Recommend me a FAST Automatic Diesel Estate that isn't....

lugnut

.... German!

OK, I need to buy an Estate that has plenty of power, is diesel and automatic.... Only problem is I don't like German cars.
Now I know at the end of the day I'm going to have to buy a Merc, BMW or Audi to get what I want but truth be told I'd much prefer a Toyota, Peugeot or Hyundai or whatever (personal preference for reliability, etc.).
I don't care what the car looks like and 3L+ tax & Insurance is no problem (Even though it'll be taxed & insured in ROI). Reliability/maintenance costs is the major issue as I will be running this car well over 60k per year and mostly on the continent. I need something with at least 35mpg and lots of poke and plenty of comfort!
I have a very nice medal waiting here for anyone who can come up with a fast & economical diesel estate (Must be available in automatic) that wasn't built in Germany
Oh yea - Just to make it even more difficult.... Budget is 18k MAX!

lugnut

.... German!

OK, I need to buy an Estate that has plenty of power, is diesel and automatic.... Only problem is I don't like German cars.
Now I know at the end of the day I'm going to have to buy a Merc, BMW or Audi to get what I want but truth be told I'd much prefer a Toyota, Peugeot or Hyundai or whatever (personal preference for reliability, etc.).
I don't care what the car looks like and 3L+ tax & Insurance is no problem (Even though it'll be taxed & insured in ROI). Reliability/maintenance costs is the major issue as I will be running this car well over 60k per year and mostly on the continent. I need something with at least 35mpg and lots of poke and plenty of comfort!
I have a very nice medal waiting here for anyone who can come up with a fast & economical diesel estate (Must be available in automatic) that wasn't built in Germany
Oh yea - Just to make it even more difficult.... Budget is 18k MAX!

Anan1

A South-African assembled BMW 330d auto touring?

overdriver

Avensis Verso. My mate has one, and it ticks all the boxes you supplied.

Simple.

fletch

Volvo V70 D5 185PS???

gyppo

Mondeo tdci auto

fletch

gyppo wrote:

Mondeo tdci auto

Isn't there an ST TDCI over in the UK with 170bhp?

mike65

You're not asking for much! You could try for a Volvo V70 2.5

http://www.volvoestates.co.uk/stock13.htm

but for 18k you'll be lucky.

Mike.

zuutroy

Mondeo 2.0 TD

Renault Laguna 2.2 D

Saab 9-5 2.2 D

and the Volvo seem to be your only options.

Mailman

Chipped late model Rover 75 estate Cdti
easily over 150BHP when chipped. 45mpg and in your price range.
Reliable BMW 320d engine and not made in Germany.
Will cruise at 110MPH on the autobahn all day long.

Henry Ford III

overdriver wrote:

Avensis Verso. My mate has one, and it ticks all the boxes you supplied.

Simple.

Not fast at all. Hardly even quick.

ballooba

Was going to say Subaru Legacy, but it's Petrol.

peasant

Citroen C5 2.2 HDI ...only you won't get that in Ireland

link

mike65

WTF? This thread has lost half its posts!

Mike.

mike65

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055055391 :eek:

Mike.

C.D.

Mike, there are 2 threads with the same name.

ballooba

I was going to suggest that Mike merge the threads. Then I remembered those days are behind him.

Biro

Alfa 156 touring 2.4 jtd. 200bhp!

lugnut

mike65 wrote:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055055391 :eek:

Mike.

Sorry - Must have hit the submit button twice.... Please post in other thread instead of here!

Max_Damage

Biro wrote:

Alfa 156 touring 2.4 jtd. 200bhp!

Do they come in autos?

lugnut

C.D. wrote:

Mike, there are 2 threads with the same name.

Apologies for that - must have hit the submit button twice

Some great suggestions so far, thank you!
I should have stressed that I'm not looking for a new or newish car - being honest it wouldn't bother me if it was 03 or 93.
I like the thought of the Alfa as I have long been a fan of the JTD but I wonder would it put up with the high miles?
Power is important with this car - definitely want at least 200bhp plus lots of torque. I would sooner compromise on the economy before power.
Basically I want a Merc E320 that isn't a Merc

peasant

200+ bhp?
In a diesel ?

