Family Saloon Suggestions £18k

[barmyllama]

The sensible choice is probably a BMW 3 or 5 series, Mercedes C or E class. Maybe a VAG group.

However, you see loads of those on the road and so I've been looking at the Jaguar XE and XF. I really like the look of them compared to the German equivalents. But all the reviews basically suggest you're better off in the long run with a BMW.

I've also looked at the Alfa Romeo Giulia and the Maserati Ghibli, both of which look the part, but reviews and mainly reliability are a bit off putting.

My Auto Trader search criteria are:

From 2016
Up to £18k
3.0 litre
diesel
automatic
5 seats

Diesel isn't set in stone because I'm unlikely to do anymore than 6000 miles a year in it. But equally I don't want a 5 litre V8 and teen mpg.

I wouldn't mind getting people's thoughts and suggestions. But be gentle with me, I don't venture in to this sub forum very often.

 

[barmyllama]

'I don't want a really good car because other people have it, so instead I'd like something that was sufficiently worse that nobody else bothered to buy one'

This is essentially what you are saying I think, so I'd be careful here. You're buying cars designed to sell in as high a volume as possible - they are not expensive and rare sports cars, so picking the one that sold the least will likely result in you finding out just why there are so many more BMW 5 Series than Jaguar XF on the road.

I totally get what you're saying and for the most part I agree. But is the XE or XF that much worse than a BMW, Mercedes or Audi? Depending on which customer satisfaction survey you read or believe there doesn't seem to be.

Is having a 3.0 litre engine really important to you? Are you after a car with good performance?

3.0 litre isn't set in stone at all, but yes something with a bit of get up and go.

Most of the 2.0 litre diesel German cars are probably fast enough. It's not like I currently drive anything flash or fast. (2008, 2.2 litre diesel Civic)

 

[barmyllama]

Just watched a few video reviews of the BMW 5 series and as expected, it's almost impossible for it not to be the right choice. That or a 6 series Grand Coupé or an Audi A7.

 

[barmyllama]

Can you really get a decent example of a G30 530d (or 535d/540i I suppose) for £18k?

No. I'd probably have to up my budget to at least £20k

Some points to remember.

The 5 Series at this money will likely be a 2017-2024 generation car. By contrast, a 6 Series will be the version based on the previous 5 Series and an A7 is simply a previous generation (2012-2018) A6 hatchback (and therefore not worth the inflated prices they seem to attract over an Audi A6).

So, really, with the possible exception of the 6 Series (because although its an older car it does have a genuinelly more luxurious and improved interior over the 5 Series on which it was based), you'll probably want to focus on a newer 5 Series. It'll be a more modern car. This might make a 3 litre one more difficult to get, but £18k really is too much to be spending on a 530d from the previous generation. I sold mine for loads less than that and it was about as perfect an example as you could hope to still find given they are getting older.

This is actually quite a difficult budget for this sort of car. Too much to spend on the older cars, not quite enough for a really great example of the newer ones...

I'm probably more inclined to spend less and go for the previous generation. Although the more time I spend looking, the more indecisive I get.

And let's face it, almost anything I buy from what's been mentioned, will be a massive upgrade on a 2008 Honda Civic.