£12-14k for a Family Car (4 Years old max)

[nickg123]

Well at the moment we have a 2002 Golf GTi which i currently use as the Wife's still off with the Baby and has our 2008 Leon FR as it's got 4 doors and a decent size boot to get the buggy in.

I'm due to change the Golf in the next couple of months, so hoping to replace it with something around £12-14k tops and want something no less then 4 years old.

Ideally a Diesel due to lower tax, and fuel costs but this isn't essential..... The car will probably be kept 5 years maximum (hence thinking Diesel may hold better value too).

I've so far got the following on my list:

BMW 330D/325D M-Sport (Saloon)
Audi A4 2.0 or 3.0 TDi
Skoda Octavia vRS TDi

I really am struggling what else to look at, there are of course things like Nissan Cash-Cow's but there's no way i can see myself in something like that....

Anything really obvious i'm missing??

Or do i go down the lease route with £250 a month to spend?

[mikefacel]

I'd have both the Alfa 159 2.4 and Subaru Legacy (previous model) diesels on that list.

[bencollins4]

1 vote for the Octavia vRS here. I have a 3 month old and we got an Octavia due to it's huge boot. I have the petrol version which seem to go for a bit less than the diesel. It's not the most involving drive but it's not bad for it's size and not slow either. 40mpg is achievable too so you may not even need the diesel.

[davidjpowell]

Merc C320 cdi?

[chrisispringles]

I know it may not be an exciting idea, but Volvo V70s are absolute bargains 2nd hand. Your budget would get you a low mileage, previous shape one like this, or a slightly higher mileage, current shape on like this.

You could also get a post facelift S211 Mercedes E280/320 CDi. The post facelift models do not really suffer from the build quality issues that plagued older Mercedes'. Personally I'd go for the E280 CDi: they are a fair bit cheaper than an E320 CDi and the performance difference doesn't really justify the price difference IMO.

E320 CDi

E280 CDi

[va1o]

BMW probably the best bet, see if you can get a 320D LCI for that budget. Boring perhaps but it does the job it sets out to do incredibly well.

[51mes]

Try the HOnda Accord CDTI should be able to get a nice one for that money - executive has all the toys and trimmings...

[frosted]

If you want a car to hold its value then forget anything that its not german

[va1o]

Or how about a Lexus IS 220d? Doesn't have the stupid image attached to German cars, and makes a fantastic nearly-new buy after the initial big deprecation hit.

[nickg123]

Thanks guys, some interesting suggestions!!

Thing with the Lexus IS220 is i think i'd find it a bit boring to drive, not very powerful in standard trim are they?

I do keep looking at M-Sport 330d saloons and am really leaning towards that at the moment.... Just not sure a 3-Series is big enough so then think about the Octavia vRS but the Mrs is too much of a brand snob and really isn't keen...

I think the Audi Quattro A4 TDi of some sort could also be quite appealing, i like the Avant too.....

Just not sure if i need to go for a Diesel either, with all these damn DPF issues it's going to be one major expense lurking in the background waiting to sting when i least want it to.

[Morba]

Out of the 3 you list I'd go for the only hatchback.
I don't see saloons as family cars at all.

[300bhp/ton]

nickg123 said:

Well at the moment we have a 2002 Golf GTi which i currently use as the Wife's still off with the Baby and has our 2008 Leon FR as it's got 4 doors and a decent size boot to get the buggy in.

I'm due to change the Golf in the next couple of months, so hoping to replace it with something around £12-14k tops and want something no less then 4 years old.

Ideally a Diesel due to lower tax, and fuel costs but this isn't essential..... The car will probably be kept 5 years maximum (hence thinking Diesel may hold better value too).

I've so far got the following on my list:

BMW 330D/325D M-Sport (Saloon)
Audi A4 2.0 or 3.0 TDi
Skoda Octavia vRS TDi

I really am struggling what else to look at, there are of course things like Nissan Cash-Cow's but there's no way i can see myself in something like that....

Anything really obvious i'm missing??

Or do i go down the lease route with £250 a month to spend?

there are simply loads of interesting cars IMO for this money. If it was me looking for a family car I think I'd be looking at a 1-2 year old Jeep Wrangler Sport or Sahara.

Loads of space, easy clean surfaces, lots of fun but in a very different way to a car. No stooping down to put a babry/child in. Different and interesting. Also has bonus features like AWD for the winter, higher driving/riding position so more pleasant for kids and passengers. Well specced. Removable roof.

Not to everyones taste I admit, but it's what I'd choose.

[GreatGranny]

SO much choice for that kind of money.

Alpina D3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

525d M Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

C Class

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Volvo S60

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Accord 2.2 D-TEC

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...