£10k 'Fast' Estate - Help please

[sharepointalex]

Looking for some help to find a reasonably fast estate for £10k/poss can stretch to £11k.

For context, I currently have a 2020 M340i which I PCP, there is about £10k of equity sat in the car and whilst I love it, I'd like to release the equity and take a break from the monthlies that cost an arm and a leg! And then in the future I'll likely revisit something newish and fast.

Last two cars (this one and previous - 335d) have been beemers and one Audi before and I am quite tied to BMW or Audi but open to others.

Being a petrolhead I'm still keen on a big petrol engine of course!

Here's my rough list of requirements:

Fast 'ish' - Ideally petrol but open to diesel, must be at least 2.0 litre, a 3.0 litre or above would be nice
Bluetooth phone & audio
Heated seats (front)
Memory front seats (nice to have)
Heads up display (nice to have and probably hard to find - current car has one and I have got used to it)
Cruise control
Auto wipers

These are the cars I've been considering and looking at so far:

E60/E61 5 Series - 535i,550i or 535d
F10/F11 5 Series - Same as above
Skoda Octavia VRS
Passat potentially
F30 onwards 3 series

Here are some I found and have enquired about, interested to get your thoughts:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111079...

Both slightly out of budget but could perhaps stretch.

[Zerosumgame]

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

[samoht]

You could consider an AMG C55 - 5.4L V8, 360-odd hp and has most of your desired features bar the HUD I think.

Eg £10500, 2006 car on 100k
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284689701957


I'm definitely enjoying mine. Check any potential purchase very carefully though, there are a lot around in poor condition.

[Mr E]

Ah, a “recommend your own car” thread.

If you can find one, a W212 E500 has been an excellent family bus for the discerning driver wanting space and pace while flying somewhat below the radar.

[RoVoFob]

sharepointalex said:

Looking for some help to find a reasonably fast estate for £10k/poss can stretch to £11k.

Here's my rough list of requirements:
Fast 'ish' - Ideally petrol but open to diesel, must be at least 2.0 litre, a 3.0 litre or above would be nice
Bluetooth phone & audio
Heated seats (front)
Memory front seats (nice to have)
Heads up display (nice to have and probably hard to find - current car has one and I have got used to it)
Cruise control
Auto wipers

Here are some I found and have enquired about, interested to get your thoughts:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111079...

Do you specifically want an import? Both of those cars are from Japan, which is why they’re charging such a premium, with the seller having to cover the cost of shipping and admin. As a result, they seem very expensive to me. As far as I understand it, the 545i and 550i engines are not very well regarded for reliability, either.

I sold my 2006 Audi A6 Avant 4.2 V8 Quattro SE, with loads of options and less than 90k miles on the clock, a month back for £6,950. Mine had everything you ask for - bar memory seats (one of the few options it didn’t have fitted), Bluetooth audio (not sure how retro-fittable this is) and a heads up display (don’t think that was available on this generation). I really don’t think there’s a need to blow the budget, unless you have to have a very low mileage car.

I was really impressed with that generation of A6 - seems very well built, nice and tactile, plenty of options fitted in many cases and still quite good value. Even 5.2 V10 S6 Avants look quite reasonable price-wise, though you’d need to be prepared fuel economy-wise…alternatively, there are loads of 3.0-litre V6 diesels available.

[Mineral1]

You are looking at something ten years old for that cash, if you want something that's genuinely a bit quick.

How can you have ten grand of equity in the car but still be paying huge monthly sums?

[Canon_Fodder]

Not a Passat!

[sharepointalex]

Mineral1 said:

You are looking at something ten years old for that cash, if you want something that's genuinely a bit quick.

How can you have ten grand of equity in the car but still be paying huge monthly sums?

As far as I’m aware I cannot reduce the payments by using that equity unless I sign a new PCP on another car which I’m not willing to do at the moment, hence selling the car to release it.

[sharepointalex]

Canon_Fodder said:

Not a Passat!

