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First of all, the current car:
We have a mk2 Octavia vRS diesel which is suffering from age and VAG diesel-related problems. It's getting to the point where it's going to become more hassle and cost to fix than the car is worth, so a change is coming.
A bit of background:
We do the school run in it once a day (3 miles each way. Yes, sometimes we cycle instead) which is obviously not ideal for a DPF-laden diesel. We also live on the Isle of Wight, so longer DPF-clearing runs don't happen all that often.
We do have relatives all over the country so undertake long road trips several times a year, and I surf and we all mountain bike so the car is also used to transport kit – for these the Octy is great. I also like driving fun cars, but to be honest this really is a secondary consideration.
What I don't want:
The newer (petrol) Octy looks fine and dandy, and is realistically the first choice. However, the current Octy has been far from faultless (loads of non-engine electrics, and I'm part of one of the many claims taking the lying bastard VAG group to court) and the new one seems to have more of the 'helpful' stuff that has caused problems in our current one, not to mention it seems to have lost any sleeper/Q car credentials. I am not tied to the badge.
I am also not a fan of additional (and arguably unnecessary) 'infotainment' systems, flash trim and interior mood lighting, or anything else extra that can go wrong. You'd also have to be very persuasive to make me consider anything French (including Nissan by proxy) or Italian.
What I want:
Something that can deal with short journeys, but is comfortable and capable of drives from one end of the country to the other. Functional, but not gadget-laden. Big enough to swallow a 9ft longboard (as a guide, the Octy does this), or a few bikes and kit. Not a complete bloody money pit to run. And all this for £12k or under.
I came here expecting controversy, interesting left-field suggestions and some downright good ideas. Don't let me down. 😉
You might want to consider a Peugeot Partner. My Teepee came with a surfboard rack in the roof space.
SAAB Sportwagon in V6 Aero flavour. Have a look.
What you need is an Avensis 2.2 D estate. The sweet spot is around 170-180k miles a and 14 years old when they’re just about run in.
(Disclaimer - I might be selling one later in the year.)
Our 66 plate Astra "Sports Tourer" (ie, estate) is diesel so I can't speak for the petrol ones, but it's super-comfy, pretty long, and they do them with loads of different options so if you want no tech, there will be one out there (ours is proper no frills - no satnav, no bluetooth, no cruise, no parking sensors, etc).
Any Volvo estate
You'd have about half your money left over with a Saab 9-3.
Skoda Superb?
Subaru legacy (tuned by sti import here, rare as hen's teeth) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-Subaru-Legacy-Tuned-By-STI-2-0-GT-SPEC-B-Fresh-Import-impreza-RARE-MODEL-/224765073326?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Can you charge a car? Your usage is prime phev territory, there must be a bunch within budget - BMW 330e maybe?
A pre-reg petrol Dacia duster would likely fit the bill and give you a new car warranty to boot, lots of folks happy with there’s over on piston heads.
Have a read before dismissing
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1900473
A 330e would be closer to £16-19k in the current market unless it’s been hammered.
Current used car prices are a bit mental - have you considered leasing something new until the prices settle?
Passat estate in the 1.5 Gt mode?
Check out Dacia. Might get new with warranty for your money
Again, Dacia. I looked at the Jumper recently (not due out until April or so) which is a new version of the Logan.
Alternatively a Focus Zetec should cut out most of the bells and whistles, that's my first choice due to the heated screen.
If that wasn't such a deal breaker then a Toyota Corolla would be in the running as well.
So this isn't about getting a 2nd rack for your handcart 😕
Current used car prices are a bit mental – have you considered leasing something new until the prices settle?
I was looking at this, very little available with less than 6 month lead time and that assumes any of the delivery dates can be believed.
For what it is worth the Toyota corolla and Suzuki Swace (rebadged, same car) are all petrol hybrid with good economy. Ideal for mixed use with short trips. I was close to ordering one but bloody hell they are dull...
Didn't realise the Suzuki was a rebadge. My old man had a Corolla briefly, had a go once and it was a nice enough car. Don't see the point in fun cars with the roads round here sadly.
Too new for OP though, all the 2nd hand Swaces are north of £20k. A few Toyota Auris about though, and I think Toyota offer a 12 month warranty with servicing up to 10 years old/100k miles.
I've got a 2019 Toyota Corolla. I'm pretty sure it'd struggle to fit in a longboard. More than two bikes is a faff, unless you're happy to tear up the soft fabric and felts in the boot.
If you want a Toyota, look at the city ace van. It's made by Peugeot, but very spacious.
Any Volvo estate
Except the previous model V60 which was based on the Focus platform and is not very big. V50 is actually bigger. You could probably find a half decent V70 for that budget though.
soft fabric and felts in the boot.
Oh, I did think the some of the interior build quality looked a bit questionable.
Just to add, the city ace van comes with super basic van spec, through to high spec mpv. Seats are removable too.
I had a V50 before the Corolla. No idea about surfboards, but I could fit 3 L/XL bikes in the rear with seats folded down. Really nice to drive too.
