What car

[Lemmonie]

Hi,

I have a "What Car?" if i may?

Background:
2 kids age 4 & 5
1 large tent
Local town driving
Own a mini as a 2nd car
Currently have a 530D but turbo is on way out and its expensive to run £180 a month!
Husband can get some new cars at cost, BMW, Audi, Merc, VW, Ford

Needs:
To be cheaper than the 530 to run
Doesnt have to be as big as no need for pushchairs etc now and can always borrow a car for camping needs.
Previous cars have been 116i, 318, Jeep Cherokee, Ford Galaxy. I hate to say it but the snob in me wants a prestigue brand but i know I have to be more practical.
I can buy used or get a very decent deal on new. Was looking at a 1 series again but is there anything better? A B Class?

[fozzymandeus]

Merc C220CDI estate?

[sider]

How much are you looking to spend on the car itself?

[Vladimir]

1 series will be a squeeze for the kids. I'd almost call it a 2+2 really.

Fozzy's idea is good (the C250CDI is also very decent and frugal) - not an Audi fan but the A3 Sportback might be handy?

[mnkiboy]

Volvo V50. Good looking smallish estate, but can squeeze a tent in the boot.

[veryRS]

Skoda Superb greenline estate. Huge, comfortable, full of toys and cheap as chips to run.

[SWoll]

Can highly recomment the new shape C220CDi Estate. We had a sport model for 2 years and it did a great job. Well built, nice to drive and reasonable running costs.

We replaced it with a 5 series touring (needed the space as the kids are getting tall like their dad) but the wife still goes on about the C-Class so we are looking at getting a new E-Class estate at some point this year.

Far more impressed with MB dealers than BMW also.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Lemmonie said:

Currently have a 530D but turbo is on way out and its expensive to run £180 a month!

180 x 12 = £2,180 pa

You'll be doing well if you can buy and run any car for less money unless it's an old Micra. In which case you won't be packing the kids and the tent!

Sounds like time to get that turbo fixed....

[RenesisEvo]

Vladimir said:

1 series will be a squeeze for the kids. I'd almost call it a 2+2 really.

I'm 6ft 1 tall, and have sat in the back of a 1 series from Oxford to Spa in Belgium without any issues. So I disagree with the lack of room. It looks tight, but once you're in it's fine. The boot isn't that small either.

[Lemmonie]

Ozzie Osmond said:

180 x 12 = £2,180 pa

You'll be doing well if you can buy and run any car for less money unless it's an old Micra. In which case you won't be packing the kids and the tent!

Sounds like time to get that turbo fixed....

Sorry I might add thats just fuel and I only do about 6K miles a year

[Captain Muppet]

Hmm, tricky. Like a 5-series but cheaper, but would prefer something better than a 1-series.

If only BMW would fill this gap in their range.

[Rob P]

S-Max or C-Max Grande?

I like the look of the C-Max 1.6 ecoboost. Petrol but supposedly good on fuel and reasonable performance.

Surely a Ford at "cost price" is very attractive if you can get it? Their discounts are normally much more generous than the other marques you mention.

[Turbodiesel1690]

Insignia estate perhaps? In the right colour quite a nice looking motor I think, also practical and easily run, good diesel mpg

[Vladimir]

Captain Muppet said:

Hmm, tricky. Like a 5-series but cheaper, but would prefer something better than a 1-series.

If only BMW would fill this gap in their range.

[SWoll]

Vladimir said:

Captain Muppet said:

Hmm, tricky. Like a 5-series but cheaper, but would prefer something better than a 1-series.

If only BMW would fill this gap in their range.

Amazes me that, with all those cars in their range they've missed a trick there.

But what would they call it? >1 but <5?

[Vladimir]

SWoll said:

Amazes me that, with all those cars in their range they've missed a trick there.

But what would they call it? >1 but <5?

The 2.5 series?

[Lemmonie]

Captain Muppet said:

Hmm, tricky. Like a 5-series but cheaper, but would prefer something better than a 1-series.

If only BMW would fill this gap in their range.

Very funny!

[Captain Muppet]

Lemmonie said:

Captain Muppet said:

Hmm, tricky. Like a 5-series but cheaper, but would prefer something better than a 1-series.

If only BMW would fill this gap in their range.

Very funny!

The 3-series seems the logical choice, which means you have considered it and have found it wanting in some important regard. Let us know what's wrong with it and it'll guide serious suggestions.

[ajprice]

Captain Muppet said:

Hmm, tricky. Like a 5-series but cheaper, but would prefer something better than a 1-series.

If only BMW would fill this gap in their range.

Whatever they call it, it should have a diesel engine, maybe a 3.0 but call it a 3.5 on the bootlid badge. And the engine should have some kind of tuning available, or mapping, if you will.

[Gruber]

Lemmonie said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

180 x 12 = £2,180 pa

You'll be doing well if you can buy and run any car for less money unless it's an old Micra. In which case you won't be packing the kids and the tent!

Sounds like time to get that turbo fixed....

Sorry I might add thats just fuel and I only do about 6K miles a year

If that's true, then my rough maths suggests you're getting 18.5mpg.

Really??