[Closed] Cars for bikes. Again. Alternatives to a passat estate?

volvo V70 D5?

skoda Octavia? - even the saloon is worth a look, the boot is massive, and it's a hatchback so easy to load bikes in.

Saab 9-3 or its bigger brother the 9-5 - both available in estate versions and second hand prices are excellent (for the buyer, not for the seller!) compared to new prices. I got a 2 year old 9-3 with leather, satnav & bluetooth for £13k; would have cost twice that for a new one

The BMW 3-series Touring, on the other hand, while a lovely car, does not have a big boot compared to some of the other "lifestyle estates". I had one of these before the Saab & although I really liked it, the boot wasn't big enough for my kit - but that was the old model, don't know what the new one's like

But if you want VFM & a big boot but don't care what it looks like, I reckon a mkII Vectra estate can't be beaten

Touran, though I have kids I specifically bought it to accommodate bikes and I can get a couple in with wheels on and still have a rear seat up
with a child seat on. Couldn't do that with my 330d.

+1 for Touran. Recently drove a "normal" car and it was a nightmare to see out of, reverse etc. Have got used to the elevated position and all round vision the Touran offers.

For some of the other stuff mentioned ^^^^ up there you might want to check service costs, friend binned his Saab due to expense and lack of dealerships/knowledge.

Honda Accord, Mazda 626, Octavia, Zafira, Mitsubushi Galant, Mazda5..........

3 series Touring isn't big - I have to take front wheels off my bikes to get them in but usually stick them on a roof carrier. Good fun getting there though with a 335d Touring 😉

Do check out the Astra Estate - has a 2005 one from new and the boot was massive for the size of the car. Properly flat folding rear seats too, rapid in 150PS diesel form and cheap to run.

My Grand Espace works well for multi-bike trips...

The Passat is where it's at - we have an Octavia estate, it's a great car, but we all seem to forget that it is based on the Golf and isn't as big as recommendations on here make you think. MrsSwadey and I have both said that a Passat sized estate might be on the cards next - and as if by magic, the Skoda Superb sprouts a huge boot and gets rave reviews in the moptoring press!

My Focus estate will take at least 2 bikes complete, without even taking a wheel off, plus a ton of kit. But that needs both seats down, 3 bikes plus a ton of kit plus people will still go I reckon (haven't tried) but the bikes will need to be in more bits. 4 bikes, people and kit will be a bit of a squash. But still, very spacious. I'm sure a Mondeo will be all that and more, but I couldn't fit one of those in my drive.

Doesn't the Passat have quite intrusive arches? Our old one did IIRC.

Mazda 6 Estate? I'm doing the same search at the mo (though looking for a big family car rather than specifically for bikes) and its the mondeo, passat or mazda. Mondeo and Mazda seem better value tbh, with lots of quality examples around for between 3-4k.

This ticks all your boxes and for 3k will be hard to beat

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/167991-04-octavia-pd130-estate/

(I have nothing to do with this hillman hunter)

Bike in VW.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325401

nice. and your point is, Macavity?

Citroen Berlingo - loads of space, practical, ok to drive

I'm on this program too, either Passat, A6, Mondeo or Accord.

A6 is nice...

Mercedes E-class if you can afford it - I had one as a hire car and my Gemini went in sideways with the wheels still on.

My own car is a 9-5 estate. Not the worlds most reliable but a big boot, roof rails, leather(easy clean) and weirdly does 40mpg at 70mph despite being the Aero (Hot) petrol version.

My Passat Estate 07 takes my touring bike with both wheels on and mudguards on laid flat, it's much bigger than my previous car a Focus estate.

I would highly recommend one, much better for long distances and better put together than the Focus too. Although the Ford was a good work horse.

Last normal service cost me £150.

Four tyres £500

10 year old honda civic estate. even the 1.8 petrol nutter version gets 40mpg on a run. Bikes fit in with no trouble and its a cheap honda so not to bothered about denting it getting it dirty.

I recently went thru' a similar search for diesel but ended up getting a hatchback and really good tow bar mounted bike rack for £200 (cheaper then the £500 price premium for estate over a hatchback).
fwiw:
Avensis 2.0 D4D estate is huge and has lower insurance than Mondeo/Mazda/Vectra etc...
Mazda6 estates are great too but 1 insurance group higher. Mazda6 has the fab "karakuri??" back seat system which means pull a lever above the wheel arch and the seat folds completely flat in 1 second. Walk to other wheel arch pull other lever. Job done in 5secs. Very clever
I've got the 6 hatch 143bhp 2.0diesel. Fast, dynamic driving and frugal.
I tried Passat, Mondeo and Avensis but this was just much nicer to drive on A/B roads
Hope this helps

thanks for the suggestions!

