[Closed] £12k budget, small van or mid estate?

Van's can be quote comfy for long journeys, designed for couriers tonsit in all day every day.
My Transit has a very comfy driver's seat (fixed double passenger seat much less so...) I find it much comfier than the Passat at work, I just don't get on with that seat. SWB Transit also about the same footprint as a Mondeo so no harder to park
Ex wife has a 2009 318i, ok to drive but not as much fun as expected, and hasn't been that reliable either. PiTA to get at stuff, for example, timing chain jumped a tooth and had to dismantle one side of the front suspension to get at it, £800 bill, belt change on my old Mondeo was sub-£300. Sister's Rover had a BMW engine, could change three glow plugs easily, the fourth was behind the timing chain soni just left it. Comfy but not well though out

Also thoughts on a 17/18 Focus estate vs a 15/16 3 series?

Can't comment on the focus, but my F31 BMW was a lovely car. Ditch the run flats though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147093420

You can get a lot of 2nd hand estate for 12k, I am selling my mint/fsh passatt r line with 85k miles for 6500, it has been well looked after and will go for years. So you can effectively get double that!.

Example plenty of octavias 2-3 years old, under 25k miles in your budget which I would take over a focus.

For an only car I think a van is too much of a compromise.

Just got rid of a company Octavia estate and bought a Peugeot Rifter.
I'm not regretting it at all.
I can get so much more stuff in the Rifter with the rear seats down* but it still feels like a car.

*Even get 2 Geometrons in there stood up with just the front wheels removed.

I went through the same reasoning/questioning a couple of months back, similar usage to yourself.
Van worked out to be much more expensive with premium values at present. Also much greater running costs including costs of getting across the channel when allowed again. Car is much easier to use as a daily vehicle for my wife if she needs it.
I've got an Octavia estate, as stated many times on here- great bike car.

For an only car I think a van is too much of a compromise.

I have a Transit Custom as my only vehicle now, all the options, it’s extremely comfortable and I’d have no problems doing a daily short motorway commute in it! Actually I much prefer it to driving a car.

Could get a tidy Volvo XC70 for that. OK, would be higher mileage example, but unstoppable in all weathers, the most comfortable (heated) seats of any car, great stereo, sunroof (probably), reliable, safe, will go on for ever.

Also, seats down, the boot is big enough to cover multiple time zones.

Nv200 7seat?

Ex wife has a 2009 318i, ok to drive but not as much fun as expected,

She bought the wrong one, a 318 is never going to be fun. To be fair my 330 isn’t that fun either, but it is quick, comfy and very competent.

The 3 series isn’t a very big car if you’re wanting to put bikes in it. I had an Octavia before and everything about the BMW is better apart from the cup holders and the boot.

Get one of these, would make the commute a breeze.

Get there faster

How much use would the van get for biking (in normal times)?

I have a Vivaro as my main transport, because it's about 70%-80% used for going riding - and it's so much better than a car for that.

As above, it has a nice comfy ride and I find it relaxing to drive, but if you are on about a smaller van then it may just be like an inferior car.

And how come you haven't mentioned a Berlingo? Aren't they de rigeur any more?

Have a look at the Tourneo Connect, at that price you should get a good one. We have one and the daughter regularly takes the seats out for camping in. She can also get the bike in without taking the wheels off. you get the best of both.

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Steve Muzzy - PM'd you regarding Passat. Thanks.

Thanks for the suggestions, Tourneo looks like a good idea!

It would be used once in the week and then every other weekend really, I do have access to a car for weekend journeys.

I like the idea of an XC70 and some of the nicer estates but don’t want to go much older than 2015 as I’m looking to keep it for a good few years.

Tracey did you make or buy the window insulation?
We are replacing my wife's car with a camping car in a few months and the Grand Tourneo is on the list. We need the euro 6 2018 engine for towing so we may go with a Peugeot Traveller which has much more space so will be closer to full campervan but either way we need something for the windows.

In true fashion of disregarding everything you've said, I'd be looking a an XF shooting brake for that money

How about a brand new duster:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2020-Dacia-Duster-Essential-TCe-100-4x2-RE-SUV-Petrol-Manual/313369490306?hash=item48f646f382:g:zvMAAOSwYAtf9vrT

Have a read of this before you dismiss it as under powered or polluting as they are neither.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=1900473

Really like the look of the Tourneo Connect.
What speed limits is it subjected to? I read reports of them being pulled for doing 70 on dual carriageways fairly often
Is it as comfortable and quiet as say a Focus?

VW Touran type Midi MPV? Same footprint as an estate but bigger inside as seats are more upright (I think). Big boot and middle row of seats removable I think

Abigale made some window blinds but they were a bit of a faff putting them in so she bought a set from ebay just before she did an Alps trip and said they were worth every penny. Kept the daylight out on a night and the heat during the day. Easy to remove when travelling about.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/covprotecltd

Tourneo Connect is classed same as a car for speed limits, Its as comfy as a car to drive an no noisier

Thanks for the link Tracey

Citroen Berlingo. Most comfy car I've owned. Loads of space inside and not too big for everyday driving.

New shape (from 2018) might be in your budget which has a much newer chasis that the last few models.