My family appears to be outgrowing the 335 touring. We went camping in September and it was a struggle to fit everything in the compact estate. Even a weekend away with the baby seat and the pram and the baby bag doesn't leave much room for much else.

It does a consistent 25 mpg no matter how you drive it, like a loon, or like a pensioner, same difference. I don't do an exceptionally high milage but even trundling back and forth to work demands £80 a week in petrol.

£445 tax is a bitter pill as well.

The pros of the car are that it's the best car I've ever owned. It handles like its plugged into my brain, it's been specced up to infinity(and beyond). Probably the most important point is that it's paid for so no finance, no monthly payments etc. and the servicing through BMW has been surprisingly cheap. ( cheaper than my MK1 Octy vRS infact)

So I've been looking at a bigger car as we plan on a new addition to the family next year. First port of call was a Skoda superb estate. I'd be happy with a 2.0 tdi 170 but they're just too expensive just now.

My budget is 'around' £15k so I've been looking at E61 BMW 5 tourings. This opens a whole new can of worms. 520d, 525d or 530d?

My initial thoughts are big car requires big engine so 530d SE. But then M sport rears it's head.

I've tried to google what the load capacity is on a 5 touring but never got a definitive answer. Some say 500l, others say 520 l, and some say 560l. I know the seats down capacity is 1650l, but all this is still less than an Octavia estate.

Confused from Sheffield.

VW Touran 170 diesel and map it

Seriously, if I knew then what I've learned on here about tuning, I'd probably still be running my 140bhp Touran, but then I would never have got my vRS :(

VW Touran 170 diesel and map it

Seriously, if I knew then what I've learned on here about tuning, I'd probably still be running my 140bhp Touran, but then I would never have got my vRS :(

I have considered the people movers and I was looking at Tourans the other week. They still don't offer that much interior space though. The Ford S Max gets really good reviews for driving dynamics but they're a lot of pennies as well.

Sod it I might just get a 2001 Ford Mondeo estate and observe it gently rusting away on the drive.

Almost every A6 or 5 Series on the road is a 2.0 diesel. With good reason, they are very capable cars.

Its rare that i find my 1.9tdi A6 (130bhp) desperately lacking power. At your budget anything you buy will be much better than the barge i have.

I'll happily take the cheap tax and good MPG over the power of the bigger engines available.

the 525d is IMHO an engine to avoid as it's a detuned 6 cylinder so not as good on fuel as the 520d and not much more powerful.

If you like smooth, then get a 530d, it's very smooth for a derv.

If you like economy most, then get a 520d.

And if looks aren't a major factor, don't discount the Passat. Dull and bland, but there were some absolute bargains when i was looking.

Yeah, A6 would be my choice aswell.

Or maybe a Sharran or Alhambra? SMAX is really good, but they are quite good at holding their value!

If it's paid for then whatever you get will have to be very economical to make you any better off unless it's a straight swap.

Not sure how old your little 'un is but we're finding that we're taking less stuff the older ours gets. Is your pram very big? could you get something that folds smaller like a Quinny Zapp? Are you just taking too much stuff? As new parents we have to fight the urge to take everything but the kitchen sink.

All things aside if I had 15k I'd be looking at an Octy Scout, or an A6 2.7tdi Avant (quattro if I could get it in budget). Drove a saloon a while back and it was lovely.

How about the Merc E-Class estate?

How about keeping the 335 and just getting a decent roof box or a small utility trailer? I have both and they really add a LOT of room (my box is a Kamei and adds 380 litres and my trailer is small with a high cover and adds 780 litres). The roof box is the best way since you can park where you like and no reversing issues. Though if you have the space the trailer is great in that you can leave ALL the camping gear in it and you just hook it up and go.

You could just pack lighter...

From one year our son has walked everywhere, or I carry him.

Used the pram until he was 10 months, then used the pushchair for two months.

Came out of the highchair at one year too and sat on a small extension to an adult seat.

I'm not convinced people need all the stuff that goes with a baby sometimes.

We can go away for a week in the Yeti... no load space problems at all and everything in the boot.

If I needed more space, I'd get a roof box rather than change the car for the odd trip each year.

Look at a RAV4 Roy

Pack less, or go with stuff sacks

Ok not helpful I know.

Huck, not many know of him; early co-founder, had nothing but praise for his 335, I think he described it as ungodly, making overtaking opportunities where they simply do not exist.

Now, the helpful bit, the Superb is a price, but they will fall. The saloon/hatch is as big as a mondeo estate.

The problem is no matter how big a car; note I didn't say van, is, you will always fill it.

I can goto Scotland for 2 weeks either with a 600litre boot full of kit or a 60litre rucsac.

Both trips I am there for the duration, one I am more comfortable, less smelly and possibly more iritable, the other, well it's efficient and some how easier...

Some how I feel the same about having space in a car, it will just get used up, one more cool box, or another bike, a spare bike, the blow up radio controlled shark, oh don't forget the batteries...