Went to see this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-Volkswagen-Passat-TDI-Estate-/270605111288?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f01524ff8
and this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Ford-Mondeo-TDCI-Estate-/270597282794?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f00dadbea

today.

ford was pretty noisy in comparison and the passat has been owned by a lease company.

hard work finding a car!

Avensis Estate is a good call - well made and very large as is the Mazda 6 estate.

Passats are okay but dull as ditchwater to drive and run.

Saab 9-5 Estate. A petrol 2.3T Aero if you can afford the fuel. Very stealthy - stupidly quick, capacious and almost invisible. Genius. Will leave most stuff for dead when required...

Go for an old style mercedes E series estate.

A Citroen XM estate or C5.

Will leave most stuff for dead when required...

Except any half decent six pot diesel or petrol made by BMW, Audi or Mercedes which all avoid front wheel drive and are plentiful on UK roads... 😉

Volvo V70. Huge boot. Great seats, great stereo, great engines. Oh, and get the AWD version if you can...!

I have an Octavia estate 4x4 turbo - Did a recent trip to france and both bikes in (wheels off) as well as camping kit. Ideal!

Obviously, you need to buy one quickly. However, if you struggle getting anything I'd consider selling mine to you. Its fast, roomy and 4x4. I'm getting a van in a couple of months

Passats may not be suitable for boy racers but the 'dull' referred to in magazines and such often means 'comfortable and relaxing' which is what some folk (me) like.

But yes - two different classes of car being discussed here. Octys, Astras, Focus etc are all a smaller class than Passats, Mondies and so on. Even my old B3 Passat could take my Patriot with wheels on, and they get bigger each model revision. Wish I had a new Passat estate rather than saloon 🙂

Berlingo etc could well be good tho.

Mini Pick Up.
[img] [/img]

I think the Espace is the most useful. Plenty headroom to stick the bikes in.

Sadly my ancient one has just died and I have foolishly bought something else just because it was a bargain.

My 01 Passat estate got written off and I've ended up with an 03 BMW 525d estate (manual) which, so far, I'm really pleased with.

Not greatly different in price to buy, similar amount of room, nice handling, decent performance and economy. The only downside is the slight chav potential, but I can live with that. Plus will be bit more to service and is more to tax.

I went for a Mondeo based on cheapness to run and large unobstructed boot.

Was downsizing from a van at the time, but still had to be able to fit a full size harp in the back. Many estates will fit bikes, but these are the ones with possibly the biggest boots of all from my search

So, cars with big clear boots were the Mondeo, Vectra, Saab 9-3, Volvo 850/V70, Omega and newer Astra. Also Citroen C5, but you don't want one of them.

Not a Saab 9-5 though, the rear arches protruded too much, nor Avensis, Octavia, Passat, Laguna, Fiat Stilo, Alfas unfortunately, 3 series or 5 series

Didn't get to try A6, Mazda 6, E-class or Legacy.

As a comparison, our Astra (mk5/H 2005) boot was enormous (we slept in it several times) compared to our 3 series Touring. I think the 335d has a slightly smaller boot due to the two exhausts but I may be wrong.

Do try an Astra Estate - seriously good VFM, well specced, nice handling, the look niceish and very very cheap to run - mine was the 150bhp diesel yet only group 11 insurance and cheap tax. The seats fold flat (they don't in the BM) and there are no rear suspension struts in the way - just a huge, flat loading area. It means the suspension isn't "proper" but it's plenty good enough.

Didn't you slag off your Astra on another thread? Something went really wrong with it?

I'd buy on condition of what's out there - the Mondeo will be every bit as good as the Passat.

For what it's worth, my Passat is an ex-lease car and probably the most reliable vehicle I've owned. I got a complete history printout (of EVERYTHING done, including getting bulbs etc fitted) and I was happy that although it had done a lot of miles in a short time, it had been properly looked after.

OP I think you'd be fine with the Passat- just make sure its not an ex-taxi or clocked. There are a fair few out there. I came across a couple when I was looking at a Passat.

I ended up with a Legacy 😀

Most bike friendly car I've had was a '94 Astra estate. 3 bikes in the boot (wheels off), and the luggage cover would still go over the top. Slow and drove like an unset jelly though.

'99 Passat estate. Good all rounder - OK to drive - really good long distance cruiser and stupidly economical. The '01 version is the same as this just facelifted. Did the best part of 100k in mine, and still occasionally miss it. Not as big in the boot as the astra, but longer with the seats folded.

