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Original poster

Car stuff...family estate recommendations please

42 replies

LittlePushka · 31/01/2010 22:27

Cannot see a topic on car stuff so thought this might be a good place to start.

I would be grateful for your recommendations for(or warnings against) family estate car.

Thinking of:

Skoda Octavia
Ford Mondeo
Ford Focus

Thanks

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serenity · 01/02/2010 09:49

We've got a fairly ancient Peugeot 406 Family Estate (which means it's technically a 7 seater as it has two fold out child seats in the back) It's the most reliable car I've ever had and has now beaten my beloved Ford Sierra (RIP) as my best car ever. Don't know what the newer models are like (mines an S reg) but this one's fab. Loads of room - we camp so that was an essential- and is really nice to drive.

Original poster
LittlePushka · 01/02/2010 09:55

Thanks for the tip serenity - will stick it on my list to check out!

LOL at pretty candles unfolded pushchair... if it is that big I'm obviously tempted to leave DS in to save the car seat faff!

OP posts:
Dalrymps · 01/02/2010 22:27

Sorry, just come back to this. From what you say I would say yes, V40 might be a little small. We have one and the boot is big but not as big as you need. Would say V70 or one of the other recommendations.

We find our volvo comfy and reliable and as others have said it's good on safety ratings.

Original poster
LittlePushka · 01/02/2010 23:05

Thank you Dalrymps - I am searchin autotrader this minute for all of the suggestions - and it is really useful to have these pointers - I did not even know the Accord and the V70/V40 existed.

great stuff, thank you for posting!

OP posts:
LunaticFringe · 06/02/2010 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lurkingdad · 09/02/2010 19:41

We went through the same process last year weighing up a new V70 v an old Mondeo. The biggest problem with second hand estates is that they are hard to find with low mileage. We ended up with a 53 plate Mazda 6 estate with 120k. We are quite happy with it and it is quite well specced (Ts2 model) Size wise I think Mazda 6, Mondeo and V70 are all on the same chassis.

Although now no 2 is on the way I'm trying to build the argument for moving up to an S-Max in a couple of years.

JoeJoe1977 · 09/02/2010 19:52

I've got a Focus Estate, it's coming up to 100 000 miles and we've had it nearly 5 years (it was a couple of years old when we bought it). The fuel economy is good, parts are reasonably priced but the boot isn't as big as you'd think/hope.

DH has got an Octavia Estate (the RS diesel), it's nearly as good on fuel as the focus, has a much better performance, is very nice to drive and the boot is huge (as mentioned by poster above). However, the tyres and parts are a bit pricier.

It may be because the focus is older and a more basic model, but I'm looking forward to later in the year when DH gets a new car and I get the Octavia!

Eaglebird · 09/02/2010 19:53

I've got an Astra estate, and it's got a roomy boot. Very comfy & easy to drive. Not a nightmare to park either.
Can't fault it, apart from the traction being a bit rubbish if you're driving up a snowy road.

Hitandrunthreadkiller · 17/05/2010 22:11

Killed it!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 17/05/2010 22:20

Check out the VW Passatt Estate - it's enormous!

We might replace ours DH's company car with a Skoda Superb (crap name!) estate next year - have to look into it a bit more yet though so can't tell you a lot about it.

BikeRunSki · 17/05/2010 22:20

DH has just got his second SKoda Octavia estate. The first was faultless in everywhere - light on fuel, good vfm in first place, easy to drive, reliable and so on and so on.

When he came to replace it, we thought long and hard, but couldn't think of anything better for the money.

If money were no object, he'd get a Subaru Impreza estate, but it is. You get a lot of yoru car for the money with the Skoda.

jzh · 12/08/2010 02:46

I've a Volvo V50 2.0L at the moment, a company car that found me rather than me finding it.

Its a great car, I've only just had it a few weeks and I'm finding new features which I like every few days. I've never driven a Volvo, before but I do really like it. In its class I think it beats all the competition, that includes BMW, just

I would like the bigger V70 for the carrying capacity but now I've a Volvo I'm hooked.

I've previously had Focus, BMW 320d, Audi A3 2.0. and Astra.

heppy23 · 12/10/2010 17:32

Skoda Octavia.
I've had one a few months which replaced a skoda felicia.
The skoda estates have HUGE boots.
I did 140k miles in 5 years in the felicia without any problems.
The octavia is a diesel and gives 50mpg no matter what and you really don't know you are driving a diesel.

ninah · 12/10/2010 17:36

there is a car topic under transport, if you want more info op
out of these I've only driven a mondeo, no complaints

ninah · 13/10/2010 21:31

oops, products, even Smile

chippy47 · 13/10/2010 21:41

Saab 93 sports wagon fits the bill

ragged · 13/10/2010 21:56

I loved our VW Passat estate. Reliable, lots of oomph, cheap to run.
I would have another in a heartbeat but it's a 5 seater and we are a 6 person family.

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