This is awesome. Thanks very much for all of your replies.
SAAB Sportwagon in V6 Aero flavour. Have a look.
It's the spares here that puts me off. Happy to be convinced otherwise (I assume a lot of GM spares would fit...?) as a friend had one and rated it.
You might want to consider a Peugeot Partner. My Teepee came with a surfboard rack in the roof space.
Not sure a 9'2" longboard would go in, and despite my misgivings the French do have a great history of making functional van-based wagons. Added to the list. Thanks.
Subaru legacy (tuned by sti import here, rare as hen’s teeth)
I always thought my next car would be a Legacy, but the new ones are so meh and a Spec-B strikes me as being a shed-load of fun, but also more hassle than I want to keep in tip-top shape. So I'm now trying very hard not to look at the ad you linked to of a really rather special car, curse you.
Can you charge a car? Your usage is prime phev territory
No, but I can get one installed through a work lease scheme (which I was avoiding, to be honest). But...
Current used car prices are a bit mental – have you considered leasing something new until the prices settle?
...is a really good point.
Passat estate in the 1.5 Gt mode?
Oh, hello! That sounds like it's worth a peek.
A pre-reg petrol Dacia duster would likely fit the bill and give you a new car warranty to boot, lots of folks happy with there’s over on piston heads.
Have a read before dismissing
Thanks. That's really interesting. Really, really interesting. And that orange is surprisingly pleasing on the eye.
Alternatively a Focus Zetec should cut out most of the bells and whistles, that’s my first choice due to the heated screen.
Our other car is a – erm - Transit, albeit a thirsty 4x4 camper. And a Focus once saved my life. That all said, I'm not a massive Ford fan as the Tranny has got niggling issues and some shockingly cheap parts, but the heated front screen is AWESOME and – in my experience – the engines are generally joyously pokey. Good call - thanks.
If that wasn’t such a deal breaker then a Toyota Corolla would be in the running as well.
I was about to look as the Corolla is traditionally a great car, but...
I’ve got a 2019 Toyota Corolla. I’m pretty sure it’d struggle to fit in a longboard. More than two bikes is a faff, unless you’re happy to tear up the soft fabric and felts in the boot.
Ah. Thanks @HansRey (wait - THE HansRey?)
Just to add, the (Toyota) city ace van comes with super basic van spec, through to high spec mpv. Seats are removable too.
The Peugeot link isn't great, but I'm going to have a look.
I had a V50 before the Corolla. No idea about surfboards, but I could fit 3 L/XL bikes in the rear with seats folded down. Really nice to drive too.
Good to know. Another one for the list.
Again, many thanks all. That's a whole load of good stuff for me to start looking up and booking test drives.
Mercedes E class Bluetec estate. 2.2 but with battery and motor.
You could do the school run on electric, and charge it every other day.
Then use the dino juice motor on longer runs, and some elec as well
2010 vintage or 2011. Huge, comfortable and reasonable on the mpg, combined is 55mpg iirc.
What they are not is sporty, taught, fun, flickable Street racers, but you know thats at the bottom of the list, right?
A tiny car for the school run and a new van/camper.
Mercedes E class Bluetec estate. 2.2 but with battery and motor.
Thanks. I'll look. Running costs could be the bugbear here, but definitely worth some research.
A tiny car for the school run and a new van/camper.
Ha. Logically you're absolutely spot-on. But as the camper is my mid-life crisis and replaced a smaller, van-like camper which we got rid of because it was too small, it's here for a while; certainly until used van prices come back down from the heavens.
I currently drive a 2018 Octavia 1.5Tsi. It’s surprisingly good.
The infotainment thingy is separate from the heater/climate controls (huge consideration for me) but still plays nice with my iPhone. I get 50+ mpg on a run and the seats are damn comfy too.
But there are loads of electronic doohickeys that could well go wrong…
DO NOT BUY THAT LEGACY
I say this as someone who ran an import spec.b legacy as a daily for a while. Absolutely belting car, properly quick and a for an estate it is a real hoot to drive. Love ‘em, brilliant cars. But you either have to become an enthusiast or be comfortable with the cost of motoring going up dramatically. Your garage round the corner will struggle to a) get the right parts and b) work out what is wrong in the first place. The particular variant of the engine in those cars never made it to the UK in a production vehicle and due to being a high compression ratio needs high octane fuel. 99 minimum. You can get them mapped to run on 97 but without a specialist remap it would be suffering pretty bad knock which destroys them over time.
I also struggled to get more then 32mpg out of mine. A car for the motorist who has deep pockets.
SAAB spares are still readily available from a network of previous dealers and independent specialists. Some of the annoying trim fastenings can be testing to find, but they're all still there.
Only worthwhile if you have a halfway decent specialist close by as the ODB reading software is bespoke to SAAB and implemented just differently enough to other manufacturers to cause a pain.
Except the previous model V60 which was based on the Focus platform and is not very big. V50 is actually bigger.
