£10k estate, anything better than a 3 series?
Discussion
I'm after a general run around for a couple of years, will probably do 5k ish miles a year, prefer estate for the dog and occasional trip needing luggage space etc...
After a few autotrader trawls I'm finding it hard to see anything better than a 3 series touring, in terms of value, a decent drive and reasonable quality. I don't mind higher miles, as that's what gets a 14 plate 'F' model into budget and I'm leaning towards a 320 petrol auto. There are a few around the £9k mark....
A few thoughts / questions:
- I'm leaning towards petrol as I just prefer it and feel it may be less trouble. Plus the car won't do many miles. Is there anything about the petrol version I should know (It's the 184bhp) ?
- I'm leaning away from the x drive. I don't need 4wd and I seem to recall reading they can be trouble with tyres for some reason?
- Are there any other cars I should be looking at that fit the bill ? I had wondered about a Mondeo, but I don't hear good things about the powershift box, the other options would be Octavia VRS, but I don't really want a diesel and the petrols are quite a bit more expensive than a 3 series at the same age / miles. Golf GTD - I like the look of but again,, not too keen on Diesel.
A4 - I'm not an Audi fan, Merc C, see more expensive.
Any thoughts on the BMW, or options welcomed.
After a few autotrader trawls I'm finding it hard to see anything better than a 3 series touring, in terms of value, a decent drive and reasonable quality. I don't mind higher miles, as that's what gets a 14 plate 'F' model into budget and I'm leaning towards a 320 petrol auto. There are a few around the £9k mark....
A few thoughts / questions:
- I'm leaning towards petrol as I just prefer it and feel it may be less trouble. Plus the car won't do many miles. Is there anything about the petrol version I should know (It's the 184bhp) ?
- I'm leaning away from the x drive. I don't need 4wd and I seem to recall reading they can be trouble with tyres for some reason?
- Are there any other cars I should be looking at that fit the bill ? I had wondered about a Mondeo, but I don't hear good things about the powershift box, the other options would be Octavia VRS, but I don't really want a diesel and the petrols are quite a bit more expensive than a 3 series at the same age / miles. Golf GTD - I like the look of but again,, not too keen on Diesel.
A4 - I'm not an Audi fan, Merc C, see more expensive.
Any thoughts on the BMW, or options welcomed.
Reading the thread title I thought Mondeo, but ruling it out on the power shift ‘box is fair.
Mazda 6 will be a good drive and there will be petrol autos about.
I would have to check out the brilliant-looking Peugeot 508 SW but that is mostly about looks / being different. Probably a worse car than the BMW or Mazda.
So yeah, 3-series. How much more would you have to spend to get a 6-pot?
Mazda 6 will be a good drive and there will be petrol autos about.
I would have to check out the brilliant-looking Peugeot 508 SW but that is mostly about looks / being different. Probably a worse car than the BMW or Mazda.
So yeah, 3-series. How much more would you have to spend to get a 6-pot?
When we where looking, the 3 series estate came out well for driving experience, but poorly for boot space.
Main alternative we considered was the Octavia estate, but I knocked up a significant spreadsheet of sizes/specs.
We where mainly looking for a the 147bhp 2l diesel due to 10-12k pa and would have been very happy with a Gen 3 or 4 Octi.
However we ended up buying a Volvo V60 II with 147bhp T5 petrol as the specfic was the right spec, not many had adaptive cc.
Link for interest
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XIAa0ahoG3...
Daniel
Main alternative we considered was the Octavia estate, but I knocked up a significant spreadsheet of sizes/specs.
We where mainly looking for a the 147bhp 2l diesel due to 10-12k pa and would have been very happy with a Gen 3 or 4 Octi.
However we ended up buying a Volvo V60 II with 147bhp T5 petrol as the specfic was the right spec, not many had adaptive cc.
Link for interest
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XIAa0ahoG3...
Daniel
In terms of petrol's I'd say 3 series is potentially your best bet for the money.
Another petrol option is Focus ST-3, may be a bit old for your liking though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...
Could stretch to a quite nice looking C Class AMG Line but is diesel
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402136...
Another petrol option is Focus ST-3, may be a bit old for your liking though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...
Could stretch to a quite nice looking C Class AMG Line but is diesel
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402136...
EBRANDON1 said:
In terms of petrol's I'd say 3 series is potentially your best bet for the money.
Another petrol option is Focus ST-3, may be a bit old for your liking though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...
Could stretch to a quite nice looking C Class AMG Line but is diesel
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402136...
Speaking from experience, the Focus ST estate is alright if you're used to extremely hard, unforgiving suspension. Another petrol option is Focus ST-3, may be a bit old for your liking though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...
