Which Estate Car should i go for??

promethius

Hey Guys
Was hoping to pick your brains on the following.
I’m considering a couple of different estate cars for my next purchase.
I need some extra room and don’t like the style (or price) of an SUV.
I will have approximately eu7,000 cash to spend but would be flexible if the right car was a little more than that.
I’m considering the following at the moment, all in petrol versions and under or at 2 litres

• Audi A4 Estate
• Volvo S40 Estate
• Passat Estate.
• Honda Civic Estate – seems pretty rare though Civic Estate

Some of the things I would be interested in would be

• Reasonable cargo space (seats that fold down well),
• Reliability & Service Costs
• Not too big an engine for tax reasons & fuel economy,
• Goodish looks and of course
• A little bit of fun to drive.

Thanks in advance!!

Moanin

A4 estate is a good lucking car but I would go for the TDI version

promethius

A4 estate is a good lucking car but I would go for the TDI version

I've never owned a deisel so not sure about the pros and cons. As far as i know the benefits would be reduced fuel costs and an engine that lasts longer trading off against increased noise and possibly some odour?

High&Low

The A4 ticks most of those boxes, not great leg room for the passengers is the only thing I didn't like about it.

vengeance52

what about a forrester? or perhaps a mondeo estate

promethius

what about a forrester? or perhaps a mondeo estate

Vengeance thanks for those suggestions. I’ve taken a look at both.
The forrester seems to be quite expensive (looks only a mother could love ), the mondeo just screams at sales rep at me, the passat would too, to a lesser extent I guess.

High & Low – to hell with the passengers in the back being a little cramped J
What’s the A4 like for servicing costs, how much approximately is a timing belt change for example.
TBH It’s the once I fancy most but a little concerned about cost of ownership and also how it runs with a 1.6 or 1.8 petrol, enough power?

AckwelFoley

I've never owned a deisel

Ive owned both.

Ill never buy a petrol car again

promethius

Why Snyper what did you find?

bazz26

Most of the cars you mention above are not known for their boot space, they are more leisure estates than load carriers. Of the ones you mention the Passat would be the most practical.

I would through the Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo, Citroen C5, Peugeot 406 estates into the hat.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=808424

AckwelFoley

promethius wrote: »

Why Snyper what did you find?

In my expierence, they are more reliable, particularly in older cars... plus they have a higher life expectancey.

There could be Mechanics with a differing opinion, but ive gone thru a few cars in my time and this is what i conclude.

Diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline (petrol) engines of the same power, resulting in lower fuel consumption. A common margin is 20% more miles per gallon for an efficient turbodiesel.

Diesel engines produce very little carbon monoxide as they burn the fuel in excess air even at full load

The lack of an electrical ignition system greatly improves the reliability. The high durability of a diesel engine is also due to its overbuilt nature as well as the diesel's combustion cycle, which creates less-violent changes in pressure when compared to a spark-ignition engine, a benefit that is magnified by the lower rotating speeds in diesels. Diesel fuel is a better lubricant than gasoline so is less harmful to the oil film on piston rings and cylinder bores; it is routine for diesel engines to cover 250,000 miles (400 000 km) or more without a rebuild.



Did you consider the Opel Antara? I drove it and liked it alot! Im actually thinking of getting one!



40,000 euro

promethius

Thanks Bazz. I hear what you’re saying about the load space, the leisure estate type size would be enough for what I need it for.
I will check out the mazda but tbh the French cars would make me a little nervous at the kind of mileage versions I’d be able to buy.
Not sure if this is justified however?

promethius

Very nice summary Snyper!
Unfortunately the Antara is out of my range, it's a fine looking set of wheels so good luck if you go with it. Looks a little M Class maybe

AckwelFoley

Yes alot of ppl say it looks abit like a class M..

It drives really smooth, and only a 2.0 l engine

Im buying the commercial version.. only 32K

promethius

Commerical i like it! Hope they give you rear doors still.
Good luck with her if you go that way

Oilrig

Prom,

Would you consider a 318TDS Touring, 1999, around your money?

Not mine, just one I've noticed during my commute, semi private sale. Looks genuine, very clean.

1.7 tax etc. 90 bhp, so not exactly rapid.

Just a thought, PM me if interested & I'll pass on the sellers no.

Cheers

bazz26

A Skoda Octavia Combi:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=719531

As recommended by most boards.ie members.

galwaytt

snyper wrote: »

Did you consider the Opel Antara? I drove it and liked it alot! Im actually thinking of getting one!

is there one going for 7k, somewhere?

btw, surely the original of the Antara - the Chevrolet Aptiva, is cheaper?

Michael G

bazz26 wrote: »

A Skoda Octavia Combi:
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=719531

As recommended by most boards.ie members.

Yes yes yes. I'm on my fifth Skoda and my next will probably be an Octavia Combi 2.0 DSG (I have a great Superb but they no longer do the combination of an automatic gearbox and a high-powered diesel, and I can't wait until a new one comes out in September).

The Octavia is a Golf but cheaper and with better spec, and has huge luggage space.

JHMEG

Nice thing about the Civic Aerodeck is that it's available in 170bhp 1.8 VTI form. The spec is also very high, and they can be had from the UK for half nothing. I considered one for a while. Fun factor it would blow the other 3 into the weeds, and it's still only a 1.8. Would be yards more reliable than the A4 or Passat too.

Different front lip on VTI:

Esel

OP, please consider not using blue font - it's invisible on Cloud skin, which a lot of people use. Stick with the standard white.

kevmac

Biased, I know, 'cause I have one: Subaru Legacy Tourer.

