Which generation TDI passat or similar VAG estate

[OctaneV8]

Hi all, am considering a few options, one is getting an estate vag tdi for infrequent use but long drives and trips to b&q etc.

have driven the B5.5 B6 passat before and liked it, let's say if I were to spend up to £4-5k would you recommend these older gens or is the newer B7 any better, I know road tax is only £35 on these, which seems appealing on the face of it, as it would be a second car (I like BMWs) but reliability maintenance wise I'm reading up on forums, would that tip the scales back to the older model. Mileage doesn't bother me.

cheers

[OctaneV8]

Thanks for your replies, I do quite like skoda, have driven the gen1 octavia estate in 1.9 tdi form for a trip to Wales, brilliant car 65+mpg. Feel like the fabia might be on the verge of being big enough having a look on autotrader and have noticed a 1.2 and 1.4 tsi petrol version to throw into the mix! but octavia I'm sure will have no trouble fitting most things incl. a bike in the back.

Edited by OctaneV8 on Monday 1st July 16:42