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Looking for an estate for my annual Continental trip in June. Took a Lexus GS300 last year but was so overloaded the Mrs said never again a normal saloon or hatchback. Have taken a Volvo V90, Escort, Cavalier in previous years and have completed my own maintenance on everything and they';ve got me there and back on the 2k trip without a hiccup (yet!!!). This year I am swaying between a cheapo Volvo, Sigma, Camry or Old E Class estate or thinking about spalshing £5k out and getting possibly a Mondeo Ghia X, C Class, 280/320/430 E Class Estate or even possibly a 530d Tourer (the only diesel I'd really consider unless something else was stupidly cheap). Whats everyone elses opinion? What would you do in my opinion...everytime I read anything about them on the car by car breakdown....I'm put off for life....the Sigma gets the best write up in that but finding a decent one for decent money (whatever bought will be sold within a few months of coming back) as the Sigma doesn't look like an easy car to sell.
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Roof box on your current car?
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Amen to that - I can't understand the problem here: changing car to avoind being overloaded during a holiday seems drastic.
The cost of advertising and buying a new car will be less than buying a really good roofbox and rails
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I suppose you could just buy the car at auction, run for three months and if sound sell it on privately for what you've paid or even a small profit towards the cost of the trip.
That sounds quite fun to me :-)
Although something like a 530d is such a capable all-rounder that you might want to keep it all year long anyway, given that you seem to do this journey on an annual basis.
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I'm someone that probably changes his car every two months anyway! Was looking for alternate opinions on the vehicles mentioned above and any vehicle worth considering I missed....have always fancied a Merc estate and have been seduced by looking at the fully loaded 320 Elegance....have heard they arent half as sturdy as the older 85-96 shape was.
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I can vouch for my excellent Volvo V40 2.0 SE. T reg 80k, got it for £3k 12 months ago. Has been solid as a rock, good equipment, capable cruiser and returns 34 mpg on average. This is a second car for baby transportation and trips abroad. My previous 5 series which was the main car (now BMW 330i) can hold a good amount of gear, but just not as practically shaped as an estate.
If this too small, I'd get a V70 over any of the Mercs. However, an E39 5 Series estate could be great. Only slight disappointment with the V40 is that its seats don't fold completely flat, however still lots of room, and I think those on the V70 do...
Good luck and enjoy. For £5k you should be able to get something that will do the job just fine.
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I loved my V90 with it's 3.0 engine. Does anyone have a good word to say about the newer shape E class from 1996?
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Signum, quite a few on Autotrader - one hell of a lot of car for very little money.
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Didn't much like the look of the Signum myself. There's a silly rattly box in the middle of the back (you'd be better off with a refrigerated glove compartment). Good load room with seats folded down though.
Mondeos are cheap and cheerful.....
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Those Mercs are known for issues with rust & reliability. Although if you check all the electrics & get a good one, they give a lovely ride - my old boss had a new E320 in 1998 when that was the current model and it wowed me at the time with it's space & comfort
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Send the wife over in the Lexus thing. You travel in the 7/TR6/TVR/enjoyable-vehicle-of-your-choice. Where's the problem?
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Look for an older Subaru Legacy Outback with H6 engine.
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Send the wife over in the Lexus thing. You travel in the 7/TR6/TVR/enjoyable-vehicle-of-your-choice. Where's the problem?
Now theres an idea! Signum? didn't think they were estates? I'm probabl;y wrong.....lost interest in Vauxhall when the Cavalier was replaced....I've heard the newer stuff is good again now though.
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