Could stretch to a quite nice looking C Class AMG Line but is diesel
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402136...
And on that note, avoid a 3 Series with 19" wheels.
BenS94 said:
EBRANDON1 said:
In terms of petrol's I'd say 3 series is potentially your best bet for the money.
Another petrol option is Focus ST-3, may be a bit old for your liking though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...
Speaking from experience, the Focus ST estate is alright if you're used to extremely hard, unforgiving suspension. Another petrol option is Focus ST-3, may be a bit old for your liking though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402066...
The suspension is... appropriate for a car with this kind of power and sporting aspirations? It isn't that bad but you've got to be a particular kind of mad to want an estate which drives like this.
Hustle_ said:
Reading the thread title I thought Mondeo, but ruling it out on the power shift ‘box is fair.
Mazda 6 will be a good drive and there will be petrol autos about.
I would have to check out the brilliant-looking Peugeot 508 SW but that is mostly about looks / being different. Probably a worse car than the BMW or Mazda.
So yeah, 3-series. How much more would you have to spend to get a 6-pot?
The powershift box on a 2 litre petrol Mondeo is just a standard torque converter auto - there's nothing wrong with this gearbox and it is not a reason to rule them out.Mazda 6 will be a good drive and there will be petrol autos about.
I would have to check out the brilliant-looking Peugeot 508 SW but that is mostly about looks / being different. Probably a worse car than the BMW or Mazda.
So yeah, 3-series. How much more would you have to spend to get a 6-pot?
Inspectorclueso said:
- I'm leaning away from the x drive. I don't need 4wd and I seem to recall reading they can be trouble with tyres for some reason?
I don't know much about the X-drive system, but typically permanent 4wd systems can get upset where the tyre wear front to back is not the same and so one axle is rotating at a different rate to the other. In practice, I'd imagine it's only a problem where that difference is significant and rotating wheels front to back to keep the tyre wear broadly even won't be a pain if you're only covering 5k a year.Whether you need 4wd is a whole other conversation though
Chris
Thanks for all replies, much appreciated. To be honest it pretty much confirms my view as most of the options raised I'd considered and dismissed for various reasons, though don't deny suit of them will suit other people well.
I had missed the Civic - will check these out as I do like Honda.
Re the lesser boot space in a 3 series, yes I agree and I am aware. Most of the time I'm solo, or at most 2 passengers, hence I deliberately didn't want something too big. We have a Disco 5 when we really need some space.
Thanks all.
I had missed the Civic - will check these out as I do like Honda.
Re the lesser boot space in a 3 series, yes I agree and I am aware. Most of the time I'm solo, or at most 2 passengers, hence I deliberately didn't want something too big. We have a Disco 5 when we really need some space.
Thanks all.
Edited by Inspectorclueso on Thursday 22 February 12:33
The usual scope creep has set in and I've see these Pug 508s (example below), of which there are quite a few if I accept a diesel. Tax is £35, looks to be a waft mobile and well equipped...
Any one have views on these, anything to watch for ?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402196...
Any one have views on these, anything to watch for ?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402196...
Civic tourers are brilliant.
And the 1.6DTEC engine is an absolute masterpiece, built to meet modern emissions regs from the ground up with properly thought out DPF regen built in (rather than the crap bolted onto existing engines like the VAG 2.0 TDI lump) so it can meet EU6 without adblue.
But if you're not doing the mileage then the 1.8 will be fine.
They're absolutely enormous inside thanks to the "magic" rear seats that fold right down towards the floor.
Volvo V70 worth a look too.
I'm a big BMW fan, especially their estates (i've had a few E91s). They're nice, but in my experience at £10k (roughly 6-7 yrs old) they're just starting to get expensive to keep mint. Every BMW/mini i've had has needed very regular fixes to things like central locking failing, headlight alignment failing, steering rack squeaking, exhaust rattling, timing chain rattling, injector failing, tappets ticking, oil leaking, washer jets blocking up, etc, etc.
If you're doing lots of city driving then worth also looking at something like a Toyota Auris hybrid estate. Corolla is nicer looking (which isn't saying much), but they're still quite strong money. Reliable as a lump of granite.
And the 1.6DTEC engine is an absolute masterpiece, built to meet modern emissions regs from the ground up with properly thought out DPF regen built in (rather than the crap bolted onto existing engines like the VAG 2.0 TDI lump) so it can meet EU6 without adblue.
But if you're not doing the mileage then the 1.8 will be fine.
They're absolutely enormous inside thanks to the "magic" rear seats that fold right down towards the floor.
