sorry me again - still looking for car advice
Discussion
Truth is im torn and frustrated by it all. Lots of nice cars are affordable for the car but not affordable on running costs. That is really frustrating. I earn an ok wage but that doesnt mean i want to blow it all on VED and fuel. Newer cars, which i cant afford, get well into the 30s mpg.
Everything in the age range im looking at has some kind of repair risk with it. I dont expect to be having a premium car like BMW or audi in the garage every 5 minutes, so thats holding me back from pushing the button on something.
Maybe there is some badge snobbery coming in to it but BMWs and Audis do have that cutting edge design over most other brands. I always liked that sports saloon styling on cars. Yet practically i need a hatch or medium sized estate which ruins the look. BMWs and Audis tend to pull off the estate without it being too boxy.
Even if i had 20k in the bank i wouldnt want to spend that much on a car so im always going to be resigned to older models.
Everything in the age range im looking at has some kind of repair risk with it. I dont expect to be having a premium car like BMW or audi in the garage every 5 minutes, so thats holding me back from pushing the button on something.
Maybe there is some badge snobbery coming in to it but BMWs and Audis do have that cutting edge design over most other brands. I always liked that sports saloon styling on cars. Yet practically i need a hatch or medium sized estate which ruins the look. BMWs and Audis tend to pull off the estate without it being too boxy.
Even if i had 20k in the bank i wouldnt want to spend that much on a car so im always going to be resigned to older models.
danlightbulb said:
Truth is im torn and frustrated by it all. Lots of nice cars are affordable for the car but not affordable on running costs. That is really frustrating. I earn an ok wage but that doesnt mean i want to blow it all on VED and fuel. Newer cars, which i cant afford, get well into the 30s mpg.
Everything in the age range im looking at has some kind of repair risk with it. I dont expect to be having a premium car like BMW or audi in the garage every 5 minutes, so thats holding me back from pushing the button on something.
Maybe there is some badge snobbery coming in to it but BMWs and Audis do have that cutting edge design over most other brands. I always liked that sports saloon styling on cars. Yet practically i need a hatch or medium sized estate which ruins the look. BMWs and Audis tend to pull off the estate without it being too boxy.
Even if i had 20k in the bank i wouldnt want to spend that much on a car so im always going to be resigned to older models.
Yep, its understandable, this car buying lark can be a nightmare. Truth is most people are compromising somewhere or other, only small fraction of motorists can truly afford to buy themselves cars for differing needs, the rest of us have to come up with a car to cover all bases. The problem with asking on the forum is everyone has a different opinion about which model you should have but ultimately only you can decide. Everything in the age range im looking at has some kind of repair risk with it. I dont expect to be having a premium car like BMW or audi in the garage every 5 minutes, so thats holding me back from pushing the button on something.
Maybe there is some badge snobbery coming in to it but BMWs and Audis do have that cutting edge design over most other brands. I always liked that sports saloon styling on cars. Yet practically i need a hatch or medium sized estate which ruins the look. BMWs and Audis tend to pull off the estate without it being too boxy.
Even if i had 20k in the bank i wouldnt want to spend that much on a car so im always going to be resigned to older models.
Sounds like you've decided on an Audi A4 or BMW 5 series, you need practicality so you're probably looking at Avants and Touring's. There's not many 530i Sport Tourings out there, but if you consider the 525i SE, particularly with full leather then you're only a set of Msport alloys away from having something that looks the part.
danlightbulb said:
Everything in the age range im looking at has some kind of repair risk with it. I dont expect to be having a premium car like BMW or audi in the garage every 5 minutes, so thats holding me back from pushing the button on something.
I think you're falling for marketing. Cars like the Mondeo, A4, 3-Series in mid-range spec were all sold as and are rep specials mainly sold out on leases to their first owners. They all sold for roughly the same price and are built to roughly the same standards. The BMW and Audi (more so the Audi) feel slightly premium in terms of interior materials etc. but in many respects are an inferior drive to a Mondeo. The Audi you mention in particular is way less fun to punt down a nice road than a Mondeo 1.8 LX from the same era.
They're nice enough cars but don't fall into the trap that they are particularly special because to be honest they are not.
Oh, and I thought you needed a large car? To re-iterate the A4, 3-Series, V50, 9-3 are all roughly the same size and a fair bit smaller inside than a Mondeo. The Audi equivalent to a 5-Series is the A6.
So:
A4/3-Series/V50/9-3 etc = smaller "lifestyle" Estate with quite small boots.
A6/5-Series/V70/9-5 etc. = larger "family" Estates.
The Mondeo Estate sold against the former price wise but in size is closer or as large as the latter ones.
Edited by confused_buyer on Tuesday 13th October 08:59
I can understand your dilemma.
You can get some nice used cars for £4-5k but as you said its running them that can be the problem.
Its always a risk but you can reduce it by buying carefully and doing your homework.
Don't get too hung up on the car having a certain amount of power.
More power means more fuel.
Older bigger car normally means more fuel and potentially more to go wrong.
Of course it doesn't always work like that.
My old E36 318is never let me down in 30k miles of hard commuting yet my 59 reg S40 cost me £600 last year and £250 this year because its a diesel :-)
I like the look of the A4 Avant personally.
Same engine as the Golf GTI and should get 30+ in normal use.
There's also the Passat with the same engine.
Is the VRS in budget?
Thought about a Subaru?
Legacy is a quality car and the 2.0 puts out 160bhp.
You can get some nice used cars for £4-5k but as you said its running them that can be the problem.
