Show us your estates

[AnnoyingPentium]

14 minutes ago, Griffin said:

Some great estates on these pages, like a good estate and this is mine. Though it is actually classed as a hatchback its as big as an estate.

Signum 1.9cdti, rear seats are adjustable and slide forward/back depending on if you want leg room or boot room. Seats fold flat and give a load length of 1.8m

I don't see them often so I get a little giddy when I do see one.

 

[inconsistant]

Great thread! I do like an estate, and as has been said before I often think that estate versions of cars look more elegant and balanced than saloons. And they make good sense, if you’re going to take up a certain amount of road space you might as well make it as useful as possible.

My first car was an estate, a 1977 Mini Clubman. Gusset brown, gold side stripes and rear van doors. One owner from new and very low mileage. Unreliable but fun to own and drive. Not all the fun was good fun. Bought in 1993 owned for 4 yrs. Sold to my cousin.

 

 

 

My second car wasn’t an estate at the time, but apparently is one now. At the time it was just an E reg VW Polo (as opposed to a Polo Saloon or a Polo Coupe) . But now they seem to be called Polo Estates. Or that other name that I’m not going to use because it’s too pretentious unless you own one of these and you’re an actual baker delivering loaves. The Polo was a 1.0C which was fairly base. Bought in 1997.

 

 

After the Polo  my wife got a job that required lots of driving so she got company cars and we had a run of new small to medium hatchbacks. I also bought my Mini Clubman Estate back from my cousin a few years later but by this time it had failed an MOT catastrophically so I kept it for a year or two hoping to fix it up but was too skint so it got sold on as a project.

 

 

Fast forward a few years and by the time we came to start a family my wife had a 2004 Mini that was due to be handed back, and a friend of a friend was selling a 10 yr old 140,000 miles Audi A6 1.8T for £900 so we replaced the Mini with that. We both loved it, it was brilliant for chucking all the parenty stuff in and went quite well for such a big car although it was a bit slow off the line. Once on the move was a nice cruiser, and I really liked the way these A6’s looked especially the rears. I think this was quite a progressive era for Audi and their cars just got better and better with each release. We had it about 2 years. Due to massive tiredness and not thinking it through we spent a huge amount on it for the MOT as it needed a new exhaust, 2 tyres, a replacement ECU and the windscreen replaced when we really should have just binned it. That MOT cost us more than the car did. We sold it shortly after to a family member and a few weeks later it died of a seized engine due to an incompetent mechanic leaving it with almost no oil in it after a service. We were obvs gutted after all the money we had spent on it only a month or two before it got scrapped.

 

 

We sold the A6 as my wife went back to work and got another company car, she wasn’t fussed as long as it was an estate (the A6 won her round to estates) so she was given a 3 yr old Focus Mk2. It was decent enough, it drove well but the interior didn’t feel very nice. We had it for about a year without anything remarkable happening other than my wife hitting a lorry wheel/tyre at rush hour on the M25 which smashed up the bumper/valance, damaged the underside of the engine, some of the suspension and the floor of the car too. The garage it went to for repairs were surprised she managed to drive it home. It was in the garage a few weeks being repaired. I can only find snow covered photos of it.

 

 

Shortly after getting it back from the garage she changed jobs and we were back to buying our own car again. We ended up with a late model highish spec Volvo V40, about 7 yrs old that looked nice but was a very ordinary 1.9td underneath, although much nicer than the much newer Focus. It was by far the most expensive car we’d ever bought and we had it about 7 or 8 years and took it from 75,000 to 115,000 miles, it was so unremarkable but just sort of did what we needed it too. I’m sure someone on here recently described them something like ‘too competent to hate, too dull to love’ which was spot on. Did some long trips to North of Scotland, Switzerland and France a few times and very little went wrong other than known stuff like bonnet catch failed, handbrake was rubbish, heater resister stopped working, alloys weren’t airtight, etc.

We bought it in fab condition and tried to keep it nice and maintained it really well, with the intention of keeping it either forever, or at least for a very long time. Unfortunately that didn’t work out out, because of this.

