[Closed] recomend me a new estate car

Honda Accord diesel. A couple of my colleagues have them and seem to like them.

audi a4 avant ...love mine

Had an A4. Liked the car, hated the dealers.

Seat have started selling the 'old' A4 and cheaper than when it was Audi badged too. Skoda Octavia.

Mondeo TDCI with a new clutch unit - ooh like mine that i am thinking about getting rid of. 🙂

unless it is a diesel, the fuel economy of legacys is not that great- a mate had one and it struggled to reach 30mpg. A4's are very nice, but not all that big inside. Certainly an Octavia would provide a longer load space, and the diesels can give over 50mpg

my A4 isnt hug inside, A6 if you want bigger ...... mondeo good value

Legacy 2.5 gets 35mpg in the book. My Forester has a book average of 30- I get 34mpg.

When I change car again its going to be a new shape Octavia 4x4 estate.

why do you want a 4x4 hora?

I like them. I also like rear wheeldrive. I like the way 4x4 pulls/bends etc

I've heard a few comments about Subaru's being a bit heavy on fuel consumption in real life, and expensive parts.

Audi's are beautifully build but expensive. You should look at the VW Passat, Skoda, and the Mondeo. Depending on your annual mileage, don't only look at fuel consumption. The biggest differential cost over the first three years is depreciation.

New?

Legacy price new is a rip off IMO. A great buy secondhand but not new.

If I was buying new I'd look at the A4, Octavia or why not the Focus estate?

The Octavia isn't full time 4x4 IIRC, one of those that comes in when its needed so the sales guys told me. Don't think I'll be going for another vRS as it's rather thirsty.

looking at buying 2nd hand cant afford new ,just want somthing reliable that will last me a few years for carting the bikes around in

Halidax(?) system? Ah yes its the same as the old S3/4motion.

Just love the way mine pulls into and out of roundabouts. **** its mindbending 😀

I've just picked up an '05 diseasel focus estate. Previous motor was a '96 A4 avant. It's a lot more plasticky but nicer to drive and the boot is far bigger on the frod. I'm well pleased, especially at the price (sub £4000)

(It's going to get a towbar and some nice towbarmounted bike rackage)

I can recommend the VW Passat 1.9 TDi - not super fast, but really comfy, huge boot space (much bigger than A4 and Octavia), proper roof rails for your bars and averages about 49mpg. Depreciation is better than the Mondeo and the service interval is around the 20k mile mark (it's 12k on a Mondeo)!?!

I've driven all over the place in mine (Italy last year, South of France this year) and it's a fantastic long distance tourer - even fully loaded with Mrs TB, the kids and camping gear.

Get one with parking sensors though - it looooong!?!

I have the 1.9TDi Passat Estate too: I bought it with 105,000 miles on the clock; it was immaculate. It's now up to about 140k miles, over the last 6 years, and is still great. Loads of room, can pick them up cheap now and can easily get 50mph. I have the "sport" version (what was I thinking, it's an estate car!) and can't recommend it as it grounds over South London's infuriating speed-bump extravaganza. The choice of car mechanics - so a car mechanic told me. Now, if I had the cash, on looks alone, it would probably be an Audi A6, or a new shape Passat, or sell the kids, ditch the gf and go mad on an old XJS/Jensen Interceptor.

I am looking for an estate car at the moment and have plumped for either a Passat TDI 130 or a Mondeo TDCI 130. Why do Ford feel the need to load their cars with toys but not fit alloy wheels? I have been driving for years without electric everything but cars on steel wheels look rubbish!

my mondeo is a 130 bhp tdci with Ford alloys, 82k miles and new clutch and DMF

Wanna buy it?

How much? Assuming it is an estate?

A6 Quattro does it for me, good economy, immense, keeps going in the snow.

£4k

Can you drop me an e-mail mark.pearson at madison.co.uk with some details?

when are you looking to buy?

My mother-in-law is having my Focus in the next couple of weeks, she has already paid me for it so I am looking at getting something sharpish.

too early i am afraid as we have a baby due in the next couple of weeks and have our hands full

I would have another Focus tdci had mine for 4yrs ,paid £4000 for it on an 03 plate so gutted it just went pop on the climb upto Verbier as it has served me well ,but I fear the worse and think the repair bill will be massive ,still dont know what is wrong with it until it comes back to U.K

Ah right, no worries.

The Focus has been a dependable reliable cheap workhorse and I would highly recommend another one. I just need something bigger as I have an 8 week old daughter and a partner who seems to need to take a ton of luggage wherever we go.

Mondeo ST all the way! 40-45mpg 150bhp diesel - looks the dog's B.ss too. I'm loving mine!!
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I got rid of an 02 Focus a year ago, ended up with an 07 Passat after a bit of looking around.

The A4 was too expensive (was looking at something almost 3 years old for same money as a year old Passat) and ultimately too small - can't stand an MTB upright with front wheel and saddle off so no good for us for French road trips. Would have needed an A6 and simply too many beans for one of them.

