sulli

Thinking of getting rid of the A6 Avant for something bigger.
I need: High Spec (Audi is SE and well specced, and i'm used to that)
Diesel - needs to be economicalish, currently have 2.5 tdi which goes well, so happy with up to 3.0tdi
Big - needs more luggage space than the Audi, which is big for an estate
Don't need 7 seats, storage more important.
Looks - nice if it looked OK (OK it's never going to look great, but still...)
Any ideas, would you recommend what you have?

Brendan Hughes

Merc GL? You didn't say your budget!

Better specced AND bigger than A6 avant - toughie...
Does an E-class estate have more luggage space?

sulli

Oh yeah - probably about £10-£12K.
Not sure any estate is bigger, but if it is can't be by much, the A6 is huge.

PG

Grand Voyager ?

KiwiGTI

Read somewhere that the Honda Accord Tourers have the largest inside space of any estate. (even the Volvo V70s)

Most MPVs I've seen don't seem to well designed for luggage, unless you can remove the rear seats.

You have the Citroen C8/Peugeot 807/Fiat Ulysses (the same car) which are usually well spec'd, but an acquired taste. Not fun to drive either.

Then there is the Ford Galaxy and VW Touran, both would be a bit of a comedown after the Audi, the Touran is meant to be very good though.

jonc

Mercedes- Benz Viano (Long)?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Dont get an MPV, we have a Sharan and it does its job but a decent estate is so much better in so many ways.

Dracoro

Most MPVs are no bigger than estates other than in headroom.

Get a VW Caravelle. Luxury, 2.5TD, big, everything you've asked for.

jonc

Does anyone know of any estates that could fit 2 forward facing and 1 rear facing carseats in the back seats? This is the reason I will be getting a MPV since I haven't come across an estate yet that can accomodate this.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Jon, we got three kids in a Volvo 850, they have an integral child booster seat in the middle which does away with the need for one of the huge kid seats.

Our Sharan has internal booster cusions for two of the middle row, the backrest also folds down to provide a baby seat with straps and that, that set up is only on the SL model, not the Sport and Carat as far as I am aware, so check before you buy, think the Galaxy and Alhambra offer a similar option.

The extra headroom is only any good if you use it as a van, great for runs to the tip with old wardrobes and stuff.

sulli

Right, i've had a look at a few:
E Class Merc - Nice, well specced, pricey and hardly bigger;
Volvo V70 Estate - Don't like interior, no bigger than Audi
Volvo XC90 - hardly bigger than V70, just more headroom, and pricey
Subaru Forester - Very basic and smaller than the Audi, surprisingly
Subaru Legacy - OK but much smaller than the Audi
Merc Viano - Basically a van
Zafira Gsi - a fast van with not much space, just a couple of extra seats

Not sure i'm looking in the right places. Have worked out that the Audi's boot is probably big enough, though could do with bigger, but we need something that will fit, as well as luggage, 2 child seats and a dog (in between them?). So maybe something wider? Most cars seem to be similar apart from the likes of the Audi A8 which doesn't come in Avant form.

Any more ideas?

Brendan Hughes

A roof box?

sulli

Already got one - we need enough room for all our camping gear etc, thats the boot and box full, then room for the dog who used to go on backseat till we had 2nd child.

Dracoro

As I previously suggested, why not consider the Caravelle. They do some nice luxury spec, turn seats round, loads of space, diesel engines etc. It fits all your requirements specified.

sulli

Yeah I saw that - haven't seen one, but think its similar to the merc viano thing?? Too van like. Suppose maybe that's my only option though, guess the biggest estates are the a6 or the e class.

Dracoro

I think you either get the van-type car (they're not that bad, try one) that does all you want or get the estate/mpv that doesn't do all you want.

Fiat Multipla. yeah it looks crap (they've recently spruced it up a bit) but as an MPV it's prob the best. 6 separate seats, proper boot unlike most mpv's and cheapish to run.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

I'm sure the E class estate is bigger than the A6 avant

The Chief

Mercedes Viano as well.

thats why most of the executive travel companies use them

Brendan Hughes

What about something like a Renault Grand Espace?

Andy M3

Ford S Max is meant to be good and there is a new Sharan out.

My wife used to run and A6 Avant 2.5TDI - we went for a Honda people mover. I like it, but have kids. It handles well for what it is - not exceiting and build quality is better than most Jap stuff, but not up to German standards. My other plan would be a Mazda 5 sport?

Brendan Hughes

LHD, but plenty of luggage space... Bennett Funeral Coaches: Pre-Owned Hearses For Sale

skoda_kid

PMSL


Matt

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

You have looked at everything but People Carriers !

Espace, Galaxy, Alhambra, Previa, Espace !

We looked at the new Galaxy last weekend and its great, looked at the S-Max which is very similar but sportier, Ford are onto a winner with that, its great but I think we will order a Galaxy for two reasons, the first being its bigger and the kids are getting bigger and to be honest compromising for a little sportiness on a MPV is a bit pointless and the second is that you can get a top end Galaxy from an importer for the price of a lower specced S-Max, this is because the S-max is more in demand.

The Smax and the Galaxy are both the same car basically, hjust the Smax has a lower roofline and firmer suspension, havent driven the yet but they are both meant to be good, the S-max being the sportier drive but either will be streets ahead of our Sharan which isnt to bad (for an mpv) but doesnt inspire confidence, the Galaxy and S-max are both based on the new Mondeo platford, the old Mondeo was a great handler so hopefully the new one will be even better, even when saddled with an MPV body.

I wouldnt bother with petrol engined MPV's, lethargic 2.0 petrols or pointless things like Sharan VR6's, going fast is no fun in an MPV, just alarming so a diesel engine is great for lugging the big lump to legal speeds, ours doent feel slow even with a little 1.9 115 bhp diesel in it, its not fast but its plenty adequate.

No proper MPV (except perhaps the new fords) will be anything like as nice as your Audi or any other big luxo estate. We had a Volvo T5 before the Sharan which I always used to pinch, I actively try to avoid the Sharan and take my old Saab 9-3 in preference every time.

2000 sport

iTrader: (1)

honda FR-v, nice and wide, diesel goes quite well.. if you can live with the looks,

or CR-v's are a good buy at the moment as the new one is out in the new year.. .

KiwiGTI

I really like both of those, the FRV looks great. But to cope with the 3rd seat in the front they seem to have put the drivers seat so close to the door that it feels claustrophobic. When you turn the steering wheel you bang your elbow.

Brendan Hughes

He wants more luggage space, not more seats.

I reckon if you don't want a Merc minivan, you'll have to look at some funny Jap imports. And I don't think they'll be very luxurious, TBH.

Winnebago?

KiwiGTI

Perhaps one of these :

The All New LDV MAXUS

Longjing

The Caravelle is gigantic. If you're looking for extra space over an A6 avant, though, I reckon it's got to be a van-based job.

Brendan Hughes

I also thought of a double-cab pickup with hardtop. Masses of storage space in the back - but not sure what kind of luxury you'll collect for your budget.