Jacko 2154 Report post Posted September 15, 2022 (edited) Looking at updating the company wheels, Ractis rattling like sh*t on the open road is doing my head (going to keep it though)... Need a decent sized wagon that isnt snot boring to drive, is white, is good on gas around town and open road is livable. Needs to be reliable and cheapish to run 20-25kish max budget.. will have it for 4 or so years, so will likely see 200k on the odo in my ownership. Few things considering - Subaru Levorg, probably 1.6 - Fuel economy isnt apparently as good as advertised and suspension is garbage (plus CVT might be a hand grenade, not many have much more than 100k on them) Skoda Octavia Vrs (diesel or 2.0 petrol) - Seem pretty good but price is kinda steep for whats out there F31 320d wagon (Msport so not a boat, 2013-2017ish) - How reliable are these? Timing chain issues on the PreLCI? They are comparatively cheap. What the diesels like on short trips? Edited September 15, 2022 by Jacko Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aja540i 1906 Report post Posted September 15, 2022 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/523i/listing/3314731371?bof=LKijDPLK 3.5 star fuel economy, but should be less rattly than a Ractis! Or something a bit different... https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/toyota/crown/listing/3693693621?bof=LKijDPLK I hate myself for saying it, but this is probably more suitable and there seem to be plenty around https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/toyota/corolla/listing/3761413987?bof=LKijDPLK 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palazzo 477 Report post Posted September 15, 2022 Petrol https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/ford/mondeo/listing/3758294339 Diesel https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/ford/mondeo/listing/3752948445 Lots of space, drive good, enough grunt and pretty sure they had sorted any gearbox issues by then, which mainly seemed to be maintenance driven. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GorGasm 563 Report post Posted September 15, 2022 CLA180/250 Is the Levorg really not a good handler? Surprising. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kees 594 Report post Posted September 15, 2022 (edited) 2.0L Passat TDI Wagon or Audi A4/A6 AVANT 3.0 TDI? Don't think they have a ton of issues. My friend's father has a diesel Passat with 200,000+km, it's had no issues and he loves the fuel economy. I wonder if the savings of a super economical diesel euro will offset the more expensive maintenance of a Euro compared to a petrol Japanese equivalent. Examples: NZ New 2015 Passat TDI Wagon (80,000km) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/passat/listing/3765391258 NZ New 2012 Audi A6 Avant TDI (120,000km) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/audi/a6/listing/3768398160 --EDIT-- Another one I've just thought of, and I think they look rather swanky is a newer Mazda 6 diesel wagon. Example: NZ New 2018 Mazda 6 Wagon Diesel (60,000km) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/mazda/6/listing/3729051182 I think they look really smart. Haven't looked into long term reliability, from memory older CX5s suffered from turbo issues, not sure if that was in diesel or petrol engines though but would be worth looking into. Edited September 15, 2022 by Kees Just remembered the Mazda 6... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 (edited) The earlier 3rd gen Mazda 6 diesel is not a good option. DPF blocks easily as the re-gen programming is crap, leads to oil dilution and engine explosions. A petrol one would last a lot longer. Avoid a Subaru Levorg, terrible things. Edit: the answer is Lexus CT200h. Edited September 16, 2022 by dirtydoogle 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lord_jagganath 421 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 VWAG can't go wrong tbf. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/320d/listing/3673080549 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/skoda/superb/listing/3770053502 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/passat/listing/3725542822 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/passat/listing/3731390197 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/passat/listing/3772738853 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/passat/listing/3762845153 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/passat/listing/3499675454 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/audi/a4/listing/3756942745 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2154 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, GorGasm said: CLA180/250 Is the Levorg really not a good handler? Surprising. Yeah suspension setup for motorways, was bunch of people in aussie trying to get their money back on them due to dangerous handling on real roads, the fix is apparently WRX struts. I took one for a drive around town, felt OK, but not really "real world", 1.6 was fairly punchy for a 1.6 though. CLA is interesting, will have a dig. Want to have a look at this as well, https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/320d/listing/3545353213?bof=t8nrTqd7, its B47D20 according to VIN. Lots of the LCIs in the 2015/2016 bracket still seem to have N47s. These are also on the list - https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/skoda/octavia/listing/3757007674?bof=t8nrTqd7 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/skoda/octavia/listing/3771809985?bof=t8nrTqd7 Edited September 16, 2022 by Jacko Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3570 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 27 minutes ago, Jacko said: CLA is interesting, will have a dig. Want to have a look at this as well, https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/320d/listing/3545353213?bof=t8nrTqd7, its B47D20 according to VIN. Lots of the LCIs in the 2015/2016 bracket still seem to have N47s. this looks great for 20 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GorGasm 563 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 I