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What mid-size estate??
Jasper - 20/3/12 at 02:48 PM

Ok, so we've had a rethink and now reckon we can actually get away with a mid-size estate car to tide us over for a couple of years as we could do with not spending out loads at the moment on a decent 5 series.

So, £5-£8k budget, mid size estate, needs to be economicalish and reliable, but fun to drive as well - I've got no 'fun' car to drive around in at the moment so have to get my kicks somewhere!

Any thoughts?

loggyboy - 20/3/12 at 02:53 PM

V50 Sport/Rdesign.
1.6 Drive if you want cheap tax, cheap running but under (ish) powered.
2.0 if you dont mind more road tax but can cope with 45mpg.
T5 if you want to light up the M/way

theduck - 20/3/12 at 02:53 PM

330d

or if need better effeciency, 320d with a remap.

bj928 - 20/3/12 at 02:54 PM

c-class or e-class merc would be my choice, prefer the e class but they are big cars, had an AMG E-class and loved it, want a CL AMG next or maybe a CL600 as a going out car

bj928 - 20/3/12 at 02:56 PM

looking at mondeo estates for my brother, cheap to run, and own if u just want a work horse, and for that money u could get the later shape.

loggyboy - 20/3/12 at 03:06 PM

Infact, 1.6 Drive is too new to be in budget - so 2.0 might be a worth auditionee eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

roadrunner - 20/3/12 at 03:12 PM

I have just test driven an Audi A4 2.0l turbo quattro estate for under 7k. Went really well, and was well planted to the road. It wont get stuck in the snow like other German examples either.
Just need to convince SWMBO to let me borrow the cash.
They also do diesel versions.
Brad.

roadrunner - 20/3/12 at 03:18 PM

linkything

[Edited on 20/3/12 by roadrunner]
2005 Audi A4 TDi S Line quattro | eBay

[Edited on 20/3/12 by roadrunner]

PAUL FISHER - 20/3/12 at 03:25 PM

SAAB 9-3 TTID twin turbo and 50+mpg

nick205 - 20/3/12 at 03:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
V50 Sport/Rdesign.
1.6 Drive if you want cheap tax, cheap running but under (ish) powered.
2.0 if you dont mind more road tax but can cope with 45mpg.
T5 if you want to light up the M/way


Hugely disappointing car the V50 IMHO, cramped, poorly laid out and put together, dull as hell to drive, over priced.

That said, the 1. Drive model is very economical and fantastic on tax.

The biggest shame is it's such a good looking car IMHO.

Only test drove one, but the Focus was much more rewarding the drive and considerably cheaper too.

loggyboy - 20/3/12 at 03:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Hugely disappointing car the V50 IMHO, cramped, poorly laid out and put together, dull as hell to drive, over priced.


Couldnt argue more except the dull to drive bit as I had the C30 so is very different chassis, I only had a V50 loan car for a few days whilst my c30 was being worked on so only did a few motorway trips to work in it. However the build quality of the C30 was superb (shares the same dash etc as V50), all the buttons felt well put together, nice soft touch plastics, and the controls are as much of a joy to use as look at. I know theyre not the biggest estates (v70 if you want loads of space) but I found the seats comfy and rear leg room looked ok to me.

britishtrident - 20/3/12 at 03:59 PM

What about something like this Rover 75 Tourer 2.0 CDT 1950cc Club SE | eBay

The owners usually report 44mpg BMW 2 litre diesel (but without the troublersome swirl flaps) reliable nice to drive (but not sporty) parts are cheap.

Jasper - 20/3/12 at 04:06 PM

Audi looks good, possibly Volvo - definitely not a Rover - don't care how good they are I wouldn't be seen dead in one!!

ChrisW - 20/3/12 at 04:25 PM

A mate of mine is selling his S4 Estate if that's of any interest? It's yellow, on an S plate, 175k miles. Couple of little issues but nothing serious. Full leather, HID's, etc. The best part is that it's 272bhp and 4wd.

He wants £2800. Let me know if that's of any interest and I'll put you both in touch.

Chris

MikeRJ - 20/3/12 at 05:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
Audi looks good, possibly Volvo - definitely not a Rover - don't care how good they are I wouldn't be seen dead in one!!


Same with me and Audi's and BMW's. Unreliable, overpriced and I'd hate to associate myself with the 95% of them driven by complete cretins.

nick205 - 20/3/12 at 07:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Hugely disappointing car the V50 IMHO, cramped, poorly laid out and put together, dull as hell to drive, over priced.


