Fast Estate up to £10k

[Mr.Nobody]

I’m looking to go self employed and have decided that an Estate would be perfect for my needs. I’m after something that I can use for work whilst also use of a weekend for trips away. Any recommendations please?

[MiniMan64]

Octavia VRS.

[the-norseman]

Any preferences to age, engine size, tax band, mpg etc?

Octavia VRS is a good shout, or do you go for something slightly older either a Fast Volvo or SAAB?

[Mr.Nobody]

the-norseman said:

Any preferences to age, engine size, tax band, mpg etc?

Octavia VRS is a good shout, or do you go for something slightly older either a Fast Volvo or SAAB?

I’m not too fussed about engine size or tax. Just something that’s more than 200bhp but is okay on fuel.

[the-norseman]

Mr.Nobody said:

I’m not too fussed about engine size or tax. Just something that’s more than 200bhp but is okay on fuel.

That rules out the 2.8 V6 SAAB/VXR/OPC lump then that I had, MPG was ok on motorway but terrible elsewhere.

[Mr.Nobody]

What about a Mercedes C32 or the C350e?

[66HFM]

MiniMan64 said:

Octavia VRS.

As per MininMan64 the answer has to be an Octavia VRS, you may also get a Jaguar XF under £10k but 1st choice would be the VRS.

[scot_aln]

Depends on definition of fast but I see >200BHP mentioned.

If open to diesel then BMW 330D.

or does the Focus ST estate work. Always found the exhaust to be a bit stupidly positioned if you actually used it as an estate but it did drive quite nicely.

[Gad-Westy]

Last year I went through a spate of fast £10k ish estates trying to find a suitable replacement for my (admittedly not so fast) E61 525i. B8 S4 was a great car. Very quick indeed. Did nothing wrong. I just never got remotely attached to it. Replaced with an E91 335i with a manual box. That could have been a really nice car with some money poured into it but it was a bit rough around the edges and ultimately a bit too 'exciting' for our family usage. Settled on an F11 535i SE. It's bloody lovely and I'm now 15k miles in with no major issues. It can't disguise its mass when you really want to have fun (a 3 series is much better for that) but it's a lovely blend of power, noise and comfort. There aren't that many around but I paid well under your budget for mine less than a year ago so maybe worth looking out for.

[Belle427]

Something like a Merc C250 Cdi Estate will be a nice place to be and have a good bit of useable poke.

[ZX10R NIN]

Insignia VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310142...

E350cgi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403097...

R36:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402276...

535i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312194...

[Mr.Nobody]

The VXR looks interesting.

Superb:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402287...

A6 BiTurbo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403067...

C32:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312134...

[HiAsAKite]

In your position - I went for a B8 S4, which I bought from a PHer.

2 years on - running well as a family wagon for 4, including trips from SE England to Cornwall, Scotland, Lakes and Germany..

Bizarrely - looking at AT - looks like you might actually get less for your money now than I did in 2022

[RoVoFob]

HiAsAKite said:

In your position - I went for a B8 S4, which I bought from a PHer.

2 years on - running well as a family wagon for 4, including trips from SE England to Cornwall, Scotland, Lakes and Germany..

Bizarrely - looking at AT - looks like you might actually get less for your money now than I did in 2022

I planned to get an S4 Avant as a fast, comfy, robust family car and ended up getting an 2011 S5 Sportback, as I found a decent, well specified one first. Can still fit my son’s big pram in the boot and him in the back easily enough. Six months on, I still love it and intend to keep it long-term. May be another alternative, provided you don’t need to fit big, tall luggage in the boot…

[HiAsAKite]

RoVoFob said:

I planned to get an S4 Avant as a fast, comfy, robust family car and ended up getting an 2011 S5 Sportback, as I found a decent, well specified one first. Can still fit my son’s big pram in the boot and him in the back easily enough. Six months on, I still love it and intend to keep it long-term. May be another alternative, provided you don’t need to fit big, tall luggage in the boot…

Agreed (mine's also an avant too) - v. easily mappable to 400 or 450BHP- but even with "just" 330-350BHP I've found it easily "quick enough"..

It's also an incredibly smooth engine... (I've never owned a V12 to be fair...)

[nobrakes]

ZX10R NIN said:

Insignia VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310142...

E350cgi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403097...

R36:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402276...

535i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312194...

These VXRs look smooth.

[nobrakes]

Mondeo Ecopowerboosr?

Reasonable ‘go’ without being expensive.

Looks pretty new for £10k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403197...

Ok, this one is auto, but there are plenty of you filter for 200 bhp

This one is £7500. Very smart.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403157...

[Jake899]

I Just bought a V50 T5 AWD, i'm very pleased with it and it comes in well under budget.

[Tigerj]

Legacy spec B

[OutInTheShed]

Mr.Nobody said:

I’m looking to go self employed and have decided that an Estate would be perfect for my needs. I’m after something that I can use for work whilst also use of a weekend for trips away. Any recommendations please?

What's the nature of your work?

A lot of estates don't stand up well to 'trade' use and rapidly become sheds.
Many estates have lots of trim and upholstery in the back which is pretty vulnerable when the seats are down.
I've looked at few ruined interiors!

Also, many of the faster estates mentioned don't have huge load bays, or space between the rear arches.

And I suggest getting a few insurance quotes, business use on some cars can be fierce for some lines of business.