Everyone's favourite question and debate (what car sub 4k)

[DickP]

Good evening everyone,

I may be changing employment soon with a small increase in pay but loss of the company car.

I am looking for suggestions on what to replace the company car with should all go well with the move. Currently I am doing approx. 30k miles a year in a 1.7 130hp Astra Sports Tourer, with at least half that on business only mileage. In my new role the business mileage should be at most <10k and private mileage will remain same or become less.

Before I got the car above I had an old Focus mk1 diesel estate. This was excellent for everything in daily duties etc. that I wanted at the time and only moved it on because of the company car.

My leisure when away from cars (who could think of that?!) can often be in the outdoors, climbing, cycling, running etc. This is why the past two have been small to mid-sized family estates. Before the cc I generally maintained them myself as well.

With a preferred budget of 3k and absolute ceiling 4k (and must be for good reason), what would you recommend?

Current thought process is something much similar to the Focus/Astra (maybe mk2 Focus even??), or could go other end of the spectrum and get say a Clio 182 and roof bars for the bike?! (and tell extra luggage passengers to make their own way ).

(I do have access to fun cars when I want so that's why this is not so critical, but would be a bonus)

[DickP]

No replies to a what car thread, oh wow.

[Calza]

I'll vote a Saab.

Can't go wrong with a Saab estate, especially for 3k!

[Mr Tidy]

In November 2013 I bought a BMW 325ti Compact with just under 80K miles for just around £2,000 - that would work pretty well if you don't mind the looks (apparently a bit Marmite) and are OK with RWD.

But back in 2003 I had a Seat Leon Cupra which was also a great car - mine even had the optional leather seats with electric adjustment and memory!

Also a great car, but I am sure there are plenty of others - Octavia VrS springs to mind as it's the same engine as the Cupra.

All practical but with a bit of entertainment!

[BrownBottle]

What are you looking for, performance, something a bit wafty or just an appliance?

We need more specifics.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hi OP here are some options with a 100k or less which could take a couple of years of 30k per annum:

Mondeo ST (Diesel or Petrol) both are good steers & should easily accommodate your outdoor sports.

Diesel 155bhp 295 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Petrol 220bhp 204 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Renault Sport Meganes in both Petrol & Diesel (the Diesels are super rare) will be cracking drives

Diesel 175bhp 265 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Petrol 225bhp 220 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

BMW 330
Diesel 204bhp 302 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Petrol 231bhp 221 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

BMW 325Ti 192bhp 181 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Mercedes C350 Coupe 272bhp 258 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Mercedes CLK these cars take mileage in their stride low maintenance costs (I had one of these & couldn't fault it) they also don't have a DPF so one less thing to worry about, the rear seats fold flat to. They're a good car not as sharp as the BMW but IMO a better place to do miles in.

270 Diesel 170bhp 295 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

CLK 240 170bhp 177 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Facelift
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

CLK 280 231bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...


320 215bhp 229 lbft
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...


My bias pick would be the CLK but the more compact C Coupe might be more along the lines of what you're looking for plus it's the most powerful of the bunch, but all of the above are good cars it's just about personal preference.

[DickP]

Thanks for the replies.

I do like the idea of the 3 Series, particularly in that even the coupe seems to have fold down back seats?

But on the same note I've seen it mentioned elsewhere that it's hard to find a good E46 now?? Or is that just pub-talk-hearsay?

[ZX10R NIN]

I think you'll have to look hard for an E46 coupe with folding rear seats as for them being hard to find I'd say that's not the case but due to their popularity there are a lot of less than well cared for examples & this is the harder part which is to find a decent one.

[duff]

The E46 coupe has folding rear seats as standard, I believe it was an option on the saloon. My 330ci has carted the bike around no problem with the front wheel removed.

[ZX10R NIN]

I stand corrected I had a saloon & the rear seats didn't fold & was told it was an optional extra across the range.

[Emeye]

Extend the budget slightly and get a 325i SE E92 Coupe?

[s m]

ZX10R NIN said:

I stand corrected I had a saloon & the rear seats didn't fold & was told it was an optional extra across the range.

You get folding rear seats as standard on the coupe, hatch and estate. You have to spec it as an option on the saloon

[gizlaroc]

I love Merc estates at that sort of price range, they just age so well, unlike BMWs, which I tend to prefer new. They probably age better as they are softer sprung and have much better bushes etc.

I bought a 2006 C320 Sport Estate recently with 90k miles on it and full Merc history, with full heated leather, Comand Nav etc. etc and solid as anything for your budget. It was someones on the forum, I didn't need it and wasn't really looking but faiced it, and I love it, It has made me question why I have a new BMW X3 that is depreciating more in 10 months than this cost me all in?

Also just been offered my my old facelift 2007 E320cdi estate for £4k, which I am considering buying as well. I loved that car, and nearly didn't buy it, thought I was too young for a Merc, but needed the space and fell for it straight away and kept it the longest I had ever kept a car.

You can get some serious metal these days for peanuts, a 10 year old 100k mile car from someone like Merc still feels so solid, it isn't like buying a 10 year old car 10-15 years ago.

[DickP]

Sorry for the late reply.

So are you saying that Mercs are now getting on back towards what they once were in the 90s?

I'm just not sure whether a road bike would easily go into one of these CLKs (or other coupes) easily without taking wheels off etc. Anyone got any experience on that?

[ZX10R NIN]

With the front wheel removed they'll easily fit in the CLK.