Looking for cheap estate/towcar
Discussion
Evening all I haven't had a car for 20ish years but now I need a car that's good for towing can carry bikes and for general family duties. I have a budget of £2-3000 and have been looking at everything but I don't know what would be best up to now my favorites are Mercedes E class estates(probably ruinous),BMW 5 series estate (same) and Skoda Octavia estate. Does anyone have any others I should look at that fit the bill.I would prefer a petrol as it would be only used sparingly at the weekends so fuel costs not so much of an issue.
I can recommend an A6 Quattro Avant. I have a 2.7 diesel, it swallows up pretty much everything though I dont tow. Its very smooth and the added bonus of 4wd. I have the c6 model is without a DPF.
The only issues I've had are rear wiper motor failing which is common due to water ingress, but bear in mind mine failed in 2020, 14 years after the model was registered.
If you fancy some DIY the oil and filter changes are easy, as the oil filter is at the top of the engine and I used a pump to remove the oil. So apart from the wiper, I've had my car for nearly five years and nothing else has gone wrong.
The only issues I've had are rear wiper motor failing which is common due to water ingress, but bear in mind mine failed in 2020, 14 years after the model was registered.
If you fancy some DIY the oil and filter changes are easy, as the oil filter is at the top of the engine and I used a pump to remove the oil. So apart from the wiper, I've had my car for nearly five years and nothing else has gone wrong.
Frozennorth said:
Mercedes E class estates (probably ruinous),BMW 5 series estate (same) and Skoda Octavia estate.
Out of the three, the Octavia is likely the thinking mans best choice, or a the Mondeo although I have never owned either, but given I have run a 330ci E46 3series for the past six years, and to be honest for a 15-20yo car with 100k+ on the clock, its been fine. Have looked at Volvos but they hold onto their value sooo long!- Rubber components aging mainly, including most of the coolant system, a few bushes, prop shaft bearing (metalastic outer) plus a few other bits including the inevitable rust at the arches, but I think that was sorted the generation after which is likely where you will be pitching it. Plenty of threads in the BMW section, plus a few 'warmer rather than hot' posts in the Fast Estate thread.
Slightly depends where you want to pitch it on the full vs effort graph.
- As safe as possible, just want cheapest most reliable miles at any cost. The point the majority of people rightly opt for.
- Middle ground, of aiming for cost effective reliability, with a spark of interest. Not a stupid place to be as a PH father.
- Shoestring fast family estate, fun, different, takes the off evening fault finding and or £650 garage trip, but also will get from a-to-b without pissing off the mrs. (Where I would like to be)
- Out and out stupid 'bucket list' car that happens also to be able to take the family. I did get half way to buying an E34 'unicorn' 540i Touring till it was sadly too much of a shed for the price tag!
dhutch said:
Frozennorth said:
Mercedes E class estates (probably ruinous),BMW 5 series estate (same) and Skoda Octavia estate.
Out of the three, the Octavia is likely the thinking mans best choice, or a the Mondeo although I have never owned either, but given I have run a 330ci E46 3series for the past six years, and to be honest for a 15-20yo car with 100k+ on the clock, its been fine. Have looked at Volvos but they hold onto their value sooo long!- Rubber components aging mainly, including most of the coolant system, a few bushes, prop shaft bearing (metalastic outer) plus a few other bits including the inevitable rust at the arches, but I think that was sorted the generation after which is likely where you will be pitching it. Plenty of threads in the BMW section, plus a few 'warmer rather than hot' posts in the Fast Estate thread.
Slightly depends where you want to pitch it on the full vs effort graph.
- As safe as possible, just want cheapest most reliable miles at any cost. The point the majority of people rightly opt for.
- Middle ground, of aiming for cost effective reliability, with a spark of interest. Not a stupid place to be as a PH father.
- Shoestring fast family estate, fun, different, takes the off evening fault finding and or £650 garage trip, but also will get from a-to-b without pissing off the mrs. (Where I would like to be)
- Out and out stupid 'bucket list' car that happens also to be able to take the family. I did get half way to buying an E34 'unicorn' 540i Touring till it was sadly too much of a shed for the price tag!
dhutch said:
People will suggest all thoughts of things, but I'm a big fan of petrols have have never had an issue with towing with one. Likely less to go wrong than a modern diesal, and your hands don't stink of the stuff every time you refuel.
Thanks that's my thoughts I really don't want a diesel Harji said:
I can recommend an A6 Quattro Avant. I have a 2.7 diesel, it swallows up pretty much everything though I dont tow. Its very smooth and the added bonus of 4wd. I have the c6 model is without a DPF.
The only issues I've had are rear wiper motor failing which is common due to water ingress, but bear in mind mine failed in 2020, 14 years after the model was registered.
If you fancy some DIY the oil and filter changes are easy, as the oil filter is at the top of the engine and I used a pump to remove the oil. So apart from the wiper, I've had my car for nearly five years and nothing else has gone wrong.
Thanks I've now added the Audi to my list I'd forgotten about them.The only issues I've had are rear wiper motor failing which is common due to water ingress, but bear in mind mine failed in 2020, 14 years after the model was registered.
If you fancy some DIY the oil and filter changes are easy, as the oil filter is at the top of the engine and I used a pump to remove the oil. So apart from the wiper, I've had my car for nearly five years and nothing else has gone wrong.
nobrakes said:
Jeep Grand Cherokee?
I did exactly this. If you want a read, OP:https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I really liked it
I had a Saab 9-5 estate for about six years, then replaced it with a 2007 Honda Accord Estate. The Honda is not as good looking, but is better screwed together, and apart from a couple of drop links and new bottom arms has just plodded on nicely for the 20,000 miles i've put on it.
Both cars are very practical - huge boots, roof rails - and are comfy for a long trip.
Don't know much about towing but the Honda tugs my trailer down to the tip OK
Both cars are very practical - huge boots, roof rails - and are comfy for a long trip.
Don't know much about towing but the Honda tugs my trailer down to the tip OK
The Grand Cherokee would be where I'd be looking you'll get a later one with the ML320cdi drivetrain:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204114...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
Or you could go for the ML & that means you could get a 420cdi with some haggling & a budget creep but you'll have a serious towing car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204194...
320cdi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203133...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204114...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...
Or you could go for the ML & that means you could get a 420cdi with some haggling & a budget creep but you'll have a serious towing car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204194...
320cdi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203133...
boyse7en said:
I had a Saab 9-5 estate for about six years, then replaced it with a 2007 Honda Accord Estate. ....
Don't know much about towing tugs my trailer down to the tip OK
I wanted a Saab 9-5 for a while, if not quite as much as a V6 Alfa 195, mainly just to be different. But also looks amazing, in red. Don't know much about towing tugs my trailer down to the tip OK
The other question is, what are you towing?
Anything will tow a small trailer, even a relient robin, and most modern cars have hugely more power than the minimum requirement to make good progress, but if you want to be able to put a twin axle caravan or 2.5ton then the requirements become more specific.
dhutch said:
boyse7en said:
I had a Saab 9-5 estate for about six years, then replaced it with a 2007 Honda Accord Estate. ....
Don't know much about towing tugs my trailer down to the tip OK
I wanted a Saab 9-5 for a while, if not quite as much as a V6 Alfa 195, mainly just to be different. But also looks amazing, in red. Don't know much about towing tugs my trailer down to the tip OK
The other question is, what are you towing?
Anything will tow a small trailer, even a relient robin, and most modern cars have hugely more power than the minimum requirement to make good progress, but if you want to be able to put a twin axle caravan or 2.5ton then the requirements become more specific.
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