£13k - what car? DS5 vs 320d vs c220 vs Insig biturbo etc

Friday 8th May 2015

cerb4.5lee said:

RobM77 said:

As I say, it's totally down to personal preference. I drove a friend's nearly new 520d auto the other day and yes, it's a fantastic car and the gearbox was excellent. It wasn't to my personal taste though (nor his, which is why he wanted my opinion). Personal taste and what's good or not are two very different things - normally on PH I'm commenting firmly on the latter, unless I specifically state that I'm giving my own opinion.

Spot on

and I do think its good that we all different things and have our own tastes, if you take us two for example you like the 2.0d engine and I don't and you like the E92 M3 and I don't and it would be a very boring world if we all liked the same thing. smile

Original Poster

72 posts

175 months

Friday 8th May 2015

The budget definitely won't stretch any further unfortunately - I wish it could. The 335d/330d would be brilliant, but as well as the initial outlay I'm thinking about potential for increased servicing costs / increased fuel consumption / increased potential repair costs in the event of disaster.

I guess the same could be said in terms of potential for disaster with the twin turbo 4 cylinder engined cars in the list.

One thing I've always wondered about is why BMW didn't put the 123d engine in the 3 series? More power than the 320d motor, but less weight than the 6 cylinder. Yet Alpine stuck something similar in their 3 series based car (Which is out of my price range).

Original Poster

72 posts

175 months

Friday 8th May 2015

In response to the Monday comment, I know they are meant to drive well, but the interior on the ones I've seen hasn't been brilliant. Plus I just don't like the look of them much. The Insignia looks more premium looking to me - the nice spec ones anyway.

greg628

19 posts

114 months

Friday 8th May 2015

The problem with 3 series is that they are just plain bland. They are rather basic inside. This is just my personal preference. Plus another negative is that they are just too common a sight on our roads. They outsold the Insignia 6:1 in 2014 so no more is an Insignia a rep mobile.
Having said that I'm not a Ford or Vauxhall man.
These are just my views and it's down to personal preference but if you want a premium badge at least choose a brand where you get quality and exclusivity.

Original Poster

72 posts

175 months

Friday 8th May 2015

Fair points well made. I'll check out the Volvo options - think it would need to be the sporty kit ones for the looks to be ok. I actually think the smaller estates loom better than the saloons.

Will be test driving the DS5 and looking out for a c class - although it does need leather and nav.

Wills2

22,967 posts

176 months

Friday 8th May 2015

greg628 said:

The problem with 3 series is that they are just plain bland. They are rather basic inside. This is just my personal preference. Plus another negative is that they are just too common a sight on our roads. They outsold the Insignia 6:1 in 2014 so no more is an Insignia a rep mobile.
Having said that I'm not a Ford or Vauxhall man.
These are just my views and it's down to personal preference but if you want a premium badge at least choose a brand where you get quality and exclusivity.

No it's just plain old s

t mobile.

greg628

19 posts

114 months

Friday 8th May 2015

Check out the r design spec. Opt for sat nav models. If you like autos I recommend the 2.4d geartronic. Volvo looks are sensitive to wheel design so the r design looks great. Go for black with dark tints. These crunch the miles. You will find its one of the most comfy seats you can ever find (JD power survey confirms this, so not just my view).

On and in terms of comment on Insignia, yes they are s

t. A depreciation disaster.

Other makes I wouldn't touch are Audi. Over priced and image of a to##er. French makes are just riddles with electrical gremlins and depreciation disasters.

Wills2

22,967 posts

176 months

Friday 8th May 2015

A Volvo isn't a bad shout.

MJ85

1,849 posts

175 months

Friday 8th May 2015

Don't touch an Insignia with a barge pole. I know others have said it, but I was given one as a courtesy car on 3 occasions instead of my F30 company car. The only positive I could find was that it had a nicer "turn in". Everything else was not nice at all, especially the electronic handbrake, performance from the 160 PS engine and fuel economy. Oh, and the wind up rear windows on the SRI spec (2013 car!).

dazwalsh

6,095 posts

142 months

Friday 8th May 2015

Another vote for a Volvo of some form, I've had a v50 and more recently purchased a xc60 for a family hack, great motors, D4 is the engine of choice for motorway miles.

Also I've just turned 30 and dont feel old for having one. In fact my focus is going to be replaced with a v40 before too long as well.

Or how's about an Alfa 159? Gorgeous machines inside and out, the depreciation is your friend here, I really need to scratch that itch before too long. Still a real head turner on the road. Even 10k should get you a youngish one with 40k on the clock.

