Estate for £18k max

Sirrel Squirrel · 7 Feb 2013 at 21:26

With baby no.2 on the way I'm looking at chopping in my Suzuki Swift for a bigger car.

So far I've been looking up 5 Series Tourer's, Volvo V70's, Audi A6's and also had a look at a couple of X-Trails as I've always quite liked them.

I think the 5 Series is possibly no.1 on my list although for my budget I'd need to get a 2009 or so registered one with around 60k miles on the clock. For the same money I could get a newer V70 with less mileage or an even newer X-Trail.

One thing I've noticed with the 5 Series is that there are Business models, how do they differ from the non-business models?

Any other cars that I should look at?

edit/ Whatever car I do go for would also have to be well spec'd including leather upholstery.

teenwolf · 7 Feb 2013 at 21:29

good shout on the 5 seriers tourer, my neighbour has one and it looks fantastic.

Tinders · 7 Feb 2013 at 21:34

For ultimate space and levels of kit, take a look at the skoda superb. It really is superb!

[TW]Fox · 7 Feb 2013 at 21:40

I would not spend £17k on a 5 Series right now. It's far too much money to be spending on the E60 - a car thats now 10 years old - and it isn't quite enough to get you into an F11, the current shape model.

The same thing applies to the Audi A6, too.

If you want to spend all of the £17k I'd be leaning towards the newer Volvo.

paradigm · 7 Feb 2013 at 21:55

Tinders said:
For ultimate space and levels of kit, take a look at the skoda superb. It really is superb!

There are many times that I have recommended a Skoda Superb. Having £18k to spend is not one of those times.

I'd spend 13-15k and get a previous generation A6. You'll get a nice one too.

Scottland · 7 Feb 2013 at 21:58

In the interest of throwing another option at you, how about a Subaru Legacy or Outback?

teenwolf · 7 Feb 2013 at 22:01

my brother has a Audi A6 2.0 TDI 2009 i think he paid around 19k for it about 18 months ago.

its an auto, first time i have drove a car with 7 gears.

Sirrel Squirrel · 7 Feb 2013 at 22:22

I do like the Skoda's but there is no way I would be able to convince my other half, no matter what I say!

The 3 Series and A4 are options too.

Obviously change from £18k would be nice so going for previous generation models that are well spec'd doesn't both me too much if they're nice examples.

Draeger · 7 Feb 2013 at 22:28

My pick would be a V70. Or even an XC70, depends on your tastes. I love them both, highly competent cars and surprisingly good value. The space in the rear of either is epic.

Macro · 7 Feb 2013 at 22:37

Draeger said:
My pick would be a V70. Or even an XC70, depends on your tastes. I love them both, highly competent cars and surprisingly good value. The space in the rear of either is epic.

Agreed, I've had both. Good quality interiors, massive amounts of space, practical, reasonably responsive if you get the 2.4 diesel D5 and if you can get past it being "a Volvo estate" reasonable attractive for a large estate.

RedMogg · 7 Feb 2013 at 22:40

+1 for the Ovlov - brilliant cars, The D5 is a great engine, the T5 even more so!

Skidder · 8 Feb 2013 at 12:48

No way in hell would I buy an e61 for £17k. I had an E61 and liked it but a bit long in the tooth now for that.

mjt · 8 Feb 2013 at 16:23

V70 probably. Unless the E Class appeals to you?

I'd seriously consider the Superb though as it will save you thousands in purchase and it is a cavernous and very good car.
Tell your other half to stfu!

Helios1234 · 8 Feb 2013 at 16:45

Something like this maybe? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301245041075

Perhaps not quite as luxurious as the others but plenty of kit.

pepsilol · 8 Feb 2013 at 17:11

Why not just spend less?

Dandle · 8 Feb 2013 at 18:29

I had a look about last year when thinking of changing my E61 and the conclusion for me was that the only car in that price range that was what I wanted was the E61. Looked at the Volvo V70 but they seem so poorly specced when compared to the BMW they weren't a credible alternative. Lots of things standard on the BMW were extras on the Volvo, even the switch to isolate the rear electric windows is an £80 option, thats the one that sticks in my mind but there were an awful lot of things like that.

malfunkshun · 8 Feb 2013 at 18:31

Curve balls
Seat Exeo 2.0TDI CR SE-tech 2012 (62 plate) 7500 miles £15k

Ford Mondeo 1.6 Ecoboost Start/Stop Titanium 2012 (12 plate) 2700 miles £17k
62 plate TDCI (163) version of above with style pack and a little over 1000 miles for the same money.

I could go on and on for that sort of money.

FreeStream · 8 Feb 2013 at 19:05

If you consider going to auction, a number of year old (i.e. two years of warranty left) D5 V70s SE Lux (top end) were going for ~£17k give or take back in May last year when I was there. Certainly going to be my next port of call when I move on from my V50 D5.

Family bought a year old 22k every box ticked V70 D5 with free tuning for £21k, so you should be able to get something very nice (probably double the milage or 2 years old) for ~£17k.

The D5 is a VERY good engine.

Relentless81 · 8 Feb 2013 at 19:43

I'd spend less and get myself into a 2.4 Accord EX GT

Abyss · 8 Feb 2013 at 20:44

Relentless81 said:
I'd spend less and get myself into a 2.4 Accord EX GT

I have the new Accord estate now. Great cars but nowhere near the boot space of some of the bigger estates, it doesn't even fit a set of golf clubs sideways so I wouldn't want to have to put a buggy in the boot.