Do I need a new car? Help me justify it...
Discussion
Pretty confident I've landed myself a new role at work which will cut my daily self funded commute from 70 miles round trip to 13 miles 
I've spent the last 6 years doing the grind in snotty diesels for obvious reasons of economy. Currently running a w
ky Mk3 Mondeo Tddi. It's soulless but reliable, and performs it's required task reasonably well.
My first question is, will running this diesel with an egr valve and all the fragile associated diesel gubbins on a constant 7 mile journey cause me grief? The commute is literally a couple of minor urban roads, then a straight 50 limit B road for 5 miles and I'm there. I did the journey today and it didn't even get up to temperature. Will this repetitive, uninvolving journey cause the diesel to sludge up and start letting me down?
Secondly, if the answer to the above is yes, will it be any kinder to a petrol?
Hoping the answer is yes, my criteria and short list is this -
I have 4 kids, yes 4 (I know, idiot ) and so it needs to be a decent size. I'm past needing estates now as the OH has an MPV for the serious kiddy moving days.
Budget is limited to £1500 as my car is effectively the second car with the MPV doing most family stuff.
Problem is, I can't decide what I want out of the car, I have no fixed aspirations of what I want it to do. I've short listed a few, and you can see from my reasons I have no fixed list of boxes to tick...
E39 Saloon, 525i or above (prob not a 540) To coin a PH phrase, the 'waftiness' of them appeals. Having an E39 with a smooth 6 pot mated to a lazy slush box and just bimbling around appeals. I still like the styling, and the interiors with leather look a nice place to be, and there's plenty of choice on the market.
Saab 9-5 Aero, a lot of car for the money! 250 rampaging Swedish horses would be a hoot after 6 years of diesel torture. Auto or manual, not fussed. The presence of a turbo troubles me slightly.. Would my short commute cause this similar issues to a diesel of constant stopping and starting the engine with few long runs?
Audi A4 B5 quattro (2.4 or 2.8). I still like the way they look, I had a B5 tdi and it was just brilliant. Interior is very dated now, but they're rock solid. The Quattro drivetrain appeals as I live a bit rural so in the winter months the roads can be crap, would be a nice to have rather than a want to have. I'd certainly consider the right FWD version if it was tidy. Again, a nice smooth V6 (compared to the 4 pot dag dags I've been driving) would be nice for the power.
So that's where I'm at. So do I need to change the car, and if so, what do I go for? Left field and alternative choices are of course very welcome.
I've spent the last 6 years doing the grind in snotty diesels for obvious reasons of economy. Currently running a w
ky Mk3 Mondeo Tddi. It's soulless but reliable, and performs it's required task reasonably well. My first question is, will running this diesel with an egr valve and all the fragile associated diesel gubbins on a constant 7 mile journey cause me grief? The commute is literally a couple of minor urban roads, then a straight 50 limit B road for 5 miles and I'm there. I did the journey today and it didn't even get up to temperature. Will this repetitive, uninvolving journey cause the diesel to sludge up and start letting me down?
Secondly, if the answer to the above is yes, will it be any kinder to a petrol?
Hoping the answer is yes, my criteria and short list is this -
I have 4 kids, yes 4 (I know, idiot
) and so it needs to be a decent size. I'm past needing estates now as the OH has an MPV for the serious kiddy moving days. Budget is limited to £1500 as my car is effectively the second car with the MPV doing most family stuff.
Problem is, I can't decide what I want out of the car, I have no fixed aspirations of what I want it to do. I've short listed a few, and you can see from my reasons I have no fixed list of boxes to tick...
E39 Saloon, 525i or above (prob not a 540) To coin a PH phrase, the 'waftiness' of them appeals. Having an E39 with a smooth 6 pot mated to a lazy slush box and just bimbling around appeals. I still like the styling, and the interiors with leather look a nice place to be, and there's plenty of choice on the market.
Saab 9-5 Aero, a lot of car for the money! 250 rampaging Swedish horses would be a hoot after 6 years of diesel torture. Auto or manual, not fussed. The presence of a turbo troubles me slightly.. Would my short commute cause this similar issues to a diesel of constant stopping and starting the engine with few long runs?
