£3k to spend

[mymini007]

I am looking for a big estate to use for work and to ferry the kids round and do camping trips etc

Criteria

Reliability
Load space
Tidy looking
To be used daily
Seven seats would be a bonus
Leather
Reasonable MPG 30 I can live with but obviously more is better

I have been looking at the
ML 270
W210 320 and 300 petrol or diesel
W124 300 - good ones seem rare and pricey

Is there something I am missing or should I keep looking in the above avenues, also is the ML a good idea?

 

[Alex]

ML. It will be newer than the other 2 and more fun to drive.

 

[Sp!ke]

Volvo V70 D5 SE.

I know it isn't a Mercedes but it'll do everything you want and more. 7 seats, lots of toys, uber reliable and 50mpg.

 

[flango]

A £3k ML will cost you twice as much again to repair, mine was a right money pit and the worst car I have ever bought. Stay well clear at that money or you will be in an all new world of pain

I spent a fortune on mine and then go so peed off with unreliability I sold it at quite a loss just to get shut.

I would be looking at newer C class estates at that money if they are big enough for your needs

+ I agree with Spike I currently have 2 x Volvo V70's and have had Volvos as my daily driver for the last 15 years, they can't be beaten for the duty you want

 

[mymini007]

A £3k ML will cost you twice as much again to repair, mine was a right money pit and the worst car I have ever bought. Stay well clear at that money or you will be in an all new world of pain

I spent a fortune on mine and then go so peed off with unreliability I sold it at quite a loss just to get shut.

I would be looking at newer C class estates at that money if they are big enough for your needs

+ I agree with Spike I currently have 2 x Volvo V70's and have had Volvos as my daily driver for the last 15 years, they can't be beaten for the duty you want

I had a V70 R a few years ago. Great car, but just boring to look at although fast in a straight line. I will have a look, I have not really considered volvo after my last experience with my wifes V40, sounds like it was built by the bloke that built your ML

 

[Sp!ke]

you'd want the D5 engine for economy.

 

[mymini007]

They do seem to tick all the boxes

2004 VOLVO V70 D5 BLUE LEATHER, 7 SEATS. | eBay

 

[flango]

I had a V70 R a few years ago. Great car, but just boring to look at although fast in a straight line. I will have a look, I have not really considered volvo after my last experience with my wifes V40, sounds like it was built by the bloke that built your ML

I had a V40 too and that was a dog, Volvo just got it wrong with that car total mismatch of chassis and engine but thats what you get when you combine genuine volvo bits and ford bits.

The V70 is leagues above a V40 a bit boring but it does do everything it says on the tin, My D5 is mapped to 250 bhp by Polestar, when its out of warranty in October it will be going up to 300 bhp. So get a D5 spend £165 to map it to 300 bhp and there is not much that will pass you you have practicality and fun in one vehicle

I have now had 5 V70's and the only failure I have had was a rear wheel bearing and that was when I did a lot of site work and it used to get covered in carp. As Spike says uber reliable so a pleasant ownership experience

 

[Vlad]

If it were me I would opt for a W210 and either the 240 or 260.....both are very cheap and you could get a great one, with clean bodywork for £2k and both are pretty much bomb proof mechanically.

A £3K ML270 will be high mileage and maybe not the best of examples, which could then be banking up future large maintenance bills.

Whilst I used to like V70's I've unfortunately seen a large number of them in recent years with auto boxes giving up around the 100k mark and they are expensive to replace. + and not surprisingly we see quite a few coming in around the 100k mark when the Cam Belt needs changing.

 

[mymini007]

I had a V40 too and that was a dog, Volvo just got it wrong with that car total mismatch of chassis and engine but thats what you get when you combine genuine volvo bits and ford bits.

The V70 is leagues above a V40 a bit boring but it does do everything it says on the tin, My D5 is mapped to 250 bhp by Polestar, when its out of warranty in October it will be going up to 300 bhp. So get a D5 spend £165 to map it to 300 bhp and there is not much that will pass you you have practicality and fun in one vehicle

I have now had 5 V70's and the only failure I have had was a rear wheel bearing and that was when I did a lot of site work and it used to get covered in carp. As Spike says uber reliable so a pleasant ownership experience

They seem quite leggy for the money i am looking at, but if I keep looking I will find something I am sure

 

[flango]

Whilst I used to like V70's I've unfortunately seen a large number of them in recent years with auto boxes giving up around the 100k mark and they are expensive to replace. + and not surprisingly we see quite a few coming in around the 100k mark when the Cam Belt needs changing.

Good point don't buy an auto, boxes are fragile after 100k unless it's been serviced by an Indie and had fluids and filters changed.

 

[janner]

Something like this?

2007 Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCi Titanium Estate | eBay

 

[Sp!ke]

The autoboxes are fine as long as the gearbox oil has been changed. Many haven't been ever hence the problems.

 

[V12]

Ml likes a drink and 7 seats are tiny.

W210 or V70 are only options really.

 

[mymini007]

Something like this?

2007 Ford Mondeo 2.2 TDCi Titanium Estate | eBay

looking for 7 seat really.

If it were me I would opt for a W210 and either the 240 or 260.....both are very cheap and you could get a great one, with clean bodywork for £2k and both are pretty much bomb proof mechanically.

A £3K ML270 will be high mileage and maybe not the best of examples, which could then be banking up future large maintenance bills.

Whilst I used to like V70's I've unfortunately seen a large number of them in recent years with auto boxes giving up around the 100k mark and they are expensive to replace. + and not surprisingly we see quite a few coming in around the 100k mark when the Cam Belt needs changing.

Do the 260/240 have a bit of a drink problem ?

 

[Giantvanman]

Thinking outside the box, how about a Honda Accord Estate? Cancel…..just read previous post regarding seat numbers.

 

[V12]

I appreciate it's a bit high mileage, but looks like a bargain?

Volvo V70 2.0D SE 5dr

What do people think of the earlier tdi engine before the D5? I know a Volvo breaker who runs one and swears that it is the best engine volvo have ever fitted. He tows with it and does uber mileage and the thing will not die. He tells me he does an oil change once a year and that's it.

 

[mymini007]

I appreciate it's a bit high mileage, but looks like a bargain?

Volvo V70 2.0D SE 5dr

What do people think of the earlier tdi engine before the D5? I know a Volvo breaker who runs one and swears that it is the best engine volvo have ever fitted. He tows with it and does uber mileage and the thing will not die. He tells me he does an oil change once a year and that's it.

I did look at that one, but the mileage and the lack of the 7 seat option put me off

 

[Sp!ke]

Is that your postcode V12 or did you randomise it?

Might want to edit it if it is indeed your postcode...

 

[merc85]

My tuned 855 t5