AWD Estate options...

Wh05apk

Surprised the Hyundai Santa fe has not been mentioned?

Massive amount of space, 5 year warranty, but built superbly, comfortable, decent handling.

I've had mine for 4 years with no problems, and it's the first car I have not been itching to change after 2 years.

You should pick up a good 2-3 year old one for £10k, newer ones have 200hp and the promise of high 30's mpg

ventureuk

Llyllyll wrote: »

Quite interested in a Honda CR-V now as well .

As I average 6k - 8k miles per year, would the initial premium of the diesel be offset by lower car tax, servicing costs and/or anything else or would it be wiser to look for a petrol model. Spec-wise, I think I'd want the ES.

Thanks.

With such low mileage a petrol would be a much better buy, Honda make just about the most reliable petrol engines in the world. Servicing will be cheaper with petrol and you won't have all that nasty and expensive technology used to lower emissions from diesel engines to gunk up and pay for.

Llyllyll

Thanks for all the replies.

To answer/add to some of what's already been stated:

Yes, reliability was one of the reasons I was looking at the Honda CRV.

I think some of the suggestions, whilst great in the ideal world, may not hit my running/service costs criteria and may be above my £12k max (£10k purchase + circa £2k p/x).

Noted the info about Legacy/Outback interiors.

Never even considered the Jaguar X-Type Estate - thanks. Useful link to current prices as well...

I like the look of the (newer?) Hyundai Santa fe but am not fussed on most of the (older?) ones I've seen - sorry.

Also a Forester is out - good lady wife doesn't like the look of them so that's that.

Llyllyll

Weird_Nev wrote: »

I'd be given close consideration to Volvo V70 AWD estates and Audi 4WD estates if you want road cars with AWD. If you're not actualyl going off road then ride height should be too much of an issue. I know XC90's for example have high running costs!

bigjl wrote: »

I had a Legacy, new 2004 on shape.

Had few issues with brakes which were sorted out under warranty, pad compound issues causing some noise.

Car never broke down, was legendary in the wet/snow.

Mine was a 2.0 single cam, only available on early ones, replaced by a dohc, the early one did much better mpg though, I got mid thirties out of an auto round London.

Steer clear of expensive Subaru dealers.

This is a diesel one with low miles and fully loaded.
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/Subaru/details-548431-Subaru.asp?viewtype=0

I would also recommend any of the 4wd Volvos, XC70, XC90, but they are pricey, they did a rare V50 T5 with 4wd, drove one years ago for a private AMbulance co doing some NHS999 sub contracting on the side in Kent.

Funnily enough one of those is now on eBay, 55 plate still in the livery, they were a Volvo special for the Ambulance Service but were found to be a little bit too fast and a bit juicy.

LAS has Volvo XC70's for Operation PLATO provided by the Home Office, very quick and only one has gone bang, they are D5's.

I would steer clear of an large SUV like a Discovery or Pathfinder, they are nice to drive but will give you low twenties even in diesel.

From what I have been told the XC90 will give low thirties.

The Legacy diesel estate will give high forties easily, maybe more driven sedately.

Aren't Subaru service and parts costs quite high as well?

I was going to ask about the Volvos the emergency services drive, are/were they the V50 T5 with 4wd you mentioned or something else?

Would like to be able to potter sensisibly to school and then, where appropriate, enjoy the drive home/to work when the little one isn't in there...

Lum

Subaru aren't too bad providing you go to a decent independent, not a main dealer.. just like any other car really.

Only job that's overly expensive and annoying is changing the spark plugs on the petrol engines because of the engine lay out. Go for platinum or iridium plugs (can't remember which type it is lasts for ages) or a diesel.

Llyllyll

I was going to ask about the Volvos the emergency services drive, are/were they the V50 T5 with 4wd you mentioned or something else?

Little bump...

Edit - contrary to what I stated in my OP (I must have been looking at the pre-facelift version) the Skoda Octavia Scout (whilst not top of my list) has at least found its way onto the 'possible' list - sorry .

atrixblue.-MFR-.

subaru legacy got my vote, 3.0 twin turbo for really good fun is a bonus.

volvo are expensive to repair when they go wrong. wishbones are noteably expensive and common areas to play up.

subaru legacy is pretty much a solid all rounder.

forgotmyname

Been looking up on the A6 / A4 allroads, Similar issue ideally i want something a bit higher up than my mondeo estate.

Bit pricey though compared to ten a penny Mondeo's.

annodomini2

Weird_Nev wrote: »

There's a reason you're called "empty pockets" isn't there! OP wants 2 litre give or take for fuel economy! 4.4 V8 or 2.7 V6 twin turbo really isn't going to cut it!

4.2 V8 Twin turbo petrol in that generation RS6.

The 4.2 V8 or 2.7 V6 TT is the S4 or RS4 depending on the generation.

Llyllyll

annodomini2 wrote: »

4.2 V8 Twin turbo petrol in that generation RS6.

The 4.2 V8 or 2.7 V6 TT is the S4 or RS4 depending on the generation.

Thanks for the info, but I think you missed the general point which was that the suggestion of a Audi RS6 didn't meet my original criteria which included it being around about a 2 litre engine to give reasonable performance versus fuel economy and running costs.