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I am having to sell my beloved T4 Valerie. After getting a new job that has a longer commute, it won't be economical driving her everyday.
So, in the market for an estate.
I used to have a 3 series, but that was before I quit my job to take a much lower paid job a few years ago, and I know I'll never be able to afford one again.
So, from looking at prices the main choice seems to be a 308 estate, fabia, megane etc.
I'd want something with a decent boot capacity for my bike plus fishing stuff. Needs to have a good mpg as the new commute is quite far now.
What estates can you lovely people recommend for around 4k?
I wouldn't mind a V50, but they don't come up very often with under 100k on them for my price range.
The newer shaped 308 sw is a good little car. One of the most reliable in our fleet. I’ve considered one for myself before. But went for a bigger car in the end.
If you don't need huge estate, a Fabia is the practical answer. We've a Seat Ibiza ST which is marginally more comfy and prettier, at a slight loss of space.
For a bigger space an Avensis while as dull as ditchwater is a reliable barge.
at this sort of price range, you'll get more insignia estate than pretty much anything else. The boot isn't class leading, but should match a 3 series or v50, so check one in person before you buy
Mondeo estate for bike swallowing ability.
If you're looking at Mondeos or Insignias etc, then you could spend half your budget and get something that works for you. While the mileage will be higher, you'd have £2k left to repair or buy another if it is a fatal issue.
You're probably not 50% less likely to have a big problem is you spend twice as much - if that makes sense?
Whilst you'll probably get most bang for your buck with a mundano or insignia, by God they are depressing
I'd spend a bit more and go for a Jag, but they are starting at around £8k
Can get a 55 plate 2l petrol A6 on 80k for your budget though
Logan DCV 🙂
Are you keeping the t4?
£4K plus running costs buys a shit load of extra fuel.
Mondeo or Focus but I have a bit of a Ford affinity and I've yet to have a bad long term experience with a Ford. On my 4th (and 3rd high miler) currently and the base mechanicals and interiors seem to stand up well.
You must be able to pick up a 10 year old diesel Mondeo for 4k that's done 100k or so. Big car like that will eat up miles easily and on a Mondeo you might even get away with a hatch. I was warned off the auto as the gearbox servicing costs are high and second owners and leasing companies with cars at end of lease have a habit of scrimping.
We have family with an ageing Peugeot (207 or 308 I think) estate who've got similarly good experiences. I suspect it's one of those buy for condition type questions in the end. I'll always tend to favour what's worked well in the past as my starting point.
Mazda 6 or Avensis would possibly be another good call.
@jam bo
I am having to sell my beloved T4
308 or Focus would be my preference, unless you really want Mondeo or Insignia size.
Though I've fitted a medium sized road bike into a normal Fabia with both wheels on, the estate version might be enough for you.
Hyundai i40 - found it to be a better car than my Mondeo.
Unbelievable! Not a mention of the STW favourite. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you..... the Skoda Octavia estate.
Yup or the passat. Passat every day.
Mazda6?
Avensis estate or Mondeo if you need the room or how about a Seat Exeo? Literally a rebadged Audi A4 from the mid 2000s.
I’d get a Passat.
In fact I did. Then six years later, when it was coming up on a cam belt change second time round I did again.
Current one is at 70,000 - I’ll do the belt on the next service and probably keep it til it needs another.
Honda Accord estate for super value long term.
You'll get something with a decent mileage and Honda engineering. Should get 100,000 miles out of something for 4k.
Are you and your T4 anywhere near Sussex?
I got a Honda accord estate Gen 8 (last one) 2012 plate, 2.2 top of range (all the gadgets) for 4k in Dec. It replaced my gen7. Gen7 had 185000 when I sold it, this had 128000. Get a lot of car for your money and Honda reliability. This gen 8 is a lot smaller interior to my gen 7 though. But it drives far better. Fuel isn't particularly great, average 35mpg, more of on motorway.
If its bang for buck your looking for then may I suggest the Peugeot 508SW. I had one for 5 years and it was flawless. Massive boot, loads of toys as standard, fantastic fuel economy, and for your budget you should be looking at at least a 13 plate with decent mileage. I would have another one in a heartbeat.
You can get into a post 2010 5 series easily at that money. I'm looking to change to a Vito and according to Autotrader my 2010 F11 520D Auto with 138K is worth £4.5K as a private sale. It's a bloody brilliant car, I just fancy living the van life for a bit because I'm too lazy to take the front wheel out every time I load the bike in the car.
Make no mistake though; your interior will get trashed putting a bike in the boot, no matter how careful you are at the start, especially if it's a 29er.
Stick to German, you can get a Golf Estate for £4000 with about 80,000 miles on it.
Honda Accord ... Fuel isn’t particularly great, average 35mpg, more of on motorway.
The 2.2 Diesel? Surely that's not right. I've been fancying one to replace mine, mainly on the grounds of fuel economy. But I average close to that in a 6 cylinder BMW. Speaking of which...
You can get into a post 2010 5 series easily at that money.
Don't do it. My experience (along with everyone else, judging by the forums) is that old BMWs are just a breakdown waiting to happen. Lovely cars, but I've never had so many parts explode without warning in over 20 years of driving.
Both are very expensive in terms of age and mileage of what you'll get too.
