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Seeking advice / experiences.
Currently I have a 2009 Galaxy which has done a lot of miles and has a few niggles (no speedo) but drives really nicely and we've just done alps and back with no problems.
I don't need 7 seats anymore so ideally looking at nice estates (e.g. A6 / 520d), but with a limited budget <10k.
You can get a 2015 520d auto with about 110k miles for less than 10k. Would that be a nicer / better / equally likely to go wrong than a slightly newer mondeo.
ta in advance
Mondeo
Cheers Mol - I'd almost forgotten about your exploits with the CLS 🙂
Mondeo
+1
If you like the Galaxy, why look any further?
Save a few grand over those German motors and get a new bike/nice holiday.
Mine's not particularly large but its handsome and can hold fair bit more than an SUV/Hatchback. And drives very well. SEAT Leon estate.
Sweet deo
The thing that is putting me off the mondeo is that I fancy an auto box and the ford powershift is a bit rubbish from what I've heard
Cheers Mol – I’d almost forgotten about your exploits with the CLS
I really like mine now - well, the urban fuel economy isn't very good.
Was in a similar position a couple of months ago. Ended up paying £9k for a 2010 F11 535d with 110k miles and timing chain just done (big job).
I'm not really into 'luxury' cars, but so far I've been really impressed with it. Very nice place to sit (can't compare, but the comfort seats really are lovely), 3 kids with booster seats go in the back easily, and it's surprisingly good to drive for something so big. Adaptive drive definitely worth seeking out if you can find it.
I'm sure a Mondeo would do the job just as well (I had a MK3 and thought it was great), but if you're spending that much money it's nice to have something nice!
StuF
Full Member
The thing that is putting me off the mondeo is that I fancy an auto box and the ford powershift is a bit rubbish from what I’ve heard
It's arguably better than the Audi/VW DSG is swapped mine for. Definitely better in some situations
Ooh, Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake!
+1, but get the small engine like Mols not the gas guzzling 3L like mine.
Mate has just had the timing gear done on his f11 530. Sounded like an actual bag of spanners before it was done. They seem, like the bottom end shells on M5s, almost service items around the 100k marks. Annoying given the supposed longevity advantages of chains.
and also drat its cat S.
Scratched the BMW itch a few years ago with a 520d company car - v v nice car as above best seats ever, ate up trips to the alps. Would do it again but for heavy tax.
but with a limited budget <10k.
Target age range and/or miles?
In standard recommend-what-you-own style, I'm happy with my Insignia mk2. It's big and comfy and better value than a Mondy.
hmmm......I think you'll find Volvo's have the best seats ever!
Speaking of which - get a Volvo, they are great cars.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/volvo-estate-appreciation/
Mazda6 estate?
Mine’s not particularly large but its handsome and can hold fair bit more than an SUV/Hatchback. And drives very well. SEAT Leon estate.
While I agree, ours is definitely not as big as our old V70, next doors Superb or friends Mondeo.
Do you still need room for 3 in the back - and how lanky and broad are they? For me the rear seat space is the real comprimise, not the boot (and you can always whack on a roof box for a holiday).
Yeah, to me a large estate is one that'll easily fit 3 in the back. I'd have been happy with something Focus sized but there's no way we could get 3 child seats in the back of something like that. Not sure if op has the same requirements, but it definitely limits the options (especially if like me you don't like FWD on anything bigger than a hatchback), which is why we ended up with the BMW.
Occasionally I'll need to transport my late teenage 3 girls + dog, or transporting stuff to/from uni, so moved on from car seats a while ago.
I think my current favourite would be a bmw 520d around 2015 as then it'll be ulez - I like the auto which is similar to the one on our mini.
It’s arguably better than the Audi/VW DSG is swapped mine for. Definitely better in some situations
Definitely, recently got a Powershift Fiesta to replace a DSG Fabia, autobox is fine.
Would be nice to have proper cup/bottle holders though!
