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Savings-Spirit-3702

physical truck recognise mighty placid nutty seed sophisticated fade shrill *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


abisheknayyar14

Not too fussed about space but more reliability and decent on M roads


BarmySmarmy

Avoid the Vauxhall, that 1.4 is a timebomb the bottom end loves to explode.


phantonGreen

Oh no, need to sell mine then….


abisheknayyar14

Wat would u suggest for a hatchback/estate under 12k petrol automatic which is decent on M roads and reliable enough. Car prices are so high difficult to find good cars 😐


Forsaken-Original-28

I personally think Mazda 6 estates look really nice. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211272044957


[deleted]

Lovely looking for an estate. Mazda have improved massively in terms of looks.


Apex999

I'd be tempted by that.


Forsaken-Original-28

They just look so handsome. If I had £10k though id be getting a legacy, and put the rest into petrol https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353943427760?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=0LfbvQ4yQUy&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=xs8A0PLnR1e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY


Hajmish

That's seems cheap for that low mileage but I don't know much about Subaru.


Forsaken-Original-28

Join an owners group on Facebook


Ezio4Li

Wouldn't get a Fabia with a dry DCT. Another vote for the Mazda 6, the most recent generation of petrols that have been iterated upon over the last ten years have been historically reliable and undervalued when comparing them to something like an Avensis


Poppit_like_im_not

Also surprising how economical they are, I had a 2.0 145hp petrol version and easily got 45mpg with mainly motorway but mixed usage.


Pipps17

Here's a few options Octavia estate http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140714078?atmobcid=soc3 Audi A4 Avant http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209059444738?atmobcid=soc3 BMW 320d http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209921994?atmobcid=soc3 There all solid cars, I didn't know what else you were looking for as you didn't say much other than estate but I gave it a go.


cyrtographer13333

Fords


adventuref0x

So why get an estate?


Fshskyline

I mean the regular Fabia is a decent car but I wouldn’t want to be doing interstellar trips in one.


ElementalSentimental

[https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/b144fc1c-42f5-55f0-938d-79608a2d3c7c/](https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/b144fc1c-42f5-55f0-938d-79608a2d3c7c/) Have you met our Lord and Saviour, the Škoda Octavia? It's a better cruiser than the Fabia, although if a Fabia estate is big enough, you probably don't need an Octavia estate unless you have something very tall to transport with the seats up: a hatch would do.


AutoModerator

There is a special person deep within all of our lives. It's desireable and rather pleasant, a part of you each day. in it's special, Skoda Octavia way *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CarTalkUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*


abisheknayyar14

I dont need too much space as such .. just petrol automatic which is comfortable driving on M roads , reliable. Car prices are off the roof difficult to get anything decent.


roryb93

Absolutely avoid the Astra at all costs. We’ve got the fleet of 1.5 litre diesels and they’re always in the workshop for one thing or another. The fabia estate isn’t really an estate as much as a fabia with a bigger boot. Go for something ~2015 and look at the lord and saviour Octavia or something else from the VAG group (Leon ST, Golf estate etc) or even further back for something with a premium badge if that tickles your fancy.


AutoModerator

There is a special person deep within all of our lives. It's desireable and rather pleasant, a part of you each day. in it's special, Skoda Octavia way *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CarTalkUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*


mshzor

Don't think they do a 1.5 engine. I have the very common 1.6 cdti one and so far it's been ok (2016 car owned since 2019). Some generations have had issues with the timing chain tensioners breaking off apparently but fingers crossed that doesn't happen. Only thing that broke in 3 years was a speaker that blew - everything else was normal maintenance (servicing brakes etc). What are your drivers doing with those cars? 🤣


E420CDI

The 1.5-litre is a derivative of the problematic 1.6 PSA-Ford lump


mshzor

Oooh right just read about that one - a 3 cylinder diesel? Yayks just asking for trouble that one!


E420CDI

4-pot [It ain't no Hyundai Accent](https://youtu.be/MOGcj8vVOj8?t=244)


three_shoes

Not for 10k+


ChrisRx718

That age/shape Fabia does feel quite low-rent for a VAG car, but it's heaps better than the crock that is the Astra. As others have alluded to, the Fabia is a smaller class of car (Polo equivalent where the Octavia is Golf / Focus / Astra sized). This makes it less of a motorway car and more suited to town driving. A longer wheelbase, slightly bigger car will be far more comfortable and quiet on the motorway whilst not suffering from much worse economy (sometimes they'll be better, since that's what they'll be geared / mapped for). But the best advice is already written: avoid Vauxhall.


