Audi - FWD (nose heavy design makes for really good traction), good diesel engines (avoid the last of the PD engines and buy a CR)

So no major design faults surrounding the common rail diesels 659FBE?

It won't be long before all the good PD engines become too old to consider anymore.

Legacys/Outbacks are popular up your part of the world, no doubt for the right reasons.

Presumably as MPG is important then you probably want Diesel, i have no idea how good or bad the Subaru engine is, for me a 2 litre isn't man enough for a car of this size with permanent 4WD.

Accord would do the job well too except it drives the wrong wheels, like Mundanes Insignighters and VW groups models.

Whatever you go for, and you appear to want a premium make, then i would base the choice on what make specialist indies there are where you live, any of the three makes if you need to use main dealers will produce eye watering bills.

659 touches on a valid point, tyres, some of these cars will be sitting on £200 a pop tyres if on bling sizes and especailly if on runflats, that might not worry you but its something else you need to consider.

If i had to suggest a premium estate with a Diesel engine, it would be a facelift, so 06 on, W211 E class Benz, with the 4 pot tractor engine in 220 or 250 guise preferably on 16" rims, but only if you have an accessible MB specialist indy to maintain it properly for you.

Sitting on 16" rims also makes tyre choice easier and cheaper when it comes to winter tyres, if wanted.

Edited by gordonbennet on 23/04/2014 at 20:16

thanks guys after a bit of digging iv come across a 08 mondeo estate titanium x with tthe 2ltr coal engine the 140 version looks like a lot of car for the 8k, i think i could probably get it for 7k its done 73000 and looking at the wheels the wifes focus winters would fit the mondeo.

as i said people thanks for your input, if i get my new job then im gonna go for the mondeo, i reckon i can get at least 50 mpg, so as required then this thread is solved again many thanks

Edited by McNab_Andy on 24/04/2014 at 14:07

lol 42 - 45 probably about right im going by the wifes focus supposed to do 64+ but iv had 61.2 out of it going down south, but normal round town its still doing 55 ish, like i said i hope i get the new job i really wanna go buy it now