Audi A4 B5 quattro (2.4 or 2.8). I still like the way they look, I had a B5 tdi and it was just brilliant. Interior is very dated now, but they're rock solid. The Quattro drivetrain appeals as I live a bit rural so in the winter months the roads can be crap, would be a nice to have rather than a want to have. I'd certainly consider the right FWD version if it was tidy. Again, a nice smooth V6 (compared to the 4 pot dag dags I've been driving) would be nice for the power.
So that's where I'm at. So do I need to change the car, and if so, what do I go for? Left field and alternative choices are of course very welcome.
Edited by wiliferus on Thursday 31st October 23:07
oldcynic said:
Run the Mondeo for a couple of months and see how things go. Then work out if you need to change the car, or if it's actually fine for your 7 mile commute.
Sorry if I'm the voice of reason.
Sorry if I'm the voice of reason.
.... But yes, that rational thought had crossed my mind, and is of course what the OH wants me to do. talksthetorque said:
would that be so she can have a newer car by any chance?
No, hers is plenty new enough, but she doesn't 'get' cars and why they excite me. Cars are a commodity, a white good, and as such shouldn't be replaced unless they're broken. Edited by wiliferus on Thursday 31st October 23:47
wiliferus said:
No, hers is plenty new enough, but she doesn't 'get' cars and why they excite me. Cars are a commodity, a white good, and as such shouldn't be replaced unless they're broken.
Simple...break it (lets face it a diseasel Mondeo deserves to be broken) and then buy something like a 2000 BMW 7 Series for sheer wafting pleasure.Edited by wiliferus on Thursday 31st October 23:47
Our cleaner here at Aston Martin has 2 and loves them both :-)
Fleckers said:
only 4 kids, you are not trying hard enough, wait until you have 6 sons like I have then you can shout about sprem counts
as for what car, i would look at a Jag S type if it was me
I'd not considered an S Type, I'm not sure they're my cup of tea. I might have to go and see one in the flesh to get a feel for one. The styling however has put the MG ZT190 on my radar, although the plastic centre console and dash looks awful! as for what car, i would look at a Jag S type if it was me
Of course I WANT a new car... Variety is the spice of life and all that!
Unfortunately due to the kids, a generic saloon is the default option.
For a time I was considering some form of old 4x4 such as a Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer, but decided it was a bit excessive. I've also reached a point in my life where I want a few toys, and I want to be comfy.
With regards the grin factor, in my tiny little mind the three cars I've short listed would do that. The BMW would as it's a lovely place to be and a lovely straight six noise.
The Saab would do it on straight line acceleration.
The Audi I'm not so convinced on the grin factor, but it would be an effective tool for the job.
Unfortunately due to the kids, a generic saloon is the default option.
For a time I was considering some form of old 4x4 such as a Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer, but decided it was a bit excessive. I've also reached a point in my life where I want a few toys, and I want to be comfy.
With regards the grin factor, in my tiny little mind the three cars I've short listed would do that. The BMW would as it's a lovely place to be and a lovely straight six noise.
The Saab would do it on straight line acceleration.
The Audi I'm not so convinced on the grin factor, but it would be an effective tool for the job.
Edited by wiliferus on Friday 1st November 09:48
Snowboy said:
Big old 4x4s are surprisingly comfy and well equipped.
But, if they aren't for you then I guess it's back to the saloons.
I don't know if they aren't for me, but I'm not sure I can justify a 4.0 litre +. And to be fair if I could, I'd be looking at V8 saloons - that would give me a grin factor!! But, if they aren't for you then I guess it's back to the saloons.
wiliferus said:
oldcynic said:
Run the Mondeo for a couple of months and see how things go. Then work out if you need to change the car, or if it's actually fine for your 7 mile commute.
Sorry if I'm the voice of reason.
Sorry if I'm the voice of reason.
.... But yes, that rational thought had crossed my mind, and is of course what the OH wants me to do. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff