Hi after my trusty Citroen C5 2.2 16v HDI broke its cam belt the same day my coupe passed its mot (jealousy)and a week before it was due to be changed interference or none interference anybody?) I think I need a replacement been looking all yesterday for one can't find a manual hdi c5 exclusive tourer, but was starting to look at an Audi A6 any problems manual or auto, any other suggestion up to £5k do about 30k a year. Any car best avoided?

If you fancy some fun but a smaller boot space, Alfa 159 2.4 JTDM SW, or the 1.9 16v version.

A bit older, with a few more well known issues with front suspension, but easily solved, Alfa 156 JTDM SW

How about something like this.

I ran a 95 estate for 4 years after letting my last coupe go and the two things I miss about it (now in a volvo V50 which is a bracket smaller in both physical size and engine) were it's sure footedness on long journeys and the cavernous space inside. If you're not keen on the Dame Edna look of the later models (which these are) then a lighter colour such as silver doesn't accentuate the horn rimmed glasses aspect so much.

A6?? Lol
Look up 'A6 set on fire' then brave buying one!
I know 2 people who've had a6's burst into flames on the motorway.

I'd go volvo or saab. They are brilliant at making comfy reliable estates.

Thanks quite fancy a Volvo and a Saab not so sure about an Alfa is getting a Saab a good idea now they have gone and I seem to remember a thread on here about problems with one of the engines?

+1 for Alfa, I have the 2.4 Saloon, cant fault it really, got a couple of minor niggles but you show me a car 8 years old that hasn't. I really wanted an SW but couldn't persuade the wife

Saabs are fine afaik, mostly vauxhall parts on later cars but far, far superior to the sum of said parts.
A good alfa is one of the best cars you'll ever own, a bad one you may be reaching for the sleeping pills...

Saab diesels share the same engine as the Vauxhall and Fiat/Alfa, but there are bound to be some differences, just to annoy

As above regarding the Vauxhall aspect of later Saabs and there's plenty about for parts. There were issues with the diesel engines on the 2.2TiD model I had but it was fixed by the model that I had which was MY2004. I'm guessing with your budget you won't be looking at one that old though.

Does it have to be diesel?

I had a very bad Alfa diesal, every other day something went wrong. Got the the point I couldn't keep up with it.

I've owned 50+ cars in the driving life and that one was the worst car I've ever owned.

Saab 9-3 or 9-5 1.9 tid. I've owned one for close to 5 years and 80,000 miles now (190K total) and apart from the usual stuff it's bullet proof, and soaks up the work miles with ease. 5K will get you a very good 08/09 plate. 9-3 would be my preference unless you really need the extra load space.

30,000 on an Alfa a year - not going to be trouble free IMO, only worth it if you really love the car.

Audi A6 - do not get the 1.9 tid, it's utterly guttless for the size and weight of the car - the torque limiter in 1st is also really annoying when you need to pull away smartly.

Thanks guys what was the problem with the bulk heads on Saabs?

My googling suggests it affected 9-3 models up to 2002.

Have a look here, plenty of knowledgeable folk (and a few ex coopsters).

Volvo V70 is a decent car, very comfy seats, excellent standard stereo and a decent motor (D5). On motorways I average about 50mpg from my Euro3 model (pre 2005). Euro4 models are more powerful as standard but reduced mpg. I got a facelift (2004) Euro3 for just over 3k with 120k miles

I had an Alfa 156 2.4 which was a fantastic car, however the 159 that I replaced it with seemed to always have a problem

Interesting comments regarding the Alfas.

I currently have a small fleet of Alfas, mainly from the 90s, but my daily driver is a 156 1.8TS SW, and I had the pleasure of owning an '07 159 2.4 JTDM SW automatic for 2 years.

All car manafacturers have their Friday afternoon cars, and whilst not a plug for Alfa as they have their fair share of woes, the bad stories always seem to come out.

My 159 ran faultlessly for over 2 years, held back by the particle filter issues that many modern diesels suffer from, but only that. Even auto (bought for the wife when we returned from US autobox land) matched the engine really well.

I guess it needs to be said that I do all my own mechanical work and have a lot of Alfa experience as a serious hobby-ist, so I put up with a few little niggles until I get to them (the ARB bushes on the 156 are knocking like a barsteward at the minute), but I can't say I have ever owned a bad Alfa. What I have found people often calling bad, is a lack of maintenance on slightly older cars that have been sold to people who can't afford the upkeep due to high bills and lack of knowledge.

They end up with me, I sort out the issues, and they provide endless pleasure both in fettling, and driving. My GTV 24v is a classic case in point. Very unloved when I bought it, with an owner who thought they had cooked it (coolant changes not done and overflow pipe blocked causing pressure build up). Did the cambelt and serviced, and right as rain.

Other than a 159 2.4 SW that I have owned. Good alternatives are a Honda Accord Estate, VW Passat estate and a Skoda Superb estate.

I came very close to buying an Accord estate; the 2.2 diesel seems to go on forever and I love the styling. I don't know why, but I do.

BMW 535D Estate

I dunno if OP (spyke) has got a diesel estate yet, but having just bought an XF Sportbrake myself, I would recommend that but they're too new and over the £5k budget.

But I'm looking at X-type estate for the missus, and that will do the 30k miles and provide much comfort, I suggest getting an SE or Sovereign version, should be able to find a 2006-2009 model with under 100k miles for £5k or less.

I have an Alfa 156 Sportwagon, the 1.6 version. It is not as gutless as you might expect. I paid just over £400 for it, and it needed a cambelt, but it has been brilliant and passed its MOT last month with nothing to be done. It used to "chug" a bit on tickover but I switched to high octane fuel and that seems to have sorted it. It's so smooth to drive and I love the sleek look of it, it's narrower than most estates so really easy to park. It's a pale blue metallic so really pretty apart from the jealousy scratches. It is a bit rusty underneath though apparently. It's so practical for ferrying my son to Uni with all his stuff, and for my dogs. I would like a GTV next.