...so I need to buy another estate...

galwaytt

....because someone 'killed' our beloved 9-5 estate, I may have to go car shopping on short notice, depending on what the assessors come with on Monday. I'll not go into the details here - yet - as I'm extremely pi$$ed with the whole situation...

but I digress.

The shopping criteria are quite succinct: diesel, estate, automatic, leather. Engine preferably no more than 2.0, but would consider stretching to 2.2 or maybe 2.5 at the max.

Daily driver inc commuting, so I need a modicum of economy. Reliability is a given.

Staying with the Swedes, the obvious choices are Volvo. So, I have seen a few Volvo V70 2.4 diesels for sale, but the only person I know with one tells me she struggles to get more than low 30's mpg. that's just too low. I'm used to the Saabs 43mpg, so would like to get close(er) to that. Has anyone here got one and could comment ?
Smaller Volvos seem too new and outside budget.

Audi Multitronics are out. Older Tiptronics are perfect, but not the 2.5. A4's too small, so A6's are a possibility. Finding one is difficult it seems.

Mercs: hmmm. 04 on E220 are reasonable value, but seem to have very hit & miss resliability: gearboxes and radiators being but two things I've come across more than once. Rads can be fixed. Gearboxes mean scrapyard time...
C220's - any comments ??

320d is out - way too small. 525d maybe. Not a fan of 520d due to reliability issues.

Octavia's hard to find in other than plain jane spec, and seem to hold value as well. Have seen a couple of high-milers, so wondering what people think of those (200k+ cars).

I quite like the Edge Mondeo's, but again, hard to find. Are these prone to those wet timing belt issues at the ages I'd be looking at ?

Citroen/Peugeots aren't in the running (unfortunately).....SO in command here...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Any users with Jag X-types or Rover 75's ?

The nuclear option is to UK and buy another Saab. Frankly speaking, they are the easiest to find in the spec I want, and reasonable to buy, so cannot be discounted.

George Dalton

What's the budget?

christy02

Accord estate?

Bigcheeze

bmw 520d f11 touring. 2011+ doesn't have the chain issues. Will drive better than anything you have listed above and will do 50mpg+ out of town. Also the 8 speed bmw auto box is excellent.

18MonthsaSlave

UK import only Vectra 1.9 auto which you have sourced and verified yourself.
Rover 75 is a great car but you won't find a clean one at this stage. They've all passed in to the hands of owners who bought them because they were cheap and didn't maintain them.

Leonard Hofstadter

Bigcheeze wrote: »

bmw 520d f11 touring. 2011+ doesn't have the chain issues. Will drive better than anything you have listed above and will do 50mpg+ out of town. Also the 8 speed bmw auto box is excellent.

Despite BMW's claims, there are still reports of timing chain failures on N47 engines built after 2011. Nothing like as bad as the older models, but I don't think it's true to say it's been properly fixed either.

Anyway, judging by the cars the OP has listed, that will be way beyond his budget.

OP, if you liked the Saab, why not go for another?

pred racer

my cousin recently bought an Avensis estate, its not my cup of tea and Im not sure if it comes in the spec you desire but its a fine big bus and he is very happy with the canoe carrying capabilities ( 2 play boats, boot shut, no probs) says its alot more frugal than his non estate Laguna.

George Dalton

pred racer wrote: »

my cousin recently bought an Avensis estate, its not my cup of tea and Im not sure if it comes in the spec you desire but its a fine big bus and he is very happy with the canoe carrying capabilities ( 2 play boats, boot shut, no probs) says its alot more frugal than his non estate Laguna.

When I saw you had replied my first thought was "surely he hasn't gone and recommended a 159"

Then it turns out you recommended an Avensis. :eek:

Not sure which is worse..... :pac:

debabyjesus

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a6-final-edition/7567561

He's looking for big enough money but looks well minded with small enough miles (if its genuine) and full years nct, lots of toys.

Never seen a C5 with that steering wheel must have swapped it out.

Old diesel

galwaytt wrote: »

....because someone 'killed' our beloved 9-5 estate, I may have to go car shopping on short notice, depending on what the assessors come with on Monday. I'll not go into the details here - yet - as I'm extremely pi$$ed with the whole situation...

but I digress.

The shopping criteria are quite succinct: diesel, estate, automatic, leather. Engine preferably no more than 2.0, but would consider stretching to 2.2 or maybe 2.5 at the max.

Daily driver inc commuting, so I need a modicum of economy. Reliability is a given.

