Reliable Estate Car
Discussion
Im after something around £5k max, estate, automatic box ideally but not essential. I do around 10k miles a year so I'm thinking a diesel is probably not ideal given current fuel costs.
Ive narrowed it down to an Toyota Avensis. The VW Passat's seem battered at this price end.
What are peoples thoughts on the Toyota? My father had an 08' 2.2 diesel which was pretty good, they are not great on fuel so perhaps a 2.0 petrol would be better? Plus they all seem to be in half decent condition, I'm unsure if people look after them better or they take the knocks better than a Mondeo/Passat?
Ive narrowed it down to an Toyota Avensis. The VW Passat's seem battered at this price end.
What are peoples thoughts on the Toyota? My father had an 08' 2.2 diesel which was pretty good, they are not great on fuel so perhaps a 2.0 petrol would be better? Plus they all seem to be in half decent condition, I'm unsure if people look after them better or they take the knocks better than a Mondeo/Passat?
I have just changed from a Mondeo. I had a 2009 2.2 diesel and did around 10k miles per year.
I was averaging 38.6mpg and alot of my driving was on country roads, and 60mph roads around Somerset.
I couldn't fault it really, suspension amd bushes need a change but it had done nearly 130,000miles. Only reason for a change was we needed more seats!
I was averaging 38.6mpg and alot of my driving was on country roads, and 60mph roads around Somerset.
I couldn't fault it really, suspension amd bushes need a change but it had done nearly 130,000miles. Only reason for a change was we needed more seats!
Struggle to see past a Mondeo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301293...
A below average petrol one will come among.
Petrol will be cheaper to maintain and this will help offset the difference in fuel costs.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301293...
A below average petrol one will come among.
Petrol will be cheaper to maintain and this will help offset the difference in fuel costs.
My wife got a 10 year old chevrolet Cruze estate for £3k last year. (A rebadged astra)
It does everything a car should- 120mph or 50 odd to the gallon (not at the same time)
Note: "tech" in early 2010 cars like sat nav is not great. Not really much of an improvement on mid 2000 cars, and an android head unit will be far better.
For £5k BMW petrols - be wary of a later N53 engined car - they have an expensive taste for injectors, but do have lower emissions (on paper at least) if you're anywhere near a ulez.
If you're after a brisk BMW the x25i engines generally has the same costs as the x30i but less power - not worth it in my opinion. If power isn't needed just get a four cylinder
Ian
It does everything a car should- 120mph or 50 odd to the gallon (not at the same time)
Note: "tech" in early 2010 cars like sat nav is not great. Not really much of an improvement on mid 2000 cars, and an android head unit will be far better.
For £5k BMW petrols - be wary of a later N53 engined car - they have an expensive taste for injectors, but do have lower emissions (on paper at least) if you're anywhere near a ulez.
If you're after a brisk BMW the x25i engines generally has the same costs as the x30i but less power - not worth it in my opinion. If power isn't needed just get a four cylinder
Ian
Obee72 said:
In the same boat and the Insignia 1.8 looks great value to be honest being a lot more modern with some toys. Is there anything to look out for with these when viewing ?
Abit slow, but they plod along fine, they are big heavy cars mind.Only thing is really head gasket issues, so check coolant levels and if it warms up correctly (temp gauge), the rest is normal car stuff.
Other than that, they are pretty simple, reliable cars compared to the diesels, underrated personally.
wjwren said:
Im after something around £5k max, estate, automatic box ideally but not essential. I do around 10k miles a year so I'm thinking a diesel is probably not ideal given current fuel costs.
Ive narrowed it down to an Toyota Avensis. The VW Passat's seem battered at this price end.
What are peoples thoughts on the Toyota? My father had an 08' 2.2 diesel which was pretty good, they are not great on fuel so perhaps a 2.0 petrol would be better? Plus they all seem to be in half decent condition, I'm unsure if people look after them better or they take the knocks better than a Mondeo/Passat?
All taxi candidates so trad carefully, how bout a Skoda yeti?Ive narrowed it down to an Toyota Avensis. The VW Passat's seem battered at this price end.
What are peoples thoughts on the Toyota? My father had an 08' 2.2 diesel which was pretty good, they are not great on fuel so perhaps a 2.0 petrol would be better? Plus they all seem to be in half decent condition, I'm unsure if people look after them better or they take the knocks better than a Mondeo/Passat?
Also, if you like the Insignia 1.8 petrols, look at the Astra Tourer 1.6 petrol - cheaper VED, and not that much smaller in reality - again, you can get a newer car due to the "snob/badge" factor 
Just an example, 1 owner car, 2014 plate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303014...
Just an example, 1 owner car, 2014 plate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303014...
Edited by 7 5 7 on Thursday 2nd March 12:21
With all the talk of Astras and Insignias, what about Zafiras?
One of my wife's cars is a 9yr old Zafira B, 1.8, 120hp petrol, owned from new (pre-reg) and it has been a trouble free workhorse.
It can be a 5-seat estate car with large boot, a 7-seat small minibus or a 2-seat van with no boot lip which makes it easy to load a large hefty kitchen appliance into the boot.
It's not quick, but it's not slow, either. Only the average PH-er would consider it to be 'dangerously underpowered' while 95% of the general population get on fine with the engine.
One of my wife's cars is a 9yr old Zafira B, 1.8, 120hp petrol, owned from new (pre-reg) and it has been a trouble free workhorse.
It can be a 5-seat estate car with large boot, a 7-seat small minibus or a 2-seat van with no boot lip which makes it easy to load a large hefty kitchen appliance into the boot.
It's not quick, but it's not slow, either. Only the average PH-er would consider it to be 'dangerously underpowered' while 95% of the general population get on fine with the engine.
wjwren said:
Im after something around £5k max, estate, automatic box ideally but not essential. I do around 10k miles a year so I'm thinking a diesel is probably not ideal given current fuel costs.
Ive narrowed it down to an Toyota Avensis. The VW Passat's seem battered at this price end.
What are peoples thoughts on the Toyota? My father had an 08' 2.2 diesel which was pretty good, they are not great on fuel so perhaps a 2.0 petrol would be better? Plus they all seem to be in half decent condition, I'm unsure if people look after them better or they take the knocks better than a Mondeo/Passat?
I highly recommend looking into Volvos as they are often high mileage cars for a reason. As an example, I bought a MY12 V60 D3 Se Lux (auto, 2 litre, 5 cylinders, 161bhp) a few years ago from a private seller with 104k miles on it for £6k (I know it is £1k over your budget), and it has been extremely reliable. It was an ex-demo car with every available option, including radar cruise, BLIS, crash preventative sensors, lane assist, memory leather heated seats, DAB, and all sorts of toys that I didn't even realise existed back then. Oh it also has family pack which gets you booster seats at the back which is just ace - honestly, it was bought as my wife's learner car which we still use to date and I drive it on a regular basis and really can't fault it on anything.Ive narrowed it down to an Toyota Avensis. The VW Passat's seem battered at this price end.
What are peoples thoughts on the Toyota? My father had an 08' 2.2 diesel which was pretty good, they are not great on fuel so perhaps a 2.0 petrol would be better? Plus they all seem to be in half decent condition, I'm unsure if people look after them better or they take the knocks better than a Mondeo/Passat?
My dad ran Volvos until past 200k with no issues other than regular maintenance, he also ran Toyotas until silly mileage and they never seemed to die. I ran a few Avensis myself, the worst one for me was a T180 Estate that made no sense whatsoever. It wasn't rocket ship fast but delivered 32mpg on a motorway cruise - probably one of the worst cars I've owned.
Hope this helps.
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