Volvo V70 worth a look too.
I'm a big BMW fan, especially their estates (i've had a few E91s). They're nice, but in my experience at £10k (roughly 6-7 yrs old) they're just starting to get expensive to keep mint. Every BMW/mini i've had has needed very regular fixes to things like central locking failing, headlight alignment failing, steering rack squeaking, exhaust rattling, timing chain rattling, injector failing, tappets ticking, oil leaking, washer jets blocking up, etc, etc.
If you're doing lots of city driving then worth also looking at something like a Toyota Auris hybrid estate. Corolla is nicer looking (which isn't saying much), but they're still quite strong money. Reliable as a lump of granite.
LowTread said:
Civic tourers are brilliant.
And the 1.6DTEC engine is an absolute masterpiece, built to meet modern emissions regs from the ground up with properly thought out DPF regen built in (rather than the crap bolted onto existing engines like the VAG 2.0 TDI lump) so it can meet EU6 without adblue.
But if you're not doing the mileage then the 1.8 will be fine.
They're absolutely enormous inside thanks to the "magic" rear seats that fold right down towards the floor.
Volvo V70 worth a look too.
I'm a big BMW fan, especially their estates (i've had a few E91s). They're nice, but in my experience at £10k (roughly 6-7 yrs old) they're just starting to get expensive to keep mint. Every BMW/mini i've had has needed very regular fixes to things like central locking failing, headlight alignment failing, steering rack squeaking, exhaust rattling, timing chain rattling, injector failing, tappets ticking, oil leaking, washer jets blocking up, etc, etc.
If you're doing lots of city driving then worth also looking at something like a Toyota Auris hybrid estate. Corolla is nicer looking (which isn't saying much), but they're still quite strong money. Reliable as a lump of granite.
Am I right in thinking the twin turbo 160bhp 1.6 in the CR-V is the same? Only doing a regen when the light is on? (Sorry for the thread hijack!)And the 1.6DTEC engine is an absolute masterpiece, built to meet modern emissions regs from the ground up with properly thought out DPF regen built in (rather than the crap bolted onto existing engines like the VAG 2.0 TDI lump) so it can meet EU6 without adblue.
But if you're not doing the mileage then the 1.8 will be fine.
They're absolutely enormous inside thanks to the "magic" rear seats that fold right down towards the floor.
Volvo V70 worth a look too.
I'm a big BMW fan, especially their estates (i've had a few E91s). They're nice, but in my experience at £10k (roughly 6-7 yrs old) they're just starting to get expensive to keep mint. Every BMW/mini i've had has needed very regular fixes to things like central locking failing, headlight alignment failing, steering rack squeaking, exhaust rattling, timing chain rattling, injector failing, tappets ticking, oil leaking, washer jets blocking up, etc, etc.
If you're doing lots of city driving then worth also looking at something like a Toyota Auris hybrid estate. Corolla is nicer looking (which isn't saying much), but they're still quite strong money. Reliable as a lump of granite.
Inspectorclueso said:
I had missed the Civic - will check these out as I do like Honda.
You asked if there was anything better than a 3 series. I've had several Civics over the years and my wife has one at the moment. I have an F30 now and it's so much better than the Civic, in fact it makes them look like a POS. To be fair I've not been in the newer models but I'd be surprised if they are as refined as a BMW?Edited by Inspectorclueso on Thursday 22 February 12:33
Do some research on the N20 Vs B48 engines in the 3 Series. They changed over sometime maybe late 2015 or early 2016 perhaps and the later engine is said to be a lot better all round, particularly in terms of reliability.
Otherwise Focus ST estate... I can give you pros and cons over nearly 9 years of ownership but it has been a great car overall (not auto though)
Otherwise Focus ST estate... I can give you pros and cons over nearly 9 years of ownership but it has been a great car overall (not auto though)
2017 onwards Leon FR ST 2.0 TDI or 1.4 TSI
Diesels are more reliable than the petrol, less common problems. Its an EU6 diesel without AdBlue and a tried and tested lump thats in millions of cars
I bought one as a stop gap and its a brilliant car, 65mpg on a run, 45mpg locally and even in 150bhp guise its still nippy as its got 250 lb/ft torque
You can pick them up for well under £10k
Diesels are more reliable than the petrol, less common problems. Its an EU6 diesel without AdBlue and a tried and tested lump thats in millions of cars
I bought one as a stop gap and its a brilliant car, 65mpg on a run, 45mpg locally and even in 150bhp guise its still nippy as its got 250 lb/ft torque
You can pick them up for well under £10k
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