Need large boot, reliable and under £7.5k. Any ideas?

[Vikkibaines]

Hi so basically as heading.

Basics:-
Must carry huge amounts of stuff and 2 kids (bikes, paddleboards, tents etc)
Under £7.5k ideally
We only do around 10,000 miles so think petrol is probably best
Must be reliable!!!!! I can't and don't want to spend a fortune keeping it going.

Thanks all, the auto isn't a deal breaker as such. But a would be nice.

Deal breakers are space, reliability and cost.

I wouldn't even mind a diesel I'm just not sure i do enough to clear the dpf. My current car is a diesel but no dpf.

I do relatively short runs but they often include a section of motorway or fuel carriage way due to our location. And we would do a longer (1.5+ hours) trip every month or so at least I think (hard to actually determine what I do!)

Longer version!

Want to replace my 2008 octavia estate. I love the size of boot and can't really go smaller, we have a large tent, paddleboards, 2 kids etc. We also use a roof box and a small trailer at times so yes, we need space! I know octavias and superbs are pretty much the biggest listed but a different shape etc may work rather than just looking at the storage in litres. Only downside is it's really low, not sure if we've been unlucky or.thats what they are like, but it does not like speed bumps, especially when full!

It's got to be reliable, we don't have the money to spend on it all the time and we've been really lucky with 2 very reliable skodas over the last 10+ years.

I'm tempted to get an auto as I honestly don't enjoy driving but the DSG worry me, especially at my budget. This is not a deal breaker though.

Must have cruise control and ideally parking sensors/cameras etc. Other bits would be a nice touch, I've never had many toys in a car and I'm getting older!

So any ideas please?

It's likely to be another octavia tbh as it just fits the bill, but engine size, transmission etc is confusing me.

Thanks

Edited by Vikkibaines on Wednesday 3rd September 13:51

Edited by Vikkibaines on Wednesday 3rd September 13:54

[Skodillac]

If you want a bit more ground clearance, how about a Honda CR-V?

[OutInTheShed]

If you want a big sensible estate, Mondeo?
For £7500, I'd want a car with 5 years decent life left in it.

I'm sceptical about DSGs and such as cars get older, but then again, buying a manual at this kind of price, you might have to budget for a clutch, which can be pricey on some cars.

[ADJimbo]

If you’ve been happy with Skoda then why not the Superb Estate?

£7,5k will get you into a nice 2015/2016 motorcar.

[Skodillac]

Your major problem here is finding a medium to large estate car at that budget, which implies a certain age of vehicle, in petrol and automatic form. The majority of the bread and butter cars of that age and budget will be diesel and manual, because that's what most cars of this class were sold as brand new in that era.

I went through a very similar project as the OP some years back, and the only car which ticked every box in the original post was the Honda Civic Tourer. These car have colossal boots, far bigger than you'd expect for a car of the size So I bought one and it was indeed 100% reliable, and was an excellent car all round. At that time I was nervous of DSG too, so I was seeking out TC autos.

Trouble is, as I said the field is restricted and they hold their value really well as they're a bit of a unicorn car - there are only 15 on Autotrader and they're all above OP's budget with under 100k on the clock. They might have to up the budget to get one with reasonable miles on it, such as this one:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508215...

Other than that, and to stay on budget, compromises and risks are going to be required to be taken, of one type or another, IMHO.

EDIT: Toyota Avensis is another thought, but again you're going to need the best part of 10k for a petrol automatic estate with reasonable miles and significantly newer than your current car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508045...

Edited by Skodillac on Wednesday 3rd September 12:56

[Skodillac]

ADJimbo said:

If you’ve been happy with Skoda then why not the Superb Estate?

£7,5k will get you into a nice 2015/2016 motorcar.

Not a petrol automatic it won't. The nearest one is £8k on Autotrader, and that's 2013 car. There are only 5 available on Autotrader in total meeting the OP's spec, all those in budget are almost as old as their existing car. And then you have to consider the OP is wary of DSG.

[RAB2000]

We've had great service from a 2012 Mazda CX-5 petrol. Engine and gearbox seem very reliable and very few problems otherwise.

So from that perhaps take a look at the Mazda 6 Estate with the same engine. It's 165bhp but performance is best described as adequate but at least no turbos to worry about and I think chain cam. Our CX-5 ticks just over 30mpg round town and close to 40mpg at sensible motorway speeds.

Your budget will get you 2016-17 cars with sensible mileage. Sport Nav gets you pretty good equipment.

[Ry.Clarke]

Mazda CX5, drop too an older one for better mileage, they’re reliable as anything anyway

[Skodillac]

RAB2000 said:

We've had great service from a 2012 Mazda CX-5 petrol. Engine and gearbox seem very reliable and very few problems otherwise.

So from that perhaps take a look at the Mazda 6 Estate with the same engine. It's 165bhp but performance is best described as adequate but at least no turbos to worry about and I think chain cam. Our CX-5 ticks just over 30mpg round town and close to 40mpg at sensible motorway speeds.

