Do it all car, maybe estate? £11500

[Raymond Reddington]

Hi all,

I'll give you a bit of boring background and what I need the car for.. tldr; what comfortable, quick and well made estate car for a max of 11.5k?

I've been running an old 08 Golf TDi since my XF became uneconomical to repair a couple of months back.

I haven't gelled with the stopgap Golf and there are a few bits that need doing- nothing major, but if I did them all it would've had close to a grand spent on it, then I'd struggle to justify not doing the cambelt for another 4-500 quid.

You'd hope I'd have a well sorted older car after that, but as I don't like it, now seems like a good time to get shot.

We are expecting our first child and have a labrador so an estate would be good, but hatch might suffice. Before setting this budget, I had been looking at all sorts of newer alternatives on a PCP style deal, from the Skoda Karoq, to Ford Focus, Kia Proceed shooting brake thing etc. But I think I would prefer spend a bit less on something and own it.

Criteria:

Estate or Hatch that will fit 2 adults, a rear facing baby seat, pram, and also preferably a labrador all at the same time. I wouldn't rule out an SUV, but I don't tend to like them.

Quick and comfy - doesn't have to be blisteringly fast but prefer over 150bhp

Good stereo with Bluetooth/AUX, preferably android auto but not a deal breaker. Other nice spec like pan roof or leather preffered

Reasonably good on fuel, I commute 55 miles each way between 6 and 10 days per month, and local running around. Would prefer 45 mpg+ on a run. Petrol or diesel considered.

Nice to look at, nothing too much like you'd see your grandad driving, with the exception of Skoda Superbs for some reason I just like them

Reliable and lowish miles preffered, preferably under 50k but if its something built to last or that would hold value I could live with higher

Auto preffered but of the reliable kind, if a car was offered with powershift or DSG I'd probably rather have the manual


Things I've considered so far:

Peugeot 308 GT/GT Line - unsure of best engine, 1.2 puretech 130 seems most common, bit slow perhaps
Mercedes E Class - seen a nice white face-lift 2015 model but higher miles at 80k, and its a 2.1, would prefer 3.0 in a car that big
Seat Leon ST - great looking car IMO, good choice of engines and spec
BMW 320d touring (seem to lack kit at this price)
Some sort of Volvo

Some I've ruled out:

Hyundai i40 - too slow
Hyundai IX35 - as above and drab out of date interior
Vauxhall Insignia - don't like them
Ford Mondeo - my dad has one and it's nice, but not for me
Pug 508
Citroen C5


Any help appreciated and i would prefer to come in under budget if at all possible.

Thanks

[TREMAiNE]

Maybe low spec at that price point but what about an Octavia Estate?

[nobrakes]

If you go basic Merc you’ll get a newer model or £.

Much space. Much safety for sprog and stuff. Looks the part. Will last. You shouldn’t need to have to change it out in another 3yrs when sprog 2 arrives - changing cost money.

[Summit_Detailing]

Kia Optima
Peugeot 308 but in 2.0hdi flavour
Mazda 6
V70

[georgeyboy12345]

These are all quite high mileage, but these cars can take them so it wouldn't bother me particularly, plus you'll be doing relatively low mileage, but the right kind of driving for a diesel with those 55 mile commutes. Also the DSG boxes in the Audi and Skoda wouldn't concern me either, they are the wet clutch types that are pretty good.

Mercedes C250d Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310163...


BMW 320d Touring ED Plus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311184...


Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI vRS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...


Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI Ultra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...

[Bobupndown]

TREMAiNE said:

Maybe low spec at that price point but what about an Octavia Estate?

The answer to so many "What car should I buy?" questions is an Octavia estate. I should really have one myself but a little too light for towing our big caravan. I am considering a Superb estate though when it's time to replace the trusty Freelander 2.
You could do worse than a late model Freelander 2 as well, although it won't do 45mpg.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mazda6 Sport Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311043...

V60 D5 SE Lux:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309091...

D6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311073...

2.0d 308 GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312024...

Leon FR Technology:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311194...

530d GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311174...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311043...

I have to say if you're looking at an Octavia then I'd suggest actually sitting in the last of line Insignia as imo it's a better car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311234...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306168...

[biggbn]

Toyota Avensis. Maybe not quick enough, but quite good looking and another automotive cockroach from those Japanese engineers

[Vsix and Vtec]

Honda Civic Touring. Lots of space, frugal engines and bombproof build quality. Don't get the 1.0 petrol though, that engine has a serious flaw in that it's a wet belt system and unfortunately even the mighty Honda haven't been able to make it not terrible.

[Raymond Reddington]

TREMAiNE said:

Maybe low spec at that price point but what about an Octavia Estate?

I certainly wouldn't rule out the Octavia if a nice one came up

[Raymond Reddington]

nobrakes said:

If you go basic Merc you’ll get a newer model or £.