 

My wife had gone back to Uni and was in the middle of a work placement at the time so we were skint but also needed a car asap to see her through the last 3 months of her course. I looked here on Autoshite and by a stroke of luck JayB had just put up an advert for a massively well equipped but high mileage but well maintained black V70. My wife, being a bit shaken and nervous about driving again (massive understatement) was happy to have as big a car as possible, and we all fancied another Volvo so a V70 fitted the bill perfectly. After driving off from JayB’s it took me about 2 miles to fall in love with it. The high spec bells and whistles, the 5 cylinder burble and the being pushed back into the seat flooring it at motorway speeds won me over, fortunately the other half loves it too and so we still have it nearly 3 years later, having fixed a number of the issues that were present when we bought it. It’s not such a great suburban commuter but on a long journey it’s a wonderful car to have to spend all day in. It has a number of issues that either need attending too or might spell the end of the road depending on how things pan out, but in the meantime we’re using it regularly and hoping it lasts until used car prices stop being daft so we can replace it with a newer model V70. Currently at 225,000 miles but would love to get it to moon mileage before we move it on or it dies.

So that’s my life in 7 estates spanning Mini to V70.

old mini02,jpg

[loserone]

Hang on, if we're including a breadvan polo, how low can we go?

An Impreza?

 

I'd call that just a hatchback.  What about a Peugeot Partner?

[horriblemercedes]

56 minutes ago, inconsistant said:

 

 

 

Jesus, all that damage done by one umbrella?!

[Bren]

5 hours ago, Griffin said:

Some great estates on these pages, like a good estate and this is mine. Though it is actually classed as a hatchback its as big as an estate.

Signum 1.9cdti, rear seats are adjustable and slide forward/back depending on if you want leg room or boot room. Seats fold flat and give a load length of 1.8m

It was a mate's signum that got me into that gen of vauxhall. His was the 2.2 petrol so had a permanently illuminated EML.

[Six-cylinder]

Just so I could have a second post in this excellent thread I have bought another estate car today!

[FakeConcern]

I've only had three estate cars starting with an Allagro in Tahiti blue. I bought it as a stop gap from a wheeler dealer trader when selling my 1275gt . In those day you had an ad in Exchange & Mart often no pictures or a tiny black and white one. I met the chap in a petrol station in Kennington in the dark in the rain so I suppose I got what was coming to me! It was actually very clean with no rust, when I took off the fur fabric seat covers the vinyl seats were perfect and quite comfy. It was a one owner car with only about 56k miles showing (no idea if this was genuine), but the A series engine was totally fucked, it drank oil, the oil light would randomly come on while driving and after about a week of ownership, it started pouring out blue exhaust when started and whenever it felt like it. I sold it to a lad who intended to put a Cooper S engine in it so I didn't feel too bad!

This is the only picture I have of it...

The next estate was a Mini Clubman in Lime Flower (I think). I bought this from my Brother in Law to use for work and general knocking around in so as not to spoil the Mk3 XR3i I had at the time. I have no idea what miles it had, but it was pretty tatty and the rear subframe fell to bits soon after I got it followed by the transfer gear bearing haha. Someone at work described it as having "window boxes" where all sorts of vegitation was growing in the rear window channels!

I lent it to friend for quite a few years and he also used my AA number when it broke down once, he just remembered in time when the AA man used my name! In the end he had it so long I gave it to him.

These are the only pictures I can find of it, as you can see it was quite tatty...

I think this one of my mate driving it was taken from my XR3i ...

Lastly, the most I've ever spent on a car A Volvo V70 T5 Auto in Polarctic (it said white in the log book) it was three years old and 60k miles when I got it. What a great car it was, fast, super comfortable and actually handled pretty well with good road holding and was quite a sleeper really. It had built in booster seats and the extra seats in the boot which came in handy when we went out with friends who also had kids. Had it for seven years by which time it was up to 175k miles (most driven by Mrs Concern) and the auto box was making hard shifts. I did improve it with a change of ATF, but by then both kids could drive and had their own cars, so sold it on ebay.

Nice pale leather..

Booster seats built in...

Dickie seat in the back...

