Which estate to get and mileage

JCR1987

Hi all,

Looking to buy an estate car as my ford focus now seems a bit small after having a little baby girl recently. Went up to see the mother in law in Wales last week and it was very cramped getting prams, baby seats, baby clothes, etc,etc in the boot. This has therefore led me to decide to trade my focus (sell or p/ex, not bothered which) for a more accommodating estate.

Whilst I do want something with more internal space, i also want something which looks pretty decent on the outside and performs relatively well.

Budget, with trade of current car will be around 6k so I've been looking at (in order of preference):

Audi A4
Volvo V50
Mazda 6
Toyota Avensis
VW Passat

The main problem I'm encountering is mileage. I'm trying to get one no older than a 55 plate, but anything after that in my price bracket seems to have at least 70k on the clock so have therefore been hammered on motorways by businessmen/women.

I've pretty much accepted that a recent Audi isn't going happen for my price, but I can get a Volvo for that price, albeit with 80ish on the clock. Is this considered a lot these days? I know 'modern' car engines are supposed to be more durable these days so should I let high mileage put me off?

Any advice on reliability of my choices, mileage performance, good deals, etc. welcomed.

Cheers,
JR

LandyAndy

The Mazda and the Toyota will be the most reliable. Volvo, and VW/Audi all have question marks over their quality.

If you go for the Mazda get a petrol as there are problems with the earlier diesels at higher mileages.

I wouldn't consider 70-80k a high mileage on a modern car.

Company cars driven mostly on the motorway are generally not 'hammered'. They are built for this type of work and are generally a better bet than the 15k car that has been driven 2 miles to the shops and back twice a week by an octogenarian who learnt to drive in a horse and cart.

Without measuring them I would have thought that the Audi and Volvo were a 'size' smaller than the other three.

flyingscotno1

JCR1987 wrote: »

Hi all,
Budget, with trade of current car will be around 6k so I've been looking at (in order of preference):

Audi A4
Volvo V50
Mazda 6
Toyota Avensis
VW Passat

Any advice on reliability of my choices, mileage performance, good deals, etc. welcomed.

Cheers,
JR

LandyAndy wrote: »

Without measuring them I would have thought that the Audi and Volvo were a 'size' smaller than the other three.

Would say the Audi and Volvo are styled to be smaller but in same kind of class. If you are looking at VW/Audi you can look at the Skoda Octavia which is probably cheaper and better than the VW and Audi reliability wise if you believe magazines. Kind of falls between the Passat and A4 size wise but the badge is of course the problem for some folk still.

As with these cars I would watch for taxis, if it is a high mile, low age car it may have been a motorway rep mobile or a minicab in driven hard round towns. I'd imagine Mazda, Toyota and Skoda would be more likely for that- Passat and A4 to lesser extent.

Ebe_Scrooge

As Landy said, a car that's been driven almost exclusively on motorways *can* be a good bet. There will be relatively little wear on the gearbox, clutch, brakes, suspension, and the engine will have been operating at normal temperature - compared to the "little-old-lady-who-only-pops-to-the-shops" where the engine never warms up properly and the gears have been worked hard. Add to that the fact that company cars are usually serviced regularly regardless of cost, and kept clean as it looks bad to turn up at a client's site in a scruffy car. You do need to check the history carefully, and the afore-mentioned items are a bit of a generalisation, but a rep-mobile from a kosher company can be a very good bet.

BillScarab

flyingscotno1 wrote: »

Would say the Audi and Volvo are styled to be smaller but in same kind of class. If you are looking at VW/Audi you can look at the Skoda Octavia which is probably cheaper and better than the VW and Audi reliability wise if you believe magazines. Kind of falls between the Passat and A4 size wise but the badge is of course the problem for some folk still.

As with these cars I would watch for taxis, if it is a high mile, low age car it may have been a motorway rep mobile or a minicab in driven hard round towns. I'd imagine Mazda, Toyota and Skoda would be more likely for that- Passat and A4 to lesser extent.

And the Skoa will have the biggest boot out of all of them.

You'll also get a newer or lower mileage one than the othehrs in all likelihood.

I've had mine for 2.5 years and 37000 miles, the only money it's had spent on it is two tires, two services and the windscreen had to be replaced due to a bad chip.

cyclonebri1

Of the ones you quote I have only driven (on a regular basis) the Audi and the passat.

Audi is good, but even with the sportpack thing was dissapointing, I much preferred the passat, in all guisses.

Expecting to be shot down in flames but what the hell, I have now owned a Renault megann sports tourer, (estate) for 3 years.

Fantastic, mega MPG, still reliable and not as boring as the other 2.

I also bet it will be the cheapest in the long run, purchase price , depriciation and running costs considered.

Stand by to be shot down in flames but these are the facts;)

dangers

BillScarab beat me to it - would definitely recommend the Skoda Octavia. We had one when our eldest was a baby - the boot is huge and swallowed a lot of gear!!!

marmitedog

+1 for the Octavia estate. Great build quality and classless image.

The 1.9 TDI with the PD engine is best. Not as refined as the latest common rails but bulletproof mechanicals.

Thousands of taxi drivers can't be wrong!

BillScarab

marmitedog wrote: »

+1 for the Octavia estate. Great build quality and classless image.

The 1.9 TDI with the PD engine is best. Not as refined as the latest common rails but bulletproof mechanicals.

Thousands of taxi drivers can't be wrong!

That's the one I've got. Suprisingly good performance and very economical.

They're excellent value for money and the boot is vast.

goldspanners

you've already got a focus i know and maybe you want a change but, what about this? look at the mileage!

or the more powerful diesel like this?

harveybobbles

I wouldn't bother with the V50. Nice looking car and ok to drive, but god damm awfull when it comes to reliability.

From your list I'd choose the Passat as the rest are not very big compared to your Focus.