Estate cars - advice and tips please!

Cazza

DH and I are looking to replace my existing car with a fairly large estate - I currently have a 3 door VW Polo which I've been really please with but with a 2 month old baby it would be good to have a little more space. DH has a van and a motorcycle, so we're looking for the "family car", which will mainly be mine. We're planning to keep it for the longer term (I've had the Polo 8 years, so a similar timescale) and aren't too keen on people carriers.

We have a budget of £14,500, with a little bit of flexibility if necessary. I'd prefer manual and will be doing c12-15,000 miles per year, mainly commuting to work on A roads (12 miles each way) with the odd longer or motorway run now and then.

So far we've looked at and not been too keen on...
VW Passat - a little on the small side and seem to hold their value so we won't get as much car for our money.
Mazda 6 - not great visibility and DH felt the head height was poor (he's 6'3")
Skoda Octavia - little bit small
DH won't touch Peugeots, Renaults or Citroens because he has a "thing" about them :cool:
We've not looked at Audi, Merc or BMW on the assumption that for our budget, we probably won't get the mileage / age combination we'd get with other makes & models.
We've tried to look at a Toyota Avensis Tourer but they seem to be like hens teeth round here, even the main dealer can't get one for us to have a look at.

Front runner for me is the Skoda Superb, interested in the 1.6 Greenline engine - we've not got our eye on a specific car at the moment. DH really likes a 2014 Ford Mondeo estate, with a 2.0l diesel engine, the local main dealer has one with lots of bells, whistles and gadgets and it does appear to be more car for our money, compared to the Skoda. Neither of us fundamentally dislikes the other car.

Opinions on our two front runners and suggestions as to anything else we should look at?

forgotmyname

Passat was too small? Your polo must be abouty half its length.

Mondeo estate..

The Superb is a Passat under the skin..

Im on my 4th Mondeo. I was looking for something different but nothing did everything as well as the Mondeo for the price.

chrisw

Volvo V60? Quite small for an estate car though.

Or V70, much bigger.

jimjames

I find it amazing to hear a Passat is small! It certainly doesn't feel it when parking and has more rear legroom than most other cars I've been in.

If price is high then you could look at a higher mileage one to get more for your money.

http://photo3-tech.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vw-passat-tdi140-sport-review.html

Tilt

About one of these;

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201501160207576/sort/default/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/usedcars/postcode/le113pw/radius/1500/page/4/make/alfa_romeo/quicksearch/true/model/159_sportwagon?logcode=p

I have the 3.2 4x4 saloon version. Fantastic car to drive. BUT if you are going to spend that amount of money, I would advise buying one from an Alfa dealership with a full dealer history.

tony6403

I had a Mondeo estate and it was an excellent car. Recommend it.

warwicktiger

Audi A4 estate, diesel, un killable, might be a few years older than others in your range but will last!

Marktheshark

tony6403 wrote: »

I had a Mondeo estate and it was an excellent car. Recommend it.

Had one and had to scrap it on a 56 plate, DMF flywheels x2 , injectors, suspension frame bushes at £300 a go, 125k and it was totally knackered.
When the third DMF went that was it.
Scrap yard.

tony6403

Marktheshark wrote: »

Had one and had to scrap it on a 56 plate, DMF flywheels x2 , injectors, suspension frame bushes at £300 a go, 125k and it was totally knackered.
When the third DMF went that was it.
Scrap yard.

OP refers to buying a 2014 model which is in a different league to your old banger.

forgotmyname

Must have been unlucky.

I bought a 2004 diesel Mondeo in 2009 when everyone said they are trouble and avoid them. Its not got over 170,000 miles on the clock and still running well.

My old 2001 petrol model which i traded in for the one above in 2009 is still taxed and MOT'd. It had 150,000 on th clock in 2009.
Curious what its got on the clock now. It still ran sweetly when sold.

loskie

I am very surprised you think the Octavia is small. For what you need it will be a damned good car.
Seat Exeo may be worth a look too.
Volvo V60 boot is small.
Toyota Avensis may be worth a look. Quite unexciting but a good car.
Subaru Legacy as an oddball choice.

With your mileage it is likely that a petrol model will be more cost effective.