I basically ended up choosing between Mondeos and Passats and the difference in residuals between 4 year old Mondeos and Passats swung it. The Mondeo (new shape) is as well banged together and possibly slightly more involving to drive, but the Passat is the 170PS version (which is nice!), very comfy and should be worth 2 or 3k more than the Mondeo when time comes to change once I've had it 3 or 4 years.

Did consider things like a Legacy, Accord and Mazda 6 but there are very few about so soon gave up on that. I think Vectras are just appalling things, didn't even bother looking at them. Mercs and 5 tourers were same issues as A6s.

Only downer on the Passat is that, seats up, the boot is smaller than the Focus as the wheel arches intrude significantly. I can get a road bike in no probs; the Soul fits with a bit of wiggling but have to take the rear mech off my large Rush to fit it in. Otherwise it's all good.
Loads of space - we can get 2 people, 2 MTBs, 2 road bikes, 3 weeks worth of kit and almost 100 bottles of wine inside without any probs - could still just about see out the back window as well.

Another vote for a Passat. I've got the 130 TDI model.

We've just got back from holiday in France. It carried luggage for 5 and four bikes on the roof without a hiccup. Perfectly relaxed motorway cruising.

Mondeo ST all the way! 40-45mpg 150bhp diesel - looks the dog's B.ss too. I'm loving mine!!

hehe .. more like dogs dinner 😉

much prefer them in standard trim opposed to ST or whatever spec. ... all personal opinion of course 😉

The A4 is about the same size inside as a Focus or Octavia IME, i.e. not big enough. I've currently got a Passat TDI 130 which will effortlessly do 50mpg and 100mph (although not at the same time!) and swallows massive loads with contempt. If I were replacing it I'd go for an A6 if feeling flushed, otherwise a new-shape post-05 Passat which has a smoother engine, better ride & handling and is a bit bigger than it's predecessor. The Mondeo is bigger still and cheaper, but the problem with all Fords is that the interiors are so low-rent.

jontawn - The normal trim is boring.... 😉

mondao disel or new diesl legacy r the best way forward if u want to be sparing with cash

I did see a 04 2.0i petrol Legacy for under £5000 that looked the part ,maybe my Focus will be salvagable but I am looking on the bad side ,it arrives back in the U.K in a week so will know then ,by the way top marks to Greenflag who provided me and my family with taxis ,flights ,hire car and towing my car back to the U.K

We're on our second Accord estate. Looks nice, great to drive and HUGE load space. I have just discovered today I can get even more in than I thought. Our first one, a 53 reg was a slightly sportier one than the current 57 auto and my god it was fun to drive. 🙂 Have had 3 Audis before the Hondas, wouldn't have another.

fully loaded at set 2 rise

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Ok, so its secondhand? I wouldnt go near a Mondeo diesel (sorry theres).
Prev shape VW Passat - TDI but avoid the 2.0 petrol (its possibly the slowest estate Ive driven). Super quiet though for long journeys?

The dual mass fly wheel- I know someone who had his go twice (£700 a time), then there are the vavles etc. Plus... no offence Mondeo owners but everyone will think you drive a taxi 😉

Octavia 1.8T VRS estates within budget but like rocking horse shit to find. Not bad fuel economy and once the coil pack has been confirmed as changed it should be reliable for long journeys.

Legacy? Comment above about realworld fuel economy. Ive managed upto 35mpg. However over a very long distance in the Legacy you'll be paying double times (probably) in fuel for the journey- a massive cost.

Note- if you did chose a Mondeo (and even the Passat)- call your local Council (or the council/area where the last owner was registered- ask for taxi licencing and politely give them your reg number and ask if its ever been listed as a taxi). If your polite they will be more than happy to confirm either way. Its worth asking as most of the mondeo estates Ive seen have been taxi's. Estates are rare so you have to wonder...theres a high chance.

PS. The mondeo joke- is just rib tickling 🙂

Been very happy with my honda accord tourer over the past 3 years - can't fault it at all.

craig1975 hope you popped into West for a pint after taking that shot 😉

Some interesting comments from stellar-mileage A4 TDI owners on here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=737595&mid=70159&nmt=Reliability%20-%20does%20it%20exist%20in%20a%20modern%20diesel?

My father-in law has a Legacy estate,diesel. he's averaging high 40s mpg,was doing 62mpg on a recent motorway run.
A fine motor.

Intresting topic that one hora. It does confirm what i have witnesed that people don,t know how to drive a turbo powered car and just drive them like a normal petrol.

hora - went to pick my daughter up from the train station last night in the Mongdeo estate. 3, that's THREE, twonks tried to climb in thinking it was a taxi!!
Good spot, BTW. 🙂

Skoda Octavia 1.9TDi for me. Good fuel economy, decent poke, huge load space and trim pretty good. I'm very happy with mine.

I Have a Stalker - Tis a very good pint too, they make the stuff in house so to speak 😉

vauxhall signum - why get an estate, when a 5door is just as big as a vectra estate!

