dilemma. please help.

[Niall]

Way you have to look at it is a Volvo of the equivalent age to a HDi estate you may pick up will cost a lot more but they are a lot quicker, much better built (if you dont mind the dated, quirky interior) And are stupidly safe and reliable. Personally i would go for the volvo but as i said, it will cost more inititially. Mind you, a lot of people recently seem to be having love for the 306 estate and i must say, im seeing a lot that do look very good and can be very quick (jonnys estate springs to mind)