If you have a car cost itch, scratch it for that reason

Incidentally the 335 what do you want for it No I kid, my superb, 4x4 cr 170 elegance, missing nowt but the magic parking button cost me that, 6mths ec HQ car... so they can be had and fettled.

Even though mine is altered, the 4x4 holds it back, in the dry , keeps pace with a bog std 170 FWD... just glad it's so damp in the land but a 335, 330D it is not.

As it hasn't been said how about a facelift Octavia estate vRS? They have a 580 litre boot (I think) and the petrol TSI engine is relatively good on fuel for a 200bhp petrol car. They should be within your budget and if you ever get bored the TSI engine remaps very well.

All very helpful and insightful replies chaps. This is why I'm still lingering here 4 years (and 5 vehicles) after Skoda ownership ceased.

snailUk, the 2.0 Tdi no matter what shape metal surrounds it, would be the sensible choice and every one of my brain cells is telling me that is the way forward. However.......

Cheezmonkhai, I think you're right about the 525. It's in no mans land really.

Babs, not quite ready for the mahoosive van type MPV just yet and are these cars not just a statement that we've given up and don't care what car we drive any more? I don't know.

Aspman, He's 10 months old so still at lots of kit stage. I have heard it gets better with time, but we plan on doing it all again in the summer so bigger is better I reckon. The Mrs is an absolute neetmare for bringing every available piece of equipment for every available eventuality, and she loves her new massive pram that she bought to replace a perfectly good smaller pram that wasn't as good for some reason ( we've had words. She won.)

MyYeti, I hadn't considered the Merc purely on price grounds. My budget would probably stretch to a turn of the century model which were made during the Chrysler Era and were of a very poor quality.

9000e , I got a set of roof bars for the camping trip but made a mistake and went for a roof bag instead of a roof box which was very unpleasant to use. Roof boxes rule. Getting a tow bar fitted then buying a trailer would be too much coin for me.

Boss fox, I agree wholeheartedly but see reply above. Lol

Len, sorry mate but I'm diametrically opposed to Toyotas. I'd rather have a Perodua Kelisa. They are my nemesis.

Colin, a very good point well presented. It's true that my Mrs would still struggle to get all her sh1te in the back of a Kenilworth 42 tonne articulated truck, never mind the 335. I think the Superb is still in the short list but I may have to wait. I do remember Huck BTW he used to post when I first joined in 2004. He had some interesting vehicles as I remember.

Bogwoppit, Octy vRS TDI considered but I think I prefer the luxury of the Superb tbh. Must be me age. Lol

Well after all this, I think I'll keep the 335 at least until March 2012. Maybe even until the next baby is commenced. Thanks for the replies it's given me food for thought.

It's not a car I know a lot about, but Volvo V70 D5 or T5? Their big and there must be a reason that they are often used by the police for m'way patrol cars.....?

What was the issue with the roof bag that made it unpleasant to use?

Hi Royston,

We went for the Superb Est. but I have to agree with Colin that the Hatch/Twindoor is not much smaller than the estate & having been around for a few years it should be well within your price bracket... Elegance 170ps 2.0 TDI around the £15k.

I do think the Estate looks better than the saloon but it grows on me the more I see it & I think unless you have really large bulky objects (considerably bigger than a pram) you'll probably be surprised with the size of the boot.... it is REALLY BIG for a saloon!

It aint a 335 but if you have a read of the Fluffmeisters recent trip to Shark Performance it might help sway your view of what you might end up missing.

re. other comments, if you were to go for a larger BMW then I'd still stick to the 2.0 engine, it is a top motor, punchy, smooth & economical. The VAG motor is good too but I think we have to hand it to BMW for their efficiency.

Passat Est, I would have thought is a good option too & loads to choose from!

& finally... I would suggest to steer clear from the S-Max. Heard quite a number of bad reports re. performance, quality & in particular economy.... but a "LITTLE" thing I could not live with is the poor design of the boot area. When you open the boot the end 30cms are angled down to the bumper & basically anything in the boot that finds itself near the tailgate falls out everytime you open the boot... MADNESS! Just 48 hrs with one drove me bonkers!

Good luck with your decision! :p

Hannibal, I'd looked at the V70 and apart from it being a massive old man's car - I joke of course it's a very good vehicle. The capacity isn't all that. 540l boot with the seats up. 1600l with the seats down. Surprising as the V70 is always the archetypal estate car. I've heard horror stories about having to remove the entire engine and gearbox just to replace a £12 gasket seal as well. The way the oily bits are screwed to the chassis is very peculiar.

Daiking, the roof bag simply wasn't big enough at 340 litres and it's square shape didn't allow for lengthy camping items. It came with a flimsy UPVC base board which I had to replace with a bit of ply board, and the multitude of straps didn't inspire confidence. Ended up buying some ratchet straps as well for peace of mind. Packing stuff in it took ages, and when I opened it at the other end, one of my camping chairs fell out and caused a dent in the car roof. I'm sure this wouldn't have happened with a solid plastic lip of a roof box.