Now on an '06 3series estate. MUCH nicer to drive for fun, although not as sofa like on the m-way. Not as economical. With the seats up, the boot is tiny. With them down, it's smaller than the Passat (bigger wheel arch intrusion), but actually not noticeably less useful. Still managed 3 bikes, 2 people and a fortnights worth of kit below window level. (the seats fold differently, so the back seat footwells are much more accessible than the VW. I still have a hankering for a 5-series though...

I bought a 15 month old 2.2SRi Vectra Estate 07 plate for 7,500 with 15k on the clock. Would have preferred diesel but 2k premium at the time (I need auto). Its a Vauxhall and you have to decide whether or not you can live with that but it does everything you said you needed. 18 months warranty left - you won't get much else for that kind of money.

we've got an 02 Mondeo estate bud and we love it. Have fitted 4 bike, blokes and camping gear in it pretty comfortably:)

Was looking specifically at a 01-05 VW passat TDi 130 estate

I was looking at the same too, when I spotted a 130tdi Estate Golf for silly money, compared to the Passat, think the golf version gets over looked for the Passat, so bargins can be found.

Granted the boot is not as big, but I still have no problem with two bikes & kit, wheels off in the boot, or 3 up on the roof rails.

Is there any reason why you won't consider a rack? I have a Honda Civic with removable tow ball and a 3 bike rack. I used to have a Mondeo and before that an Octavia and in terms of practicality/ease etc the Honda and rack wins every time. I even had 3 bikes on the rack, one inside and four adults. Granted the 2 in the back would not have wanted to drive hundreds of miles like that, but the point is I could never have got 4 bikes and 4 people in a Mondeo or OCtavia without a rack so the question is, why not just get a rack?

+1 V70 D5. Two bikes, camping kit, gubbins for 24/12 this weekend.

PS The Civics have ace back seats that flip up as well as down. With both seats up my road bike slides in along the back without taking any wheels off, and I still have a boot space left.

Didn't you slag off your Astra on another thread? Something went really wrong with it?

Had swirl flap failure - which was fixed under warranty but would have been bad out of it.

It also had a terrible dash but otherwise, for the money, it was a decent allrounder.

Surfmat:

I think the 335d has a slightly smaller boot due to the two exhausts but I may be wrong.

Transmission tunnel for the Ultimate Driving Machine, probably reduces boot space a bit too.....

Stumpy - the rear suspension struts are the biggest robber of space TBH. Still a useful sized boot though - better than older Tourings which were tiny.

I did the same exercise last month. Shortlist was: Octavia, Mondeo and Mazda 6 (all estates). After taking a look at all 3 - the 6 won hands down (VFM, Style, spec(press a button to make the rear seats go down!)) Put my order in 2 weeks ago, delivery due mid September

VW T5 combi??

Still a useful sized boot though - better than older Tourings which were tiny.

jeez, the old ones must have been really small. have a current one and we struggle on hols with the kids and kit. Bikes always go on the roof, never eveen tried to put one insde.

If you are looking for space i woudl definately not reccomend.

Volvo T5, no one will suspect a thing untill you get the urge to be 9 years old again and floor it, those thigns are biblicaly quick and with the seats down you could mistake it for a newbuild flat's living room. Only problem is I'm 6ft, and still feel like I need a cussion to see over the bonnet which ends somewhere in the next county!

A friend has one and happily reports that it cruises at 140mph+ (Norwich to Bracknell in 1hr30min in the days before the average speed cameras on the M4).

If you are looking for space i woudl definately not reccomend.

Well it's a lot more than a hatchback which many families cope fine with!

Mondeo or Mazda 6

Saabs et al cost a fortune to fix when big things go wrong

surf mat - mine has no more space in the boot than my father in law's 02 focus hatchback. I'm not moaning as I didn't get it for the space and it fits most of my needs well though 😆

For what its worth I can get a full bike into the boot of my Passat saloon without folding the rear seats , with the wheels and seatpost removed of course.

Whatever your buying be wary of the clockers. Sold my old car two months ago showing in excess of 250k and its back in the ATrader with 118k !!!

Ian - is yours a current shape?

Our boot is [i]definitely[/i] bigger than a Focus one!

lalazar - I can't (new shape Passat).

FWIW I looked at a new focus and the strut towers really intruded quite a lot into the boot....

surf mat - yeah, a 2010 model. just googled - focus is 385 litres and the 318 tourer is 460 litres, so apologies. just looks smaller I guess 😳

I have a 08 plate Saab 93 Estate. Twin turbo diesel. plenty of room for bikes and kit, stupid quick and most importantly doesn't turn heads. Especially in black. Brilliant car.

Iain - I think they are similarish with seats folded though!