VR6 Passat? 😛

[2 GKC]

Did BMW actually make an E60 535i?

[ZX10R NIN]

Out of budget but you occasionally see one for around 11k:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...

5.2 S6 Avant:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204265...

C55 Estate:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403602082595?hash=item5...

R36:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204265...

[ChocolateFrog]

The 2011ish Audi S4's often drop into that price bracket.

Never owned one but on paper they seem quite tempting.

[Terzo123]

A left field option to consider is a Volvo V60 or V70 in T6 Spec. Pretty rare, but they are out there.

Over 300 BHP, and 4wd.

I did about 100 miles in a V60 T6 today. It was pleasantly surprising.

[PomBstard]

Terzo123 said:

A left field option to consider is a Volvo V60 or V70 in T6 Spec. Pretty rare, but they are out there.

Over 300 BHP, and 4wd.

I did about 100 miles in a V60 T6 today. It was pleasantly surprising.

To save me writing it out again, from a similar recent thread...

PomBstard said:

As someone who’s had a V70 T6 as a family car I’d say just don’t. I wouldn’t even get one with someone else’s money. So much wrong with them it easier to list the positives:

The engine is torquey and smooth
The flip up seats in the rear are great for kids
The boot is a good size

That’s it. Handling, ride, autobox, steering, dash, seats (oh, those fking Volvo seats - just awful), build quality, day-to-day living with it - all just total pants.

[babelfish]

Zerosumgame said:

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

+1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=price...

[Obee72]

I was mildy interested in the 530i:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203043...

Genuinely considered swapping my 65 Mondeo 2.0 Titanium X Pack for it as I love that style and engine however there is no service history so couldn't justify it without. I think the mileage is genuine as the seller says the mileage matches the export cert. Its also very local to me but not had time to go and see it yet.

Wouldn't go for the 545/550 as reliability and borkage factor could be big issues however the 3.0i engine is a pearl if maintained correctly. Had it in an old 130i up to 130k miles and its still going strong. Lots of N52's on bigger mileage but no issue if looked after.

[sharepointalex]

Obee72 said:

I was mildy interested in the 530i:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203043...

Genuinely considered swapping my 65 Mondeo 2.0 Titanium X Pack for it as I love that style and engine however there is no service history so couldn't justify it without. I think the mileage is genuine as the seller says the mileage matches the export cert. Its also very local to me but not had time to go and see it yet.

Wouldn't go for the 545/550 as reliability and borkage factor could be big issues however the 3.0i engine is a pearl if maintained correctly. Had it in an old 130i up to 130k miles and its still going strong. Lots of N52's on bigger mileage but no issue if looked after.

I got a bunch of extra photos from him that I requested and still quite interested however I've since found a 330i that's about to come on sale with a much more reputable dealer, 57 plate and 77k miles. Full ceramic and refurbished so should look good plus it's not an import plus full service history. The import does put me off a bit when I come to sell it in the future.

Only thing is the lack of options, it only really has pro nav and it doesn't have heated front seats - but then again - first world problems I suppose?!

[Obee72]

Its an import without any service history, so for me it should be cheaper (could be wrong) but I wouldn't want to take a chance on a 13yo car without any indication of SH. I know the bodywork might be great but you'd expect that from Japan. I'd be tempted if it was nearer £10k but even then I'd be getting a professional check.

[SlowV6]

sharepointalex said:

Looking for some help to find a reasonably fast estate for £10k/poss can stretch to £11k.

Here are some I found and have enquired about, interested to get your thoughts:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203043...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111079...

Both slightly out of budget but could perhaps stretch.

Note the 550i is not an LCi despite being allocated an 08 reg here. The interior/door cards/auto transmission lever are all pre-facelift. You may like white and I fully respect that, however white E61 with dark windows has more than a hint of ex-plod/stormtrooper/ghost busters/ambulance about it to my eyes.

[stevemcs]

As a serial Audi hater with your budget and requirements I'd find it hard to look past an Audi S4. But I would watch VAG technic on youtube first.