The auto trader app is very good, many an hour is spent looking at "Toy Cars" for £4000 you could get mk5 Golf Gti. With seats down and wheel off youd get the bike in, and pick up some honeys on the way home, or race the local revving Kevins
The 2.2 Diesel? Surely that’s not right. I’ve been fancying one to replace mine, mainly on the grounds of fuel economy
Mine is an auto, which won't help. I've not done a long run in it yet, but expect it'll be 40mpg.
v70 D5. yes they are huge , but very well made and probably more economical than alot of smaller cars.
Go manual , get one with around 100k , so the belts have been done
you should get a decent 185 06 vintage for half your budget, very comfy on long commutes
55mpg mostly on mine
Mine is an auto, which won’t help. I’ve not done a long run in it yet, but expect it’ll be 40mpg.
That sounds low still. I was expecting 50-55 from what I've looked into.
v70 D5 - 55mpg
This is interesting too because most reports I've seen on the D5 had them down as incredibly thirsty. I do like an old Volvo.
Ive got a 2.2 idtec civic (same engine as the accord) and it averages 45 all the time on local trips Of up to an hour regardless of how hard I drive it. On the motorway it’s pretty easy to hit 55+mpg without bothering to take the roof bars off. It’s a great engine and a nice car too
55mpg mostly on mine
Better than my D3, I'm only seeing 50+ on long trips.
You'd just be able to get a MkII Skoda superb estate for 4k, might be high miles but they're made for that.
If space is your main concern, that's got you covered!
Yes, we had the civic 2.2 as well and achieved much better mpg (45 urban), but accord is a much heavier car, so can't expect same mpg. The 1.6 diesel is fantastic on mpg. Parents have the civic, we have an hrv. 60mpg urban is easy.
I've got a Fabia estate, I can't stand it. (My fault, chose the wrong car.) It's a brilliant car but it's tiny. Don't go smaller than octavia in the skoda range, especially coming from a T4. It's an unnecessary compromise.</span>
the trouble with something that's 10 years old and high milage is that it will start to cost more and more money as it gets older - I don't know the OP's circumstances but if you only want to spend £4k to start with, high running costs might be a problem.
3 and a half years old, bang on budget, 70mpg combined. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202005279588879?radius=1500&price-from=3500&postcode=bn68ff&price-to=4500&model=INSIGNIA&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&body-type=Estate&maximum-mileage=150000&year-from=2013&make=VAUXHALL&sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1
That Insignia above is incredibly dull but seemingly incredible vfm for a decent sized 66 plate car even with that mileage. Assume its been a fleet car so in theory should have been pretty well looked after too.
I’ve got a Fabia estate, I can’t stand it. (My fault, chose the wrong car.) It’s a brilliant car but it’s tiny.
We've got a Fabia Estate, 2 adults, child, medium sized dog, bikes on roof. Its plenty big enough. FUGLY as hell though!
Best value has to be Vauxhall Astra or Insignia estate. See also Zafira.
Fabia is bigger boot than you think because of length, but not so much passenger room because of width.
Octavias are overpriced these days, they used to be VFM but now everyone thinks they are the best so more expensive than cars a notch up in quality e.g. C class estate.
VFM 2 litre, its even a nice colour https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202005289612847
I said it a bit earlier, but have just had a bit of a look on Autotrader. There aren't many around, but I'm almost tempted by some of the Seat Exeos myself...
If I could be bothered, I'd dig out a photo I took of an 11 plate Exeo parked opposite a 2006 A4 Avant in my work car park. They are the same car, same engine/drivetrain/dash....just different badges.
2011 plate 140bhp 2 litre diesel with leather, climate control & 120k miles, for £2950
2010 plate 170bhp 2 litre diesel with leather, climate control and 130k miles for £3000
I have a SEAT EXEO 2011. I bought it on 124,000 it's now got 167,000 in two years. take the front wheel off and throw the bike in the boot. My 26" wheel bike I could get in complete.
It is basically an Audi A4 without the price. I would buy another, when this one dies, but they stopped making them.
Yes, Seat, Audi, VW and Skoda are basically the same parent company (VWAG), so a Seat or a Skoda is basically a better value version of the VW or Audi equivalent.
I've gone for the perennial STW favourite, the Octavia estate. It's flippin' huge and very versatile, great fuel economy and good value. I've fitted four of us with bikes in it, although the Superb is even bigger so worth checking out too.
A new dog meant that we wanted something slightly bigger than our existing Fabia when we last changed. The Octavia was the obvious choice, but we had a look at Dacia, as they're marketing themselves how Skoda were 15-20 years ago.
We got a low mileage 2 year old Logan MCV for the price of an average mileage 6 to 8 year old Octavia. It's boot is huge, it does 70mpg driven gently (80 is achievable) and we're well-chuffed with it. It doesn't have any of the fancy electronic toys or motor-driven gizmos that you see on many cars these days, but if you're coming from a T4 then you won't miss those, and they're only more weight and more to go wrong...
Hyundai i30 Sportwagon.56-73 mpg,usually with full dealer's history and £30 VED like this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003248734495?radius=1500&annual-tax-cars=TO_30&postcode=ol148hs&model=I30&body-type=Estate&advertising-location=at_cars&make=HYUNDAI&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&sort=price-asc&page=1