Estate Cars. Thinking Of Getting One

[Studley Ramrod]

I'm thinking of getting an estate car. Looking at something around the 2010-2014 vintage.  Has anyone got experience of owning, or working on, any of the following

 

All diesel models.....

 

Ford  Mondeo Estate.... highly praised by Parkers Reviews.

 

Vauxhall Insignia Sport Tourer/Estate.... BIG !

 

VW Passat Estate Blue Motion

 

Citroen C5 Touring Estate

 

Peugeot 508 Estate

 

Looking for comfort, economy and reliability, not too fussed about performance.

[dapleb]

It's all 10years too new for me to have a clue SR.



Oi do loike the look of they 508 estates.



Estates...so very handy and amasing what ya can cram in em.

[Studley Ramrod]

Yeah, I was surprised at the look of them too.

 

My older bro has summat you would prolly loike Daps, a 1991 Volvo 740 estate, had it a good few years now and wouldn't part with it for any other car. He's just treated her to some period correct alloy wheels.

[dapleb]

Buy him an insignia SR and get ahold of that Volvo. ƪ(‾.‾)┐



Hmmm just reading yet requirements...comfort hmmm. Economical...hmmm.

This post was last modified: 05-08-2022, 08:13 PM by dapleb.

[Pedro]

Mrs. Pedro has a Ford Focus estate and cant fault it as long as you're not after something that will carry a wardrobe. On the plus side, it handles nearly as good as a normal Focus and the 1.6 tdi is frugal and plenty enough for normal buzzing about. If you want carrying capacity, then you cant beat the Volvo 740's, and if you get the T5, no one can catch you to take the micky.  I have personal experience with C5's, when everthing works, they good, BUT French gadgets and electrics are almost Italian.

[Studley Ramrod]

They're going up in value, but he wouldn't entertain the idea unfortunately.

 

Yeah, I expect most would be comfortable tbh and economy from the 2.0 litre diesels varies from 50mpg upwards. I also looked at Audi and BMW but wasn't that impressed with them tbh. :unsure2: Some of the estates also have really low emissions and are only £30 to tax.

Mrs. Pedro has a Ford Focus estate and cant fault it as long as you're not after something that will carry a wardrobe. On the plus side, it handles nearly as good as a normal Focus and the 1.6 tdi is frugal and plenty enough for normal buzzing about. If you want carrying capacity, then you cant beat the Volvo 740's, and if you get the T5, no one can catch you to take the micky.  I have personal experience with C5's, when everthing works, they good, BUT French gadgets and electrics are almost Italian.

Cheers Pedro, I am a bit concerned about reliability in general esp with all these new farkles they have, adjustable suspension, stop/start, driver awareness etc. Last thing I'd want after spending a few grand is a bill for another grand. Focus is a bit small for me, I've got a focus car at the mo but it'll fail it's mot next week and not really economical spending money on it. Hmmm, T5 is a beaut, no doubt, but prolly to uneconomical for me.

[dablik]

Some years ago many a C5 suffers suspension issues, it's all airbag stuff me thinks, another for the Focus although you had one before didnt ya.. what about Mercedes, normally reliable..

[Studley Ramrod]

Cheers Cliff. Yeah, Merc C200 Estate was in my sights, nice spec but not that economical iirc and road tax was high. Engines go forever though.

[chrisr]

AliG bought a Merc C class thinking it would last forever, it didn’t, he’s now got a Vauxhall Zafira! I always advised my kids to stay away from anything French, bound to break down, my youngest really,really wanted a Peugeot- it broke down. From your list I would go for the Insignia (always underrated, a bit like the Tdm, or the Mondeo, ( can’t beat a Ford) Just my opinion.

[dablik]

Nowt wrong with Peugot's, our little 108's been all over this country with nary a problem...........................................YET, but the same can be said of any manufacturer.

[JohnnyW]

It's not on your list but I picked up a 2014 2.0 ltr diesel skoda superb estate last year. Bought it from my neighbour who was meticulous in servicing it. It's got 114,000 miles on the clock but runs beautifully. Pretty economical and has tons of room. Pre Blue model, might be worth a look.

[alanfavell]

As you're looking for an old man's car........

 

+1 for the Skoda (VW platform :good: )

 

don't rule out ........

 

Audi

 

A4 & A6 Avants - but you'd get a better trim level in the VW Passat - look for one with xenon headlights (dont think you'd get LED in any VAG car).

 

 

Considered the Chrysler 300?

[Catteeclan]

Anything French can go f**k it's self and prob will.

Thumbs up for the Mondeo and anything VW Skoda.

Consider a Cmax although that and the Mondeo have French engines, can't get away from them.

Mandis Cmax just sprung a gearbox bearing on us but it's now turned 105,000, 12 years old so I thinks thats pretty good as she nails it everywhere.

