Estate or SUV for my needs?

dazzday

Would appreciate some help here on where to go next. Looking at an SUV or estate to accommodate both baby and dog for weekend trips.

Roads: Will be dominantly rural country roads – Connemara to Galway city - think plenty of potholes and blind bends!
Mileage: Approx 600 – 700Km per week – so around 30K Km per year
Size: Needs to fit 1 young baby + accessories and a 1 Labrador in the boot space.
Fuel type: I expect Diesel may suit my mileage and would be most economical.
Budget: Up to 15K euro – willing to go to UK if value is there.
Other: Good 1hr+ commute each day so a comfortable ride would be a must. Also looking for some mod cons such as parking cameras if possible.

Few that have caught my eye on an cursory look – Skoda Superb estate, Audi A4/6 avant, BMW 3/5 touring, Nissan Xtrail, Mitsubishi Outlander

Any folks have thoughts or suggestions?

Lantus

Diesel estate without fancy low rim tyres for comfort on bumpy roads. Superb would be a strong contender. A lot of bang for your buck.

Check out Bob favin on the tube.

dazzday

Lantus wrote: »

Diesel estate without fancy low rim tyres for comfort on bumpy roads. Superb would be a strong contender. A lot of bang for your buck.

Check out Bob favin on the tube.

Cheers for the reply. Yep I'm leaning diesel estate... Definitely seems I can get bank for the buck.
Superb may be on the larger size... Thoughts on smaller estates (eg. octavia vrs, Leon st, audi a4, BMW 3 touring) for my needs?

Krombopulos Michael

I was in the same boat, and I realised that If I got an SUV, my dog would struggle to jump in the boot, and if he was wet and muddy from a swim/walk around the local forest walk, i'd have to lift him in.

I currently have an I40 Estate 1.7 diesel and does the job. Rear parking camera and comfy ride.

drunkmonkey

A rocket ship dressed up as an estate, it's for sale a long time not sure how much you'd get it for, worth a test drive seen as it's up your neck of the woods just to rule it out.. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/152-golf-r-estate/20319938

Lantus

dazzday wrote: »

Cheers for the reply. Yep I'm leaning diesel estate... Definitely seems I can get bank for the buck.
Superb may be on the larger size... Thoughts on smaller estates (eg. octavia vrs, Leon st, audi a4, BMW 3 touring) for my needs?

Your mileage would justify a higher spec as your a long time in a car at 700km a week.

Not much size wise between octavia and superb but check them out

drunkmonkey

drunkmonkey wrote: »

A rocket ship dressed up as an estate, it's for sale a long time not sure how much you'd get it for, worth a test drive seen as it's up your neck of the woods just to rule it out.. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/152-golf-r-estate/20319938

It won’t be big enough but that’s beside the point. 700km a week in a golf R will absolutely empty your pockets on petrol totally unfeasible, half that mileage would be too much in an R. You can’t be seriously suggesting it.

drunkmonkey

Sylas Petite Shot-putter wrote: »

It won’t be big enough but that’s beside the point. 700km a week in a golf R will absolutely empty your pockets on petrol totally unfeasible, half that mileage would be too much in an R. You can’t be seriously suggesting it.

It's not unpratical if you don't care about the few mpg less than the diesel. A lot of dog cages will fit in the boot, the awd is pefect for the winter, it'll eat the miles in all weather even the snow .

drunkmonkey

drunkmonkey wrote: »

It's not unpratical if you don't care about the few mpg less than the diesel. A lot of dog cages will fit in the boot, the awd is pefect for the winter, it'll eat the miles in all weather even the snow .

It’s not a “few” mpg less, it’s going to absolutely devour petrol. Won’t even see 30mpg vs 55mpg+ from an equivalent diesel.

I was doing about 700km per week (even a little less) the last 6 months and after no length doing it had put my GTi off the road (which would be more economical than an R) and drive a golf 1.6tdi as I just couldn’t keep petrol in the GTi at that sort of milage. An R is going to be very expansive to run and that car is probably 25k too not the 15k the op suggested.

Not disagreeing that it’s a great car though and the AWD is great but it’s very far from the type of car the op is looking for. Having seen a much bigger estate with a dog box for a big dog in the back recently there was just about enough room for a buggy and little else which is why I suggested a golf estate won’t be big enough.

kirving

Mercedes E300 Hybrid from the UK? VRT will be half of what a similar 5 Series would be.

Loads of space and eats miles. A little big on Galway backroads is the only thing I'd say about mine, but never had any real difficulty. Poor in the snow if you're concerned about that for the odd few days we get.

This one has lots of toys and would be about €16000 in total after VRT is paid.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201810121434672

dazzday

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Mercedes E300 Hybrid from the UK? VRT will be half of what a similar 5 Series would be.

Loads of space and eats miles. A little big on Galway backroads is the only thing I'd say about mine, but never had any real difficulty. Poor in the snow if you're concerned about that for the odd few days we get.

This one has lots of toys and would be about €16000 in total after VRT is paid.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201810121434672

Cheers for the option, didn't occur to me with the hybrid engine it would work out that much cheaper to vrt.

Kevin Irving

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Mercedes E300 Hybrid from the UK? VRT will be half of what a similar 5 Series would be.

Loads of space and eats miles. A little big on Galway backroads is the only thing I'd say about mine, but never had any real difficulty. Poor in the snow if you're concerned about that for the odd few days we get.

This one has lots of toys and would be about €16000 in total after VRT is paid.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201810121434672

Interesting car, something for my own shortlist.