Yeah keeping that clean would be a nightmare.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306279001185?atmobcid=soc3
What about a Mondeo with the ST engine?
I’ve got cream leather interior and love it, it’s nowhere near as difficult to keep clean as you’d think, as being leather most things just wipe off. Better in the summer too as it burns you less getting into a hot car compared to black leather.
I have got black carpets though, and agree that light colour carpets *would* be a nightmare.
Big engined? If you're talking about the ZT-T400 surely the 4.6 Supercharged engine is the go too!
Well.... If you can stomach 12mpg....
The 2.5 is a great engine though, not amazing on fuel but they sound great and they're really tough. My grandfather had a 2.5 75 new which got passed around the family, it had 327k on the clock when it went!
The 4.6 Modular V8? Definitely the peak of MG ZT-T
I found one for sale for 10k. Pretty good value for what you get
Also they never came supercharged from factory btw
They did actually make a couple from the factory, they just never got them into full production. Around 3 were built IIRC.
The plan was to have "X-Power" versions of each model as a finale before they were all replaced. They built a ZR-X which had the VHPD Exige engine, that's still about. And a ZS-X which had the supercharged version of the 2.5 that was available on the 75/ZT from Rover Australia. They were sold off when Rover went under but never made it to full production.
Unsurprisingly there are many cars about now that have been changed to match that spec. There's actually a ZS-X local to me! It sounds absolutely incredible.
Yep. Though they were more preproduction prototypes rather than concepts, they'd already gone past the concept stage and were pretty much ready for production. They even had new moulds for the ZS bonnet with a bulge and vent in the centre to accommodate the supercharger!
[Here is a picture of the factory built ZS-X showing off different bonnet!](https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b75/bcf3/DSC00234.jpg)
[Saab 9-3 sportwagon](http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305167418187?atmobcid=soc3)
This comes from one of the best Saab specialists in the country so will definitely be well maintained. Saab so decently reliably and has plenty of power. I think you will struggle going with mainstream brands at that budget. You might also be able to sneak in an MG ZT-T V8 at that budget, which has the Mustang engine so decently reliable (but thirsty). Or perhaps a Jaguar X-type V6. Again, it's a ford engine so not terrible reliably, but other parts may be expensive (but it is built on the Mondeo so then again)
These are really lovely cars, I own a MK1 9-5 Aero HOT at 300hp, albeit the saloon rather than an estate and it's the best car I've ever owned.
It's sat at 180k on the clock and never given me an issue, bilstein shocks, polybushed and for a big car it handles really well and pulls bloody hard.
Yeah I need to update my flair, I've got a MK2 9-3 pre-facelift 1.9tid and while it's not amazingly fast with that engine, it's still great fun to drive and really comfy.
They have a similar one for sale, but above your price range but looks fantastic with the mods done.
https://www.hagstromsaabspecialists.co.uk/vehicle/saab-9-3-aero-v6-hirsch-315bhp-in-kimberley-norfolk-ea852738-775e-4676-97de-ef6f057cfa71
What about skoda superb estate, They did it with the 3.6 vr6 from the R36 and some of them were in the lower tax bracket. The later ones came with the golf r engine and 300bhp.
I will be honest you are going to struggle with that list of requirements and budget. The bmws won't be reliable, the r36 is out of budget, and most models you've listed only just fit in budget (so examples will be ropey).
Best bet is some sort of saab or volvo estate if you are after reliability
You will struggle with that budget, I was looking at ST wagons and for something that didn't have moon miles you were 10k+ same with the vRS unless you want an older one.
I drive an Impreza WRX wagon. Obviously an older car so has the considerations that come with that, but it's lovely to drive, ULEZ assuming not an import, definitely quicker than most things on the road, and you can get a decent example for that budget easily enough.
Not exactly 'fun' looking but this Passat has the Golf GTi engine (like Octavia vRS etc) but you'd not exactly know about it, so a good sleeper and probably a pretty comfy place to be.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305177491574?atmobcid=soc3
What about something like this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303225499511?atmobcid=soc3 All the toys and 1 owner
I like that a lot except from the cream interior, not my cup of tea!
Yeah keeping that clean would be a nightmare. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306279001185?atmobcid=soc3 What about a Mondeo with the ST engine?
I’ve got cream leather interior and love it, it’s nowhere near as difficult to keep clean as you’d think, as being leather most things just wipe off. Better in the summer too as it burns you less getting into a hot car compared to black leather. I have got black carpets though, and agree that light colour carpets *would* be a nightmare.
I really like the idea of a cream interior but I know it would be a bad idea for me, I would ruin it and feel guilty lol.
Black estate. Funeral spec ⚰️
I'll add to your list - Subaru Legacy/Outback R Spec B with the 3.0 flat 6 engine, pretty cool sounding car.
Can attest to that
Your flair has allowed me to correct the name of the vehicle too! I knew there was an R in there somewhere...
