Roll up, roll up. Another spec me £10k thread.

[RoboCod]

Usage:
Daily A-road commute of 40miles round trip.
12k-14k miles a year.
Occasional weekend journeys of 200mile round trip.
Needs 4 seats and boot space.

Driver:
32yrs
6'3 (lanky) so not so keen on a "hot hatch"

Desire:
Something that can overtake.
Comfortable with lots of gadgets (heated leather seats, satnav, cc, ac, etc) not so fussed about parking sensors (male ).

Budget:
£10k (to include tax/mot/decent tyres)

Anything I have missed? I was entertaining the thought of a 335i/335d but at sub 10k I think I'm looking at 2006/7. Danger zone right? I'm not set on the better marque, if a Mondeo, Passat or 9-3 means I get much more for my money then so be it.

Hope I haven't created yet another LIST CARS thread.

 

[RoboCod]

Mondeo Titanium X 2.5T

If you can stomach the fuel bill. Should be able to get one with the gadgets you want and more with change to spare! Could pay for the fuel

Interesting suggestion. Do you know how the ride is? I have found standard mondeos to be a little soft/sloppy.

I would suggest an A3 Sportback but Audi's have a bad rep on this forum.

A3 is too small and what's more I hate their image.

 

[RoboCod]

The Mondeo Titanium X 2.5T is looking very likely at the moment. Despite it's fat looks it reads up as an excellent car for the price. Lots of choices about so I can be fussy.

I currently drive a Volvo, and the later installments don't look like they have progressed much (despite the engines being revised). Those seats look the same as I have, and they hurt my neck and back (fixed place headrests, what is that all about?).

I keep tracking back to the likes of this though.

335i here.

Also is THIS just daft? I suspect most people would scoff at the convertible/handling?

 

[RoboCod]

You say an a3 5 door is too small but you are looking at a convertible 3 series?

A3 = Shorter wheelbase, shorter length, less cabin space, plus in my eyes it is the next step for a teenager from his Corsa What's the confusion?









(plus I think BMW's can actually swim )

 

[RoboCod]

To be honest there's about the same overall space in a 3 as there is in an A3, maybe a bit less but I get what you mean about image perception. 86JR seems to be sponsored by VAG but then again half the forum loves BMW so it brings a bit of (biased) balance I guess

The main thing that would concern me about the likes of the convertible isn't the handling as it'll be decent enough (3 series convertibles tend to have next to no scuttle shake) more the fact it's already got 110k+, yet is still perceived as a £10k car. Keep it for 3 years and you're trying to flog a 150k mile car that nobody will touch because of the relatively complex engine.

If the saloon was decent, you'd just have tripped into a similar mileage territory as the convertible you've linked to where people will still consider it, though it's undoubtedly harder to move on a car with 100k+ too. I'd be really surprised if 335's at that money were the type you'd really want to be picking up, if they are i'd imagine you'd have to move quickly.

The mondeo has a nice engine but you need to get the right trim combo or it looks like fisher price gone wrong in there. Dark inserts make a big difference

Thanks, makes a lot of sense, and it makes me wonder whether to wait and up my budget to get something I really want. What I need to do is test drive the 2.5T in the meantime. There are some well depreciated low mileage contenders I see.

I'd consider an A4 estate or A6 but the A3 I just really dislike.

 

[RoboCod]

Quite like white and also like sea grey. I can't have black. I'll try get a test drive soon.

Funny I end up being recommended a Mondeo and also agreeing. How predictable

 

[RoboCod]

The interior though cracking all rounders mind you

I know, it's not the best! The extras you get though, and the amount of car & performance to cost is excellent.

I'm realising the 10k budget is completely uneccessary when I can get something absolutely suitable for around 6k

My 59 A3 was hideously un-ergonomic for me at 6'5" can't see any reason it would be better for someone 6'3".

Examples are the centre console just the right height to dig into the side of your left calf and window switches require you to reach back for them rather than being at your finger tips.

Stuff like that annoys me as the golf is near perfect ergonomics by comparison.

That is exactly what I don't want. Reaching for things and rubbing my left leg against a compact compartment. Had that before and hate it, my lanky legs don't want to be bent double up the side of a steering wheel or bashing constantly against the centre console, so annoying! I also have a Jag XJ and that is more like the cabin space I'm looking for (i.e. acres)

Left field choice, but you could see if there are any BMW 130i's around. When I was hunting a few months ago they have a lovely engine and quite well spec'd for roughly your budget but they do seem to be quite rare.

Depends if you need more boot space, don't mind an average straight 6 fuel consumption and get on with the way it looks!

They're lovely cars but I fear this car will pose the same issue I would get with any other small - medium car like I described with the A3 above. Boot space would be desirable but average size is satisfactory so the 130 would be OK. Just unsure on that cabin space again.

 

[RoboCod]

You can have my e60 530i lci if you like. Seems to tick all your boxes and much better than a Mondeo.

That is very generous of you! When can I come collect?