New car time - please help :)

han_solo

han_solo

han_solo

Associate
Joined
11 Mar 2009
Posts
1,061
Hi there,

Currently got a Peugeot 207 GT Diesel with just under 80k miles. I do around 25k miles a year but due to impending job change next year it may reduce significantly.. unsure yet. But defo need to change car by beginning of Sep.

Would like something a little safer for transporting my 2 year old around.. especially with the darker and colder months fast approaching.

Would like spend no more then 9k but may stretch for the right car.

Some basic requirements:

1. xenons (a must!)
2. diesel
3. less than 60k miles
4. with as many toys as possible but not essential :P
5. 05 onwards

Currently looking at:

Audi A6
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...e/b240rt/radius/1500/keywords/xenon?logcode=p

and

Ford Focus
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ge/4/keywords/xenon/postcode/b240rt?logcode=p

and

Audi A4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...stcode/b240rt/keywords/xenon/page/9?logcode=p

and finally:

Merc E Class
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...s/xenon/postcode/b240rt/radius/1500?logcode=p

what do you all reckon? Also spotted some Lexus diesels that aren't too bad either?
 
What exactly do you want? There is an absolute WORLD of difference between the running costs and ownership experience of a 7 year old Mercedes E Class and a 5 year old Ford Focus. If you'd be happy with the Focus then buy it becuase the other cars you've got listed there have the potential to be a huge amount more hassle. The E Class in particular is a bit of a nightmare reliability wise.

There is no such thing as a free lunch - the reason you can get nice Mercs for similar money to a Focus is because they cost a pile of cash to keep going, if they didn't they'd be in more demand and they'd cost more than the Ford.

Nobody who'd get the most out of the costs of owning something like an E320 would even consider a Focus, the fact you've considered the Focus makes me think your list of potential cars should read like this:

Ford Focus
Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Jetta
Skoda Octavia

etc.

All great cars. All easier to live with.
 
hey, thanks Fox for your the quick reply :)

My list is a little odd simply because i know very little about cars and i'm pulling up what takes my fancy once i've made use of the search params of autotrader.

Your comment reminds me now of how Merc did a huge cost cutting exercise years back and for a good time, their cars were very problematic with major QC probs?

Ok, so avoiding Mercs.. i would still like to get something that's a little more luxurious to drive on motorways (if i can)...

What about the Audis??


edit: what about Saabs?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...tcode/b240rt/page/14/keywords/xenon?logcode=p

edit2: what about this Jag?? :)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...tcode/b240rt/keywords/xenon/page/16?logcode=p
 
Last edited:
The A6 you've found is a particularly old design - not that there is anything wrong with it but that shape came out way back in 1997. Thats the absolute last of them in that advert and frankly it's not a very good package. It's expensive becuase it's a lowish mileage last example and it's also a 2.5 TDI Quattro. The fact it's 4wd, automatic and paired with a particularly weak example of a 6 cylinder diesel engine means it's very slow, which would be fine, but it's also very thirsty for a diesel too. It has pretty much the same combined fuel consumption figure as my 3 litre petrol BMW!

So, I'd discount that - if you like it as a car then a manual 1.9 TDI 130 will both be much cheaper and also much more economical, too. No quicker, mind, but then that may not matter to you.

The A4 is slightly newer - it came out in 2000 and thats a facelifted version so it looks a bit more modern. It's probably the most reasonable Audi to run cost wise, it is after all using mostly standard parts from the rest of the VW range. Many of the 2 litre diesel engines in these though suffer from issues with the injectors and particulate filters but I'm not sure which are affected and I don't know if this one is or not. Worth looking into.

How about this as an alternative?

A Seat Exeo. But it's only a Seat in badge terms - it's actually the SAME car as that Audi A4 you've found - only newer and with a Seat badge. When Audi stopped making that model of A4, Seat took over. So it's fundamentally exactly the same thing, but with a less posh badge and therefore a much nicer price.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...quicksearch/true/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

Look at the side profile - you can't tell it apart from the A4 it used to be :D

As you can see they are HALF the age of the other cars you are looking at. A real bargain IMHO.

Look at this one:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...ode/so155ab/page/3/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

That's a 2010 model 2.0 TFSI Sport - it's basically the Seat version of the Audi A4 2.0TFSI S-Line, yet it's just £9k, 2 years old and from a Seat main dealer with Seat warranty!
 
Last edited:
lol... now that you've mentioned it, it does look like the Audi A4!! :P

I know what you're saying.. should really go for a newer cars if poss right?

what's your opinion of that Jag? (see edit2) really like the look of it and reading user reviews in autotrader, they seem very happy with it?
 
Dont waste your time with an x type unless you really want one. I only have experience of the early cars which were terrible on the reliability front, so whilst that may be sorted there's little about them other than the badge that makes it any more commendable than your average ford etc.
 
I like the mondeo - i dislike that horrible silver trim that seems to plauge most of them though but it's worth going to see yourself. Could you find a titanium x in budget? They really do look a cut above, seem to have the nicer interior trim and have lots of kit too
 
yeah, the mondeo is a big contender with me.. a bit of reading reveals the Jag x type is a mondeo in disguise.. also you can get it cheaper too with more equipment (including xenons ;) ).

Anybody got any thoughts on the BMW 1 series 123d M sport?
 
The 3 Series is a bit old, yes. Trouble is the lower mileage ones tend to counter the low mileage by being a bit older at this budget.

That 1 series doesnt feel right - blurry photos in the middle of a warehouse, modifications, doesnt look particularly nice inside...
 
Ah true. Also think because of the mods it's probably been thrashed around too.

Actually 05 plate isn't too bad. Do you think 10k is a fair price or shoud I spend 10k on something else?
 
I am inclined to think that £10k is quite expensive for a 2005 320d. Shame, as it looks a nice example, but givne that £3-4k more gets you a facelift model thats half the age I'd want to pay less than £10k for an 05 plate.
 
£7-8k depending on condition. If its truely immaculate then given the miles and spec, nearer £8k than £7k.

Certainly not £10k.
 
Exeo interior doesn't do it for me at all; really boring looking and seems lacking on the technology front.. also the shape is far too sedan-ish?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom