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Wife is adamant that diesels are about to be be outright banned so petrol it is 🙄
What are your opinions on a best buy.. ? I'd love a sporty number but not sure the budget allows,and it needs to be fairly new (5 years old or so) to satisfy the wife.
Fuel economy obviously important. Used for regular 100 miles trips, town driving and 2 X trips to the Alps fully laden every year.
Thoughts (other than buy a diesel; have more choice, get better fuel economy etc.. I've tried all this already!)
Skoda Fabia VRS estate, 63 plate onwards (pre 63 plate engines are notoriously problematic), would be a fast-ish petrol estate. Supercharged, turbocharged, amazing auto box. Not the last word in handling, but for 8k you'll not find an Octavia VRS that age, nor many other fast estates under five years old. They're a cool car, I miss the immediacy our VRS hatch had from launch as a result of that gearbox and supercharger now I have a 208 GTI which is more powerful but only turbocharged in such a way that all the grunt is at the top end.
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Passat Estate 2 litre with DSG. Comfortable long-haul cruiser with massive luggage capacity and dealers all over Europe.
Do not buy a car with low-profile tyres; the noise will drive you nuts, the harsh ride will punish your spine and if you hit a pothole the bill will cripple you. Get 17" wheels and big tyres with deep sidewalls for comfort.
We're thinking of a second hand Passat also, anything in particular to look out for?
They’re a cool car
Photo suggests otherwise
We’re thinking of a second hand Passat also, anything in particular to look out for?
£8K petrol passat estate. Most will be diesels, so you won't have a massive pool to choose from. Buy on condition rather than anything else.
Angeldust suggests you hunt out the Aston Martin Zagato Shooting Brake, because all Skodas are shit. I suspect, though, he'll fail to come up with a fast/sporty 5 year or younger estate for 8k himself, though, and may, for the first time ever, accept that a Skoda fits the brief.
I can't say I've ever found low profile tyres a problem, I prefer the feel of them to be honest.
Passat B6 and B7 models had a problem with poor alignment of the rear sub-axles at the factory meaning that some develop wear on the insides of the rear tyres, especially if running around loaded. This is because the suspension allows the wheels to run slightly on their inside edges and if they aren't tracking perfectly they scrub and you get sawtooth wear up to the first tread groove. VW UK won't accept that this is a warranty issue and won't pay for alignment but when I made a fuss about it they agreed to pay for an alignment check and a chassis engineer from VW Germany phoned me to ask for my photos of the wear. On the B8 model the problem appears to have been sorted; my rear tyres are evenly worn at 55,000 miles. Otherwise I'm on my third Passat model and there don't seem to be any major issues apart from the odd electrical niggle that you read about on fora like this one: http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php/425-Passat-B8-Forum-2015
Slightly tough requirements there. You budget is quite small for a car like that, and with limited petrol options you might be better off with a search and seeing what takes your fancy
We were looking for a big german estate with petrol engine, at the right mileage and budget with the right spec. It took a little bit of searching to find one
Yep.. I guessed it would be tough to find what 'we' want with that budget. An Octavia would be nice!
Alfa 159 SW. 3.2 or 1750 TBI.
If not Passat look at a Skoda Superb; essentially the same car though even longer and cheaper than a VW.
Auto Trader suggests that your only real options are:
Astra Estate - loads
Insignia Estate - 1
Focus estate - loads
C-max - 3
Skoda Fabia - loads
Skoda Octavia - 2
Skoda Superb - 1
Toyota Auris - 8
Toyota Avensis 3
Renault megane/clio - 13
Peugeot (who cares what they are?) 14
Hyundai i30/i40 - 8
Kia C'EED - 8
Alfa 159 SW. 3.2 or 1750 TBI
Given they stopped making them in 2011 - they're going to be difficult to fit in the less than 5 years criteria.
They're also not exatly known for their fuel efficiency
Personally and (almost) fitting within your constraints - this is about the best I can come up with:
C-Class Merc B180 - eBay search mileage under 75k and this one-owner popped up..
which is 8 years old...
Alfa 159 SW. 3.2 or 1750 TBI
Given they stopped making them in 2011 – they’re going to be difficult to fit in the less than 5 years criteria.