Or second choice: Honda Accord Tourer with stunning 2.2 diesel engine.

promethius

Esel didn't realise i'd used a diff font hopefully this is ok, thanks.
Civic is very nice too, very few on the used car sites however.

bazz26

If you want a Civic estate then you most likely will have to buy one in NI or mainland UK. They were never offically sold in the ROI by Honda so the few that are around are imports.

promethius

Baz i've just been on autotrader for the uk and there are plenty of them over there. nice examples for low money. I'm running a honda now and sticking with honda is a tempting prospect. Need to research the importing thing i know there's a good thread here on that too. Presume there would be no issues (in general) with parts in rep of ireland since it's going to be very similar to the saloon version of the civic?

I remain interested to know what peoples opinions on the a4's reliabilty and cost of ownership are/
Thanks!

bazz26

promethius wrote: »

Baz i've just been on autotrader for the uk and there are plenty of them over there. nice examples for low money. I'm running a honda now and sticking with honda is a tempting prospect. Need to research the importing thing i know there's a good thread here on that too. Presume there would be no issues (in general) with parts in rep of ireland since it's going to be very similar to the saloon version of the civic?

If importing one do it before the VRT/motor tax changes on 1st July. Most petrol cars will be more expensive come July especially the 1.8 VTi version of the Civic.

BTW the Civic estate was actually based on the 5 door Civic hatchback made between 1995 and 2000. That shared alot of technology with it's sister car, the MG Rover 400/45 and was built in Swindon. The Civic 3 door and 4 door of the time were built in Japan. Not sure how common parts are between the different models but I cannot imagine them being too different in order to cut production costs.

JHMEG

As I said, they can be had from the UK for half nothing. Autotrader and ebay are they two best places to look. The VRT is marginally higher on them than any other model Civic, from some bizarre reason.

There would be no problem getting parts, or getting it serviced in a Honda dealer (if you wanted). The model is officially KE region, meaning it's Ireland & UK, only Universal Honda chose not to import it. The garages are all trained on it, have access to tech docs, and UH can get the parts.

Pirates Black is tempting, as it's a lovely colour when clean and under good light. But as a friend of mine in Universal Honda commented: if I bought one in Pirates Black I could do nixers for Patrick Massey (funeral directors);)

EDIT: The Rover in Bazz speaks of was actually a Civic. Everything on it except the front grille was designed by Honda.

bazz26

JHMEG wrote: »

EDIT: Bazz is half right. The Civic Aerodeck was actually built in the US, as was the the Accord Aerodeck.

Never knew that. Always assumed it was built in the UK due to being designed around the Swindon built Civic. Did they ever sell it in the US?

JHMEG

bazz26 wrote: »

Never knew that. Always assumed it was built in the UK due to being designed around the Swindon built Civic. Did they ever sell it in the US?

Sorry Bazz, I editted my post. Bit of a slip there: Civic Aerodeck was Swindon built, Accord Aerodeck was US.

promethius

Interesting stuff lads. Do you think it suffers from being linked with rover?

Alz®

I've done some pre delivery inspections on the Antara and im impressed just dont like the kinda metal end of the steering wheel..

Opel Vectra/Astra estate is a nice buy also

promethius

The opels wouldnt be for me thanks anyways Alz

JHMEG

promethius wrote: »

Interesting stuff lads. Do you think it suffers from being linked with rover?

In this country maybe the image is slightly affected. In the UK it seems to have been seen as a good thing.. the 5-door was by far the biggest seller there.

AckwelFoley

galwaytt wrote: »

is there one going for 7k, somewhere?

btw, surely the original of the Antara - the Chevrolet Aptiva, is cheaper?

No, they are 2 k searer in passanger and dont do a commercial yet + they are not exactly the same, the Antara is more compact. The antara was just released in October.

promethius

In this country maybe the image is slightly affected. In the UK it seems to have been seen as a good thing.. the 5-door was by far the biggest seller there.

So is the rover car a rebranded honda or the other way round?
Thanks!

E92

JHMEG wrote: »

In the UK it seems to have been seen as a good thing.. the 5-door was by far the biggest seller there.

The Brits love hatchbacks, thats why it comprehensively outsold the saloon model! Saloons never sell well over there, unless its an expensive German car.

JHMEG

promethius wrote: »

So is the rover car a rebranded honda or the other way round?
Thanks!

Both cars are designed by Honda. The grille on the Rover was designed by Rover.

promethius

Both cars are designed by Honda. The grille on the Rover was designed by Rover.

Thanks jmheg that's what i was hoping

peasant

If you can overlook the year (and the associated snobbery) you could get yourself a nice bargain here:

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carid=871520

The last generation Audi 80 rates very high in the durability and reliability stakes (in counties where they keep cars a little longer than here ) and this one seems to be in fine condition, going by the pics.

E92

JHMEG wrote: »

Both cars are designed by Honda. The grille on the Rover was designed by Rover.

How come the Saloon version of that Civic(and the 3 door hatch) is completely different looking inside and outside to the 5 door(and Estate) model then?

And doesn't the Rover use their own engines rather than Honda ones?

bazz26

E92 wrote: »

How come the Saloon version of that Civic(and the 3 door hatch) is completely different looking inside and outside to the 5 door(and Estate) model then?

And doesn't the Rover use their own engines rather than Honda ones?

3 and 4 door were built in Japan.

The 1.6 litre engine in the Rover was Honda built afaik. The only Rover engine used in a Honda was a poor 2.0 turbo diesel engine found in the Accord from 1996 to 1998. I think even that had origins other than from Rover.