Recommendations for BIG but economical estate pls.

carled

eamon wrote: »

Your anticipated annual mileage is relatively modest (<10K). Go for a Mondeo, there are loads available. If on the odd occasion that you do find space at a premium then consider having a tow bar fitted and hire a trailer. Don't worry about the high mileage, check condition & service history.

Yeah my wife tried this line of logic today too. She has a Honda Jazz and it's got surprising amounts of legroom in the back for such a small car (to do with where the fuel tank is, as far as I understand it). Anyhow, she said there will be cars with big legroom like that, even though they're not the monster A6/Mondeo/V70/Insignia estates and that if we got a trailer we could use that for the holidays. She may have a point...

I'm interested in the petrol/diesel argument. Most cars in the class I'm looking at seem to be about 20mpg better in the diesel variant than the petrol. At 10,000 miles per year that means that with a petrol car I'd be using 472 litres more over the year, which is, at £1.30 per litre, £605 more expensive in fuel by my reckoning? (figures based on 55mpg diesel and 35mpg petrol). So if I reckoned to keep the car for, say, 2 years then I'd have to make sure that the diesel wasn't more than £1210 more expensive than the equivalent petrol version - is that about right?

Some reports I've seen say the peugeot 307SW is pretty big inside. Maybe I ought to go and clamber around inside some of these models to try them out...

Kilty_2

carled wrote: »

So if I reckoned to keep the car for, say, 2 years then I'd have to make sure that the diesel wasn't more than £1210 more expensive than the equivalent petrol version - is that about right?

Some reports I've seen say the peugeot 307SW is pretty big inside. Maybe I ought to go and clamber around inside some of these models to try them out...

Also need to factor in that when a diesel breaks it BREAKS - dual mass flywheels as an example can cost a lot of money to replace.

TVR2

Old, trusty E Class turbo diesel - about as big as they get...

BYALPHAINDIA

Volvo everytime, I have a V70 She can be heavy in consumption but I get her though the gears up into 5th asap, I find that I save a few miles or so.

So far in my book Volvo's are made for anything and are guaranteed to deliver a 100% reliability record.

weavedribbon

I don't know quite how suitable this would be with back legroom/space but might be worth a look, how about a Skoda Octavia estate? In my family we have a 2002 1.9tdi and it's really economical with regards to fuel and even road tax. My 6'2" relative drives around in it very comfortable and it's definitely roomier then a lot of cars in the back seat. The boot is pretty sizeable too. Second hand ones seem very reasonable pricewise so it might be worth considering.

BYALPHAINDIA

Volvo Garage near me a used Volvo Est starts at 850.00 onwards, And they are 9/10 times immaculately maintained and not usually more than 2 owners from birth!!

carled

I've always had the impression that Volvos are expensive to run & maintain? Is that not the case? I think I need to go and sit in the front & rear of some of these suggestions and report back! Must go and look up my nearest car supermarket...

bikerfrenzy

volvo v70's are small in the back and you would be lucky to find one under 100k miles for £5k

BYALPHAINDIA

Bought mine for 1,050 R Reg had 128,000 on clock 18 months ago.

No not generally exp to maintain, Just like most cars But parts are not the cheapest on the block.

But as I have said, 99% of the time the previous owner if it is used has 'Lovingly' maintained it.

Solid as a rock in a storm!!

Hintza

OP howold are your girls? If over 6' are they not getting to the age when they won't realy be takingtrips with the old man? I found that once they are 17-18 they are off. So do you reall need a car to transport al the family around regularly?