reckon the 328i touring is a solid choice if you need to keep an eye on economy. My 535i is rather frugal once it's out on the open road, the 328i should be more so. https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/328i/listing/3552299394?bof=t8nrTqd7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3570 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/328i/listing/3580641626?bof=t8nrTqd7 not an msport but pretty cheap. sub 100ks but barely so probably a lot of maintenance due soon if not now.. otherwise a couple more white ones in wellington region but more $ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 If you're putting 200km on something over 4 years, probably don't buy something with an early N20, N47 or B47 😶 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2154 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 37 minutes ago, dirtydoogle said: If you're putting 200km on something over 4 years, probably don't buy something with an early N20, N47 or B47 😶 whats up with the B47s? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtydoogle 383 Report post Posted September 16, 2022 24 minutes ago, Jacko said: whats up with the B47s? They seem to be hitting the age where timing chains are becoming and issue, just like the N20 and N47. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2154 Report post Posted September 17, 2022 Octavia Vrs TDI looks more and more appealing. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E28E30 335 Report post Posted September 17, 2022 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Jacko said: Octavia Vrs TDI looks more and more appealing. Is it worth the economy gain v RUCs v diesel now being dearer? You do high mileage I think eh? I did comparison on an F30 320i v 320d and for my use it seemed the petrol was going to be better, just. Would a petrol vRS do too? Must admit I didn’t know they’d imported a bunch of 4wd diesel ones, that’s cool:) Edited September 17, 2022 by E28E30 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neil McCauley 394 Report post Posted September 17, 2022 51 minutes ago, Jacko said: Octavia Vrs TDI looks more and more appealing. Have a go in a Superb 4x4 Sportline. Slightly more boring to drive than an Octavia vRS, but the boot is absolutely cavernous - 160L bigger than an F31, and it also uses the same motor as the Golf-R. The Mazda 6 wag is a good call as well - my friends with multiple kids all seemed to have migrated to them as load luggers. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Young Thrash Driver 1020 Report post Posted September 17, 2022 I'll put in another good word for a petrol Mazda 6 wagon. 20-25K will get you a facelift 2015-2018 model with modest km on the clock. Don't buy a diesel one, they are Mazda's E9X 320i. We have had a 2nd gen Mazda 6 wagon for 5 years and 180,000km and it has proven to be cheap to run, simple to maintain, room enough for 3 car seats and drives well enough. Later generations are quite a step up in interior finish. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gofaster 101 Report post Posted September 17, 2022 20 hours ago, dirtydoogle said: If you're putting 200km on something over 4 years, probably don't buy something with an early N20, N47 or B47 😶 and I've gotta ask about the N20 = what probs, is there a thread I can checkout? Was shortlisting the F20 125i for next daily - if I can convince myself to go Auto Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2956 Report post Posted September 17, 2022 7 hours ago, Jacko said: Octavia Vrs TDI looks more and more appealing. Very under-rated cars imho. If you are doing a lot of kms, especially open road with a decent load of gear onboard then that is where a diesel comes into its own in terms of economy. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kwhelan 241 Report post Posted September 18, 2022 (edited) https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/holden/commodore/listing/3761163791 take one of these for a drive, there euro economical 9 speed 2.0 or v6 and go like a cut cat when floored, handle well, comfy and roomy, aussies didn;t take to them but there better than a mondeo and hugely underated, the car has the same floor plan so hatch is large too, can swallow 3m lengths of wood and sheets or ply easily Edited September 18, 2022 by kwhelan 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mzhu031 38 Report post Posted September 18, 2022 Accord euro wagon, the older ones are better if you were thinking of putting an exhaust on (newer ones the manifold is intergrated). Cant beat a K24 for reliability either... https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/honda/accord/listing/3771558344 There are some white ones too with a bit more ks 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2154 Report post Posted September 27, 2022 Ended up with a 2016 Octavia VRS, DSG with 162kw, NZ new with one owner (other than Skoda NZ who used it as promo car for cycling event) and 72000km on the clock. Looked after by the one skoda dealer since new. Will haul it back from Welly later in the week, good shake down drive 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacko 2154 Report post Posted September 30, 2022 This things f**ken hilarious. Vrs mode and it sounds like a RS4 V8, completely fake, but it goes from boring generic middle management wagon into snarling angry terrier, its proper agro . Set the Old Taupo Rd (W) Vrs time, good fun, gearbox is cool (very clever software), steering is dead but suspension is well tuned. Even with the thrashing still ended up with 7.1l/100km over 640km journey. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kwhelan 241 Report post Posted September 30, 2022 enjoy it while it lasts , be 80km per hour the whole way before you know it, yes I still ignore the 80 on the taupo road but its easier to get over the 40km over limit where the penalties get serious and they are investing in a whole lot of new cameras including timed gates, imagine when they clock you at start of journey and end and can calculate the difference, 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
