Van or estate car?

[Mark_h]

2nd vote for 5 series estate. 520d after 2007 has 177hp, bonkers MPG and comfier than a comfy thing. Mahoosive boot and roof rails so you can easily add roof rack if you need it. Fitting a towbar is a doddle too. If the computer tells you the battery is knackered, disconnect the IBS (intelligent battery sensor) wire and it'll carry on for years.

[DomP]

Thanks! especially to Baldy for backing my vrs idea. I just cant see that a van is going to work when i need to pick up kids and a vw transporter is too much money for a designer hippy wagon.

[L3nny]

320D Touring obviously

[DomP]

Anyone on here ever used an estate as a tradesman?

[Heorot]

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything other than Japanese having exclusively owed Jap cars since 1987. Consider a Subaru Forester or Outback. Lovely boxer engines and reliable as anything on the market if a little thirsty because of 4 wheel drive. Available with a 173bhp 2.5-litre petrol or a 148bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Rear seats fold flat too.

[DomP]

Cant do that heorot, my older brother has one so id be breaking the unwritten rule of sibling copying.

My input on this is that diesel estate cars command strong money due to being on every families wish list. A Mondeo hatch might make more sense or maybe a seat Alhambra which are van like inside with the seats gone! but the engines often need injectors around 100K. You're clearly on a budget and having had one I can say forget the E61 5 series BMW, they're plagued with problems, to mention a few thermostats (root cause of a lot of issues there's a 50 page thread on one of the bmw forums about them), turbo's, Dpf's, injectors, rear suspension air compressor which are all serious money to fix, albeit the thermostats (2 for manuals, 3 for autos) less than the others, etc etc

Ps) How fast are you really going to be driving this thing full of tools?

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by AlexAdams

Ps) How fast are you really going to be driving this thing full of tools?

and stuck in traffic most of the time

[DomP]

Herefordshire doesnt have traffic and my 182 full of tools is still plenty fun enough. I know a van is the realistic and sensible option but hey you only live once!

[Blapper]

There is a third option: MPV. I have a VW Touran which is a 7 seater that spends 99% of the time as a 2 seater. It gives me all the options. I even have a topbox and trailer if needs be. 62MPG on the motorway, quiet, smooth and comfy.