Interesting practical estate/hatch for under £5k?

[Mully1906]

Evening all,

I’m going to be in the market for a new (to me) car soon.

I’ve currently got an E91 325d Touring, which is very lovely and obviously pokey enough. However, it’s not what I’d call “interesting”. Therefore I am looking to replace it with something that is. I’d like to go back to a petrol, not fussed on auto or manual, and it needs to be big enough or practical enough to stick my mountain bike in the back (not a fan of roof racks or tow hitches).

Current shortlist is a Mondeo ST220 or an MG ZTT.

Are there any other options that people would suggest I look into? Budget will be around £5k.

[SAS Tom]

I don’t think either of your options would be any more interesting than what you have.

[plfrench]

How about a 4.2V8 S4 Avant like one of these but with lower mileage to spend more of your budget

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024091841...

[aka_kerrly]

S4 Avant is an interesting shout, one I have also considered at a similar price, if you are really brave there may even be a handful of V10 Audi S6s about!!

Of the more weird and wonderful estates that can be had the Subaru Legacy 3.0R or Jap import 2.0Turbo versions are unusual, as is the Volvo V70 t6

[Scootersp]

Caldina or Stagea? quite a few on facebook at present (if you are old enough to stomach the Jap import insurance cost)

[66HFM]

Not too sure if interesting enough but the default option of an Octavia VRS either hatch or estate...

[aka_kerrly]

Scootersp said:

Caldina or Stagea? quite a few on facebook at present (if you are old enough to stomach the Jap import insurance cost)

If more of these were available in manual they'd be far more popular. In case anyone was unaware of what these things are,

The Caldina , essentially a Toyota Celica GT4 ST205 with a Corrola-esque estate body
The Stagea, essentially a R33/R34 Skyline GTS-T estate with an ugly front end , also available as a all wheel drive variant !!

[Wheel Turned Out]

What is your definition of "interesting"?

[carinaman]

aka_kerrly said:

If more of these were available in manual they'd be far more popular. In case anyone was unaware of what these things are,

The Caldina , essentially a Toyota Celica GT4 ST205 with a Corrola-esque estate body
The Stagea, essentially a R33/R34 Skyline GTS-T estate with an ugly front end , also available as a all wheel drive variant !!

The early Caldinas were Carina E estate bodied with some weird push bar front end in front of the front bumper.

The later ones are more Mini-MPV like in looks what Toyota call 'Verso' shaped. They do an N one or Group N that comes with sportier seats, and part of me wants to say diff. but I am not sure.

[Mully1906]

Wheel Turned Out said:

What is your definition of "interesting"?

Something a bit unusual, not common etc. something with some character.

[Mr Tidy]

I'd be looking for an E91 330i!

Probably a more interesting drive than a Mondeo or MG.

[Mully1906]

Wheel Turned Out said:

What is your definition of "interesting"?

Something a bit unusual, not common etc. something with some character.

[aka_kerrly]

Mr Tidy said:

I'd be looking for an E91 330i!

Probably a more interesting drive than a Mondeo or MG.

Really, did you read what car the OP currently has!!?? It's a E91 which he says he finds dull!

If the OP is going to consider another E91 it would have to be 335I/335D make it 400+ hp , which is probably what he should have done in the first place

Another alternative is a Alfa 159 estate with the 3.2 V6!!!

[ZX10R NIN]

S6 Avant:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405159...

2,5T Mondeo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406200...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407312...

S4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407151...

Subaru Tribeca:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405069...

[Mr Tidy]

aka_kerrly said:

Mr Tidy said:

I'd be looking for an E91 330i!

Probably a more interesting drive than a Mondeo or MG.

Really, did you read what car the OP currently has!!?? It's a E91 which he says he finds dull!

If the OP is going to consider another E91 it would have to be 335I/335D make it 400+ hp , which is probably what he should have done in the first place

Another alternative is a Alfa 159 estate with the 3.2 V6!!!

I did read what he said, but maybe didn't phrase my reply right.

If he finds his E91 dull he'd probably find the Ford and MG options more dull!

I can't see an Alfa 159 V6 being more exciting than a 330i either, given that it only has 2PS more than a 330i.