Best older estate cars - small-ish
Discussion
Help me choose my next car...
Musts - an estate car, not an SUV, must be petrol and manual, must be on the small side, as far as estate cars go. Comfortable on long motorway journeys, including in the back.
Useage - low mileage run-about, with occasional long journeys.
Preferences - relatively little tech (if it has central locking, electric windows, air con then that's pretty much all I need), under £5k, Japanese or German, leather seats. 2L min. engine size.
To give you an idea, I'd be sorely tempted by a Lancer Evo Wagon if they were cheaper, 2.5L Mazda 6 looks good but maybe a bit big, if they did more MPG then a BMW 330i - E46 would probably be perfect (but maybe I have to live with that), or a 325i E91 (but again, I'd prefer smaller).
Musts - an estate car, not an SUV, must be petrol and manual, must be on the small side, as far as estate cars go. Comfortable on long motorway journeys, including in the back.
Useage - low mileage run-about, with occasional long journeys.
Preferences - relatively little tech (if it has central locking, electric windows, air con then that's pretty much all I need), under £5k, Japanese or German, leather seats. 2L min. engine size.
To give you an idea, I'd be sorely tempted by a Lancer Evo Wagon if they were cheaper, 2.5L Mazda 6 looks good but maybe a bit big, if they did more MPG then a BMW 330i - E46 would probably be perfect (but maybe I have to live with that), or a 325i E91 (but again, I'd prefer smaller).
Thanks... I cannot stress this enough... I want an estate, but I want a small estate, and I want something nice (comfortable and ideally sporty too). I will definitely consider a bigger car than a BMW E46 estate, but I would prefer to find something a touch smaller, and anything that is significantly bigger is a no. Manual and petrol are non-negotiables. Life is too short for diesel or automatic. Maybe the answer here is simple "buy an E46 Touring".
Skoda Octavia - ideally want something nicer... my Dad has a 2009 one and I'm ideally looking for a smaller car than that.
Volvo V50 - an option... prefer the size of the V40.
Mercedes - W203 C-Class - Not a bad call, thanks... a touch bigger than I would like, but you've opened my eyes to considering a Merc.
I know I am being very choosy, but I have every right to be as choosy as I want!!!!
Skoda Octavia - ideally want something nicer... my Dad has a 2009 one and I'm ideally looking for a smaller car than that.
Volvo V50 - an option... prefer the size of the V40.
Mercedes - W203 C-Class - Not a bad call, thanks... a touch bigger than I would like, but you've opened my eyes to considering a Merc.
I know I am being very choosy, but I have every right to be as choosy as I want!!!!
Defo an Octavia.
This seems to fit the bill.....
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409244...
This seems to fit the bill.....
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409244...
Fred Smith said:
Thanks... I cannot stress this enough... I want an estate, but I want a small estate, and I want something nice (comfortable and ideally sporty too). I will definitely consider a bigger car than a BMW E46 estate, but I would prefer to find something a touch smaller, and anything that is significantly bigger is a no. Manual and petrol are non-negotiables. Life is too short for diesel or automatic. Maybe the answer here is simple "buy an E46 Touring".
Skoda Octavia - ideally want something nicer... my Dad has a 2009 one and I'm ideally looking for a smaller car than that.
Volvo V50 - an option... prefer the size of the V40.
Mercedes - W203 C-Class - Not a bad call, thanks... a touch bigger than I would like, but you've opened my eyes to considering a Merc.
I know I am being very choosy, but I have every right to be as choosy as I want!!!!
Not sure how W203 is ever a 'big' estate - sounds like you should be looking at hatchbacks?Skoda Octavia - ideally want something nicer... my Dad has a 2009 one and I'm ideally looking for a smaller car than that.
Volvo V50 - an option... prefer the size of the V40.
Mercedes - W203 C-Class - Not a bad call, thanks... a touch bigger than I would like, but you've opened my eyes to considering a Merc.
I know I am being very choosy, but I have every right to be as choosy as I want!!!!
Fred Smith said:
Thanks... I cannot stress this enough... I want an estate, but I want a small estate, and I want something nice (comfortable and ideally sporty too). I will definitely consider a bigger car than a BMW E46 estate, but I would prefer to find something a touch smaller, and anything that is significantly bigger is a no. Manual and petrol are non-negotiables. Life is too short for diesel or automatic. Maybe the answer here is simple "buy an E46 Touring".
Skoda Octavia - ideally want something nicer... my Dad has a 2009 one and I'm ideally looking for a smaller car than that.
Volvo V50 - an option... prefer the size of the V40.
Mercedes - W203 C-Class - Not a bad call, thanks... a touch bigger than I would like, but you've opened my eyes to considering a Merc.
