Narrowed it down to two boring cars..... interested in views

[jof]

God I hate what car posts so I apologise in advance

So I have a new job starting first week of April that comes with an allowance rather than a car. Handed back my trusty Skoda Superb last week and gave a couple of weeks to get something else.

Not a fan of committing to a lease in the first couple of years with a new company, and thankfully there are no restrictions on what I can spend my allowance on. With that in mind I'm looking at spending no more than £5k on a leggy car that will do a couple of years of about 20k a year comfortably with minimal likelihood of major borkage.

So, given the time constraints I've stayed local and found a 2007 Lexus 250 SE-L with 70k on the clock, and a 2008 A4 1.8 TFSI with similar mileage.

The Lexus has significantly more kit including an awesome stereo, heated and ventilated seats etc etc., while the AUDI is somewhat sparse. The A4 will clearly be quite a bit more efficient fuel-wise.

They're the same price, both with full dealer history.

Before anyone says it, I REALLY don't want a diesel or a bloody Mondeo or similar.

Any views?


(Edited for stupid autocorrect)
(Edited again as the I is too close to the 8 on my tablet)

Edited by jof on Tuesday 21st March 18:54

Edited by jof on Tuesday 21st March 19:03

[anonymous-user]

Saab 9-5 Aero with go faster goodies!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222432216974

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 21st March 18:58

[jof]

Yeah I'd love a quick Saab but couldn't find one locally that 'inspired confidence' ;-)

[lucido grigio]

Have you done a typo ?

2007 Lexus and 2001 Audi same price ?

Either way ,go for Lexus.

[anonymous-user]

jof said:

Yeah I'd love a quick Saab but couldn't find one locally that 'inspired confidence' ;-)

Don't worry, found you one. See link above.

[Willy Nilly]

The Lexus by miles out of those two. For your budget, it has to be petrol and Japanese.

[bearman68]

Lexus, with (an additional) LPG conversion? Apparently LPG is the new diesel.

[jof]

Oops yes thanks..... 2008 a4

[bearman68]

And what do you mean 'leggy' at 70k...... Just bought a pristine Volvo with 163k, so 70 is nothing at all, barely run in.

[jof]

Get what you mean, it's all relative... 'leggy' for what is effectively a self funded company car that needs a high degree of reliability.

Normally happy with bangernomics but y'know, new job, don't want to be making that call about why I can't get to where I need to be due to the car I bought with the pretty generous allowance etc

[jof]

Good shout on the lpg by the way... not sure I can be arsed with the outlay for something I'll only be keeping for a couple of years though. Any idea of the cost of a decent install these days?

[vsonix]

Yeah I'd probably pick the Lexus myself. For all the reasons mentioned already.

[markirl]

From the research I did before on the IS250, the auto is a far superior proposition to the manual.

[spookly]

Is the Lexus xx250 the one that had lots of borked engines?? Or... that might have been the diesel. Might be worth looking into.

Also, with the Audi check it isn't one of the models that suffers from a thirst for oil. Lots of the TFSI do, not sure about the 2008 1.8.

Out of the two, I wouldn't want the Audi, so I would also say go for the Lexus. But for the miles you are doing I'd want an auto.

[seadragon]

The 1.8 petrol engine in the Audi, VW etc was superb, but then I am a VAG guy. I had it in my Cupra R225

[hornetrider]

Mazda 6 Sport?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Munter]

spookly said:

Is the Lexus xx250 the one that had lots of borked engines?? Or... that might have been the diesel. Might be worth looking into.

The Toyota/Lexus 2.2 diesel was a bit of a dog. Presumably that's the one you are thinking of.

[hornetrider]

I like car shopping.

Volvo S80

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Really like this C30 R-Design

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

320i Touring

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

325i Coupe

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

CLK

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Outback

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Jag Sovereign

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

9-3

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

[99dndd]

hornetrider said:

I like car shopping.



Jag Sovereign

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Buy the Jag.

[IanCress]

seadragon said:

The 1.8 petrol engine in the Audi, VW etc was superb, but then I am a VAG guy. I had it in my Cupra R225

Completely different engine isn't it? I'm pretty sure the 1.8TFSi is in no way related to the old 1.8 20v.