Large boot, engaging drive, 8kish budget

[redchris]

Hi All,

Follow up to the thread a few pages down where lots of folks provided much interesting food for thought. Situation not changed greatly since first thread but thought it might be a bit easier to follow creating a fresh one...

So...house bid accepted yesterday woohoo, so now need to free up some cash by selling the S3 (40k, mint, fash, wink, wink) and buy a family wagon capable of hauling the soon to be acquired dog.

Was all ready to go for a 1.4 Octavia estate but then woke up crying at the thought of years of dull driving and quickly put the thought out of my mind.

80% of journeys will be under 10 miles so have the usual DPF concerns but not sure if that’s enough of a concern to ignore diesels or not?? As others have found, largish petrol estates or SUV’s are not exactly plentiful.

Right now I’m back to considering an RX400h where the refinement gets me excited, or now been head turned by a Legacy b spec twinscroll. These things look lovely to me. Practical with performance to match I am seriously tempted. Economy not great but I can probably just about live with it but am nervous about potential expensive repairs. Anyone here got any experience of living with one?

Any other suggestions for a petrol auto with a bit of poke and comfort?

And should the diesel be dismissed? Plenty of good looking A6 and 5 series diesels about just don’t want to walk into expensive dpf issues down the road.

Cheers

[ZX10R NIN]

If 80% is made up of journeys under 10 miles then I'd discount a diesel a Spec B Legacy is a good car*I suggest you test drive one) but not really a sweeter steer than the equivalent Mondeo TXS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010215...

Newer shape Titanium

Do you need an Estate as the hatch is huge:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011015...

[Sc0tchland]

ZX10R NIN said:

If 80% is made up of journeys under 10 miles then I'd discount a diesel a Spec B Legacy is a good car*I suggest you test drive one) but not really a sweeter steer than the equivalent Mondeo TXS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010215...

Newer shape Titanium

Do you need an Estate as the hatch is huge:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011015...

Hey ZX10,

Did you see that second one had an engine replacement? Any idea what could have caused that?

[ZX10R NIN]

I did but thought the price reflected this, no idea it could be any number of things the OP would have to speak to the seller.

I have a client awaiting a new engine for his three month old RS5 catastrophic oil pump failure, no ones fault just one of those things.

[redchris]

Hi ZX10R thanks for your help here as in my last thread. You recommended Mondeos previously and I’m sure they’re very good cars but having had issues with Focus previously I just don’t think I would want another Ford. Plus, just personal taste of course but I’m really not a fan of the interiors

[jwilco]

The Mondeos are a bit budget on the interior, but they are a sweet steer.