Petrol Estates
Author
Discussion

bob995

Original Poster:

10 posts

33 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Hello, a combination of ULEZ, family and old age means I have to buy a large comfortable petrol automatic estate, my budget is up to £10k.
I think a Japanese import may be my best bet, probably dating from 2009 to 2013, and I'm considering a Volvo V70 2.5T and a VW Passat 1.4TSI. I understand the timing chain on the VW will probably need doing sometime in the future but wonder if the better fuel economy will cover the cost in the long run.
In addition, I have had a look at the Japanese makes and wonder about Toyota Avensis 2.0 and Mazda6 2.5; I don't think the boot on a Honda Accord would be big enough and I don't need 4-wheel drive which rules out a Subaru Legacy.
I would welcome any advice and suggestions. TIA

Bannock

9,732 posts

57 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
You might think it's a bit small without looking at one, but the Honda Civic Tourer has a colossal boot, loads of passenger room and "magic seats". I've got one, and I think it's brilliant. The amount of stuff you can get in it is unreal. It has more luggage volume than some E Class Merc estates. 624 litres to the window with the seats up and 1,668 litres to the roofline with the seats down, versus 480/1660.

Mine is a 1.8 petrol auto, and it feels more like a warm hatch to drive than an estate car.

Sycamore

2,184 posts

145 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
I'm looking for similar.
I like the look of the Volvos

I do hear chatter about Volvo Autos being a bit crap - But I'm not sure if it's limited to particular models.

Muddle238

4,410 posts

140 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
I would choose a Volvo over a VW personally, I feel they're just a better built car.

However, make sure you check the VED rates. I'm pretty sure the 2.5T from that era sits in the £675/year camp.

We have a 2016 V70 and it's a great car, feels absolutely solid to drive. I would have another, except I'd go for a slightly older P3, one with a 5 cylinder engine as opposed to the 4 pot we have.

donkmeister

12,451 posts

127 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Bannock said:
You might think it's a bit small without looking at one, but the Honda Civic Tourer has a colossal boot, loads of passenger room and "magic seats". I've got one, and I think it's brilliant. The amount of stuff you can get in it is unreal. It has more luggage volume than some E Class Merc estates. 624 litres to the window with the seats up and 1,668 litres to the roofline with the seats down, versus 480/1660.

Mine is a 1.8 petrol auto, and it feels more like a warm hatch to drive than an estate car.
It's a big old boot for the class of car, but the S212 E-class has 1950l of cargo space with the seats folded, so the Civic is about 300 litres short (also the max figure for the Civic assumes you use the spare wheel well for storage!)

bob995

Original Poster:

10 posts

33 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Bannock said:
You might think it's a bit small without looking at one, but the Honda Civic Tourer has a colossal boot, loads of passenger room and "magic seats". I've got one, and I think it's brilliant. The amount of stuff you can get in it is unreal. It has more luggage volume than some E Class Merc estates. 624 litres to the window with the seats up and 1,668 litres to the roofline with the seats down, versus 480/1660.

Mine is a 1.8 petrol auto, and it feels more like a warm hatch to drive than an estate car.
Thank you, as you say I considered it too small so I will revisit. Are the seats (particularly the rear) comfortable for longer journeys?

bob995

Original Poster:

10 posts

33 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Sycamore said:
I'm looking for similar.
I like the look of the Volvos

I do hear chatter about Volvo Autos being a bit crap - But I'm not sure if it's limited to particular models.
Yes, I do wonder about the Ford influence over costs / quality.

bob995

Original Poster:

10 posts

33 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Muddle238 said:
I would choose a Volvo over a VW personally, I feel they're just a better built car.

However, make sure you check the VED rates. I'm pretty sure the 2.5T from that era sits in the £675/year camp.

We have a 2016 V70 and it's a great car, feels absolutely solid to drive. I would have another, except I'd go for a slightly older P3, one with a 5 cylinder engine as opposed to the 4 pot we have.
Hello, one of the plus points for imports is lower VED - I think it's £325 for a V70.

Bannock

9,732 posts

57 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
bob995 said:
Bannock said:
You might think it's a bit small without looking at one, but the Honda Civic Tourer has a colossal boot, loads of passenger room and "magic seats". I've got one, and I think it's brilliant. The amount of stuff you can get in it is unreal. It has more luggage volume than some E Class Merc estates. 624 litres to the window with the seats up and 1,668 litres to the roofline with the seats down, versus 480/1660.