Not available ...not as a FAST 200 bhp diesel, anyway

unless you find a 3 litre beemer acceptable (and within your budget)

Might I inquire what exactly your plans and requirements are?

peasant

here's another alternative:


big stonking V8, 260 bhp with a gas conversion
cheaper than diesel and widely available on the continent

not really fast though

enda1

Man if ye want a non german car for reliability, why you even considering the Alfa!!

lugnut

enda1 wrote:

Man if ye want a non german car for reliability, why you even considering the Alfa!!

I'm not considering an Alfa
@ Peasant - I could see myself in something like that American Jeep, very nice! What is it?

PauloMN

No German cars, but you'd take a Peugeot for reliability?

peasant

lugnut wrote:

@ Peasant - I could see myself in something like that American Jeep, very nice! What is it?

'ere you go, Sorr !

unkel

ballooba wrote:

I was going to suggest that Mike merge the threads

Duly merged the two threads

TJJP

JAGUAR X-TYPE 2.2 DSE - but you'll hardly get one for the money. An '04 from UK or NI with a good spec is 12k sterling and allow 7k euro for VRT.... And of course its not german or is it.... You might get lucky, but to be honest you should probably bite the bulllet and buy an e39 5 estate. New BMW 5 means the old 5 is very good value at the moment.

ninty9er

Toyota recently bought a chunk of these boys, so there's a vote of confidence

Trooper Bighorn Executive 3.1 Diesel Auto

ninty9er

Pajero

or one of these, the uncle has a 07 and they're NOT SLOW by any stretch of the imagination, eats the miles, or kms as they are these days

Landcruiser 100 (Amazon in the UK)

Now I really must go if I'm to get to my 9am lecture:D

michaelanthony

There are no fast automatic diesel estate that is not german

galwaytt

michaelanthony wrote:

There are no fast automatic diesel estate that is not german

...unfortunately....

unkel

How fast does it need to be? The fastest non-German diesel auto saloon I can think of within budget is an Alfa 166 2.4JTD auto. Stock 175BHP and easily chipped to a lot more (200+). 0-100km/h in 8.9s

I could be wrong but none of the other diesels mentioned in this thread even break 10s in the 0-100km/h sprint iirc

Personally I'd go with a BMW530d or import a BMW330d from the UK although the latter is probably out of budget with VRT and all

Edit: oops you're looking for an estate! Does the Alfa 156 sportswagon with the same engine come with selespeed?

bazz26

I'd say your best bet is to go to the UK and find a Ford Mondeo estate either with the 2.0 TDCi 130bhp engine or the ST220. Might be hard to find a nice clean ST220 2.2 TDCi though for €18k including VRT.

Edit: Actually I think the Mondeo is built in Germany these days too.

Import a Lancer Evo Estate for the win.

Ninja Edit: Ooops I see It meets none of your requirements but hey its probably the most powerful and fun estate to be had.

Mc-BigE

I'm sorry, but this thread is silly, only german cars have the big diesel engines and BMW/AUDI build the best out there, in your budget, the E39 530d touring , or the Audi A4/A6 Avant 2.6 TDI or if your lucky 3.0 TDI but probably not for 18K.

Not much out there can beat them in Diesel form.

HashSlinging

SEAT ALTEA FR (170Bhp) With the DSG option, you could import an 05 from the UK.

German engineering without the badge, I have one in the 140 bhp tuned engine and that's fairly fast, so I'd say the 170bhp version would be a rocket.

Not an estate but a very competent half way house.

Here’s my Sport version :cool:

AlanD

Mc-BigE wrote:

I'm sorry, but this thread is silly, only german cars have the big diesel engines and BMW/AUDI build the best out there, in your budget, the E39 530d touring , or the Audi A4/A6 Avant 2.6 TDI or if your lucky 3.0 TDI but probably not for 18K.

Not much out there can beat them in Diesel form.

I agree and I think your best option would be to locate an Audi A6 2.5 TDI Quattro. This has 180bhp and is an animal on the road. Lovely V6 diesel. Beware the 2.5 non-quattro is only 150bhp. Quattro is what you want. UK have lots of them.

unkel

Mc-BigE wrote:

I'm sorry, but this thread is silly, only german cars have the big diesel engines

And not much word back from the OP. Anyone mind if I close this now?

Stephen

Honda Accord Aerodeck 2.2 iCTDI? Unfortunately not available as an autobox though.

prospect

Mc-BigE wrote:

I'm sorry, but this thread is silly, only german cars have the big diesel engines and BMW/AUDI build the best out there, in your budget, the E39 530d touring , or the Audi A4/A6 Avant 2.6 TDI or if your lucky 3.0 TDI but probably not for 18K.