They’re also not exatly known for their fuel efficiency
All valid points. But have you seen how good looking it is? 🙂
Auto Trader suggests that your only real options are:
Seems like bollocks. Not a great boot but there's definitely 3series BMWs missing from that list.
Edit...maybe not. 2 years ago I bought a 12plate 320i for £7500 from a dealer. There's nothing close to that on Autotrader or eBay at the moment.
Thanks for the replies everyone. Food for thought. Daffy I like the look of that Volvo..
Well-sorted RX-7?
Leon
Skoda Fabia VRS estate
Lots of problems with this car, but the main one is how ugly it looks. Badly styled. Extremely ungainly.
Wouldn't want to be sat in it for regular 100 miles trips either.
How about the Skoda owners stop the constant defence of their penny pinching purchase just for a moment, and try suggesting something else?
My advice on that budget, and that criteria, would be to forget about 'sporty'. Unless you want an ugly Skoda :-).
Okay, how about a SEAT?
Lots of problems with this car, but the main one is how ugly it looks.
When people post on forums to ask about cars I think they do so to get the benefit of others' ownership experience. They may not know that a certain engine has timing chain problems or fragile head gaskets, or swirl flaps that disintegrate and get inhaled, or rusting sub-frames or whatever. One quick glance at a car will tell any prospective purchaser whether they like the look of it, and if they are so insecure that they want to know whether the badge will impress the neighbours they can just pop next door and have a word (or post on pistonheads).
What about a Golf Estate? Petrol Golfs are fairly common. I was looking for a Golf when my Passat came up, they're about the same size I think.
...On an Autotrader search of petrol estate cars later than 2012, less than 60000 miles and less than £9k, the list above is what was available - there was 1 Golf estate.
As above. A few years ago it was a different picture, petrol cars were few in number and undesirable. Now they're few in number (AKA Rare) and in HIGH demand. As a result they're very expensive except in cases where there are a few available (Focus/Fabia) where people bought small petrol engined varients instead of the diesel norm.
My FiL had the 1st gen Superb estate. It was a 1.8 Turbo with ~180bhp and the DSG box. I think it was the TFSI VAG engine.
Anyway it was lovely and not lacking in power. They must be coming down in price nowadays
I have a 61 plate Octavia 1.8TSI Estate - I'm sure you could get something a bit newer for £8k though. It drives pretty well (my previous car was a BMW 330 so took a while to get used to having no torque at low revs but once the turbo kicks in it's fine). Fuel economy isn't great (assuming the turbo is kicking in regularly...), I think mine's around 35mpg but that's mostly short urban trips, prob mid 40's motorway (I never actually check it though).
Comfy to drive, plenty of room for 2 adults + 2 bikes (rear seats down), tyres last a lot longer than they did on the BMW, servicing costs similar. There's a few issues to watch out for (from minor like the rear wash/wipe pipe leaking to more serious like engine problems) but mines been fine.
Maybe I'll convince missus post 2010 cars would open up some better, cheaper options? Love a Skoda!
Pertol large estates are rare. Looked myself.
When people post on forums to ask about cars I think they do so to get the benefit of others’ ownership experience. They may not know that a certain engine has timing chain problems or fragile head gaskets, or swirl flaps that disintegrate and get inhaled, or rusting sub-frames or whatever. One quick glance at a car will tell any prospective purchaser whether they like the look of it, and if they are so insecure that they want to know whether the badge will impress the neighbours they can just pop next door and have a word (or post on pistonheads).
Yeah, that's awesome. I guess you missed that the OP didn't specify a particular vehicle.
Honda Civic estates are just about in budget I think
Nothing wrong with an 8 yr old well looked after Merc estate, TBH £8k isn’t a fat lot and mileage and condition are far more a consideration than some making progress or VW badged lumps some have offered up.
Its almost like “what car?” And the stock answer is VW. It’s amazing other car brands exist.
Skoda Octavia and Superb can be got for that.
Honda Civic estate is quite smart and spacious - just on budget
Ford Focus has a reasonable range of choice, 1.6 ecoboost seems a good option.
Audi A4 1.8 tfsi avant is just possible.
Insignia VRS could be got and is fast, but it has massive road tax of £555. A turbo would be better. Can't see why you'd choose it over an Audi or Skoda, or the Honda for that matter.
