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[Rog]

All omegas are at least 10 years old    I really need a big reliable auto estate car for my work, so no fixing this and messing with that etc

I'm considering  Volvo V70, possibly an AWD version, maybe 2005/6
or
Vectra, but not one of the V6 beasts with the supid oversize alloys. Insignia no good, rear load area badly designed
or
Mondeo

I'm cautious about Mercs or BMs due to maintenance/spare parts costs

V70 AWD is VERY appealing. Anyone got any experience of them ? Any points to watch for when buying ?

 . . . . might keep the MV6 as well, not sure 

[Andy B]

....

I'm cautious about Mercs or  ..... spare parts costs
 ......

So far ...... I haven't found MB's spares to be that expensive 

[minifreek]

I had a Volvo estate and found it horrendous on fuel...

The Vectra estates I would go for the diesel 2.2 DTi as they are ultra reliable and fantastic on fuel...

Not had any experience of Mercs or BMW's as they just don't appeal to me at all...

[biggriffin]

Vectra estate boot not far short of omega size.,

[tigers_gonads]

The 2.2 cdi merc engine is great on fuel and providing you don't stick too much city diesel in them, they do big mileages.
I know a taxi driver around these parts who is on his second.
First one went bang at 280,000 miles, the one he has now is well into the 300's 

[05omegav6]

I asked myself the very same question...

Volvo... Reports of the D5 engine potentially requiring head gaskets every 50k.
               Auto box is a bit on thed fragile side with the more powerful engines.
               AWD transfer clutch is half of the rear diff. And prone to failure ££££
               Smaller engines are underpowered.
               The 2.0 Diesel is the same lump as a Mondeo. Not a good thing.

Vectra C... The 1.9 CDTi 120 is pretty reliable, and ok on fuel.
                            The 1.9 CDTI 150 is a nice engine if you get a good one. You don't want a crap one though
                             The 3.0 CDTI doesn't like being pushed.
                             The 2.2 petrol has a very fragile/expensive high pressure fuel pump. Avoid.
                           
 The 1.8 petrol Estate is my pick of the bunch, it is better on fuel than an Omega and has a similar sized boot and better rear space than an Omega. It will do 30mpg all day long, costs significantly less to buy than an Diesel one.
Budget for a radiator if it's around 100k, but a genuine one is only £120. Parts are cheap as chips too. Good for at least 170k miles and counting...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402141808229/sort/default/usedcars/make/vauxhall/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/radius/1501/fuel-type/petrol/postcode/sl30hq/body-type/estate/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/model/vectra/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201401141031442/sort/default/usedcars/make/vauxhall/fuel-type/petrol/model/vectra/postcode/sl30hq/page/4/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/radius/1501/body-type/estate/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l?logcode=p

First car is the cheapest one on Autotrader, second one is the second most expensive, but the only one in that spec. Plenty to choose from though

I know of three 1.8s being used as taxis, no significant issues with any of them and now at a combined 400k miles.

Had a 1.8 diesel auto Mondeo estate as a courtesy car, used as much fuel as the Omega around town, horrible cheap interior trim too, could never buy one. Ok the Vectra is plasticy, but it has decent carpet and is uncluttered inside

For the left field suggestion...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402091674185/sort/default/usedcars/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/radius/1501/postcode/sl30hq/page/1/make/mercedes-benz/body-type/estate?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402091674185/sort/default/usedcars/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/radius/1501/postcode/sl30hq/page/1/make/mercedes-benz/body-type/estate?logcode=p

Wouldn't buy any later thasn that second one... looked after it should outlast you

[henryd]

....

I'm cautious about Mercs or  ..... spare parts costs
 ......

So far ...... I haven't found MB's spares to be that expensive 

Yep I find Merc bits quite reasonable,generally better than VW/Audi/Bmw

[05omegav6]

If it must be automatic, then the 1.8 Vectra is a non starter as it's manual only. Shame as otherwise it will tick most every box

Which only leaves the W124 Merc estate, buy the best you can afford and look after it

Or... http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C464105 with 11 months MoT

[Ady]

I would say BMW 530d I drive one as a company car and use omega for bashing around town and a bit of drifting. the BMW is massive and loads of power and very economical especially once remapped. And as I was an owner of 3 BMW e36 in the past they are considerably cheaper in parts than omegas.
I was rather shocked as this is my first omega and tho a lovely car it's constantly in need of repair and at a very high cost. Where as bmws tend to go longer between service and a lot more simple to work on.

[cd 2.2]

Avoid Mondeo's, If you get a manual they are a dual mass flywheel (ask me how I know) and a clutch change will be £700 + to do it right. Also they have swirl plates in the "plastic" inlet manifold in the case of a petrol ... the bars that go through these plates has a tendency to snap and get ingested along with the plastic swirl plates (again ask me how I know) and are generally a pita to get repaired especially as regards costs ... Truly a throw away car Imho

[05omegav6]

I would say BMW 530d I drive one as a company car and use omega for bashing around town and a bit of drifting. the BMW is massive and loads of power and very economical especially once remapped. And as I was an owner of 3 BMW e36 in the past they are considerably cheaper in parts than omegas.
I was rather shocked as this is my first omega and tho a lovely car it's constantly in need of repair and at a very high cost. Where as bmws tend to go longer between service and a lot more simple to work on.

There's a few Coppers on here who might beg to differ

[Ever Ready]

How about a B5 Passat estate? Petrol or Diesel, 4 motion or fwd, some don't like them or find them unreliable but my last one a 1.9tdi was a gem
it did 108,000 miles in 18 months and was a great car, it was used as a fully loaded service vehicle and still had its original clutch & exhaust when it went back.

Did everything I asked of it, drank a litre oil between services up until about 60k

I would have another tomorrow, I had a Golf estate before it and it was nearly as good just not as big a load area

[I_want_an_Omega]

Avoid Mondeo's, If you get a manual they are a dual mass flywheel (ask me how I know) and a clutch change will be £700 + to do it right. Also they have swirl plates in the "plastic" inlet manifold in the case of a petrol ... the bars that go through these plates has a tendency to snap and get ingested along with the plastic swirl plates (again ask me how I know) and are generally a pita to get repaired especially as regards costs ... Truly a throw away car Imho

Er, how do you know?

What are your feelings on the 2.5T petrol engine as fitted between '07 & '10.

[05omegav6]

The T5 is pretty robust, ask any Traffic Plod , but being petrol, turbo and relatively heavy they are rather thirsty

[Andy B]

Avoid Mondeo's, If you get a manual they are a dual mass flywheel (ask me how I know) and a clutch change will be £700 + to do it right.  ....

same as a 3 pedal Omega then