Not much out there can beat them in Diesel form.

Fiat and PSA both make superior diesel engines too BMW & VAG.

Biro

prospect wrote:

Fiat and PSA both make superior diesel engines too BMW & VAG.

Which is why I suggested the only non-german 200bhp diesel estate, therefore meeting the criteria, but for some reason that wasn't good enough!!

prospect

Biro wrote:

Which is why I suggested the only non-german 200bhp diesel estate, therefore meeting the criteria, but for some reason that wasn't good enough!!

Ahh you get used to the mis-informed 'bandwagonism' that plagues this forum.



Wait till the Fiat 3.0V6 diesel is released.... when seemingly Saab will take the current Fiat 2.4Jtd on the 9-3.

GB15

Why does it have to be diesel? Is it some kind of company car/tax reason? Just wondering as otherwise some of the comments don't really make sense e.g.
-3Litre being no problem
-it needs at least 35mpg -> not that amazing even for a petrol when the majority of travel will be on motorway. Then you say you would sacrifice economy before power so surely its not that essential for it to be diesel if you're willing to go below 35mpg.

You mentioned maintenance costs being a major issue but don't diesels have to be serviced more regularly than petrol.

Also can't understand anything French or Italien being considered if reliability is a big concern.

lugnut

I haven't replied before now as been on a few days break in a remote cottage in Galway and herself made me promise no phone or internet or else!!! (There's a lot to be said for it, great few days ).

GB15 wrote:

Why does it have to be diesel? Is it some kind of company car/tax reason? Just wondering as otherwise some of the comments don't really make sense e.g.
-3Litre being no problem
-it needs at least 35mpg -> not that amazing even for a petrol when the majority of travel will be on motorway. Then you say you would sacrifice economy before power so surely its not that essential for it to be diesel if you're willing to go below 35mpg.

You mentioned maintenance costs being a major issue but don't diesels have to be serviced more regularly than petrol.

Also can't understand anything French or Italien being considered if reliability is a big concern.

Thank you everyone for the replies so far (I'm amazed at the amount of them and the quality of the suggestions) - unfortunately no one has managed to come up with a "fast automatic diesel estate that isn't German" but this is as I expected

To answer a few questions....

The company I work for gives 2 options - A crappy bog standard estate repmobile fully paid for or a *very* generous car allowance so you can run your own car (They only pay for fuel) with the only stipulation being that the car is diesel (They claim back the VAT I presume) and 'officially' does a minimum of 35mpg (I can't go below this, sorry if I gave the wrong impression).

The 'allowance' we get is based to an extent on engine cc, up to & including 3L, so almost negates the extra tax & ins (Not an irish Company obviously )

Maintenance costs ARE a major issue as they come straight out of my pocket - I would only consider an italian marque if it had a PSA engine and even then with trepidation (Ran a Fiat from 28k to 115k and it was quiet good, never a bother from the engine but electrics cost me a fair few bob thinking back on it)..... The current car I run is a '98 Pug 406 auto diesel estate bought at 35k and currently at 257k and it has never left me down, has never had a major repair and doesn't feel like it ever will need one (Hence my affinity to Peugeot now - overall this car has been unbelievably inexpensive to run).

AlanD - I test drove an A6 Allroad yesterday in the UK, 180bhp 4wd, what an amazing car.... Has me reconsidering my non-German stipulation being honest!

lugnut

Biro wrote:

Which is why I suggested the only non-german 200bhp diesel estate, therefore meeting the criteria, but for some reason that wasn't good enough!!

From Alfaromero.ie - 5 Dr 2.4 JTD Sportivo QTronic 49,000 .... 49k is a tad outside the criteria considering the budget is 18k ;-)
Even the cheapest 2nd hand one is still going to be WAY too expensive!

Cyrus

he said 156 not 159, get them for peanuts, nice car too

cantdecide

volvo.

comes with free pirate memory game

BostonB

I think a high mileage Alfa Diesel would depreciate like the titanic. At least you get something back on a German Diesel Estate.

lugnut

Cyrus wrote:

he said 156 not 159, get them for peanuts, nice car too

No doubt a nice car but I think better suited to use by an enthuisiast as opposed to being used as an unloved workhorse.
If I was doing a lot less miles the Alfa would be a serious contender!