Skatergrl. Thanks for the info on the S Max. Didn't know about that. The more I see mpv's the less they grow on me tbh. I agree with you the Superb Estate looks a lot better than the Hatchaloon. I don't think I could put up with the hatch and every time I saw an estate it would grate on me. I'll have a look for Fluffy's mapping adventure cheers.

Is the octy L&K estate too much? It has 150 more litres of space than your 335, plus is kitted out well.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/newcars/octaviaestate/equipment/Pages/default.aspx

iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not a car I know a lot about, but Volvo V70 D5 or T5? Their big and there must be a reason that they are often used by the police for m'way patrol cars.....?

There's one or two

But they got loads of 330D's

They all live up the road from me lol

Royston, i will be very frank with you, the 335 delivers more perforamnce and driving dynamics that any skoda likely to be made in the next 20yrs.

they aren't cheap, and yours is a high spec yet the cost of a small trailer is too much for you???

considering the loss you will make on the 335 and the cost of buying a new car with much much less performance it just doesn't tally up.

i've driven a remapped 330d coupe m sport running 310bhp, and my word i would never look at another skoda again, it was epic and free revving, n ot diesel like in anyway.

i seriously think you should buy a decent roof box for the odd occasion that you need it and stick with possibly one of the best handling estate cars out there(I think it's far superior to a rs4 rs6 avant etc etc)

I think the only option for you where you won't lose out too much is a 530d touring(non-M sport) and if you want to a remap will bring it over 270bhp, maybe closer to 300bhp.

Don't sell your 335i, out of all the members on this forum you have the car i am most jelious of.

if you must

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201145427704765/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/price-to/16000/price-from/10000/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l/body-type/estate/model/5_series/make/bmw/page/1/postcode/tn401ns/radius/1500?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201136414419827/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/price-to/16000/price-from/10000/maximum-age/up_to_4_years_old/engine-size-cars/3l_to_3-9l/body-type/estate/model/5_series/make/bmw/page/1/postcode/tn401ns/radius/1500?logcode=p#techSpecPerformanceAndEconomyContent

Edited 16 November, 201114 yr by Sonner

Royston, i will be very frank with you, the 335 delivers more perforamnce and driving dynamics that any skoda likely to be made in the next 20yrs.

they aren't cheap, and yours is a high spec yet the cost of a small trailer is too much for you???

considering the loss you will make on the 335 and the cost of buying a new car with much much less performance it just doesn't tally up.

i've driven a remapped 330d coupe m sport running 310bhp, and my word i would never look at another skoda again, it was epic and free revving, n ot diesel like in anyway.

i seriously think you should buy a decent roof box for the odd occasion that you need it and stick with possibly one of the best handling estate cars out there(I think it's far superior to a rs4 rs6 avant etc etc)

I think the only option for you where you won't lose out too much is a 530d touring(non-M sport) and if you want to a remap will bring it over 270bhp, maybe closer to 300bhp.

Don't sell your 335i, out of all the members on this forum you have the car i am most jelious of.

if you must

http://www.autotrade.../1500?logcode=p

http://www.autotrade...dEconomyContent

+1 a million times over.

You drive the most amazing every day performance car on the planet and you want to change it for an Octavia...... as amazing as a vRS Octavia or Superb Estate is neither of them will ever be a 335. Never. Seriously think of a trailer. A HUGE Ifor Williams if need be but don't change that car... :no:

It's true that my Mrs would still struggle to get all her sh1te in the back of a Kenilworth 42 tonne articulated truck, never mind the 335.

In that case keep what you have. The more space you have the more crap the Mrs will take. If you have another one, the first will be about 2 and you won't be carrying double the stuff. Just the same plus some bigger nappies or a potty.

Ours is 15 months and I can get by with a set of reigns and a backpack carrier now (SWMBO is another matter).

The cheapest car is the one you already own

Daiking, the roof bag simply wasn't big enough at 340 litres and it's square shape didn't allow for lengthy camping items. It came with a flimsy UPVC base board which I had to replace with a bit of ply board, and the multitude of straps didn't inspire confidence. Ended up buying some ratchet straps as well for peace of mind. Packing stuff in it took ages, and when I opened it at the other end, one of my camping chairs fell out and caused a dent in the car roof. I'm sure this wouldn't have happened with a solid plastic lip of a roof box.

O right.

I can't say I am overly sympathetic :p I imagine the Panzerwagen actually has a bigger boot than I am used to (360litres) and I've only resorted to using my roof bars on one occasion when pram and hard luggage for 4 didn't mix. Fortunately though there is no way on earth I'll ever be taking the wife camping. With the imminent arrival of number 2 son, a roof bag seems the best compromise as I have nowhere to put a roof box when not on my car roof and the economy penalty for keeping it there is not worth thinking about. It would only be for the pram (large bugaboo) and/or some soft luggage rather than packed to the gunnels with camping paraphenalia so it should work out ok.

If I was in the market for a new car, I would undoubtedly buy something with a bigger boot but I don't think its worth changing car just for a bigger boot - and I drive a car that most would give up their first born to change for something else. Don't buy an Octy, you'll regret it every time you grimace from gazing at its dull, uninspiring blandness of an appearance.