Need a estate car, help me choose

plumb1_2

I am semi retired and still work a couple of half days a week, when I choose.

I have a small Ford Connect van which I am giving to a relative for free.

So was thinking of buying a estate car to use, which would most probably work out cheaper, road and insurance wise.

May budget is upto £10k, but would push it to £15k.

So far narrowed it down to

Skoda Octavia, ( think Fabia to small) Hyundai i30 or I40, Toyota Avensis or Corolla, Auris.

Suzuki swace. And I’ve just seen a Honda Civic estate at a main dealer for £10k 50,000 miles on it.

As I don’t do a lot of miles, mainly short trips, maybe best to rule out diesel as issues with dpf, turbo etc

What’s peoples opinions

Woodstok2000

I had a kia optima sportswagon for a long time, the styling isn't for everyone but I loved it. Great warranty too.

Car_54

I've just bought a new Octavia estate: very pleased with it so far. I doubt if you'll find anything more spacious at the price, both for passengers and load.

I've also had a couple of Mercedes C-class estates in the past - again excellent.

plumb1_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82163701#Comment_82163701

don’t think my budget will allow for a new car, something like 10 yrs old

Car_54

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82163727#Comment_82163727

Plenty of both available used, and versuins of both have been around for yonks.

mlz1413

I looked at estates last year, I didn't end up changing my car l, but I had your list plus the following

Peugeot 308

Vauxhall Insignia

Kia Ceed

Bigwheels1111

I have a Peugeot 5008, 2016 diesel, Auto.

7 seater, with the rear seats folded down its a huge estate car, with the middle seats folded down also, its flat and cavernous.

Just avoid the 1.2 pure tec engines.

Short trips, cold starts 35mpg, At 60mph over 470 miles, Sheffield to Chesterfield, Mansfield & back to Chesterfield, then to Lewisham, Croydon, Lewisham and back to Sheffield 57.4mpg.

mark_cycling00

A 10yr old automatic Passat estate will drive as smooth as the day it rolled off the production line. Solid car, good mpg

Tyson Fury has one as his main car.

daveyjp

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82163843#Comment_82163843

Unless the DSG gearbox is on its way out, in which case it won't.

For short trips a Toyota (or Suzuki Swace equivalent) hybrid makes perfect sense. Less than 10 years old and 100,000 miles and it can still benefit from warranty.

Grumpy_chap

The Octavia estate is a superb car.

I'd also consider the Mondeo estate, particularly if you want to keep familiarity with the current van.

At the age of vehicle you are considering condition is more important than model.

plumb1_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82163854#Comment_82163854

is it worth ruling out diesel, as most of my trip would be about 10 miles. But on autotader the majority of cars are diesel, so only a limited amount of Petrol estates.

Just concerned about erg value fouling up. Not bothered about fancy gadgets on my cars, I have always bought the base model of any car, imo less to go wrong.

In my research so far, avoid wet belt, eco blue