[leehenty]

All I know is avoid the VW PD engines the cams wear out due to high pressures

[Studley Ramrod]

AliG bought a Merc C class thinking it would last forever, it didn’t, he’s now got a Vauxhall Zafira! I always advised my kids to stay away from anything French, bound to break down, my youngest really,really wanted a Peugeot- it broke down. From your list I would go for the Insignia (always underrated, a bit like the Tdm, or the Mondeo, ( can’t beat a Ford) Just my opinion.

 

Cheers Chris, I've been in my mate's Insignia, not an estate, and it was really smooth and quiet, had 130,000 on the clock but he'd just had the water pump replaced and a few other things done. Guessing any high mileage car will be needing new parts though.

 

Nowt wrong with Peugot's, our little 108's been all over this country with nary a problem...........................................YET, but the same can be said of any manufacturer.

 

True, very true Cliff.

 

It's not on your list but I picked up a 2014 2.0 ltr diesel skoda superb estate last year. Bought it from my neighbour who was meticulous in servicing it. It's got 114,000 miles on the clock but runs beautifully. Pretty economical and has tons of room. Pre Blue model, might be worth a look.

 

I did look at a few on ebaygum and my neighbour got a 2014 All Black Edition, looks good but maybe a tad too small ? Hmmm

 

As you're looking for an old man's car........

 

+1 for the Skoda (VW platform :good: )

 

don't rule out ........

 

Audi

 

A4 & A6 Avants - but you'd get a better trim level in the VW Passat - look for one with xenon headlights (dont think you'd get LED in any VAG car).

 

 

Considered the Chrysler 300?

 

Cheers Al. I haven't ruled them out. What's a Chrysler 300 deffo not one I'd consider.

 

Anything French can go f**k it's self and prob will.

Thumbs up for the Mondeo and anything VW Skoda.

Consider a Cmax although that and the Mondeo have French engines, can't get away from them.

Mandis Cmax just sprung a gearbox bearing on us but it's now turned 105,000, 12 years old so I thinks thats pretty good as she nails it everywhere.

 

Cheers Dave, I didn't know they had French engines. Cmax prolly not cool enough for me lol.

 

My car mot and insurance run out on Tuesday, I should have got looking a lot sooner tbh.   Can't get it mot'd til Wed so would have to insure it again and I'm less than confident it'll pass.

 

All I know is avoid the VW PD engines the cams wear out due to high pressures

Cheers Lee, I'll go see which VW cars use the PD engine. :good:

[Snowbird]

We have a 2013 fabia estate with 1.6 common rail (the one that lies) and it will happily get over the ton with two people one dog and 200 litres of diesel in the back and still give around 50mpg, it's had a stored in intercooler since 30k due to a brick bouncing off a skip lorry and never missed a beat, now at 106k.

Thems good motors.

[agrantg]

AliG bought a Merc C class thinking it would last forever, it didn’t, he’s now got a Vauxhall Zafira! I always advised my kids to stay away from anything French, bound to break down, my youngest really,really wanted a Peugeot- it broke down. From your list I would go for the Insignia (always underrated, a bit like the Tdm, or the Mondeo, ( can’t beat a Ford) Just my opinion.

Yes. I bought a 2015 diesel Merc thinking it would last into retirement. The problem is not the engine, but all the electrickery gadgets. I soon realised that I wouldn't be able to foot the bills when I retire and you need a computer to just diagnose the faults. I have an OBD reader but it couldn't identify some of the issues. I got rid and bought a Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 petrol. Can't fault it. There are more economical engines, but that one is pretty bulletproof. I don't do a huge mileage anyway. I agree with the C5 comments. Great to drive, but it is all the silly things tha go wrong.

As you're looking for an old man's car........

 

+1 for the Skoda (VW platform :good: )

 

don't rule out ........

 

Audi

 

A4 & A6 Avants - but you'd get a better trim level in the VW Passat - look for one with xenon headlights (dont think you'd get LED in any VAG car).

 

 

Considered the Chrysler 300?

Always liked the Chrysler 300. Front looks like a Bentley and they are huge. No experience of repairing or getting spare parts though.

[Catteeclan]

All I know is avoid the VW PD engines the cams wear out due to high pressures

Never heard of that. :unsure2:  Suspect crap oil or servicing.

[Catteeclan]

We have a 2013 fabia estate with 1.6 common rail (the one that lies) and it will happily get over the ton with two people one dog and 200 litres of diesel in the back and still give around 50mpg, it's had a stored in intercooler since 30k due to a brick bouncing off a skip lorry and never missed a beat, now at 106k.

Thems good motors.

Don't have the software update if offered at any time, loses a lump of midrange and eats injectors.

[Snowbird]

Have no intention of having any fixes done, only heard bad things about it, I think the 2 litres were a software fix but 1.6's were hardware as well.