BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 07:02

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - Ryan Purchase

Currently in the process of looking for a new car. Regular daily commute is approx. 140 miles (70 miles e/w) so would be looking at possible mileage of 35,000/40,000 a year. Therefore we need a car that has a high mpg but also has enough space in it for 2 fairly decent sized dogs in the boot.

I like the look of the 320D ED Plus with its potential 60mpg and I know a lot of people are going to suggest looking at the Skoda's. I've also got other people suggesting looking at VW and then the lingering thought in the back of my head that is saying would hybrid be a better option offsetting the higher purchasing cost with lower running costs (our mileage probably takes it out of the possible options though as I can't see many hybrids at present actually being cost effective over these types of distances). Obviously it doesn't have to be an estate either as an SUV would also be an option but again, I believe all of these would be rejected due to the running costs associated with them and ideally we wouldn't want an MPV.

Just wondered if there was any feedback available on which people would prefer, why they would prefer them over the other options and whats the pros/cons etc.

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 07:41

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - SLO76

Whats your budget?

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 07:50

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - Ryan Purchase

Well at the moment I have found a couple of used 3 Series that range between £17000-£20000. This again probably rules out the option of a Hybrid but includes probably all of the available diesels (either new or nearly new)

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 08:07

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - SLO76

I personally wouldn’t buy another BMW, they’ve a history of problems as the miles creep up and the years roll on plus a big part of the problem is they don’t take kindly to the wrong oil or aftermarket parts, especially suspension components. If you really want one (and I get the appeal) then buy a good approved used diesel (the 6cyl models last better) without the daft wide wheels and ultra low profile tyres and pay the price to service it at the main dealer. Once the warranty is up a good local specialist is a must.

If I had a heavy mileage commute like this I’d buy a cheaper second car in which to do it to slash the huge depreciation you’ll see on a £20k motor running so many miles. A good Toyota Avensis can be had for £3-4K, the diesels will do 60mpg on a run but the excellent 1.8 petrol will do 50mpg easy enough if you’re not a speed merchant. A Honda Civic would be good too. Then buy a nice car for the weekend.

On the subject of hybrids well although they’re more reliable in general they won’t save fuel on long distance driving as all you’re really doing is running a petrol engine and towing a heavy battery pack and Powertrain around with you. Diesel is still the way for long distance driving especially on larger cars.

Edited by SLO76 on 21/02/2019 at 08:10

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 08:34

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - SLO76

Oh and check the 3 series is big enough for the dogs. It isn’t a large car inside at all. An Avensis Estate like mine makes for a far better dog wagon and you won’t care if the dog causes any damage which they will despite fitting rubber boot liner. The big Toyota I bought also had a built in dog guard which is handy and every one I looked at seemed to have one fitted.

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 12:23

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - badbusdriver

I'd go for a Honda Civic 1.6 turbo diesel estate. Your budget would get you into a pretty young example. It has a massive boot, will do 70mpg and does not seem to suffer from the usual maladies suffered by modern diesels, that of emissions equipment problems.

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 16:00

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - barney100

Volvo V70d, good mpg, large enough for two big dogs, bespoke fitted cages for safety available.

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 16:32

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - madf

I'd go for a Honda Civic 1.6 turbo diesel estate. Your budget would get you into a pretty young example. It has a massive boot, will do 70mpg and does not seem to suffer from the usual maladies suffered by modern diesels, that of emissions equipment problems.

Oldest son has a 2008 Civic 1.8. His fiance's Boxer dog fits comfortably in the boot...

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Thu 21 Feb 2019 16:52

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - badbusdriver

I'd go for a Honda Civic 1.6 turbo diesel estate. Your budget would get you into a pretty young example. It has a massive boot, will do 70mpg and does not seem to suffer from the usual maladies suffered by modern diesels, that of emissions equipment problems.

Oldest son has a 2008 Civic 1.8. His fiance's Boxer dog fits comfortably in the boot...

Yes, the Civic, certainly from the 8th gen (2006) onwards always had a big boot, bigger than pretty much all the competition apart from the Octavia.

But the estate version of the previous shape Civic (no estate of the current model), took it to a different level, with a boot capacity of 624 litres. Compare that to the current 3 series touring, which has 495 litres, and the Volvo V70 (mentioned by barney100) which has 575 litres. Here is a pic of the space on offer with the rear seats in place,

www.ridc.org.uk/sites/default/files/cars/Boot%20wi...g

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Fri 22 Feb 2019 18:56

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - Heidfirst

The big Toyota I bought also had a built in dog guard which is handy and every one I looked at seemed to have one fitted.

If you mean the retracting net guard that extends up from the tonneau cover & clips into fitting on the roof then, yes, standard fit on the Avensis estate afaik.

& no need to hunt for one with an optional variable floor kit as they all came with a flat floor & minimal lip ;)

Edited by Heidfirst on 22/02/2019 at 19:00

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Fri 22 Feb 2019 00:45

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - Avant

I'd go for a Skoda Octavia or Superb estate - lots of room in the back for the dogs (much more than in a 3-series), and you'll get a newer one than you would a BMW or VW for the same money. Try to get one with a variable boot floor to make life easier for the dogs getting in and out.

The engines to go for are either 2.0 diesel or 1.4 petrol: either would be very economical for your commute.

Edited by Avant on 23/02/2019 at 00:29

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Fri 22 Feb 2019 05:50

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - catsdad

The Civic magic seats in the Mark 9 also offer the option of carrying dogs in the rear footwells while leaving the boot free. Very low access too compared to a boot lip. You would need to think about suitable restraints of course.

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Sat 23 Feb 2019 00:01

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - SLO76

I suspect that Ryan is unimpressed by our attempts to talk him out of a 3 series and into a cheap Japanese hatch or estate. Apologies Ryan, its not really a very good dog wagon nor a particularly durable or comfortable car but if it’s what you want then go get it. I’d favour a 330d, it’s worth paying a bit extra for.

Edited by SLO76 on 23/02/2019 at 00:12

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Sat 23 Feb 2019 12:38

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - Avant

At least Ryan has a reasonable budget, and he is one of the comparatively few privale motorists whose mileage justifies a diesel (although as I suggested above a 1.4 TSi in a Skoda would also be very economical).

If he heart is set on a BMW, then a 5-series Touring would be a better bet for the dogs.

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Sun 24 Feb 2019 02:08

BMW 3 Series Touring - Estate with 2 Dogs & High Mileage - What to do? - SteveLee

Hybrids and motorways miles are not a good mix. You'd get an almost new Kia Optima Sportswagen for that budget with the bulk of its 7 year warranty left.

If I had to buy a German estate for that budget, the Mercedes E-Class is likely to be the most dependable (can't believe I'm saying that about a Merc!) - and certainly the most comfortable - but might be slightly larger than you want. Recent BMW engines aren't exactly bulletproof - ask Essex Police. But then I wouldn't buy a car from the company that asset-stripped and destroyed Rover, nor would I buy anything from the VAG fraudsters. A Jag XF sportbrake is an interesting alternative. Nice car but can suffer from niggly problems - like the 3 series. A Mondeo Vignale would be the pick of the bunch value for money wise - if it was not for the awful (to be avoided) powershift transmissions. Volvo V60 is quite nice - but not entirely dependable either - buy the Kia! :-)

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