Which 3l diesel auto estate £9-12k? 4wd preferred.

[TiminYorkshire]

Mrs in Yorkshire wrote off our Audi A6 Allroad (C6 2009 model).

We are now wondering what's best to replace it with. Preferences are:

3l+ diesel estate
Auto
230bhp+
Reliable
<125k miles
4wd for snow (Alps and Yorkshire Moors - note we run our cars on winter tyres over the winter)
40mpg on a long continental run.

Looking at Audi A6 Avant & Allroad in C7 variety, contemplating 330d xdrives, and also thinking about the smaller A4 options.

Any advice with regards reliability and nice place to be? - It doesn't have to be "entertaining", as we have an old Mini Cooper S for blasting locally.Effortless wafting, easy commute, with the option of a quick overtake locally or when on fast cruise across Europe to the Alps or Bohemia.

One thought is to settle on 2wd - in which case Mrs in Yorkshire is CLS350cdi curious in the "shooting brake" variety - any feedback on these? I like the look of Jaguard XFs, but the 3 litre V6 in them doesn't seem to have the best reputation for relaibility.

Answers and thoughts on a post card, or more preferably posted below.

Edited by TiminYorkshire on Thursday 27th June 21:46

[nobrakes]

TiminYorkshire said:

Mrs in Yorkshire wrote off our Audi A6 Allroad (C6 2009 model).

We are now wondering what's best to replace it with. Preferences are:

3l+ diesel estate
Auto
230bhp+
Reliable
<125k miles
4wd for snow (Alps and Yorkshire Moors - note we run our cars on winter tyres over the winter)
40mpg on a long continental run.

Looking at Audi A6 Avant & Allroad in C7 variety, contemplating 330d xdrives, and also thinking about the smaller A4 options.

Any advice with regards reliability and nice place to be? - It doesn't have to be "entertaining", as we have an old Mini Cooper S for blasting locally.Effortless wafting, easy commute, with the option of a quick overtake locally or when on fast cruise across Europe to the Alps or Bohemia.

One thought is to settle on 2wd - in which case Mrs in Yorkshire is CLS350cdi curious in the "shooting brake" variety - any feedback on these? I like the look of Jaguard XFs, but the 3 litre V6 in them doesn't seem to have the best reputation for relaibility.

Answers and thoughts on a post card, or more preferably posted below.

Edited by TiminYorkshire on Thursday 27th June 21:46

If she like the CLS shooting break, get her one and put 4 good all seasons on it.

[Belle427]

Not sure how long the engine problems continued through the later BMW 330d but always worth checking.

[TiminYorkshire]

nobrakes said:

If she like the CLS shooting break, get her one and put 4 good all seasons on it.

After doing a little research on these the main watch out point seems to be rear subframe corrosion. Also MBUK seem to be helping with the replacement of these. How concerned should I be about this on a CLS shooting break?

[nobrakes]

TiminYorkshire said:

nobrakes said:

If she like the CLS shooting break, get her one and put 4 good all seasons on it.

After doing a little research on these the main watch out point seems to be rear subframe corrosion. Also MBUK seem to be helping with the replacement of these. How concerned should I be about this on a CLS shooting break?

I don’t know. Maybe find a potential one and check with the service history and MB recall and it get an Indy inspection?

[ZX10R NIN]

TiminYorkshire said:

After doing a little research on these the main watch out point seems to be rear subframe corrosion. Also MBUK seem to be helping with the replacement of these. How concerned should I be about this on a CLS shooting break?

It's very sporadic, I've only seen it on 3 Mercedes but it can be a potential issue so it's maybe worth getting your potential purchase checked.

The CLS is a great option & one I'd recommend, alternatively if you really want AWD then there's also the R Class, these are actually more spacious than the E class/CLS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404148...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401135...

BUT I'd take the CLS as it just looks better:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311033...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405229...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 29th June 17:11

[Pyrolysis]

What about this:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16874755

Seems to tick the boxes. My default answer would be a 335d or a 340d touring but I'm trying to be a bit more liberal these days

[ZX10R NIN]

Isn't that at least £11,750 over the OP's budget

[Wheel Turned Out]

Pyrolysis said:

What about this:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16874755

Seems to tick the boxes. My default answer would be a 335d or a 340d touring but I'm trying to be a bit more liberal these days

Twice OPs budget would probably be a bit of a sticking point.

Personally I'd go for another Allroad. They're just so good at what they do.

[Silvanus]

Allroads are great cars, but I'd be very tempted by an XC-70. Doesn't hit the 3.0 requirement, but the top spec 2.4 D5 is a great engine.

[Wheel Turned Out]

I love an XC70, people seem to want all the money for them though.

[Deerfoot]

Silvanus said:

Allroads are great cars, but I'd be very tempted by an XC-70. Doesn't hit the 3.0 requirement, but the top spec 2.4 D5 is a great engine.

A late XC70 D5 SE Lux would be a lovely thing.

[stevemcs]

Watching vag technic videos on the 3.0 put me off them. It’s a shame as they are good cars.

[InitialDave]

My old man has a 2015 330d Xdrive, and it seems pretty decent as an all-rounder (if you like diesels).

Problems so far (~3 years of ownership) have been leaking AC pipe and a dead wheel speed sensor.

[Silvanus]

Deerfoot said:

Silvanus said:

Allroads are great cars, but I'd be very tempted by an XC-70. Doesn't hit the 3.0 requirement, but the top spec 2.4 D5 is a great engine.

A late XC70 D5 SE Lux would be a lovely thing.

Guy I work with has one, uses it as a work horse and gets abused, been very reliable.

[119]

Apart from the utter shyte autoboxes, the XC70 D5 LUX is a lovely place to be in all honesty, with nearly all of the gadgets you could want, although a decent late one will be top, if not over your budget.

[Silvanus]

119 said:

Apart from the utter shyte autoboxes, the XC70 D5 LUX is a lovely place to be in all honesty, with nearly all of the gadgets you could want, although a decent late one will be top, if not over your budget.

Is there a gearbox issue on these?

[Wheel Turned Out]

Silvanus said:

119 said:

Apart from the utter shyte autoboxes, the XC70 D5 LUX is a lovely place to be in all honesty, with nearly all of the gadgets you could want, although a decent late one will be top, if not over your budget.

Is there a gearbox issue on these?

I think it's more a case of how they're looked after. As I understand it Volvo for a long time claimed they were sealed for life, so lots of owners did not consider getting the transmission fluid changed. The Volvo forums are full of auto transmission issues. However they're also full of owners who have done over 300k and never had any problems.

It could be argued no owner should accept the 'sealed for life' nonsense and fluid should always be changed. There does seem the perception that the auto box is a bit delicate, however.

[Pyrolysis]

ZX10R NIN said:

Isn't that at least £11,750 over the OP's budget

I stand corrected, I failed to read the thread title. Ok, in this case I'd recommend an E9X 335d.

[nobrakes]

A 3series estate isn’t exactly an ESTATE car.