Depressed by used car options

[Bill]

Coming at thi from a different angle: what classics do you admire? Something like a Merc SLC is well engineered and pretty cheap and would make a perfect high days and holidays car.

[Roman]

Nearly new Astra GTC Bi-Turbo

192bhp, leather, DAB etc. Many have Xenons, Nav & VXR upgrades too.

Several on Autotrader under budget under 1yr old with low miles like this one:
http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/vehicledetails/...

[Al U]

Roman said:

Nearly new Astra GTC Bi-Turbo

192bhp, leather, DAB etc. Many have Xenons, Nav & VXR upgrades too.

Several on Autotrader under budget under 1yr old with low miles like this one:
http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/vehicledetails/...

But Vauxhall.

Seriously though, I think they look OK from the outside but I really don't like the interior of Vauxhalls and have read some bad things about the way Vauxhall treats it's customers with warranty failures.

[Roman]

Al U said:

Roman said:

Nearly new Astra GTC Bi-Turbo

192bhp, leather, DAB etc. Many have Xenons, Nav & VXR upgrades too.

Several on Autotrader under budget under 1yr old with low miles like this one:
http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/vehicledetails/...

But Vauxhall.

Seriously though, I think they look OK from the outside but I really don't like the interior of Vauxhalls and have read some bad things about the way Vauxhall treats it's customers with warranty failures.

Fit a Opel badges or compensate with a posh man bag if badges are that important

Not a fan of anything else in their range to be fair.

Decent warranty, strong G40 gearbox and had no problems with mine.

[Al U]

Roman said:

Al U said:

Roman said:

Nearly new Astra GTC Bi-Turbo

192bhp, leather, DAB etc. Many have Xenons, Nav & VXR upgrades too.

Several on Autotrader under budget under 1yr old with low miles like this one:
http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/vehicledetails/...

But Vauxhall.

Seriously though, I think they look OK from the outside but I really don't like the interior of Vauxhalls and have read some bad things about the way Vauxhall treats it's customers with warranty failures.

Fit a Opel badges or compensate with a posh man bag if badges are that important

Not a fan of anything else in their range to be fair.

Decent warranty, strong G40 gearbox and had no problems with mine.

That's the thing though, I remember a few threads about customers with Astra VXR's with manufacturer warranty that were getting turned away by Vauxhall essentially being told that their crunching and whining gearboxes "all do that sir".

[Roman]

Al U said:

Roman said:

Al U said:

Roman said:

Nearly new Astra GTC Bi-Turbo

192bhp, leather, DAB etc. Many have Xenons, Nav & VXR upgrades too.

Several on Autotrader under budget under 1yr old with low miles like this one:
http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/vehicledetails/...

But Vauxhall.

Seriously though, I think they look OK from the outside but I really don't like the interior of Vauxhalls and have read some bad things about the way Vauxhall treats it's customers with warranty failures.

Fit a Opel badges or compensate with a posh man bag if badges are that important

Not a fan of anything else in their range to be fair.

Decent warranty, strong G40 gearbox and had no problems with mine.

That's the thing though, I remember a few threads about customers with Astra VXR's with manufacturer warranty that were getting turned away by Vauxhall essentially being told that their crunching and whining gearboxes "all do that sir".

Not heard that with the 2.0 CDTI's or Bi-Turbos Al U but thanks for the heads up on the VXR - would be nice if it made the used VXRs a bit cheaper!

[Slow]

What about just buy a older 5 series (e60) with highish miles and just run it into the ground? Will probably work out cheaper and you will have a nice enough car.

Edit: just had a look and you can get these for 15k

I just found my dream car... Search for yours via Auto Trader #DrivenByMe
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Sorry for advert, copied from phone.

Edited by Slow on Thursday 5th May 11:49

[Al U]

Slow said:

What about just buy a older 5 series (e60) with highish miles and just run it into the ground? Will probably work out cheaper and you will have a nice enough car.

Edit: just had a look and you can get these for 15k

I just found my dream car... Search for yours via Auto Trader #DrivenByMe
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Sorry for advert, copied from phone.

Edited by Slow on Thursday 5th May 11:49

If I ever get a BMW I'd want M Sport trim. Just prefer the look of them despite the firmer suspension.

E60 is not of interest.

[Al U]

Having had a longer looks at Jaguar XF's after seeing one in the car park this morning I think I'm starting to lean towards one. The interior looks like a nice place to sit and if I go for a pre-facelift V6 diesel it should have more than enough shove.