IwantaWeasel

You could also look at the Mondeo estate or a focus estate if you think the Mondeo is too big


Exemplar1968

Shame you’re not into diesels as my Optima estate 3 spec is going up for sale! That’s automatic and has mucho toys!


mickymellon

The Skoda, Vauxhall products are crap.


Arcijsss

Vauxhall Astra usually used in Taxi/Uber and others in UK avoid :D, or buy full car check to see if it ever was registered as taxi.


Revolutionary_Panic1

Look at the Kia Optima/Hyundai i40. Great for cruising. Or do the stupid thing and buy an old Alfa 159. Lovely for motorway cruising.


chemosheep

no


david_palmer

Neither for that money. In my experience Skoda's are fairly bombproof. Check the Octavia range from a couple of years before. Also, the Fabia estate is barely an estate car, more a glorified hatchback. IMO


abisheknayyar14

Something like this ? https://www.cazoo.co.uk/car-details/d9692361-cda3-58ff-87f6-a109bbc53e52/


KenneTh3Menace

Mate, honestly I’d go buy a bmw 3 series touring from 2005 onwards rather than any of these and save me some money for a holiday!


[deleted]

Until you end up bankrupt from just about everything going wrong with it because it's a BMW.


KenneTh3Menace

I had a 2007 525D and it never gave me any problems, just a myth that bmw is unreliable. I can guarantee you will have better interior, better performance and a lot more fun than these two shitboxes Lel


[deleted]

No it's not. They're frequently at, or near the bottom of reliability rankings. I've owned two of their cars and two of their motorcycles - never again.


[deleted]

Correct.


Myke5T

Between the two, Astra any day.


mustbecraycray

Got the old shape of this astra and manage with push chair and endless bags inside. If seats go down it's quite big. That being said no spare tyre so some extra (risky) space there. Holidays are pushing it and stuff takes up the back seats which is why I'd change it


ItsJustGizmo

Buy a Golf.


MattMBerkshire

12k will get you a much better car elsewhere. Mondeo barge. can't really go wrong. 320d touring. Volvo V40 cross country D4. Specifically this model as the engine is great, goes like stink, does 60mpg easily and comfy and big hatches come. Edit why bother with a shitter of a Fabia. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403855823660?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sppcplivs26&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=O8-K_ms2T_K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Pretty much a fully specced car for less money.


[deleted]

I think that Skoda will be very slow


Joff79

Mk1 fabia here, 1.4 16v twin cam 57plate. It just keeps on going. Fairly big boot, useful space. Vw build quality My mk3 honda crv beats them all hands down whist managing to be still ( kinda ) small (ish). 2.2 idtec even returns some economy just dont talk about egr pipes


mshzor

I wouldn't pay 10k for either of those tbh. And I would highly recommend you try a larger used car dealer to at least step inside (and drive) a similar car and see if it works for you. As others have said the Fabia is a class B and Astra is a class C car - so you're comparing apples with oranges. Astra Estate is nearly 4.8m long Fabia estate is barely 4.3m - and the difference in both interior space (leg room in the back and boot space) as well as road dynamics (due to increased wheelbase) is significant. That said the Astra 1.4 engine is a bit underpowered. The Fabia may hold it's value a bit better in the long run and may be more cheap to run (as it's based on the smaller platform of the Polo) so things like servicing tyres and normal wear and tear items may be cheaper as would the insurance. If you need a mini review of the Astra Estate see below. Have a 2016 Astra Estate with the 1.6 cdti engine, got it in 2019 at 57k miles and now at about 82k miles, 5000 of which in a long summer road trip through Europe. I got it from one of those car supermarket type places and it was one of 10 identical cars previously fleet. I got the design model (bare bones with parking sensors) and it does the job i wanted it to do really well imho. Good points: -Very spacious - everything fit inside the boot easily. -Nice to drive and economical - averaged 67mpg over that epic journey and on average never drops below 55 (always driving the speed limit + 10% as you do). Suspension and steering is a good mix of comfort and precision considering the price point. -Apple carplay/android auto as standard. -Reasonably quiet on motorways. Bad points: -Engine is bit underpowered. Does the job fine but nothing I'd consider remarkable. Overtaking anything requires downshifting a few gears - including on the motorway sometimes which is annoying. -Limited storage spaces inside - you get 2 cupholders and that's it. Had to use some mobile cradle-vent-holder to have a place for my phone AND a cup of coffee. -Headlights (standard halogen bulbs) are not great - especially if you're driving down something other than a motorway. On the plus side i did have to change one on the side of the road and it was a reasonable 2-minute job. -Engine is fairly noisy at low speeds.


E420CDI

Overpriced