I like estate cars and if I needed one now, I'd have a previous gen Volvo V60 like Cento 16v has, except I'd want a petrol one which might be hard to find!

[sierraman]

I frequently think an estate would suit me down to ground again. The last, a Mondeo Mk3 was probably one of the worst most unreliable pieces of shit for most people but also my favourite. I don’t know what it was putting out but it had been remapped and it flew, it drove like an absolute dog though. I gave £400 on it, drove it like I’d stolen it for 9 months until it dropped its bollocks, even then I managed to coax it back into life enough to get £450 back for it. If anything I think it proved cars are ungrateful shits and appreciate mistreatment when they’re in the final few years. 

It did try killing me on more than one occasion by cutting out and thus applying the steering lock on the motorway. That and the axial rod falling out of the steering rack just after coming off the motorway the day after I bought it got me thinking either I killed it or it was going to kill me. 

[Out Run]

On 1/20/2022 at 7:10 PM, brownnova said:

Both on topic and on your tangent…. 
 

Jot mine, and to be honest can’t say I like it much. 

Built by 'burgo' on the PNG forum, years back. I remember the build thread, as he basically done the thing in a week or something, with little sleep. 

[Out Run]

I also owned this 940 LPT estate, about 12 years ago, but not for long.
We pulled the engine out of it, to convert my 360. IIRC I paid £140 for the estate and it was fine, aside from a broken screen.

😂

 

[New POD]

My Dad has had so many estate cars,  most not all have been.

Mk2 Cortina estate

Mk4 cortina estate

Mk4 series 80 cortina estate

Sierra Estates x2 (one a beige dangly mirror base the other a 2.0 ghia.

Mk1 focus estate

Mk2 Focus estate

Mk4 focus estate.

All from new. 

 

I think it's this fact that when I suggest buying an estate my wife says she hates them. 

[spike60]

I'm a bit late to the party but in 40 odd years of owning cars I've had a few estates.

Lately due to family work changes I wound up with 2 German auto 3L diesels, 1 had to go. 

2008 150k BMW 530d, sold with wheels refurbed anthracite in as good nick inside and out as it looks here. Pain in the arse, it's gone to empty wallets elsewhere in the NE. It was asking too much of it to do 18k a year.

I kept this one instead, a Mercedes E320 cdi bought 3 years ago from the forum and also in very good nick inside and out. The black BMW's plainer more trustworthy cousin. Little bother aside from a few w211 foibles, - passenger mirror wiring, occasional turbo actuator flutter and clock has lost it's marbles. 2007 167k.

 

1999 BMW 530d on the ferry coming back from Rotterdam having burst a cheap Ebay rear suspension air bag on the motorway near Eindhoven in Holland. Bought with a grenaded gearbox and 233k as a cheap stop gap it stayed 4 years and went to 270k. Sold needing tyres, mot and exhaust manifold no one was more surprised than me when it got tested again. It was very good at being a big car. 

No, not the Lotus Dutton with the dippy lass on the bonnet, the 1976 Volvo 244 DL in the background. Her father was a driveway trader and sold it to us , 12 months T and T, 5 new Michelins with LHD, deep scruffiness and a nasty smell. It was also a stop gap that stayed for the long run.

 

 

 

[Longbridge Apologist]

Ok not my estate but a hell of a spot of one yesterday in old money Warwick Avenue:

 

[Longbridge Apologist]

After putting it on twitter and wondering what on earth a 940 Classic was, got quite a few replies from the odd familiar person...

 

[Soundwave]

Ooh, I can join in now, with my latest purchase. One of the more awkward side profiles...

[Mat.T]

I've only owned 3 estates.

Firstly my BMW 328i touring auto. Purchased for £300 did loads of work sorting various issues. Great car and nice colour. Drove for a year then sold to a friend. 

Next estate Vw polo 1.9SDi did about 40k in this.

Sold the polo on AS and got this Golf TDi to replace it. My current daily 

[beko1987]

Remembered seeing this thread as I was outside just now

And seeing as it's been washed it's the best time! 

