Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 19:02
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - coco21

I have a budget of up to an absolute maximum of £9000 (but would prefer to buy something more around £7000-8000) and need to buy a spacious and reliable estate. I know next to nothing about cars and we're also trying to save up some money to buy a house, so reliability and low running costs are top priorities. In addition, because the car will be mainly used by my wife to go to work and for school runs with my 2 kids, high safety standards are another top priority.

In summary, I need something that has decent space for my two kids in the back seats, a reasonable boot space, safe, reliable and with low ownership costs…in other words what most dads want for their family. For the kind of mileage we do (~5-6000 mi/year), petrol should do the trick, but it seems petrol estates are not very common these days on the used market, so might have to go for a diesel.

I've had a good experience with Toyota in the past, so my first thought was a 2009 Toyota Avensis Tourer (newer facelift model as I don't really like the looks of the older generation) which you can find used with relatively high mileage at £8-9000 for the higher spec models. It seems that for the same amount of money I could also get a 2006-2007 Audi A6 Avant (with high mileage) which has plenty of spec, or a 2007-2008 Volvo V70 (high mileage again).

So given the choice of Avensis, A6 and V70, which one do you think it would be the best choice if I keep the car for, say, five years? I really like the A6, but iI'm afraid I'll end up with huge maintanance/repair bills. The V70 is safe, but I'm not sure it would be cheaper to own than the Audi. The Avensis seems a sensible choice, but could get more of a car for the same money with the other two options. God, I hate buying cars!

Anyway, apologies for the long post, but would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Many thanks.

Mark

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 20:12
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - davros

It's not so hard.

A Subaru Legacy Tourer (petrol) would be a far better bet than anything you've mentioned - and cheaper, too, thanks to the insane obsession with mpg that seems to cloud most people's judgement. £6.5 / 7K will get a good one (07/08, maybe even an 09).

Mine (an 05 2.5 SE auto) has done 80K with no more than routine maintenance and a couple of drop links and I've no desire to change it. I get 28-30 mpg (ish). A manual 2.0 would do considerably better.

It's brilliant in winter (esp. with winter tyres), carries a huge amount of junk and is a pleasure to drive. Lots of kit (in SE trim), a 5* NCAP rating, v. easy to slot in child seats, legendary reliability, much nicer to drive than a Avensis or V70 and not a money pit like an old Audi.Lots of Independent specialists about, too, and parts readily available online at good prices (not that you need them). I really can't think of a down side. Worth thinking about.

Davros

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Sat 27 Oct 2012 10:35
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - Roly93

thanks to the insane obsession with mpg that seems to cloud most people's judgement.

Whats insane about worrying about petrol at £6.26 gal or diesel at £6.40 ish gal ?

If you do 10k miles a year or more this stacks up if you are comparing cars that average 32 mpg as opposed to say 48 mpg. Subarus always drunk heavily from what I know from friends that had them, so probably only a good choice if you just potter around locally. From the 3 cars that are mentioned although I am an Audi fan, I would say for the money the Toyota is probably the best bet.

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 20:49
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - sandy56

The Avensis estate would be a sensible buy. Toyota Avensis are reliable and actually comfortable to drive, lots of room and wont let you down.

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Mon 22 Oct 2012 20:54
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - Collos25

Unless its a petrol or diesel.

As sensible buy would be the newest Mondeo petrol you can buy.

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 01:29
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - Avant

As you say yourself, you'll get a newer car for your budget if you go for a mass-market make. The advantage of a Mondeo is that there are plenty of them to choose from; there are fewer Subarus, Toyotas, Hondas and Mazda 6s but any of these (petrol powered) will do you well. Also look at a Skoda Octavia - shares some engines with the A6 but is much cheaper to buy. The Superb is huge but I don't think you'd get an estate for £9,000 as they haven't been around for that long.

If you 'hate buying cars' you're probably not a great car enthusiast - so you'll find that one of the Japanese models I've mentioned will do everything you need.

Edited by Avant on 24/10/2012 at 00:22

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 11:19
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - coopshere
A customer knowing nothing about cars is a salesmans dream so whatever you do don't mention that fact to them. Do your homework on the car you are interested before going to look at it.

With your mileage diesel is not the best option.

A confession of knowing nothing about cars suggests you are not that interested in how it performs or handles either so look at more mainstream models that offer cheaper maintenance and something with transferable manufacturers warranty still in place if your budget will stretch that far. As has been mentioned Toyota, Honda, Ford, some Skoda models and the later versions of Kia or Hyudai would seem to fit the bill.
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Tue 23 Oct 2012 11:42
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - brignac

I have an Avensis estate - my second - and can't recommend them enough. Another to consider if you don't like the looks would be the Honda Accord estate.

Given your profile I would do for either - or a Mazda 6 est - all in petrol.

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Tue 23 Oct 2012 12:57
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - coco21

Many thanks to all for the advice and suggestions. I'll keep them in mind in my neverending quest for the perfect used car.

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Wed 24 Oct 2012 15:07
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - Happy Blue!

What is more important - luggage space length or rear seat space for the kids.

You may find a small MPV (like a Ford C-Max, Kia Carens, Zafira etc etc ) does what you want better than a Mondeo.

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Fri 26 Oct 2012 15:56
Audi A6 Avant - Used estate advice - John F

If you are only doing 6k a yr, suggest consider an old low mileage A6 2.8 ZF tiptronic - the bodies last for ever, the mechanics are bombproof and you'll love driving it. They go for a song. My 14yr old saloon version has caused no trouble of note, is at 122,000 - and all I've done is change the oil, plugs and pads, easy diy. It's worth tuppence on the open market...but a lot more to me! If you drive carefully you will get 30mpg [I got 34.9 to Zermatt and back last yr - that's accurate brimtobrim, not computer].

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