Reliable, 'sexy' and economical estate car needed

henryporter

So me and the Mrs. are debating the purchase of an estate car as we need a bit more room for ourselves, luggage and mutts. After two years paying for major repairs on a 2005 VW Golf TDi, I'm venturing towards reliability which VW or most of the German makes don't offer. Going by the Which reliability survey it looks like the Honda Accord or a Toyota Avensis, but the Mrs. ain't happy as those cars aren't 'sexy' enough. (TBH the Honda Accord might fit the sexy bill but the more readily available 2.2 litre engine is defeating the purpose of lowering running costs both fuel and road tax wise). 'Sexy' would be Audi or something similar. (IMO expensive to maintain). Other cars that are not deemed to be acceptable are Skoda Octavia, Mazda 6 or Ford Mondeo. (The words "wouldn't be caught dead" were uttered)

So wise people of Boards, what would you suggest, either from experience or superior knowledge. Budget: €17.5K, age: 2010 or later, engine size: 2.0 litre max, Fuel type: not fussy. Preference is to buy either from a RoI or NI dealer as I'd like to be able to revert to them in case it's not as reliable as it should be.

Big Nasty

1.9tdi Audi A4 / A6 Avant Quattro.

colm_mcm

An 09 accord 2.2 is €390 tax


Something like this?
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4309050

crosstownk

Citroen C5 Tourer - the Exclusive with the hydractive suspension if your funds can stretch.

Deise_67

i40 hyundai estate !

Matthewjohn

Volvo V50 r-design?

ManMade

Volvo v50?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V50/-Full-Le/30813511011166990/advert?channel=CARS

ronaneire

2010 Citroen C5 TOURER



Volvo V50



Saab 9-3


Volvo V70



BMW 5 Series 520D


Subaru Impreza 2.0TD RS

Veloce

Alfa 159 Ti Sportwagen 1.9 diesel.

Red Kev

Budget: €17.5K

Get one of these, buy a 1990-92 model with an Auto box,



A really good one is €2500, set of AMG wheels 2nd hand and a full service from a top independent ca. €1500.

€17,500 budget - €4500 = €13,000

€13,000 = ca. $16,800 to blow on the holiday of a lifetime in Vegas.




(or just stick the €13,000 in the bank )

bazz26

Something like this though the price is a bit on the high side:


http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201306212314260&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Alfa%20Romeo%20159%2C%20Estate%2C%20Diesel%20Only%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=95145916&CFTOKEN=46941050&jsessionid=f030b860db290c99a0b77f2d4b1134245775

TGi666

Octavia VRS
Mercedes C-class sport

bbsrs

I'm going with a Honda accord tourer GT EX. 2.2 , 150bhp version for lower tax. Roughly 40mpg. Great user reviews and bullet proof reliability. Only drawback is the boot isn't very big but the car looks good with a very high spec . I'll be importing mine from the UK.

I excluded the Audi Avant 2.0tdi due to some big value problems which lots of people have reported, oil pump shaft for 1 €3000 to repair if you catch it early, they redesigned it in the newer ones but apparently it starting to cause problems again as the miles push on. if it was the the old 1.9tdi engine I'd prob have gone with the Audi.Also talked to a friend in an Audi garage and he said buy a Merc . I won't cause I don't like them ( I'm probably not old enough to like them)

Also discarded the BMW 320d tourer a bit tight on interior space. A 520d would be ok but don't rate BMW reliability over 5 years or 100k miles at which time I would probably still own it.

Not too bothered about not getting an Audi or BMW anyways cause they are very common now. I have to admit though a white Audi Avant Sline does look very well.

Didn't even consider anything French or Italian for resale values and the price of spares.

Looked into Volvo V50 but terrible owner reviews due to reliability and fuel economy .

Celly Smunt

Warning,may lead to boner

NobodyImportant

Good choice bbsrs.

00833827

bbsrs wrote: »

I'm going with a Honda accord tourer GT EX. 2.2 , 150bhp version for lower tax. Roughly 40mpg. Great user reviews and bullet proof reliability. Only drawback is the boot isn't very big but the car looks good with a very high spec . I'll be importing mine from the UK.

I excluded the Audi Avant 2.0tdi due to some big value problems which lots of people have reported, oil pump shaft for 1 €3000 to repair if you catch it early, they redesigned it in the newer ones but apparently it starting to cause problems again as the miles push on. if it was the the old 1.9tdi engine I'd prob have gone with the Audi.Also talked to a friend in an Audi garage and he said buy a Merc . I won't cause I don't like them ( I'm probably not old enough to like them)

Also discarded the BMW 320d tourer a bit tight on interior space. A 520d would be ok but don't rate BMW reliability over 5 years or 100k miles at which time I would probably still own it.

Not too bothered about not getting an Audi or BMW anyways cause they are very common now. I have to admit though a white Audi Avant Sline does look very well.

Didn't even consider anything French or Italian for resale values and the price of spares.

Looked into Volvo V50 but terrible owner reviews due to reliability and fuel economy .

Good choice!

HandsomeDan

bbsrs wrote: »

Didn't even consider anything French or Italian for resale values

You're buying second hand. This would work to your advantage. :rolleyes:

bbsrs

HandsomeDan wrote: »

You're buying second hand. This would work to your advantage. :rolleyes:

Initially until I try to resell it , an 8 year old French or Italian estate is not an easy thing to shift or even give away.