Mondeo floorplan and suspension. The evens are lifestyle, the odds are a bit more traditional Volvo. The v60 had a low rear roofline to look good but meant the boot was smaller, especially when the flat floor adjustments were made.
DO NOT BUY THAT LEGACY
I wasn't planning to. I love the idea of it, and would consider it if living on my own. But... adulting is taking priority for the reasons you give (although I didn't know that about the engine).
Only worthwhile if you have a halfway decent specialist close by as the ODB reading software is bespoke to SAAB and implemented just differently enough to other manufacturers to cause a pain.
I'm not surprised. I'd need to do some Isle of Wight-specific research there.
Christ if the Subaru was expensive to run, that v70r would bankrupt most people!
Mondeo floorplan and suspension. The evens are lifestyle, the odds are a bit more traditional Volvo. The v60 had a low rear roofline to look good but meant the boot was smaller, especially when the flat floor adjustments were made.
So, buy a Mondeo?
So, buy a Mondeo?
You could do a lot worse for your budget and intended use. They're a lot bigger than an Octavia, for better or worse.
I've been looking at estates recently, although my budget is more like £3000, I like the look of the Honda Accord. Well not exactly the look as its ugly but I think it will be a great car. I know they are known for their petrol engines but are the diesels any good?
No, the new shape accord has all sorts of dpf related issues. The overfuel to initiate dpf burn causes oil contamination, especially if your only doing just long enough journeys to initiate re gen and it does not complete or stay hpt enough for long enough to clear itself.
Shame as they are a gpod looking car and they fixed the issues the older cdti engined car had. Tailgate motor failed was a common fault.
Last car manufacturer without dpf too, up to 2007 i think or last of the cdti models.
Thanks singletrackmind, I was thinking petrol for the miles I do. Will the tailgate still work if the motors borked?
You could do a lot worse for your budget and intended use. They’re a lot bigger than an Octavia, for better or worse.
I have been looking at them, although I was put off by the plastic/finish inside the ST220 I looked at many moons ago. Ended up with a mk1 Octy vRS - make of that what you will.
Also been looking at S-Maxs (S-Maxes? S-Maxi?), although I suspect that's going a little too large.
No, the new shape accord has all sorts of dpf related issues.
Any background info on the petrol versions?
Mazda 6?
@mugboo I had a 7th generation Accord (2007) and it was a brilliant flawed car. Huge. The 2.4 petrol was a belter of an engine and I could get quite good economy out of it considering the size of the car (40 on a run).
Is it the 7th or 8th gen Honda you are looking at? On mine the tailgate worked fine, but having both the tailgate mechanism and the switch as electronic meant if something did go wrong you were shut out of the boot. Funny story, if the reason your electronics are not working is down to a flat battery, and your jump leads are under your boot floor, you are stuffed.
There was play in a couple of drivers seat bushes. Not much, but enough to mean it rocked very slightly when braking.
I would probably still have that car today had it been the type-s but the se is not a looker. I would totally have another one though.
Thanks seriousrikk, 03-08, is that the Mk7?
I do fancy the 2.4 petrol so that's good to know. It'll be better than my T4 van...
Mazda 6?
Already on the list. 🙂
I’m part of one of the many claims taking the lying bastard VAG group to court
Genuine question… Why? Do you think what they did has negatively affected you somehow and you feel like you needed compensating or is it just a chance to get some free money?
All of those compensation claims boil my piss. Surely as you were driving a more polluting car you should be coughing up for the extra “car tax” you’ve avoided courtesy of the company’s tricks.
In the best tradition of suggesting what you have - Skoda Superb. Though AutoExpress agree with me.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars-vans/87486/best-used-estate-cars
Genuine question… Why? Do you think what they did has negatively affected you somehow and you feel like you needed compensating or is it just a chance to get some free money?
Bit of both. Being frank, free money is a bonus. But - I also dislike the blatant disregard for any sort of legislation and continuing when they know what they are doing is damaging to people's health and the environment. At the end of the day they lied for financial gain. I'm not stupid to think they are the only company that do this (in fact I have a friend who used to work for Triumph and found a similar thing while testing a BMW bike) but they have been caught and should be punished.
Has it negatively affected me? Well, actually, it has. We moved from somewhere where quick A roads and dual-carriageways were the norm to somewhere where we're lucky to get 10 mins of driving without a stop, let alone 20 mins above 2k revs. Consequently the combination of having a DPF that likes to clog and an EGR valve that's suffering from software changes to make-up for VAG's lying means our car arguably isn't fit for purpose (which is a shame as I actually quite like it).
All of those compensation claims boil my piss. Surely as you were driving a more polluting car you should be coughing up for the extra “car tax” you’ve avoided courtesy of the company’s tricks.
OK...
In the best tradition of suggesting what you have – Skoda Superb. Though AutoExpress agree with me.
They are good. Not too many petrols around at the mo tho. Well, not too many cars in general. 🙂