Mine is a 1.8 petrol auto, and it feels more like a warm hatch to drive than an estate car.
Thank you, as you say I considered it too small so I will revisit. Are the seats (particularly the rear) comfortable for longer journeys?
Well my 6'2" 90kg son travelled to Montenegro and back from the UK in it last year, no complaints.

BricktopST205

2,540 posts

161 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Saab 9-5. I have had my Aero nearly 9 years now and will be 20 next year. Comfortable, heated seats, dual zone climate and absolutely buckets of room. Android Auto head unit linked up to steering wheel controls so has basically everything you need. You can just about fit 2 meter lengthways in it with the front seat all the way forward.

Love it to bits. Not really a shed anymore. More like triggers broom with everything I have replaced on it.

I washed, polished and waxed it yesterday so obviously we had monumental rainfall last night,



It will quite easily do 40MPG on a run with a light foot which is fantastic for its age, weight and power.



bob995

Original Poster:

10 posts

33 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Bannock said:
Well my 6'2" 90kg son travelled to Montenegro and back from the UK in it last year, no complaints.
Thank you.

ZiggyNiva

1,214 posts

213 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Saab 9-5 or a bit left field an M35 Stagea. Why are you ruling out a Legacy or Outback? I know you said you don't need 4wd, but unless MPG is a huge consideration i'm not sure the reason for discounting them. Vectra Estates are also massive. Appreciate they don't get much love on here, but I loved my Vectra estate (2.8 Elite) and have always been impressed with the few insignia estates i've borrowed. I find the spec is key with Vauxhall. I had an SRI and an Elite Vectra and found them both great. I borrowed a exclusive (think that was the model) and if I had driven that first would have never bought a Vectra.

7 5 7

4,339 posts

138 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Insignia petrol estate, get alot of car for the money and probably a much newer one too.

Vectra estate is absolutely massive echoing poster above, big and square.

I run a hatchback one (2008 petrol SRI), but would of preferred an estate if one had popped up near me at the time, they are longer wheelbases too, still the hatchback is massive tbh.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Tuesday 3rd October 16:07

ninjag

1,878 posts

146 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Civic Tourer. Reliable, refined, £200 tax, decent mpg and a surprisingly large boot (624 litres) which is bigger than the Accord, Avensis etc.

Toyota Auris also has a big boot, but that gearstick...

|https://thumbsnap.com/XXRPtu3e[/url]


Nice Civic here, haven't checked the MOT history etc.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309111...

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brillomaster

1,811 posts

197 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
Sorry, but why are you after a jap import? Normally youd do that for a rare jdm only car, but there are plenty of petrol estates in the uk already?

Id have thought a jap import will just bring added unnecessary complications...?

Mr Tidy

30,696 posts

154 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
And a lack of rust-proofing!

If you have a Golf on your list I'd add a Skoda Octavia as I think they may be a bit bigger. My nephew has a 1.4 turbo Octavia Estate and has been pleased with it, but a VRs might be more fun.

I had a 2006 BMW 325i Touring for a year and while it isn't the biggest of estates it drove really well. I only changed it because I wanted a bit more performance, but there was nothing wrong with the car - just me!




Mercdriver

3,000 posts

60 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
+1 for Octavia bought one in March and we’ll pleased, passed on 1.4 or 1.6 because of turbo and bought a 2 litre, retired so fuel consumption irrelevant as I do low miles.

Boot is huge and has roomy front and rear seats

jdoubleu

332 posts

75 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
I'm going to give the Ford Mondeo a shout because they're huge and comfortable.

ZX10R NIN

30,386 posts

152 months

Tuesday 3rd October 2023
quotequote all
bob995 said:
Hello, a combination of ULEZ, family and old age means I have to buy a large comfortable petrol automatic estate, my budget is up to £10k.
I think a Japanese import may be my best bet, probably dating from 2009 to 2013, and I'm considering a Volvo V70 2.5T and a VW Passat 1.4TSI. I understand the timing chain on the VW will probably need doing sometime in the future but wonder if the better fuel economy will cover the cost in the long run.
In addition, I have had a look at the Japanese makes and wonder about Toyota Avensis 2.0 and Mazda6 2.5; I don't think the boot on a Honda Accord would be big enough and I don't need 4-wheel drive which rules out a Subaru Legacy.
I would welcome any advice and suggestions. TIA
E350cgi would be my first pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309282...

528i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310032...

Mondeo Vignale:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309252...

nobrakes

3,782 posts

225 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
^ that E350cgi would be my first pick, too

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309282...

Looks more than a 10k car, too.