May need to change car - ideas welcomed!

Bug One said:
I don't get the hole big car = comfortable on the motorway equation. Whilst I'd not want to do it in a supermini - a family sized hatchback feels exactly the same from the driver seat.
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I need a decent sized estate for family duties, carrying bikes etc. Whilst a civic is a nice car, it is simply too small.
 
We just bought a 2009 2.0 Diesel Golf Estate SE with 57k miles on for £6k (they did DSG oil change and cam belt and water pump as part of the purchase price). We had been car searching for a good few months before this came up, so it is possible to get a low(er) miler.
 
I have a feeling a golf estate is still going to be too small. I can get 3x 26" framed mountain bikes in the back of my accord (wheels off, standing upside down) - how does a hatchback derived estate compare?

nft_99 said:
skoda? either octavia or superb
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Looks like between £8k to £10k gets me a 2010 superb with between 50k and 70k miles on it. Whilst the mileage is low enough that's a 7 year old car now! Don't these DSG transmissions have a bad rep too?
 
£10k for a 5 year old superb doesn't feel like a bad deal to me (just had a look there are quite a few) at all - lovely cars.

Octavia 2013 150bhp car for similar money, seems fine too
 
rodenal said:
£10k for a 5 year old superb doesn't feel like a bad deal to me (just had a look there are quite a few) at all - lovely cars.

Octavia 2013 150bhp car for similar money, seems fine too
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Seems cheap when you see that a brand new 150ps DSG superb costs around 26k in plain basic spec

loss of 16k+ in value in 5 years..(guessing around 65% ) :(
 
Thanks guys. Looks like the Skoda Octavia hits my budget area without too much age/mileage risk.

I am however concerned at the risk a 5 year old German diesel with DSG gearbox might give. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of these please?

How are the comfort / luxury levels for motorway cruising?
 
You'll get an approved used car for the money anyway, giving you a 12 month manufacturer warranty then you can extend it if you think the cost Vs risk is worth it.

In terms of comfort and refinement they're fine, but closer to a run of the mill focus/golf than the bigger Skoda, which is...Superb
 
Skoda would be the way to go here. Volvos aren't exactly renowned for their fuel economy.

You will likely struggle to get your 55 mpg average your wanting anyway. Unless you are going for a small eco-diesel, or really drive miss daisy. Mid-High 40's will be more likely. Especially at the sort of power you seem to be wanting.

Skoda Superb will be a decent motorway cruiser. DSG issues, for the most part, were mainly on the older ones. So the ones in your budget "should" be okay, so long as they have been serviced properly. The Skoda should have a better spec, at your budget, than most of the alternatives too. That's the way I'd be going personally.

It's not a "German" motor either ;)
 
I find it amusing that the Octavia fits the bill, but the Golf estate (same car underneath) is too small :P

Not saying you should get a Golf by the way, as your money will go further with a Skoda, but I'd definitely consider getting a Superb over an Octavia if you want luggage load space and 20,000 miles a year of waft.
 
Passat always an option if the Golf too small. They tend to be slightly cheaper than Golfs too, but usually bigger mileage.

With DSG gearboxes, make sure it has had regular (3 year/40,000 mile oil changes). This isn't done on a LOT of cars I've seen. But after the 7 speed dry speed DSG issues apparently VW recommended it for their wet 5 and 6 speed boxes too. Many franchises seem unaware of this, but main VW dealers should offer it. The process requires a special tool to force out the DSG oil, which can become conductive if left too long, which in turn wrecks the mechatronics.
 
I have a 2011 V70 D5 for this exact type of driving.
Circa 22K a year which is mainly motorway albeit not at motorway speeds generally due to traffic (M25).

Its the most comfortable car I have been in, granted my experience here is not ideal but it seemed better than (e46 3 series, new 5/6 series although both were M Sports), other cars were S2K, Astra VXR, MX5 etc which dont really compare.
I never feel tired or ache regardless of journey time.

Mines automatic and I get around 41MPG if I drive it nicely, getting around 550-650 per tank depending on use.
It has decent performance and touch wood, bar the aux belt going which is a common issue, has been faultless. Make sure you have warranty on this age car or get the AUX belt changed. I was lucky but it can split, wrap around the drive belt and kill the engine.

I got it at 30K and its now just below 70K.

The only thing really wrong with it is the MPG, I could be getting better but the Volvo is just a nice place to be and I value that as I spend up to 3 hours a day in it.
 
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