Yeah, to me a large estate is one that’ll easily fit 3 in the back.
That's less about size as it is about how the seats are configured. IME no normal car is good with 3 in the back, you really want something that's got three proper seats in and no floor tunnel. I'd rather do a trip in the middle of the back of a VW Sharan than my CLS despite the latter being a good deal bigger.
Kia Optima estate. 2018 model available for £10k. The boot area is huge. 7 year transferable warranty.
Can't argue with that, but I don't think a Sharan is an estate. My crew cab Transit had loads more room in the back seats than any normal car too.
Doesn't sound like a major issue for op anyway.
I usually prefer a manual gearbox, but the 8spd auto in the F11 really suits the car.
When I was looking, there wasn't much price difference between 4 and 6 cylinder engines so might be worth a test drive to see if you can live with the slightly higher fuel costs of a 530d/535d.
worth noting that a big estate is much much smaller than a galaxy with the rear-most seats down. 5-600l in an estate vs 1300lish in a galaxy - small 7 seaters split the difference at around 800l. Might be worth going to look at one to make sure it meets your needs.
Pickup Truck, Obvs.
Audi A6....3 litre diesel....allroad if possible. On my third allroad, other two are on 161k and 188k. All serviced accordingly, one had to have suspension airbags replaced rear.
Volvo great seats ...Audi great
BMW 330d m sport in the house , fast efficient and had three recalls. For me dire seats.
how big is the floor space in the back of the A^ with the seats down, and is it flat?
My 2.0 tdi 2012 Passat diesel has a massive boot, does 700 miles on a tank, costs £30 road tax, and is quiet, comfortable and pokey enough for lugging, but it’s not been great for reliability.
1st failure was the water pump, but the timing chain needed doing anyway so that one I could pretty much chalk up as maintenance.
2nd failure was the clutch, with let go with such enthusiasm that it took out the gearbox. I found out its a fairly common VW group clutch issue.
I might look at a Superb next time (the version back then looked too much like a hearse) but really I wish Toyota did a bigger estate.
Wouldn't a Superb have similar reliability issues to a Passat given they're essentially the same car underneath?
@Daffy yeah, I didn’t put that very well. I meant that it’s not been so bad that I wouldn’t consider risking the same reliability for more space and less money.
If I didn’t care about reliability or money I’d have a 5 series or E class estate.
I don't call a BMW 330 a large estate.
No, a 330 isn’t a large estate but a current 1 series hatch is only 100mm shorter, is 50mm taller and 50mm wider than my e46 touring. And the F31 is only 100mm shorter than the 2015 A6. Cars do keep getting bigger. I can get a 29er with the wheels on into my 20y old (very small) 3 series estate. I’m genuinely struggling to find a decent small estate such is the rate of growth.
Pug 508. Could get a nice one for your budget. I had a 2016 for four years, no problems with it. Euro VI (AdBlue) so less filthy than the older diesels. Comfy and spacious. Nav system felt dated.
Years ago my BMW mechanic at the time lent me his 530d while he had my 320d in for some work. It had about 250k miles on the clock and drove like it was brand new. Obvs being maintained by a BMW mechanic would have helped that, but the whole car just felt very well put together.
I’m currently in an Audi A6 Allroad and it is equally lovely to drive. Auto box is excellent, 3L V6 diesel engine has lots of power, has lots of room and a pretty big boot. I’d have one of these over a Mondeo any day. Air suspension is brilliant, and makes a nice hissssss 5 mins or so after you’ve parked.
Definitely, recently got a Powershift Fiesta to replace a DSG Fabia, autobox is fine.
Powershift is a marketing name for a bunch of different gearboxes. Same as dsg really, the dry clutch one in your Fabia is very different to the wet clutch ones in larger cars.
You need to search for the specific model, year and engine when researching. OP, I believe the mondeo one of that age had some issues, so do check.
Size wise
A6 two X 29 in with front wheel off both large can get three in there but get a towbar and rack
330d two x29 small and a large.