Ford SMax would have the room is on budget, is not an estate, but does come with a 2.0 turbocharged petrol engine
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805256868761?atmobcid=soc3
I've just paid £8.7k for a 2013 D3 V70 with 65k on clock. Proper 5cyl. SE with winter pack - so leathers, heated seats and screen, nice stereo, auto everything. £30 tax.
IMO (as ex Touran, Polo, Passat and current Seat Ibiza owner) it's a much nicer place to be, deceptively big boot, and much better screwed together it seems. And cost less same as a Passat or Mondeo of same age...
Zafira tourer 1.4 turbo. Loads in your budget as they're popular with the motability crowd. Stacks of room, reasonably economical ( mid 40s fully loaded on a run), comfy and quiet.
Waits for the haterz 🙂
Or the avensis mentioned above, that was my second choice
We have been trying to find a used Petrol 4x4 estate, and they simply don't exist outside of a few very small niches. Golf R estate? Overpowered Audi A4 TFSI Quattro? BMW 3 series xdrive? Eventually she capitulated on the diesel issue and we're now looking at Octavias.
Wife is adamant that diesels are about to be be outright banned so petrol it is
I've had exactly this conversation with my wife. I'm 100% sure your wife is wrong - the whole UK car economy would collapse if everyone's car became worthless overnight. Owners wouldn't have any capital to trade so they wouldn't be able to buy new cars. Similarly, all those 2-3 year old cars that have been handed back after leases have ended - they make up a huge part of the second hand market. The car industry will be lobbying hard to ensure that any phase out is gradual, and the government don't want the car market to stagnate as it's a key component of GDP as well as a commonly-reported "marker" of the success of the economy.
So I feel your pain - the lack of petrol estates is definitely frustrating. You basically have to compromise on something. Having said that, if you are willing to go for an SUV (urgh) then there are a lot more options available to you.
Thoughts (other than buy a diesel; have more choice, get better fuel economy etc.. I’ve tried all this already!)
Oh
When we bought my wife's Passat, there was an R36 for similar money and not space ship millage. She wasn't convinced so we got a TDi instead.
Its almost like “what car?” And the stock answer is VW. It’s amazing other car brands exist.
STW's hive mind likes sensible and practical. Besides people s**** when you say you have a big VAG!
You want to junk criteria to fit a Volvo V70 into your life.
You have similar criteria to me, although I'm just window shopping currently. Top of my list currently is a Mazda 6 sport, but the leather seats are putting me off.
Mazda 6 2.0 petrol estate. Good to drive, reliable and in your budget. The VW group petrols not that reliable in your price range. Timing chain issues and poor oil consumption due to poor piston ring design. As said above sorted post 63 plate but above your budget.
but the leather seats are putting me off
May I ask why? I am not sure I'd go back to cloth seats after having a car with leather. Its great for being able to wipe down after MTB trips, kids, dogs etc.
Avoid german would be my advice. The japanese have the best petrol engines around. They are the most reliable. But avoid japanese diesel.
I have had 3 volkswagens (2passat 1golf) as company cars and all have had problems. I still choose them because I don’t pay to fix them. All taken from 0-100k in 3 years.
In my work we have 3 passats. These are the major components that have gone.
1 gearbox and 2 turbo.
but the leather seats are putting me off
May I ask why? I am not sure I’d go back to cloth seats after having a car with leather
I'm a vege, and try to reduce my use of animal products as much as possible. I can see the benefits of leather upholstery, and I have a leather steering wheel now which bothers me a bit, but I think sitting in a car full of leather would be a bridge too far. That's my reason, don't want to get into a debate about it apart from in my own head.
Alfa 159. Case closed. Yes it’s a touch older. But look at it. Just look.
I’m a vege, and try to reduce my use of animal products as much as possible. I can see the benefits of leather upholstery, and I have a leather steering wheel now which bothers me a bit, but I think sitting in a car full of leather would be a bridge too far. That’s my reason, don’t want to get into a debate about it apart from in my own head.
Fair enough and a perfectly valid reason, I wasn't knocking it but curious.
Alfa 159 estate, petrol and under £8k :
Fair enough and a perfectly valid reason, I wasn’t knocking it but curious.
No worries.
Like your outlook/POV Stevet1 👍