Jaguar X-Type estate.
Changed my Mondeo estate for one 5-years ago and what a difference! 3.0 litre V6 Sport is the most comfortable load carrier imaginable and then goes like stink when you ask it to. We live on the side of the Malverns and its such a joy with the AWD when we get snow on the hills.
For sale too as it happens......

owenfackrell Ive always ridden the torque and changed up as early as possibly (before labouring the engine) when I had a diesel.

In my normally aspirated petrol though- Ive come to realise (for my particular car) that I dont have to be up in 5th. Infact most 30mph driving Im in 4th the majority of the time (probably 90%). Its worked because Ive gained 5mpg+ min average.

Hora the bigest problem i have seen is that people don't let the car idle before turning it off which is even worse when you see them reving it as they are parking it. This doesn't give the turbo a chance to stop before the oil to the bearings is cut off. Mind you you don't need to use the throtal to monover a diesel.

the advantage with a legacy will be much cheaper purchase price - when i got mine, leggy prices were all over the place, but could be had for 2k less than a passat diesel. that's a lot of petrol!!

i've got a 2.0 estate, on motorway runs I have 39mpg (calculated average), mixture of town and motorway it's 32ish, and more town it's 26-27ish.

much more interesting than a mondeo or passat, amazing all round grip in crap conditions, such a good car!

actually fairly cheap to run - tyres replaced at just under 60k, still on the original discs and pads at 70k, just routine service work. even the timing belt was only 200 quid to replace at a scooby dealer.

I borrowed a Imprezza turbo when I was having my cambelt changed and the garage reminded me to let the car idle before switch off to stop the oil frying in the turbo. Apprently alot of customers turned up and switched off immediately and then rung the neck out of their car out of the garage from cold (as if to 'show off') 🙄

I've got an A4 2.5tdi, non quattro

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Excellent engine, even sounds ok for a diesel (V6)
Fast(ish)
Very nice on the Motorway - smooth and stable
Reliable - it's on 100k now and we've had no probs apart from consumables and a faulty alarm
Looks ok imo (year 2000 shape)
Feels well put together and safe

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Not that good economy (38mpg mixed driving)
Handling on country roads is poor (great grip but loads of roll and no feeling from brakes or steering)
Bit small really, especially with kids in the back

mx5

Boys I bought a 98 E Class 2.4 V6, 67,000 miles with full MBSH for £4000. Full leather, air, everything, it is beautiful. Like a brand new car, done 20,000 miles in 18 months, took it for (non dealer) service, £147.00 all up. Stunning car, great build quality, will last for another 100k miles. Wouldn't recommend another car (other than a W123 model - but they are now seriously old) more. Brilliant car. Oh, and it does mid 30's.

I've got a Peugeot 307SW, 1.6 HDI
Pulls well, lots of space for kids plus 2 mini seats in the back to make it a (very) occasional 7 seater.
Roof bars for bikes and box. It has all the toys which make it a good drive and I do around 30000 miles a year.
Get over 50 average and can hit 60 mpg on a long (unloaded) journey.
Not big or clever but pretty faultless and very practical

I ended up buying a 2005 Passat 1.9TDI 130 Highline estate. It does exactly what I want and am well pleased with it. Especially as it was £1000 cheaper than all the others I had looked at.

I have had the following

Audi A4
Subaru Legacy RspecB

To summarise

Audi - I had front wheel drive diesel 1.9, the only good thing was the economy it was noisy, slow and the handling wasn't great if you just want cheap transport then they are ok.

Subaru - i had one for four years and loved it 245bhp and permanent 4wd plus comfort and all the toys it was superb and would leave pretty much everything else for dead handles like a hot hatch with the 4wd. The major cost of running one is fuel max 30 mpg driving like a nun! everything else is not too bad insurance is suprisingly cheap as is servicing until the mileage gets high. I have driven the diesal version and didn't like it myself as I was comparing to the spec b but if you can afford one this is the one to go for.

My estate car is a new shape Volvo V70.
Pro-
4WD in a normal (not raised) car. Great traction and control, especially in bad weather.
200bhp turbo
Manual - Rare in a V70, but great for getting on the gas quickly
Possibly the most comfy seats of any car
Split zone climate control
Possibly the best factory fitted stereo of any car
Mahooooosive boot! The square boxy back end means you lose none of the boot space to the boot lid/window, a failing of the A6, IMO

Con-
It's a bit thirsty

1.9Tdi 130bhp powered VW Passat, or Audi A6. Both now cheap as chips, both capable of 65mpg on a run (or more).

MTFU and get a Mitsubishi Legnum VR-4?

Ive got an Phase 2 V70 and i can tell you now unless someone makes a hell of a convincing argument against it i'll buy another without a second thought. By far the best car ive driven.

With wheels off three DH bikes and three people and three peoples gear go in no trouble.

Ive got an Phase 2 V70 and i can tell you now unless someone makes a hell of a convincing argument against it i'll buy another without a second thought. By far the best car ive driven.

With wheels off three DH bikes and three people and three peoples gear go in no trouble.

can get 4 & 4 in the boot of a mondeo estate easily, and 5 & 5 at a push - 3 isn't even trying 🙂