Edited by dazwalsh on Friday 8th May 23:52

Barchettaman

6,328 posts

133 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Slightly left-field choice:

If you're considering the DS5, why not have a think about the C5 with the 3.0 PSA/Jaguar V6 TDi engine?

It gets the hydromatic suspension and should pull pretty well.

A rare car, but they are out there.

Best of luck whatever you decide to go for.

ZX10R NIN

27,660 posts

126 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

CrgT16

1,979 posts

109 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Interesting choice the Ds5, made me think about getting one.

320d is the rep mobile choice and it's for a reason, reasonable economic to run, strong engine, it does most things well at cost of some comfort on m-sport guise. I see the 320d as the gold of the saloons, particularly because it seems more than a Passat. It will do everything you want but it will be a little bit bland and dull to look and live in. I know I had one, over 120k miles and still going strong when I sold it.

For a bit of style I think your choice of DS5 is not bad but I suggest you consider the volvols, pretty nice cars these days.
For a sportier spec I would take C class diesel auto over a manual 320d. Merc is better all rounder and auto box can become addictive in town. The trouble when trying an auto for the first time is that one tends to drive it like a manual.

The accelerator pedal on an auto also controls the response of the gearbox.

Good look with your choice, I am sure you will find something suitable.

DeltonaS

3,707 posts

139 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Alfa Romeo 159 2.0 jtd Ti Sportwagon

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Pistom

4,981 posts

160 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

All the cars in this class are just different shades of grey. Not a bad thing but whatever you get will be OK verging on quite good. You just need to drive them and choose what you like.

Original Poster

72 posts

175 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Some good suggestions and links above, thanks for spending the time posting them. Love the look of the c class mercs but can't see they have split folding rear seats - 1 of them is only half leather / fake leather I think. The Lexus has the split folding rear seat issue unfortunately. Not keen on the mazda, read too many bad things about their diesel engines.

Saab has an old looking interior as does the alfa.

Defo written off the insignia I think now, and on the verge of doing the same on the bmws. The ones above are 318s not 320d - would want a 320d.

So still looking for C classes that meet the bill and the ds5 I think. Although the Audi a4 above does tick all the boxes, including the split folding seats. Any idea how well they drive vs the merc and the ds5?

DeltonaS

3,707 posts

139 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Joebristolgym said:

Some good suggestions and links above, thanks for spending the time posting them. Love the look of the c class mercs but can't see they have split folding rear seats - 1 of them is only half leather / fake leather I think. The Lexus has the split folding rear seat issue unfortunately. Not keen on the mazda, read too many bad things about their diesel engines.

Saab has an old looking interior as does the alfa.

Defo written off the insignia I think now, and on the verge of doing the same on the bmws. The ones above are 318s not 320d - would want a 320d.

So still looking for C classes that meet the bill and the ds5 I think. Although the Audi a4 above does tick all the boxes, including the split folding seats. Any idea how well they drive vs the merc and the ds5?

Try seeing and driving the cars, you'll probably make another choice.

And if you write a Saab and a Alfa 159 off just on the basis off the interior, than I can't understand why you consider an Isignia in the first place; which is a lesser car than almost every car in it's segement on just about every level other than price; it's dreadfull interior included.

dave_s13

13,815 posts

270 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Just buy a frikkin car will you and stop messing about!

ZX10R NIN

27,660 posts

126 months

Saturday 9th May 2015

Joebristolgym said:

Some good suggestions and links above, thanks for spending the time posting them. Love the look of the c class mercs but can't see they have split folding rear seats - 1 of them is only half leather / fake leather I think. The Lexus has the split folding rear seat issue unfortunately. Not keen on the mazda, read too many bad things about their diesel engines.

Saab has an old looking interior as does the alfa.

Defo written off the insignia I think now, and on the verge of doing the same on the bmws. The ones above are 318s not 320d - would want a 320d.

So still looking for C classes that meet the bill and the ds5 I think. Although the Audi a4 above does tick all the boxes, including the split folding seats. Any idea how well they drive vs the merc and the ds5?

The C220cdi I listed had split rear seats not sure about the 250.

IMO the Merc is a better drive than the A4 & both are better than the DS5 (I haven't driven the DS5 but been in the passenger seat) the ds5 is softer than the German offerings so has a more comforting ride you'd have to drive them to make up your mind on that one.

With your criteria 320d's will be nigh on impossible

Baryonyx

18,006 posts

160 months