Couldnt argue more except the dull to drive bit as I had the C30 so is very different chassis, I only had a V50 loan car for a few days whilst my c30 was being worked on so only did a few motorway trips to work in it. However the build quality of the C30 was superb (shares the same dash etc as V50), all the buttons felt well put together, nice soft touch plastics, and the controls are as much of a joy to use as look at. I know theyre not the biggest estates (v70 if you want loads of space) but I found the seats comfy and rear leg room looked ok to me.



Each to their own, the 11 plate V50 Drive I had for 6 months drove me nuts;

Uncomfortable seats for long journeys
Too many and too fiddly buttons all over the dash
Ridiculous key slot position directly behind the stalk
Pointless door pockets only big enough for a fag paper
Glove box like a rabbit hole, too narrow and far too deep
Poor fitting plastics all over the place (around the handbrake and dash displays in particular)
Really really bad mouldings for the stalks with horribly scratchy mould lines all over them
Unreliable Bluetooth system
Poorly designed and assembled steering wheel control button modules making it uncomfortable to hold the wheel in the natural position
No clutch side foot rest
Pointless "floating" dash console with further pointless storage tray behind it
Sunglasses holder above rear view mirror cunningly designed for a pair of childs sunglasses
Non adjustable head restraints

.....believe me the list goes on, but I mustn't grumble (to much).

It's only saving graces were outstanding economy - regularly saw north of 65mpg on motorway runs and it's exterior looks which I still love despite the numerous issues inside the cabin.

VAG all the way for me I'm afraid, they just have it together on design and ergonomics IMHO.

adam1985 - 20/3/12 at 07:38 PM

A neighbour of mine has a red 159 sportwagon which is beautiful i aint normaly a fan of alfas and would always
be cautious with reliabilty issues but worth a look

Jasper - 21/3/12 at 10:12 AM

Cheers chaps - Chris I'm after a car with less miles, not more!

Adam - loving the idea of the Alfa, going to go drive on next week.

Bit wary on the SAAB as they no longer exist, maybe I should have a look though.

[Edited on 21/3/12 by Jasper]

Jasper - 23/3/12 at 02:43 PM

And the winner is .............. BMW 330d Sport.

Same engine as the car I have now, but now 218bhp as standard, 260 with the tuning box I have, and about 350lbft of torque!! 0-60 in 6.9 sec without the remap.

Now to find one in metallic blue.....

Test drove the Alfa - beautiful looking car for sure, but rather let down by a poor interior compared to the Germans and a very small boot. Nice to drive though.

[Edited on 23/3/12 by Jasper]

MikeRJ - 23/3/12 at 04:38 PM

Be careful, the 330D is not the most reliable engine around they are prone to injector issues. Unless you are doing serious mileage the 330i is probably a better choice, they are surprisingly economical for a 3L petrol. And it's not a diesel.

Davegtst - 23/3/12 at 05:03 PM

Have you had a look at an Accord tourer? Ultra reliable, massive boot and a very nice drive.

coyoteboy - 23/3/12 at 05:19 PM

quote:

not spending out loads at the moment on a decent 5 series.


Dont buy one then, everyone I know with one has had endless trouble and expense with them.

Xtreme Kermit - 23/3/12 at 09:23 PM

How about a Honda CRV 2.2 CDTI?

Comfy, large boot, 40mpg and 4WD when it gets slippy.

UncleFista - 23/3/12 at 11:04 PM

This and an LPG conversion would be my choice

matt_gsxr - 23/3/12 at 11:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by UncleFista
This and an LPG conversion would be my choice


Rover 75 v8. Almost a kit car in its own right.
Definitely a future classic, not sure I'd want one though.

Jasper - 24/3/12 at 10:16 AM

Thanks for the extra input chaps, Honda Accord and CRV are good cars, but as I haven't got a 'fun' car in the garage at the moment I want something that's going to be engaging to drive, hence the BMW 3 series. And I've been sat in a Beemer for the last 5 years, bit hard to go back to Japanese interiors after that.

As for the Rover - I would rather drive a Skoda, Honda or Mondeo, I HATE Rovers, always have done - almost as much as Jags. All that 'superb' British engineering and fake wood dash, just not for me I'm afraid. Too old man and Golf Club.....

I will defintiely be looking at a petrol as well, hadn't really considered it, but I only do 10k a year, and they are cheaper to buy for an equivalent model - great idea.

roadrunner - 28/3/12 at 11:59 AM

Just to let you know. I am picking up my Audi A4 quattro avant 2.0t petrol, hopefully this weekend or next.