£10,000 Saloon Ideas

audi A6 S-line


Mine was 10.5k (57 plate) had it just over a year, total costs so far are 4 new tyres, cam belt / waterpump change which was due, and a service, nothing else yet. It's the same 2.0d diesel engine as you get in the VW passat / skoda so not extortionate to fix when things do go wrong. Service at an independant is reasonable (£140 - less if you provide your own oil like i did). Mine has done 85k miles now (i've done 20k of those in a year), and it still feels all new and tight.

It's also comfortable, i'm driving down to london once a week now, i leave at 7.30am, get there for 11.30am and start work in a kitchen at 12, i feel really fresh when i get there. The interior is a lovely place to be, you get a lot as standard, but make sure you get one with MMI high, also look for the AMI interface, it's handy.

You also get a lot of car for your money.
 
How underpowered is a 1.6D likley to be compared to the 2L? I've had my share of nippy cars and more than happy to have something with >40 mpg if it means less poke.

There's not a lot of difference between price on a 2nd hand 2L S40 compared to the 1.6 litre.

I am not adverse to owning another petrol at all btw - I really like the look of the Lexus IS2 series. The IS220D initially ticked the right boxes however I am reading mixed reports on reliability, especially on the Lexus owners forums. the Lexus 250D is meant to be amazing and there are some real bargains out there, however I will be firmly planted at mid 30 mpg at best and the frequent trips from Cardiff to Reading will drain my fuel.

I don't mind a solid service cost and tyres.... I want to avoid expensive breakdowns and time off the road. I've had a car that would breakdown a few times a year and cost me over £1k p/a in repair costs and I really want to avoid that again.


Edit: - I haven't looked at an A6 - will do so now. The Skoda.... it certainly has a lot going for it spec and value wise. There's something not quite doing it for me however on it ( and I like quite a few of the Skodas over the years).
 
I would look into the reliability for the 1.6D - I believe it to be one of the ford Duratech engines and it was a great engine until it ran into problems at least in its focus variant it was.

I did hear a rumour that this wasnt the case in the Cmax and or the volvos it was put in but its defiantly worth looking into DPF and turbo issues on those.
 
I drove at 1.6D DRIVe Volvo recently, it certainly felt underpowered, and a little gutless. Needed lots of revs to get anywhere. It wasn't really that bad and it was reasonably refined, but I'd have a 2.0 if there was one, as the economy can't be much worse.

kerrgreg, Duratec engines are Ford's gasoline family - these 1.6D are all Ford/PSA DV6.

For 15,000 miles a year, I wouldn't be getting a diesel purely on the gamble of DPF, injectors, turbos and DMFs, as any of those going wrong would easily cancel out your saving on fuel economy (ignoring the fact you'll probably have lost that saving by paying several thousands more for the equivalent diesel verson of a car anyway).
 
Cheers Hedge... again, specs are pretty good but the styling doesn't really take me. Can't quite put a finger on why.


Looking at the petrol option, this is just up the road from me:

http://www.evanshalshaw.com/vehiclesearch/used/vauxhall-used-car-pk11mpv.html

As well as a few diesel varieties. Anyone own an Insignia? That is far newer and lower mileage than the VW/Volvo/other alternatives.


I appreciate I am all over the place here fellas, so thanks for the patience.


I am leaning towards the Volvo, but maybe the 2L D, but also looking at some petrol cars. If I can come to terms with no improvement on MPG the Lexus 250D is appealing..... but also that insignia above (an have seen some in the flesh) seem appealing.
 
Ive driven quite a few different spec Insignias as hire cars for long work journeys this year. Wasnt impressed with the 1.8 petrol at all, it was shockingly gutless, overtaking was tiresome to say the least, although it wasnt an SRI the one I had.

Most of the ones I had were the 2 litre diesels. Bit of a mixed bag really. The SRI engine noticeably better, it pulls pretty well for what it is. The main benefit of the SRI for me though was the seats. They are so much better then the standard ones. Also if you can, look for one with the sat nav, it makes the dash look so much better and the sat nav was pretty good.

Overall though if you get a decent spec SRI I found them to be a pretty good car. They feel really solid, no squeaks or creaks which is a pet hate of mine, the inside was nice and quiet and fuel economy on the diesel wasnt that bad. Plenty of room inside as well.
 
I agree with above, the Insignia is a good buy at the moment.

I wouldnt go for the SRI, I find the ride too harsh. I'd aim for the early SE models which are much better equipped than newer cars and ride better. They have 1/2 leather as standard, DAB etc so not bad.
 
Well..... in typical fashion I ended up going with none of the strongly considered or suggested cars.... but thanks for the advice fellas anyway!


Am picking up a 11 plate new shape Passat this evening - going for the 1.6 TDI bluemotion - just under 13k on the clock.... had a great offer for £11999 and its in great nick.

Trading in my Old MG ZS for £500, and I can stretch to the rest.


Looking forward to the £30 Car tax and 70 mpg.
 
Andy__C said:
Well..... in typical fashion I ended up going with none of the strongly considered or suggested cars.... but thanks for the advice fellas anyway!


Am picking up a 11 plate new shape Passat this evening - going for the 1.6 TDI bluemotion - just under 13k on the clock.... had a great offer for £11999 and its in great nick.

Trading in my Old MG ZS for £500, and I can stretch to the rest.


Looking forward to the £30 Car tax and 70 mpg.
Click to expand...

ofc it is in great nick its a new-ish car! but with that engine? what were you thinking! :O why ask for advice if you take none of it?

and lol at the tax and mpg line.
 
Good grief. The current Passat is the most uninspiring, dull, boring and most dreary car I've ever had the displeasure of being in.
I can only imagine how truly awful an experience it must be to drive such a turd with a powerplant as powerful as a lawnmower, knowing that you just spunked over ten grand on it.

Enjoy it!
 
Unlucky, the most horrible engine vag have made in a long time put into a big, heavy car that's graced with one of the worst corporate nose jobs in recent years.

...sorry not a fan :p
 
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