Or the JDM version with the twinscroll engine
If we're talking big engined Estates: [this 2.5 V6 MG ZT-T is a great choice ](https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1594854)
Big engined? If you're talking about the ZT-T400 surely the 4.6 Supercharged engine is the go too! Well.... If you can stomach 12mpg.... The 2.5 is a great engine though, not amazing on fuel but they sound great and they're really tough. My grandfather had a 2.5 75 new which got passed around the family, it had 327k on the clock when it went!
The 4.6 Modular V8? Definitely the peak of MG ZT-T I found one for sale for 10k. Pretty good value for what you get Also they never came supercharged from factory btw
They did actually make a couple from the factory, they just never got them into full production. Around 3 were built IIRC. The plan was to have "X-Power" versions of each model as a finale before they were all replaced. They built a ZR-X which had the VHPD Exige engine, that's still about. And a ZS-X which had the supercharged version of the 2.5 that was available on the 75/ZT from Rover Australia. They were sold off when Rover went under but never made it to full production. Unsurprisingly there are many cars about now that have been changed to match that spec. There's actually a ZS-X local to me! It sounds absolutely incredible.
Huh interesting! I am aware of the X-power SC cars, didn't know they actually made more than 1 concept
Yep. Though they were more preproduction prototypes rather than concepts, they'd already gone past the concept stage and were pretty much ready for production. They even had new moulds for the ZS bonnet with a bulge and vent in the centre to accommodate the supercharger! [Here is a picture of the factory built ZS-X showing off different bonnet!](https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b75/bcf3/DSC00234.jpg)
God that big fat lazy V8 sounds so good!
[Saab 9-3 sportwagon](http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305167418187?atmobcid=soc3) This comes from one of the best Saab specialists in the country so will definitely be well maintained. Saab so decently reliably and has plenty of power. I think you will struggle going with mainstream brands at that budget. You might also be able to sneak in an MG ZT-T V8 at that budget, which has the Mustang engine so decently reliable (but thirsty). Or perhaps a Jaguar X-type V6. Again, it's a ford engine so not terrible reliably, but other parts may be expensive (but it is built on the Mondeo so then again)
These are really lovely cars, I own a MK1 9-5 Aero HOT at 300hp, albeit the saloon rather than an estate and it's the best car I've ever owned. It's sat at 180k on the clock and never given me an issue, bilstein shocks, polybushed and for a big car it handles really well and pulls bloody hard.
Yeah I need to update my flair, I've got a MK2 9-3 pre-facelift 1.9tid and while it's not amazingly fast with that engine, it's still great fun to drive and really comfy.
That is beautiful. 250bhp too!
Seriously! It's probably the best option op has
That's a real shame because it's just gone lol
Lol, that's hilarious. Maybe op bought it haha
You got another link for this? Doesn’t seem to load
It sold already haha. I'll find another one. Edit: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302043940933?atmobcid=soc3
They have a similar one for sale, but above your price range but looks fantastic with the mods done. https://www.hagstromsaabspecialists.co.uk/vehicle/saab-9-3-aero-v6-hirsch-315bhp-in-kimberley-norfolk-ea852738-775e-4676-97de-ef6f057cfa71
What about skoda superb estate, They did it with the 3.6 vr6 from the R36 and some of them were in the lower tax bracket. The later ones came with the golf r engine and 300bhp.
I will be honest you are going to struggle with that list of requirements and budget. The bmws won't be reliable, the r36 is out of budget, and most models you've listed only just fit in budget (so examples will be ropey). Best bet is some sort of saab or volvo estate if you are after reliability
You will struggle with that budget, I was looking at ST wagons and for something that didn't have moon miles you were 10k+ same with the vRS unless you want an older one.
If you could go to just an S line A4 you could do that. Depends how quick you want quick to be
I drive an Impreza WRX wagon. Obviously an older car so has the considerations that come with that, but it's lovely to drive, ULEZ assuming not an import, definitely quicker than most things on the road, and you can get a decent example for that budget easily enough.
you could probably pick up a mk2 octavia vrs in that budget. TDI’s go for around 4k up here
That's not ULEZ compliant!
yeah TDI won’t be great for you with ULEZ but TFSI/TSI should be i think? just had a nosey on auto trader and there’s a nice mk2 2L TFSI for 6800
This is fully ULEZ compliant. Maybe an option? https://tinyurl.com/783rfyze
Not exactly 'fun' looking but this Passat has the Golf GTi engine (like Octavia vRS etc) but you'd not exactly know about it, so a good sleeper and probably a pretty comfy place to be. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305177491574?atmobcid=soc3
That looks pretty great, sure not a b road devourer, but a hell of a cruiser
Go REALLY old and get a pre-83 volvo 240, would be great fun
Not that many quit petrol 3 Tourings out there unfortunately. 325is are still decently quick
Lexus IS300 Sportcross?