Its always a risk but you can reduce it by buying carefully and doing your homework.
Don't get too hung up on the car having a certain amount of power.
More power means more fuel.
Older bigger car normally means more fuel and potentially more to go wrong.
Of course it doesn't always work like that.
My old E36 318is never let me down in 30k miles of hard commuting yet my 59 reg S40 cost me £600 last year and £250 this year because its a diesel :-)
I like the look of the A4 Avant personally.
Same engine as the Golf GTI and should get 30+ in normal use.
There's also the Passat with the same engine.
Is the VRS in budget?
Thought about a Subaru?
Legacy is a quality car and the 2.0 puts out 160bhp.
Need to widen my horizons dont i. Stop thinking about rare things like quattro or 6 cyls.
This is not a quattro but otherwise looks very nicely speccd. A bit newer so higher claimed mpg.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
People keep saying the mondeo is big lol but it doesnt feel it to me, or look it when parked next to modern cars.
This is not a quattro but otherwise looks very nicely speccd. A bit newer so higher claimed mpg.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
People keep saying the mondeo is big lol but it doesnt feel it to me, or look it when parked next to modern cars.
danlightbulb said:
Need to widen my horizons dont i. Stop thinking about rare things quattro or 6 cyls.
This is not a quattro but otherwise looks very nicely speccd. A bit newer so higher claimed mpg.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
People keep saying the mondeo is big lol but it doesnt feel it to me, or look it when parked next to modern cars.
Nice looking car IMO.This is not a quattro but otherwise looks very nicely speccd. A bit newer so higher claimed mpg.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
People keep saying the mondeo is big lol but it doesnt feel it to me, or look it when parked next to modern cars.
Posters are trying to push the Mondeo. I went down that route and it was very capable. Nice to drive, spacious, reliable etc.. but I lust didn't get on with it and sold after a year.
I foolishly traded in my V70 for it (I know, I know) and it just didn't have the same feel.
I bonded with the Volvo, never did with the Mondeo.
I bonded with my E36, never have done with my S40.
Bonded with my MK2 GTI, never did with my Polo....
danlightbulb said:
People keep saying the mondeo is big lol but it doesnt feel it to me, or look it when parked next to modern cars.
An A4 of that era is way, way smaller inside than a Mondeo. It is barely bigger than a Focus Estate inside. It has less room in the back and a significantly smaller boot. Sorry, it just does. If you can't live with a car with less interior accommodation than a Mondeo cross off the A4.
You're asking for advice but seem to have made up your own mind so just buy an A4.
danlightbulb said:
On the size issue, i currently have a hatchback, not an estate. Im thinking that a medium estate will not be any less practical than my larger hatchback, because of the extra height in the boot.
There is a fair bit less room in the back in an A4 compared to any Mondeo and I'd judge the A4 Estate as a smaller boot than a Mondeo hatch. If you have a (growing) family who need space the next segment up will certainly offer them more comfort and stuff carrying capacity.The old A4 is not a bad car by any means - nice to be in, "pleasant" to drive with a quality feel and does the job extremely well but as dull as ditch water to drive IMO.
Two pages back you'd decided only a 6-cylinder 5-Series would do. Now you're looking at 4-cylinder Audis from the class below. You can see why people are puzzled.
confused_buyer said:
There is a fair bit less room in the back in an A4 compared to any Mondeo and I'd judge the A4 Estate as a smaller boot than a Mondeo hatch. If you have a (growing) family who need space the next segment up will certainly offer them more comfort and stuff carrying capacity.
The old A4 is not a bad car by any means - nice to be in, "pleasant" to drive with a quality feel and does the job extremely well but as dull as ditch water to drive IMO.
Two pages back you'd decided only a 6-cylinder 5-Series would do. Now you're looking at 4-cylinder Audis from the class below. You can see why people are puzzled.
You're getting (very good) advice from a guy with THAT username, think how the rest of us are feeling The old A4 is not a bad car by any means - nice to be in, "pleasant" to drive with a quality feel and does the job extremely well but as dull as ditch water to drive IMO.
Two pages back you'd decided only a 6-cylinder 5-Series would do. Now you're looking at 4-cylinder Audis from the class below. You can see why people are puzzled.
Those BMW jontbone linked to look good. Aside from that, I too would say the Saab seems to fit well but they like a drink.
Edited by DrTre on Tuesday 13th October 12:18
How about A Subaru Legacy type R 3.0 l. It is fast(the manual at least) big boot, would not blow the budget, would go on for ever and also handy for the winter. You can even find ones that have specs which include leather, sat nav and heated seats if that appeals to you.
Also, if you get one pre 2005 the tax is less. The downsides are it can be a bit thirsty(but you would have saved a bit of money on the initial outlay) and the badge may not be to your taste.
Also, if you get one pre 2005 the tax is less. The downsides are it can be a bit thirsty(but you would have saved a bit of money on the initial outlay) and the badge may not be to your taste.
Biggie9 said:
How about A Subaru Legacy type R 3.0 l. It is fast(the manual at least) big boot, would not blow the budget, would go on for ever and also handy for the winter. You can even find ones that have specs which include leather, sat nav and heated seats if that appeals to you.
Also, if you get one pre 2005 the tax is less. The downsides are it can be a bit thirsty(but you would have saved a bit of money on the initial outlay) and the badge may not be to your taste.
Bloody hell don't confuse him even more! Also, if you get one pre 2005 the tax is less. The downsides are it can be a bit thirsty(but you would have saved a bit of money on the initial outlay) and the badge may not be to your taste.
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