Much space. Much safety for sprog and stuff. Looks the part. Will last. You shouldn’t need to have to change it out in another 3yrs when sprog 2 arrives - changing cost money.

These are my thoughts too

[Raymond Reddington]

Summit_Detailing said:

Kia Optima
Peugeot 308 but in 2.0hdi flavour
Mazda 6
V70

Really like the Optima styling wise, but they seem to only come in the 1.7 diesel, ideally I'd like something with a bit more poke

I'm looking at a nice 308 2.0 GT Line tomorrow so I'll report back on how that goes. I do like them but the infotainment is a bit crap and you have to use the clumsy screen to change the air con settings as there are no knows, this is the only thing that puts me off after having a 1.2 puretech hatch as a courtesy car a few years back.

Mazda and volvo both a good shout.

[Raymond Reddington]

georgeyboy12345 said:

These are all quite high mileage, but these cars can take them so it wouldn't bother me particularly, plus you'll be doing relatively low mileage, but the right kind of driving for a diesel with those 55 mile commutes. Also the DSG boxes in the Audi and Skoda wouldn't concern me either, they are the wet clutch types that are pretty good.

Mercedes C250d Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310163...


BMW 320d Touring ED Plus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311184...


Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI vRS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...


Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI Ultra
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...

I think the merc is my favourite out of these but they all look good

Mercland have a similar C Class estate for sale at the moment but its the 220 not the 250 and the cream leather on the one you linked to complements it nicely

[Raymond Reddington]

ZX10R NIN said:

Mazda6 Sport Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311043...

V60 D5 SE Lux:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309091...

D6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311073...

2.0d 308 GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312024...

Leon FR Technology:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311194...

530d GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311174...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311043...

I have to say if you're looking at an Octavia then I'd suggest actually sitting in the last of line Insignia as imo it's a better car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311234...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306168...

I like all of these, however I think the 5 series GT has a boot, I'd definitely need a hatch for the dog. They're a nice car though IMO I know they're not everyone's cup of tea.

I suppose my dislike of insignias comes from mine blowing up and my boss's new shape one being nothing but trouble. I do like the look of them and as you say they're good value and loaded with kit.

I'll have a deeper look in to the others you've linked to, some good options there.

A colleague has the 308 in 2.0 diesel guise and his had some sort of adblu problem which is allegedly quite common, he's had it removed and mapped out, I think it was quite costly, so I'd hope that if I bought one I didn't have this issue.

[Raymond Reddington]

biggbn said:

Toyota Avensis. Maybe not quick enough, but quite good looking and another automotive cockroach from those Japanese engineers

I have had a perverse hankering after a petrol Avensis estate for some time now for this very reason.

How satisfying it would be putting decent tyres on and looking after a car which you know wouldn't throw it back in your face with a check engine light or knackered components.

Great shout if a little dull and slow.

[Raymond Reddington]

Vsix and Vtec said:

Honda Civic Touring. Lots of space, frugal engines and bombproof build quality. Don't get the 1.0 petrol though, that engine has a serious flaw in that it's a wet belt system and unfortunately even the mighty Honda haven't been able to make it not terrible.

I have briefly looked at these with the 1.6 diesel, I heard the economy is very impressive. The styling is a bit out there, but I don't mind it. If one comes up with leather and a few toys in a good colour I'd definitely consider it, thanks

[ZX10R NIN]

Raymond Reddington said:

I like all of these, however I think the 5 series GT has a boot, I'd definitely need a hatch for the dog. They're a nice car though IMO I know they're not everyone's cup of tea.

I suppose my dislike of insignias comes from mine blowing up and my boss's new shape one being nothing but trouble. I do like the look of them and as you say they're good value and loaded with kit.

I'll have a deeper look in to the others you've linked to, some good options there.

A colleague has the 308 in 2.0 diesel guise and his had some sort of adblu problem which is allegedly quite common, he's had it removed and mapped out, I think it was quite costly, so I'd hope that if I bought one I didn't have this issue.

The 5 series GT is a hatchback.

[Raymond Reddington]

ZX10R NIN said:

The 5 series GT is a hatchback.

The picture in one of the ones you linked to threw me off, It's a split folding tailgait which seems unnecessary but it is indeed a hatch

[SeekerOfTruthAndPies]

As said previously, an Octavia in either hatchback or estate guise would appear to be the Swiss Army Knife of cars for everyday use. A vRS would be quick enough for your needs, not sure what you'd get at that price range though.

[Raymond Reddington]

SeekerOfTruthAndPies said:

As said previously, an Octavia in either hatchback or estate guise would appear to be the Swiss Army Knife of cars for everyday use. A vRS would be quick enough for your needs, not sure what you'd get at that price range though.

Definitely considering the Octavia. They're a bit boring though!