I run my own furnishing business and cover about 50,000 miles per year. I currently have a 2006 Skoda Octavia Mk2 1.9TDI estate which is coming up to 165,000 miles. It has been very good, but the driver's seat is a little narrow and I find I am thrashing it on motorways. I did own a Mk5 Volkswagen Golf hatchback 2.0 TDi prior to the Octavia, and found it more fun but a bit too small for what I sometimes carry.

My logical choice would have been a Volkswagen 2.0 TDi estate up to three years old. I have a £14,000 budget and can accept up to 30,000 miles on the clock, but the problems with that engine on some models related to the oil pump drive really bother me. Does this affect every model? I was considering a 2007 2.0 Golf TDi CR estate. Aside from VAG I have looked at the latest Toyota Avensis diesel estate or perhaps an older, low mileage BMW 520d Touring 56 plate, or an Audi A4 1.9 TDi 115 estate 07 plate.