I really need to get a new wagon before the current one gives up, but I don't really care about cars, and don't have a huge amount of time to put into it, so looking for suggestions.
Key criteria/factors:
- estate/MPV style body shell preferred because:
- - need to get lots of computer/IT stuff in to transport to clients
- - need to get Bernese Mountain Dog in
- - need to get guitars, amps, boards etc. in (not all of the above at the same time)
- integrated roof rails for attaching roof bars preferred
- I'm a tightwad when it comes to cars, so £10-15k max
- preferably 3 years old or newer and moderately low mileage (I tend to keep them for 7+ years and rack them up to around £100k, so when I change it needs to look the part for work)
- economical
- reliable
- comfortable for long-ish journeys (150 - 200 mile round trips including 10-12 hour working day)
- I need to fit in it: 6'4" with 34" inside leg and big feet
This is very much a tool rather than a status symbol.
Historically we've stuck with Fords - old Escort estates, then a sequence of Mondeos, currently a C-Max because I was too tight to pay for a Mondeo or a Galaxy last time we changed.
I'm thinking of a Kia of some sort - maybe an Optima estate, or a cee'd 'sports wagon' ?
Comments
They generally are reasonably nice inside and nice to drive. I had a 1.6 diesel automatic which did 50 to the gallon averaged across all types of driving.
Only two downsides are adults will find not loads of rear legroom but okay and the fan which clears the windscreen is slow when they are steamed up. Hold their value so will be a year older than an equivalent CMax but great tools.
I think you can get the touran in 5 seat but you'd never know you had the extra seats and are a bonus when you need them. Adults you don't like can fit in the rear seats too.
I think GSP Basses went through this search and bought a renault little mpv I can't remember the name of.
For example:
https://www.arnoldclark.com/nearly-new-cars/dacia/duster/1-6-sce-115-air-5dr/2018/ref/arnco-u-18227
If the OP feels he has similar motoring needs to a French plumber in the Dordogne look no further.
or
VW Passat Estate
I've a Golf GTD estate which is great but the Octavia is even bigger and cheaper.
You can get a pretty well equipped one (sat nav, adaptive cruise control, dual zone climate control) 2 years old with low miles and your choice of engine well within budget.
At the upper end of your budget you can get a Skoda superb which is even bigger. There's a reason most of the taxis you see are Superbs.
Having had a BMW I wouldn't own one out of warranty, particularly a X drive version of anything.
For distance and load lugging, the only serious engine choice is the two litre Turbo Diesel. This is available in various states of tune, trading off between economy and outright power.