I know I am being very choosy, but I have every right to be as choosy as I want!!!!
Don't get a shed of a premium brand, get a decent mainstream brand. A Focus estate is a fantastic drive, decent amount of toys and will be newer and with fewer miles than the equivalent BMW. You mentioned the Mazda 6 - they are great cars too - they really are the BMW from the good old days - great build quality, lots of toys, great chassis and Japanese reliability. Only issue is the engines are a bit thin on torque so need to be revvedSkoda Octavia - ideally want something nicer... my Dad has a 2009 one and I'm ideally looking for a smaller car than that.
Volvo V50 - an option... prefer the size of the V40.
Mercedes - W203 C-Class - Not a bad call, thanks... a touch bigger than I would like, but you've opened my eyes to considering a Merc.
I know I am being very choosy, but I have every right to be as choosy as I want!!!!
I never said the W203 is a big estate, but I want a small estate! But it is definitely an option, and getting options is precisely why I started this thread. W203 is on my "to consider" list.
And funnily enough, I was looking at BMW 1st gen. 1-series 5 doors as you were replying to me. Halfway between a 1st gen. 1 series and a W203 would be perfect size!
Three things put me off that Skoda - it is a Skoda and I want a brand I vibe with more than I vibe with Skoda; a bit too big; the 45 degree rear window slope - I' prefer 70 to 90 degrees to maximize space in the back (whilst keeping the width and length on the small side).
And funnily enough, I was looking at BMW 1st gen. 1-series 5 doors as you were replying to me. Halfway between a 1st gen. 1 series and a W203 would be perfect size!
Three things put me off that Skoda - it is a Skoda and I want a brand I vibe with more than I vibe with Skoda; a bit too big; the 45 degree rear window slope - I' prefer 70 to 90 degrees to maximize space in the back (whilst keeping the width and length on the small side).
Edited by Fred Smith on Monday 14th October 16:24
Fred Smith said:
I never said the W203 is a big estate, but I want a small estate! But it is definitely an option, and getting options is precisely why I started this thread. W203 is on my "to consider" list.
And funnily enough, I was looking at BMW 1st gen. 1-series 5 doors as you were replying to me. Halfway between a 1st gen. 1 series and a W203 would be perfect size!
Three things put me off that Skoda - it is a Skoda and I want a brand I vibeith more than I vibe with Skoda; a bit too big; the 45 degree rear window slope - I' prefer 70 to 90 degrees to maximize space in the back (whilst keeping the width and length on the small side).
If you consider a W203 too big for your needs, you need to reconsider your requirement for an estate car - a W203 IS a small estate! And funnily enough, I was looking at BMW 1st gen. 1-series 5 doors as you were replying to me. Halfway between a 1st gen. 1 series and a W203 would be perfect size!
Three things put me off that Skoda - it is a Skoda and I want a brand I vibeith more than I vibe with Skoda; a bit too big; the 45 degree rear window slope - I' prefer 70 to 90 degrees to maximize space in the back (whilst keeping the width and length on the small side).
Dapster said:
Don't get a shed of a premium brand, get a decent mainstream brand. A Focus estate is a fantastic drive, decent amount of toys and will be newer and with fewer miles than the equivalent BMW. You mentioned the Mazda 6 - they are great cars too - they really are the BMW from the good old days - great build quality, lots of toys, great chassis and Japanese reliability. Only issue is the engines are a bit thin on torque so need to be revved
My next Ford will be a 70s or 80s Capri. If I wanted to drive round in as something as bland as a focus I'd just keep my current daily (and maybe that is what I should do - upgrade the seats and suspension and see if I can get another 10 years out of a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Estate Sport.)I am not scared of high miles and I don't want toys. I'd rather be rust-treating the underside of a BMW than reading a manual trying to work out how gadgets work on a Ford or a Skoda. I've spent decades driving cheap old cars, and now I want to spend some time driving cheap old cars with a bit of comfort and glamour!
Mazda 6 as mentioned above. I have one, but really does need revved. Got the sport nav 165 and its a relatively comfortable thing. Similar usage to what you mention, local pottering, trips to the tip (double mattress in it at the weekend) but took the family to France for 2 weeks in summer no problem.
braddo said:
There is no estate smaller than a 3-series which will also feel premium. As mentioned above, a Fabia estate and Clio estate are probably the only ones physically smaller.
V50 Volvos are a nice design but I doubt they'll drive as nicely as a good 3-series or Focus.
I think you might be right... not getting a clio... maybe I need to approach this the other way and consider big luxury harchbacks... or just get an E46 touring and be done with itV50 Volvos are a nice design but I doubt they'll drive as nicely as a good 3-series or Focus.
braddo said:
Good shout, but the seller is asking nearly £10k for it! 
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