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Mk5 and Mk6 golf estates are solid, avoid the 1.6 petrol, it's ancient, slow and thirsty. Get a of diesel (1.9) over a cr any day , have heard and had to deal with nothing but grief and fiddly problems with the 1.6 and 2.0 Cr TDI. They are also not very efficient compared to the older engine.
If you want petrol civic hatchback or wagon are prob best buys out there right now. Focus and astra with petrol engines are ok too.
mrsupsidedown's Dad sold his Golf Estate earlier this year for peanuts, frustratingly.
£4k isn't really a limit if 0% finance is available (will it be?)