JamesB Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 A mate has just had his second child and feels that his 3 series saloon isn't big enough. He has about £15k to spend and wants to get an estate of some description. He wants a certain 'level' of badge (don't bother fighting it, i've already tried) - to give you some idea, he said no to a Passat but would consider an A4. I can't see much beyond a B6 A4 Avant (?1.9 TDI), 3 series Touring (?320D) or Merc C class estate (don't know muh about Mercs) but don't really know enough about their relative merits. What would you get? And why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_simon Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 He's get a V70 for 15K no problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Good thought, although I'm not sure he'll go for a Volvo (like I say, don't ask, there is no logic) - I'll let you know. Edited to add: Probably should have said that he doesn't want high mileage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Well buying a B6 A4 Avant 1.9 TDi would be silly IMO. That's because they're nothing like the spacious wagon you might imagine. If he's come from a 3-series I can tell you we get exactly the same luggage in my wifes 320d saloon as we get into the A4 Avant. It's very much form over function. My other thoughts on the car are well published, but if he wants super economy then there is little better. I'd be tempted by a 2004 Merc E Class Estate, possibly in E230 form. They're very spacious indeed and if he's a badge person then Mercs seem to do it for those that know little about driving dynamics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 He'd also get a 5-series Tourer, new shape, for that money if he shops around. It'll be low spec and low engined, but it'd definitely do-able. Just seen the high-mileage comment. Forget the Merc and BMW, and the Audi too, he doesn't want either of them. It's a miracle he needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I'm inclined to agree, the A6 is much the better choice for space, but the A4 is his preferred choice at the moment so I included it from the start. Btw, how sad is it that I already knew to enter the volvo url as www.volvocars.co.uk as opposed to www.volvo.co.uk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 avoid the A4 Avant - i kid you not, there is more room in the back seats in my new Megane - and that has Recaros fitted!!! If the driver and front seat passenger are 5ft 0" tall, then ok, there may be some room, but forget it........ A6 or big merc - the C-clsss merc is the same as the A4, but a fraction larger...... naff build quality (actualy, the estates weren't too bad as they were german built) and laughable service costs, so avoid main dealers.... If it was my money, an A6 1.9tdi with a remap..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 [ QUOTE ] He'd also get a 5-series Tourer, new shape, for that money if he shops around. It'll be low spec and low engined, but it'd definitely do-able. Just seen the high-mileage comment. Forget the Merc and BMW, and the Audi too, he doesn't want either of them. It's a miracle he needs. [/ QUOTE ] When I say high mileage, I mean no ageing classics with 100k+ on the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I would say A6 sport avant, far more room than the A4, ride is less crashy and the handling on them is pretty much the same as the A4 too. I sold mine..... http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/670768/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1 for £16k in the end and only got that because it had Nav and was a good colour combo, there were the run out 2005 model 'Final Edition' cars going for only a little more with hardly any miles on them at all, and they came with full leather and Nav as standard as well as a few more toys. If he doesn't mind something that is 3 years old then look at the 5 series touring too, you can pick up a really nice E39 sport with leather for around the £15k mark, and they are in a different league to drive. You can get a great car for that money or thereabouts. Also though unless he is buying cash why mot get a new car and do a finance deal with a balloon payment at the end? Can actually work out cheaper than buying a 3 year old car for £15k. There is a 2006 A6 avant 2.0T for £20,950 on autotrader, if he got them down to £20k he could just pay the interest on the extra £5k which is only £30 a month, and £30 a month has to be worth it just for the fact it is a new car with full warranty and no maintanance costs surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Do BMW do a 518d Touring? People like him deserve to be in something really slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 How about a 156 Sportwagan with a 2.4JTD Mjet? http://www.sportiva.co.uk/eg04tjz.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 There are A6 Avants even on Autotrader for less that £15K on an '04 plate with approx. 40-60,000 miles. Albeit they are predominantly 1.9TDi's but that's not so bad as per MrMe's comments of engine economy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s4_sat Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 05 plate v50 1.8? £13k? Silver with 21k on the clock. 03 plate Saab 9-5 2.2TiD? £13k? Blue with 49k on the clock. 01 plate 525 touring? £12k? Silver with 49k on the clock. 03 plate A6 1.9TDi? £11k? Blue with 61k on the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I would go for a nice T5 volvo V70, great spec, well made, and a bit different. OK, I'm biased as I have had 2. The V50 is nice, but really small (its a Focus in drag). The V70 does not ride as well as a Beemer, but the engines (esp the T5 and TR5) are nice, 5 cylinders, loads of torque, sounds great. Even my new diesel (D5) has 185 bhp, 400 Nm and 0-60 in 8.5 secs, not bad for a big bus. Oh, they eat tyres BTW. The 5 series is a bargain, the image is not everyones thing though, and the A6s look good, but aren't that quick. E Class merc is cheap but feel like a barge. Oh, how about a Legacy for something different ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 All good suggestions and all much appreciated I know he doesn't like the Saab that much and am not convinced he'll go for the Alfa (lovely looking car and not bad to drive IMO but reliability issues). I'll float the Volvo suggestion and also suggest moving up to the A6 again, as it seems a lot of people agree with me about the space side of things. The driving experience isn't all that important. With respect to the person involved, to them a car is more a method of getting from A to B than something to enjoy for its handling and ride (so Garcon, although I like your thinking, unfortunately it would be water off a duck's back). So I'll also see what he thinks about an E Class. And of course I'll see if he wants another Beemer. As for the Legacy, I think that might be a step too far for him (although again, I personally think they are a good car for the money). Thanks, all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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