Which Estate

bob2oo7

Hi guys

Looking for an estate (kids, dog etc.)

Between 2009-2011 (low tax)

Spending max 12k

Thinking

Volkswagen Passat
Ford Mondeo
Citroen C5
Hyundai i30 (boot looks small?)
Mazda 6

From searching Citroen, Mondeo and Mazda look the business

Other estates - Honda Accord, Audi A4, BMW are too expensive

Any feedback/experience would be great

Many thanks

bazz26

The i30 is from the segment below the rest of those on your list so that is why it is no surprise why it is smaller.

Mondeo and C5 will probably be the best value on your budget.

Renault Laguna is worth looking at too, they are no longer sold so they represent good value second hand, decent size boot on the estate too.


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Renault/Laguna/3-TOURER/60314053325117080/

Mc Love

Mondeo! or if you can stretch the budget a little loook out for a superb, very hard to find though

Jawgap

Having recently gone through getting a new car I looked at all these except the i-30, I did however look at the i-40.

In the end I plumped for a Peugeot 508 estate 2.0L HDi

FWIW, here's what I thought.....

VW Passat - my first choice as I already had one, but difficult to get a decent example that didn't have high mileage. Functional, comfortable, perhaps a bit boring!

Mondeo - I'd go with @McLove - great car, very practical, well styled, lots of 'toys' but again next to impossible to find with less than inter-stellar levels of miles on them. To me they also felt a bit 'sales rep.' Of all the cars I tried this was by far the best of the bunch to drive.

C5 - comfy, lots of toys and a generous boot. I liked the styling on them but it may not be to everyone's taste. Nice to drive, but the 1.6 was underpowered. Offered the best value for money.

i-40 - looked great, strange driving position (felt awkward), lots of toys, ok to drive. I thought he aperture on the boot looked small.

Mazda 6 - great to drive, but the interior was too bland and plastic for my taste.

You might also consider the Insignia.

In the end I took up the offer of a company car and went for a 508, because I found it good balance between comfort, power and practicality.

Good luck.

HeidiHeidi

Are you in a position to look in NI or UK?

A family member of mine was looking for a similar type car a few years ago and got a fantastic Audi A6 in NI. Said the choice - and spec - up there compared to down here was incredible.

We really don't do estates much here, hence the lack of choice.

bob2oo7

Yes, if I buy it will be in NI as I only live a few miles away from the border

I will take my time and buy the right one when it come along.

Mc Love

Considering I got a really good trade in price on my last car, I managed to get a lovely mondeo from Kerry Motor Works, imported Titanium X model with 50k on the clock.

Really nice to drive, very comfortable seats (dual climate), acres of space (even in the rear as my in-laws grandparents said, as they have trouble getting in and out of cars) and mahoosive boot (have it split with a spacer from travall)

Its an 11 and its a 2.0l and its very very economical, I get over 100 miles extra on top of what I fill it up to when I fill the tank!

bazz26

The only problem with buying in NI or UK at the moment is the exchange rate.

curiousb

Have you considered Subaru? The Outback and Legacy estates are really nice, loads of space, 4wd and should be cheaper than your BMW, Audi etc...

I have an '06 Outback and find it a great car.

Edit, just did a search and '09 upwards might be above your budget.

skipper756

Hi Bob2007,
You should look at the Kia Ceed SW. I have one since 2011. Its a great car with loads of space, a 1.6 diesel engine that is very economical and if you buy secondhand you get the remains of the 7 year Kia warranty. I have had no issues whatsoever with our car and have found their customer service first class.

Borzoi

bob2oo7 wrote: »

Hyundai i30 (boot looks small?)
Mazda6

Any feedback/experience would be great
s

I bought one of the last of the old Mazda6 last year and have clocked up 35k km since with a mix of city and country driving. Fully specced 2.2D. Can't really fault it apart from not being a nice as the new Mazda6! But I got a really good deal. Coincidentally the brother bought an i40 estate at the same time. We've compared them and both agree that there's very little between them

bob2oo7

I like the idea of the remainder of a 7 year warranty

Do Hyundai have that?

I only looked at the i30

Is the i40 bigger?

Believe it or not my sister just bought a 2011 Kia Ceed estate yesterday

Called out to me this morning

Lovely car, boot is a bit smaller than I would like tho

colm_mcm

Hyundai have an unlimited mileage 5 year warranty instead of the kia 150,000km/7 year (whichever comes first) warranty.

bazz26

You will struggle to find a decent i40 estate for 12k though.