to be an exciting steer, but you need to think WHY you need an estate - its not to lap the 'Ring, is it?
Personally, I'd err towards a big wagon as I don't see the point of having to 'suffer' a wagon but struggle to get stuff in it! My long suffering V70 has had no end of stuff in it - new kitchens, old kitchens to the tip, you get the drift.
It's never going to be an exciting steer, but you need to think WHY you need an estate - its not to lap the 'Ring, is it?
Personally, I'd err towards a big wagon as I don't see the point of having to 'suffer' a wagon but struggle to get stuff in it! My long suffering V70 has had no end of stuff in it - new kitchens, old kitchens to the tip, you get the drift.
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