Nols - I like your style. Took a similar route with an SE 335d (i.e. no silly plastic bodykit or giant spindly alloys that crack) Touring. Not too shouty, properly rapid. Yours is 180bhp I think? Does the FWD cope okay? My 150bhp diesel Astra (same engine as yours but single turbo) used to torque steer and understeer a bit.

Molgrips mines the older on 2002. Back right hand corner theres a recess for bits/ fag lighter, you can get the rear mech in there and keep the bars towards the back. My medium Yeti 575 goes in no probs.

Surf-mat
It manages it ok although mine has had the MAP tun chipping done so its 205hp.
Ultimately it understeers when its pushed very hard, which I dont mind as my wife also drives it. (She grew up in the South of France and drives accordingly). Never had any real torque steer though, brilliant on the motorway and not too big either if that makes sense. I was trying to describe to a friend the other day. Its one of those cars that I never lusted after, dont have an emotional connection to etc, but I would really miss it if it went...

nols - some cars just get the job done well without making a fuss. I like those sort of cars. Just over 300bhp in the Bimmer but it looks (to those not in the know) like a 145bhp 318d... 😉

We've just bought a Galaxy, nice to drive & still does 40mpg. Took the seats out to clean & its like a furniture lorry!!! Not as comfortable on long trips as a big hatch/saloon though.
If you can find a nice one, the early Mondeo could be had with a TDDi engine, as opposed to TDCi. Not as prone to the potentially costly injector issues on the TDCi. That said, we've a rattly old 150k TDCi thats still a hoot to drive. If spending a bit more I'd get a D4D Avensis, but dont bother paying more for the 180hp model.

Now being an owner of an E class I can confirm their general massive-ness (even compared to my previous Accord estate) and there suitability for putting bikes in. They are big! Just make sure that you go for either a pre-2003 model or a post 2006 model, since the 2003-2006 ones we a low point for Merc quality and tend to throw up electrical issues.

since the 2003-2006 ones we a low point for Merc quality and tend to throw up electrical issues.

Is that a low or a low-low or possible rock-bottom? Lets face it with Merc there are varying degrees of quality issues since the late 90's.

VWGs are driven by bad people 😉

any anyone who says they are more reliable than any other type of car is talking out their arse, you see just as many of them stuck on the hard shoulder as an other type of car.

To that end, im going to suggest an frenchy HDi engine, rather than a German TDI or Italian JTD/multijet

Rock bottom is definitely the Vivano 🙁 The worst, lowest quality Mrec product ever. My boss had one, bought new and it was unbelieveably unreliable.

Low point for E classes were late 90's Merc experiments with water based paints (see how many rusty late 90's mercs there are around) and general cost cutting. By the mid 00's MB had got their act together and now seem as well built as anything. They almost screwed it up though with the cost cutting.

generic estate car 🙂 anything a bike fits in is good in my books 🙂

surf mat

nowt wrong with a

145bhp 318d

uber economy and as mine is a company car cheap tax !!!

surf mat

nowt wrong with a

Nowt wrong at all. But looking like you have one but actually having twice the power is rather fun 😉

The 318d loaner I had appeared to use NO fuel at all!

LOL. the 335 must be an amazing drive. I love the 318 and on a twisty road it is just about as much fun as the Golf GTi it replaced, albeit it took a while to get used to the drop of 60bhp and different torque curve. Handing certainly is as good as the golf, just not the same feeling under the right foot 😆 the 43mpg average, with mainly town driving/bikes on roof/carriers permanently fitted makes up for it vs. the 27 mpg I got from the golf !

mate of mine as a Diesel Avensis Estate - huge inside, ideal for bikes and sprogs..

Iain - it's lots of fun and even makes a nice noise when pushed hard! I suspect your 318 is torquier than the Golf? And it's "proper wheel drive" too although the GTI (mk5 I assume?) is a cracking car and definitely rapid.

I had a mk4 R32 - the only mk4 that handled - and loved it. Also had a mk3 GTi 16v and a mk2 GTi 8v. Bit of a Golf fanboy!

Surf Mat - yes, was a Mk5, crackin' car but punted it after 3 yrs and took a company car instead ! still miss it sometimes 😛

Surf-Mat - Member

Iain - it's lots of fun and even makes a nice noise when pushed hard! I suspect your 318 is torquier than the Golf? And it's "proper wheel drive" too although the GTI (mk5 I assume?) is a cracking car and definitely rapid.

I had a mk4 R32 - the only mk4 that handled - and loved it. Also had a mk3 GTi 16v and a mk2 GTi 8v. Bit of a Golf fanboy!

Oh dear, & you always spoke as if you had a little bit of authority about you until you said the Mk4 R32 'handled', let yourself down on that one old chap 😉

Pwned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!