Every day practical car help
Discussion
Good evening everyone!
I changed jobs earlier in the year, about six months ago, and have been using a 10 year old Mondeo hatch since the new job does not come with a company car. As good as they are, the niggly things these cars can develop are starting to get irritating and I fancy something a fair bit newer, quicker and spec wise nicer!
I get the full 45ppm and seem to be averaging somewhere between 600-800 business miles a month. Last month I did over 1k but the month before about half that so it balances out.
The car will be used anywhere from city centres to cruising across one side of the country to the other for work purposes. Outside of work, or when it's not needed for business purposes, the car will rarely turn a wheel - when it does it will be for travelling to places like Scotland, Wales, the Peaks etc. as I am into my outdoor sports. So I would throw estimated annual mileage up to 20k, probably more like 15k right now.
In brief the criteria I am looking at is:
Reasonable performance (say approx 8s to 60)
Features such as aircon, cruise, heated seats, leather/half leather would be nice etc.
Reasonable economy, 45+ mpg
Preferably estate - needs to be big enough to sling a road bike in the back without taking wheels off or anything,
Routine maintenance with minimum "repairs" required - I don't want to go having to get subframes dropped off or wishbones replaced because of shot bushes etc. if possible.
Working on approx. 3 year "plan" so say 8k budget with reasonable residual.
For any comparisons, my company car at my last job was an Astra Sports Tourer SE which did the job quite well but struggled on kit and performance.
Proposals welcome. Or am I just unrealistic?
I changed jobs earlier in the year, about six months ago, and have been using a 10 year old Mondeo hatch since the new job does not come with a company car. As good as they are, the niggly things these cars can develop are starting to get irritating and I fancy something a fair bit newer, quicker and spec wise nicer!
I get the full 45ppm and seem to be averaging somewhere between 600-800 business miles a month. Last month I did over 1k but the month before about half that so it balances out.
The car will be used anywhere from city centres to cruising across one side of the country to the other for work purposes. Outside of work, or when it's not needed for business purposes, the car will rarely turn a wheel - when it does it will be for travelling to places like Scotland, Wales, the Peaks etc. as I am into my outdoor sports. So I would throw estimated annual mileage up to 20k, probably more like 15k right now.
In brief the criteria I am looking at is:
Reasonable performance (say approx 8s to 60)
Features such as aircon, cruise, heated seats, leather/half leather would be nice etc.
Reasonable economy, 45+ mpg
Preferably estate - needs to be big enough to sling a road bike in the back without taking wheels off or anything,
Routine maintenance with minimum "repairs" required - I don't want to go having to get subframes dropped off or wishbones replaced because of shot bushes etc. if possible.
Working on approx. 3 year "plan" so say 8k budget with reasonable residual.
For any comparisons, my company car at my last job was an Astra Sports Tourer SE which did the job quite well but struggled on kit and performance.
Proposals welcome. Or am I just unrealistic?
Hey, thank you for the suggestions. I'm not a fan of the Insignia because at my last employer the fleet was either Astra or Insignia and I was never too impressed with even the Elite model for me to consider it worth as much as those being asked for.
Was the Mondeo model after mine then a real big jump up? It's based on a completely different platform isn't it?
Thanks.
Was the Mondeo model after mine then a real big jump up? It's based on a completely different platform isn't it?
Thanks.
Thanks for the additional suggestion although I am swaying towards the Mazda. I have now just read about timing chain problems on the one I like (2.2d Sport). Is this as bad as people make out on the internet or is it just a limited number and only hearing of the few that have failed?
It's not like VAG petrol engines have been much better around a similar period for timing chain failure from what I have read either!
It's not like VAG petrol engines have been much better around a similar period for timing chain failure from what I have read either!
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