New car 2-3 grand what are my options?

Snookums

Snookums

Snookums

Soldato
Joined
27 Mar 2013
Posts
3,864
Location
Nottingham
I'm back here again. Been thinking about it for ages and looked at it several times but never pulled the plug to go properly. Savings are racking up now so I'm looking to upgrade this summer. Currently got a 1999 Ford Fiesta which has had a fair amount of work done to it now but I'm just too big for it at 6'3".

I mainly do motorway miles now cause I'm living near the city centre public transport/walking is easier. Think I'm gonna go diesel this time.

Want something bigger both size and engine. At 19 though it can't be too big but directline for some reason love me and my insurance is pretty much pennies for my age in comparison to others.

Has to be comfy and a nice ride. The fiesta is just so cramped and the noise is unreal.

Decent mpg would be nice but just as long as it doesn't guzzle fuel.

I'm leaning to wards a 320d coupe around the 04/05 mark but want some opinions/suggestions. already got 1 grand set aside just adding to it hopefully may/June time I can get one.

Also any ideas what I could be looking at getting for my fiesta? On 128k atm. Clutch was replaced 10k ago, alloy are in fairly good nick. Interior isn't in the best condition.
 
Damn that is gorgeous and a bargain. There has to be a catch somewhere.

Didn't even think of looking at the 5 series. Hopefully there is one for a decent price when I come around to it. I doubt my insurance will be reasonable though with one of those.
 
A diesel 5 Series for under £3k?

No thanks. Most of the sub £3k 5 Series market is full of rubbish liabilities - diesel even more so. If you need to save money to the extent that a 2 litre diesel manual is your preferred option then don't go near old BMW's, because there is little point in saving money on fuel only to need to pour it all back into keeping the car on the road.

I'm also not convinced that £2900 is the going rate for an E60 M Sport either, something must be up with that one.
 
Not gonna lie, that looks really clean inside and out, interior makes me sick, can't stand beige/cream interiors.

a lot of kit for the dosh, Has been chaved out a bit with the faux carbon fibre, tints and silly sticker (Easily fixable) All depends if that engine is running sweet, which I dare say our resident Fox (Which he did xD) will have a few words to say about it.
 
I did think something seemed off with a 5 series sport being that cheap.

So fox you wouldn't recommend a 320d for less than 3k? Any decent recommendations?

I'm not so much after diesel for the savings more for the motorway miles and they generally last longer than petrol engines.
 
I'm glad an Accord is on that autotrader list.

My experience, We have a Gen 7 2L Petrol Accord, its just ticked over 150k mileage, The interior has held up very well for a 12 year old car, no rattles. Engine is bullet proof, I frequently redline the thing and it just keeps on going, its a motorway daily and its very comfortable, i've taken it all over the place and always felt comfortable in it.

Passed all its MOTs since we've had it back in 2008, Just a great comfortable, great looking family car, The 2L 150bhp engine has decent enough poke to give you confidence to overtake, But I always feel it can do with another 50, that's why i'd pick the 2.4L if I could get it in my budget.

Also I've heard the diesel is a very reliable engine too.
 
As far as the value of the Fiesta goes, I'd say £350 tops if it is in good condition, less if not.
 
Passat 1.9 TDI for that budget for me. Pretty reliable, comfortable, and economical. Driven sensibly, 55+ mpg on the motorways is pretty simple. Driven normally, I averaged 47mpg over my ownership.

Hasn't needed anything a 150k+ car would reasonably expect to have needed (in the 3 years I've known the car, it has had brake pipes, discs & pads, a couple rear shocks, and is now needing a new windscreen, but that is due to a chip). Overall a decent motor, with minimal things having gone wrong. And I paid only £1k for it a few years back.
 
Petrol Mondeo.

I have a diesel one, although its not cost me anything major yet, I think the petrol is best choice in that budget.
 
a1ex2001 said:
I would have thought an equivalent Mondeo would cost less to buy generally have more toys and not be significantly more to run?
Click to expand...

Would it be as reliable though? I've never owned one but I've had a few friends who have and they haven't been great. Focuses from what I've seen are pretty reliable engine wise. My experience is limited admittedly.
 
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