Your budget will get you 2016-17 cars with sensible mileage. Sport Nav gets you pretty good equipment.

Not for a petrol automatic it won't. the cheapest one on Autotrader is £15k, apart from a 2010 car and 2008 car, which aren't an upgrade in age terms from the OP's current vehicle.

[RAB2000]

Hadn't spotted the auto requirement and agreed not many auto Mazda 6s around it seems.

[Vikkibaines]

Thanks all, the auto isn't a deal breaker as such. But a would be nice.

Deal breakers are space, reliability and cost.

I wouldn't even mind a diesel I'm just not sure i do enough to clear the dpf. My current car is a diesel but no dpf.

I do relatively short runs but they often include a section of motorway or fuel carriage way due to our location. And we would do a longer (1.5+ hours) trip every month or so at least I think (hard to actually determine what I do!)

[Skodillac]

Yes that's why I'm saying that the OP is likely going to have to compromise on either the petrol or automatic requirement at this budget, or both, for an Octavia sized (or larger) estate car. Or increase the budget. Even an Octavia at £7.5k is only going to be about 4 years newer than the current car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508065...

There are only 25 Octavia petrol auto estates in budget on Autotrader, and most are on intergalactic mileages.

I guess there's the SEAT Leon estate, but the boot on those is significantly smaller than an Octavia. And the Peugeot 308, but when reliability is a key requirement who would recommend the 1.2 PureTech petrol with a twin clutch automated manual at this budget/age? Not me.

A Passat maybe? Hen's teeth in petrol auto format, but this one might be all right:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507234...

Edited by Skodillac on Wednesday 3rd September 13:59

[magpie215]

If your open to jap imports there are lots of petrol auto MPV options.

I'm currently running a 2009 Honda Stepwagon it has a conventional auto box and the unburstable K20 engine.


8 seats all rear seats fold and stow to make a small van if needed.

[Belle427]

Sloda superb or Ford Smax maybe, the latter may be a bit more spacious with the 2 rear seats removed.

[Davie]

Volvo XC70....

Ran an 08 plate up to 250,000 miles and it was a pretty unbreakable family tool - pretty vast things and yet if you get the 185bhp D5 then surprisingly frugal and reliable too. The Geartronic boxes are much improve dover the earlier rubbish but still need love, as do most auto / DSG systems. That budget would buy a very nice one plus change. Granted it's be sort of 15 years old now but I don't see that as a bad thing. I chucked everything at mine be it good, bad and indifferent and it simply shrugged everything off. I'd happily have another but we outgrew it so now chuck all our wannabe lifestyle nonsense into a VW Transporter... and on which note, the significant increase in space over the Volvo cannot be overlooked. However I'd hasten to add, I couldn't be arsed with roof boxes, bike carriers, trailers... I prefer to open the tailgate and lob it all inside.

[Vikkibaines]

Just been and looked at a few. Actually really like the space of the Smax, which I hadn't really considered before. What's the reliability and maintenance costs like?

[Ry.Clarke]

Vikkibaines said:

Just been and looked at a few. Actually really like the space of the Smax, which I hadn't really considered before. What's the reliability and maintenance costs like?

Typical ford. Decent engines. Cheap as chips for parts.

[ZX10R NIN]

1.5T Insignia is a car well worth (for me the better NVH & fit/finish on par with Skoda's make them the better car imo) a look, they hit your brief:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507254...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508255...

1.5T Mondeo, these are the pick but are a bit harder to find in Titanium spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505272...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508065...

If a diesel can work for you then the 508 in GT spec is a great buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508305...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508185...

Followed by the Insignia:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508185...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508315...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502219...

Now the pick of them all is the E Class but getting the right one for your budget is the harder bit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508075...

[Belle427]

I would take care if you do want an auto as the Powershift in the Fords has not got the best reputation.
The Insignias do look a lot of car for the money.

[Doc_Love]

Davie said:

Volvo XC70....

Ran an 08 plate up to 250,000 miles and it was a pretty unbreakable family tool - pretty vast things and yet if you get the 185bhp D5 then surprisingly frugal and reliable too. The Geartronic boxes are much improve dover the earlier rubbish but still need love, as do most auto / DSG systems. That budget would buy a very nice one plus change. Granted it's be sort of 15 years old now but I don't see that as a bad thing. I chucked everything at mine be it good, bad and indifferent and it simply shrugged everything off. I'd happily have another but we outgrew it so now chuck all our wannabe lifestyle nonsense into a VW Transporter... and on which note, the significant increase in space over the Volvo cannot be overlooked. However I'd hasten to add, I couldn't be arsed with roof boxes, bike carriers, trailers... I prefer to open the tailgate and lob it all inside.

I couldn't agree..... less! I too had a 08 185bhp XC70. I absolutely loved it but it certainly wasn't cheap to run! Averaged 28-30mpg. Reliability - has the potential to kill aux belts which can take out the cambelt. At 7.5k you'd be wanting a 205 or even 215bhp (twin turbo - 185 is single) but high miles.
Fabulous cars but dont meet the OP's needs i dont think.