Staying with the Swedes, the obvious choices are Volvo. So, I have seen a few Volvo V70 2.4 diesels for sale, but the only person I know with one tells me she struggles to get more than low 30's mpg. that's just too low. I'm used to the Saabs 43mpg, so would like to get close(er) to that. Has anyone here got one and could comment ?
Smaller Volvos seem too new and outside budget.

Audi Multitronics are out. Older Tiptronics are perfect, but not the 2.5. A4's too small, so A6's are a possibility. Finding one is difficult it seems.

Mercs: hmmm. 04 on E220 are reasonable value, but seem to have very hit & miss resliability: gearboxes and radiators being but two things I've come across more than once. Rads can be fixed. Gearboxes mean scrapyard time...
C220's - any comments ??

320d is out - way too small. 525d maybe. Not a fan of 520d due to reliability issues.

Octavia's hard to find in other than plain jane spec, and seem to hold value as well. Have seen a couple of high-milers, so wondering what people think of those (200k+ cars).

I quite like the Edge Mondeo's, but again, hard to find. Are these prone to those wet timing belt issues at the ages I'd be looking at ?

Citroen/Peugeots aren't in the running (unfortunately).....SO in command here...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Any users with Jag X-types or Rover 75's ?

The nuclear option is to UK and buy another Saab. Frankly speaking, they are the easiest to find in the spec I want, and reasonable to buy, so cannot be discounted.

I thought the wet belt issues on the Mondeos were only on 1.8 tdcis - and that thus youd get around that issue by going for a 2.0 tdci instead.

My understanding incidentally - and open to correction on this - is that the Mk 4 Mondeo 2.0 tdci used a PSA sourced/derived engine - and not the Mk 3 engine.

Btw - Euro 3 Volvo V70s were better on fuel then the Euro 4s - ive read that the Euro 4 is up to 10 mpg WORSE on fuel then the Euro 3.

Your friends figures would correspond with her car being a Euro 4 as ive read of early to mid 40s being achieveable on the 2.4 D5 euro 3.

Problem is - the Euro 3s were all pre 05s and MOST are pre facelift - I understand some early facelifted examples were euro 3s.

pred racer

George Dalton wrote: »

When I saw you had replied my first thought was "surely he hasn't gone and recommended a 159"

Then it turns out you recommended an Avensis. :eek:

Not sure which is worse..... :pac:

Even I couldnt reccomend a 159 SW to someone who wants an actual estate
And you will notice I didnt reccomend the Avensis, I said my cousin Likes It!

I'd personally buy a C5 estate, but thats ruled out in the OP

bazz26

Subaru Legacy:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Subaru/Legacy/OUTBACK-2.0/56614037825708220/

aujopimur

I bought a R75 diesel auto estate 5 years ago, I never held onto a car for such a long time, it's worn well, other than routine servicing I've only had to replace a MAF, as has been said above, the're getting on in years now, NI or UK is the only place you're likely to pick one up .

galwaytt

George Dalton wrote: »

What's the budget?

5k ideally. But depends on the car.

galwaytt

debabyjesus wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a6-final-edition/7567561

He's looking for big enough money but looks well minded with small enough miles (if its genuine) and full years nct, lots of toys.

Never seen a C5 with that steering wheel must have swapped it out.

Hmm. Sure that's not a Multitronic at that age ? What's the quick way to tell without going to see it?

Bigus

Wow I thought we were truly out of the recession for galway tt, I thought by the thread title you were buying a ghost estate from NAMA.

galwaytt

Bigus wrote: »

Wow I thought we were truly out of the recession for galway tt, I thought by the thread title you were buying a ghost estate from NAMA.

Ha !

I could build you one though: sure I'm working at Self Build in City West all day today to prove it !!

tossy

galwaytt wrote: »

Hmm. Sure that's not a Multitronic at that age ? What's the quick way to tell without going to see it?

FWD is mulitronic, quattro is tiptronic, there never was a 1.9 TDI quattro A6. The steering wheel sat nav and Xenons (hids? only one working) have all been retrofitted to that A6.

The 2.5 is an ok Engine, a bit old hat at this stage. having said that i had one in my old A4 and i loved it. Great engine for eating up the miles. Cam shaft wear is something to google and look at though.

George Dalton

galwaytt wrote: »

5k ideally. But depends on the car.

I think at that budget my heart would want me to buy an E39 525d but my head would make me realise that there are no good ones left and I would probably end up in an old shape Mondeo with a bit of spec.

bazz26

Audi A6:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Audi/A6/1.9-TDI/71814090664586460/

Honda Accord Tourer:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.2-C/42813939371867090/

Wossack

probably too small? mpg aint great either from the 1.8 I believe

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-v50-se-with-full-leather/7683698