I know I know, new car time!

Firestar_3x

Firestar_3x

Firestar_3x

Caporegime
Joined
11 Mar 2005
Posts
32,222
Location
Leafy Cheshire
Right lads, dad is looking for a new car and we have drawn up a shortlist:

BMW 3 Series 330 or 320D
Mazda 6 2.3 Sport / TS2 (Or Derv depends how good the engine is)
New Vectra SRI 150Bhp TDI
Audi A4 TDI
Passat TDI
Lexus IS200

This is a main family car so it needs to be a 4 or 5 door, my sister going off the Durham uni this summer so its going to be used for general transportation of her stuff .

He wants something with a bit of class so that really rules out the Vectra the only reason that's still in the list is its good value for money and then New model gets a fantastic review.

I'm pushing for the 330d (05 Plate or below) since we both hate the new shape.

Anything else we should be looking at, I told him to look into a 5 series but he just said no its far too big, now in my eyes the Vectra and 5 series seem a similar size, any ideas?

Budget is upto 20k since he wants to pay cash and he won't buy new so pre reg or upto 2 years old and nothing over 20k on the clock, so fire away we might have missed something :)
 
Yea thats the sort of A4 we are thinking about, great looking car imho.

Not considered the A6 yet, good idea! What are they like? Never looked into them.

I had a new Passat on hire last month, it was a nice car and I like the looks bar the front grill, I did however find the lack of a handbrake rather disconcerting, they have replaced it with a button on the dashboard!
 
Scottland said:
I think a BMW 330D would probably be the better car out of that lot, but personally I really like the looks of the new A4's.

What about any of the SAAB range? Or the New Volvo S40?
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We have been put off SAAB because of the stupid high parts costs if something goes wrong, MD's SAAB went wrong and he had a 4k bill for a throttle body and turbo it had only done 50k and was a few months outside its warranty.

Whilst I like the S40 and the V50 my dad can't stand them he had one on a 600 mile round trip and said it handled like a boat.

Beepcake said:
I'd go for the new A4, went looking at them a few weeks ago, with the S-Line kit in a decent colour it looks fantastic and goes pretty well too.
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Which engine did you drive mate?

Scuzi said:
But for £20k I'd be looking at BMW 330D's or the Audi A6. They're in a higher league and are readily available for the budget.
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At a guess we will get more for our money with an A6?
 
Haircut said:
I know you said you wanted something with class, but I'm going to do a Fox and pimp a Mondeo.

Have you thought about something like this...
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/search3.asp?Id=266040

Offers great value for money for what you get.
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The Mondeo did cross our mind and the one in question was a diesel ST, still not sure about it tbh it will be a well equipped reliable family car but as you say its missing something the others have.

Looks like we can split these cars into three groups.

Vectra
Mondeo
Mazda 6

Volvo
Lexus
Passat
SAAB

BMW 3
BMW 5
A4
A6
 
Scuzi said:
I don't know if you've been in an A4 but for a family it's actually quite small inside. The A4 is smaller than the Passat inside and can feel quite cramped with people in the back seats. The A6 will be much more practical and you will get a lot for your money especially with a £20k budget. The 3 series isn't exactly the biggest either but from my experience it felt slightly bigger than the A4.
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Only been in the older a4 but i assume its the same, if its smaller than the Passat that could be a problem, mind saying that i'm 24 so don't go around with them at all really and the only odd time we are all in the car is when we all go to the villa in france.

scottland said:
Could you squeeze in an A6 TDI Quattro for your budget I wonder?
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Aint that a 3.2, snip just read the TDI bit ;)

enfield said:
Snip!
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Sounds like a good car deffo one for the running :)

Oracle said:
If he likes it -> 300d, end of thread! I picked one up at the weekend 330cd, and WOW, WOW, WOW!
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Age / Spec / Price etc, my choice would be the A4 / Perhaps A6 or 330D but its not my money (Wish it was) so we have to keep our options open.
 
Tesla said:
Yes they do offer great value for money, but only when they are a few years old and depreciation has hit them.

They are very good cars but compared to a tidy 2-3year old 3/5 series or A4/A6 they are in a different, lower league.
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Yep and for that reason i don't think we are going to bother.

Fox, whats the running costs like on a 330D compared to the 320D?
 
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