[J4CKO]

Al U said:

cat220 said:

How about a CLS 350 or 320cdi?

Like pretty much all recent Mercedes, Mercedes have done a very good job of making the next generation look much better than the last, making the previous gen much less desirable.

That isnt the general consensus on the CLS, I have the earlier gen one, of course if offered a straight swap for a comparable V8 new shape one I would snap their hand off but the styling just isnt as distinctive or original like the W219 model but it gets more bling, however you do seem to be massively swayed by getting the newest, flashiest car with the best badge but seem to be ten grand short.

Scirroco is a good bet, you would get a newish one, they are plenty fast enough and a nice place to sit. but it isnt blingy enough is it ?

[ahenners]

330d is a great shout and 15k should just about put you in budget of an E92 with under 60k. I had one with the newer N57 3.0D (came in around 09 onwards) for 18 months and it was great for motorway mile munching... high 40's mpg at outside lane speeds and could do 60 from dead in 6.0secs. Taking it easy could return low 50's. It's even a nice sounding engine as far as diesels go, just don't get one with the 19" alloys as the ride is harsh and tyre noise is loud. Pro Nav is an essential option too imo, otherwise you end up with a single line orange lcd display radio - not great when you're spending this kind of money!

Saw a mention of the Octavia VRS TSI a few pages back, I have one of these now and I'm lucky to break 40mpg on a motorway journey at 70mph; the trip computer showed 33mpg on this morning's cruise to work (20 miles motorway). I suspect people with more exotic engines than a 2.0 4 cylinder acheive similar figures.

Edited by ahenners on Thursday 5th May 12:25

[MKnight702]

Al U said:

cat220 said:

How about a CLS 350 or 320cdi?

Like pretty much all recent Mercedes, Mercedes have done a very good job of making the next generation look much better than the last, making the previous gen much less desirable.

Speak for yourself, I prefer my 2009 version CLS to the newer one. Mind you I do like the Shooting Brake version...

[Ali_T]

Al U said:

As is the Achilles heel of most japanese cars, the interior just doesn't do it for me.

Make that decision after driving one. Personally, I think all the German choices have terrible interior design.

[Al U]

J4CKO said:

Al U said:

cat220 said:

How about a CLS 350 or 320cdi?

Like pretty much all recent Mercedes, Mercedes have done a very good job of making the next generation look much better than the last, making the previous gen much less desirable.

That isnt the general consensus on the CLS, I have the earlier gen one, of course if offered a straight swap for a comparable V8 new shape one I would snap their hand off but the styling just isnt as distinctive or original like the W219 model but it gets more bling, however you do seem to be massively swayed by getting the newest, flashiest car with the best badge but seem to be ten grand short.

Scirroco is a good bet, you would get a newish one, they are plenty fast enough and a nice place to sit. but it isnt blingy enough is it ?

Sorry if you are offended that I think your CLS looks dated. As long as you are happy it's fine isn't it?

[Ikemi]

Is the weekend car idea not an option? I haven't read all the pages; only the OP and a few replies. I'd personally keep the Focus for the mundane trips and commuting, then spend the £15K on a nice weekend car ... Elise, Chimaera, Boxster? Perhaps an Evo, RX7 or a Skyline ... or a classic car of some sort? Lots of interesting options to be had at that price point!

[Bailey93]

get yourself on a direct access course and got yourself a 2 wheeled toy and focus for mundane work/family bks.

With 2 wheels its just you the road and the bike.... how philosophical

[Al U]

Bailey93 said:

get yourself on a direct access course and got yourself a 2 wheeled toy and focus for mundane work/family bks.

With 2 wheels its just you the road and the bike.... how philosophical

With the mileage I do, I get to see a lot of quite ridiculous driving and near misses. I'm quite happy to make whatever compromises are necessary to not be on a bike.

[ZX10R NIN]

What about a Mondeo 200bhp Titanium X Sport diesel it fits the brief & with only 44k on the clock you could keep it two years without it seeming to have high miles.

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

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

[ORD]

You're driving a boring diesel. You want to spend £15k to drive in a different boring diesel? The used car market is paradise for you! It's absolutely packed with soul-destroying cars with the badges and sports trim you want.

[TomEP]

ZX10R NIN said:

What about a Mondeo 200bhp Titanium X Sport diesel it fits the brief & with only 44k on the clock you could keep it two years without it seeming to have high miles.

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

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

Might as well get a caravan and give up with life if you buy one of these....