330 is not a large estate.....but adequate.... biggest issue is ride height....low to the ground, great in handling but crap at speed bumps or lakes car parks with dubious surfaces.
Everything we use the A6 all road for we had a MK1 golf GTi for ..... Everything is easier in the A6 but nothing was unmanagable inThe golf.
As I say on all these threads, estates are big but the load space is not as practical as an SUV.
I’ve got a Merc E class estate which is as big as they come, but our old SUV was a more practical load space as it had more height.
I looked at those Merc CLS estates, not at all practical with such a sloping boot
Rather depends what you want to put in it. I've never run out of height.
Rather depends what you want to put in it. I’ve never run out of height.
Bikes for one will not stand up in our Merc Estate, or when we had a 3 series estate they would in an SUV. The CLS would mean a lot of wasted space in the boot because of the very shallow slope (think its a great looking estate car)
Really? A Trek Stache 29+ bike would stand in my 330 touring with the front wheel off and the seat post removed (I didn't have a dropper) and the pedals level. The forks had to go in first and the bike sideways/angled, but it could then be stood up alongside another one to allow 3 people in the car with 2 bikes inside.
Fix the speedo, save 9k and leave teh seats out.
A Galaxy is just a tall estate IMHO. Why get another car with seats in the back you perhaps don't need/use with a smaller carrying capacity?
Unless you just want another car...
Bikes for one will not stand up in our Merc Estate, or when we had a 3 series estate they would in an SUV. The CLS would mean a lot of wasted space in the boot because of the very shallow slope (think its a great looking estate car)
Oh, that's never been an issue for me. Bikes lie flat, or on a rack if the rear seats are occupied.
Volvo V90
Skoda Octavia (VRS)
I’ve had both, both great in different ways. Volvo seats are the best.
😵💫
I've recently been through this after the list of minor worn out things + ulez made me give up on my 2008 diesel Mondeo. I test drove various things and have ended up with 2019 petrol Mazda 6 which is lovely to drive and very comfy to be in.
Two negatives on the practicality side, it's not going to swallow 29ers in the boot (back seats folded) as easily as the Mondeo, and the rear seats don't fold flat for a good load space. BUT they are minor niggles really, I can still get the bike crap in there if I need to , it just takes a bit more thought.
Pug 508. Could get a nice one for your budget. I had a 2016 for four years, no problems with it. Euro VI (AdBlue) so less filthy than the older diesels. Comfy and spacious. Nav system felt dated.
In the classic STW style, I can heartily recommend the 508 SW. Had our 2019 for two years now, the GT Line interior is lovely, equals a 5 series IMO. Currently in the Eurotunnel after two weeks in France which the combination of Autosteer and adaptive cruise has made 8-9 hour drives easy.
Won't get three full car seats in the back though.
Quick update for anyone that's interested (molgrips?)
Picked up a 63 plate e class estate with only 100k. From a spin around the block it's lovely and wafts along. Significant upgrade on the galaxy.
And how is it for getting a bike in without removing the wheels?
Nice StuF - a lot of that car is the same as mine, and it's the same age and mileage.
Mine is a little rougher than I'd hope, might be getting worse, I think the exhaust might be loose as there is some discussion that a bracket can crack.
What engine is it?
It's the 220d, which is more than enough for pottering around rather than making progress. I think the only problem so far is the air suspension sags overnight - hopefully my garage will sort that next week.
Fitted my large gravel bike in with plenty of space - just had to remove the parcel shelf. Not checked if my 780 bars on my hardtail will fit without taking the wheel off.
The 220d is an OM651 engine I think, you need to be very aware of any rattle on start-up. It's quite clear, there are YouTube vids of it. What happens is that the timing chain may "stretch" and become slack, or the tensioner can fail. If this slack chain continues long enough it breaks the plastic chain guides which is bad, and then you need to take the whole engine out to replace. Replacing the chain on its own can be done without the engine out if your mechanic knows what they are doing.