Can you help? I'm replacing my wife's X-Trail 2.5L Petrol Sport 04 Plate and handing it back on a balloon payment deal. I have a 52 plate VW Passat 1.9Tdi 130 at 112,000miles (new engine at 85,000 miles - flood damage) and will run it on for commuting. We use her car for the family and hobbies. I think I can go to £14k as we only do 10,000 miles per year. I need a car that we can use for the family (camping/holiday trips) also I do Triathlon and we sail small dinghies, so strapping things to the roof, putting them in the back or towing relatively light weights are also needs. I need the car to be relatively cheap to service and to maintain - mpg is less of an issue regarding only 10,000miles per year and the large premium for diesel cars - although I do like the way a diesel drives. I want the car to have some style but mostly be fun to drive. The X-Trail was not a good driving experience but ideally, I want the car to be 4WD because we have needed it for snowy/hilly/flooded roads around where we live. So I'm thinking a 4WD Estate might be what I'm after - but I want one that drives well. We do very little town/city driving, so anything that gives +30mpg under these conditions is OK. I'm thinking a Diesel Subaru Outback would be ideal - but I don't think I can afford one. The 2.5L petrol could be a compromise that I'm considering going for. I want the car to have some style/kudos, be 4WD, carry all the stuff I need it to, be reliable, be in budget but mostly be fun to drive. I don't want to go any earlier than a 55 plate. I guess there are a lot of people wanting to get away from the road driving experience of SUV type vehicles. Any advice on alternatives to the Subaru Diesel Outback?