Thinking about it I've had a few estates now... Think I prefer them even though it's just me in it 97% of the time... Its nice that small_estates exist for that reason

[metalshapes]

My old Mk1 Escort ( actually a Mk2 with Mk1 sheetmetal welded on ).

Lowered, Koni's ( revalved by the Koni race dept), 1600 Sport engine/gearbox/ rear axle, Webers, etc.

It was my daily driver, my tow car for the racer, and it even got some track time itself.

It was the perfect car for me at the time, but I had to leave it behind when I moved to the States.

I still miss it...

[Six-cylinder]

Four at home today all working.

[Pauly.22]

My touring, full black interior swap, seats and door cards are getting re trimmed at the moment, and a set of sport bumpers  will be fitted soon once painted. 

 

[Marina door handles]

I have had some estate cars but some are all a little unconventional...

Firstly there was the Scimitar (which I still have ) a 3dr sports estate/shooting brake count don't they?

Then there was the Alfa 156 Sportwagon, it looks like an estate but just like the BMW E30 3 series touring its actually tiny in the back but it looks right!

Then there was the Forester which is just a slightly jacked up estate, which does the estate thing pretty well which is impressive as its based on the Impreza which wasn't a big car.

There was also briefly this superbly unreliable thing.....

No not the MX5 the Range Rover (yep argue all you like its a 4x4 its an SUV but it is most definitely an estate as well), the boot was cavernous, sadly the electronics were roger 'ed and it failed to proceed part way through its final MOT ending up at Copart.

 

[Vantman]

A couple that i have previously owned---

[Rust Collector]

8 minutes ago, Vantman said:

Those old Saabs are beautiful creatures.

[dave j]

After owning an Octavia VRS estate for 5 years when it came to replace it I ended up with another one! The black one was on 213k and needed too much doing for me to justify spending on it... Plus I wanted a newer car! 

[Jazoli]

Most of my cars have been estates, this is my latest

it's good at being an estate but rather dull tbh.

[Lanciaman]

Had estates floating about since 2006. First was a 6 year old xantia td.  600 quid eBay buy. Followed by a fiat marea weekend. Various Subaru Legacy and Outbacks, with a saab 9-5 in between. 

Current Outback now 17 years old... Passed the mot yesterday.  3rd year on the trot with no advisories. Brill car, tax and mpg aside.  

[MiniMinorMk3]

I've had a couple of estates.

This one turned up in 2010

Soon after acquisition it had some sportier mirrors and wheels.

After a disc brake conversion it had another wheel change

It was sold on about 8 years ago.

I had this 318i as a daily for about 4 years

This Clubfoot has been Mrs Minors daily for the last 4 years

[Rustybullethole]

Just leafing through here got me thinking i've never owned an estate which is odd. Guess it comes down to having always had a van so not needed. 

My dad had a few. 

Lada Riva

Sierra (lease car with his job)

Astra (same)

Escort (same) I was on the insurance of this one at 17 and he was constantly on my case about it smelling of smoke and the seats getting stained/hot rocked. Was him who crashed it mind then he became less precious. 

After sitting and contemplating I realise ive had a 405 diesel that i ran on veg for a bit as did the previous owner who spilled a load of waste oil in the boot. Couldn't rid the stench so sold it. Had a 2 ltr mondy too bought for 50 quid and flipped the same day for 250 to a banger racer for the world finals. He only wanted to know if the clutch was good so i proved such by launching it up the street. It span its way to third so he loaded it up and took it away. Was the only time i drove it as had a framed it home in the transit.  Nearly lost it then as off camber wet roundabout had it push the back end off my tranny sideways, planting foot sorted it though my undercackers were ruined. 

Had a breadvan and the current Berlingo though don't think they qualify.

[Six-cylinder]

Even our smallest estate has been put to work!

[Burnside]

The only Estate car I've owned so far, is my current one. A previously very unloved and beat up 2006 Fiat Stilo.  Was only suppose to be a temporary car, but four and half years later it's still here! Has been really handy for moving Furniture and Car parts and even just today, for dumping tat down the tip. 

Without doubt having a Estate car is the best move I could have made and certainly won't be my last one.