Help me following in love again (car related)

[dema]

I've sold my beloved 350Z last year hoping to save some money (failed) and move to a more practical car as I recently got married and sooner or later there will be a baby on the way.

Since than, I had two cars and, the second one as now already been advertised on here fora week. Nothing wrong with either cars but I haven't fallen for them and feel just like.... a car, and looking around there isn't anything around that strikes me like the 350 did.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one that has been there , just looking for some sort of advise/ideas.

Budget is 4to5K depending on how much the current car will sell for.
Has to be a 4 seater and with enough to carry baby stuff.
35/40+ mpg manual with either a decent turbo or lots of torque
Fun to drive,well balanced (mainly if is a diesel)
Or could go the opposite way and get a Q car

So far I considered:
Mondeo ST TDCI: Practical and sensible
E46 330D Touring: More of a driver car but over budget for a decent example
E39 530D Touring: Could cost a bit to maintain properly
E60 530D: 4K car are around but I guess those will need a lot of expensive maintenance

Q car: looked at a Nissan Elgrand, higher spec, hardly any around, different, Jap (which I'm keen on), I think it would look good once modified. But, definitely not a driver car, auto, 30mpg, spares might be difficult to find in the UK.

Keep looking around but it feels hopeless !

[nagsheadwarrior]

An Elgrand isnt what I'd call a Q car but certainly a leftfield option, I reckon you'd be suicidal driving one of them after a very short time!

How about the 2.4jtd 159 for a nice looking bit of value for money lumpy dieselness, or buy a reliable petrolised e39 rather than a diesel that'll break?

[dema]

My current car is a 159 2.2. JTS, the main issue if not the only is the engine choice!Complete lack of torque and 25mpg average (in my hands) I did consider the 2.4 but out there within budget.
You are right on the Elgrand, I considered that as purely left field side/show,and I think that a 3L BMW would give me the same mpg as the Alfa

[anonymous-user]

Your needs are very similar to mine. Saab 9-5 Aero HOT estate in black. 250bhp, 30mpg easy from a manual, big enough for any baby stuff. Very Q. Yet as classy, IMO, as anything German.

£4k will get you a very good pre-Edna (pre 54) or a good facelift.

Biased but I love mine (a remapped auto, 275bhp/430Nm). Found myself doing 3 figure speeds without realising, 5-up plus luggage, on the way back from the airport on Thursday...

[dema]

I just had to have a quick look on reviews as my knowledge about Saab is zero.
Not a looker but figures are impressive for the money, I guess that Saab going bust contributed the the low resale costs? What reliability,tax and general running costs are like?
Is the 30mpg on motorways sitting at 60/70?

I seem to remember that Saab did a TTID engine as well but, I guess this is only in the newer models?

[parapaul]

I'd be looking at the E46 330d. That sort of money should get you a high mileage car still in good condition - and 100k+ is nothing if it's been looked after.

It's a nice place to be, it's a peach of an engine, and it will do family duties all day long.

[DukeDickson]

Some form of Volvo T5 @ a bit under budget with the remainder on remap and/or fuel?

V70R in classifieds @ <4k. Nasty colour, no idea if genuine/clean, but if it is, 110k isn't scary on pig iron, plus it will tune to a good number iirc, since the smaller engine is tougher.

[anonymous-user]

My 9-5 is showing 25.6mpg (it's an auto remember), that's based on 19miles each way to work, all S/C's and roundabouts, no link more than 3 miles long, and 3 or 4 miles of town centre stuff. Parts - no issues at all. Biggest issue is the bloody key goes in the centre console.

But it hasn't got a BMW badge so most ignore it...

[dema]

Thanks guys,

Badge is not an issue for me, when I had the 350 people commented that it wasn't a real sport car (might be a fair point as it was half GT) and other people just laughed when I bought a skoda fabia, however 50mpg, 200 bhp and 304lf/tb left them with their mouth open.

The 330 would probably be my first choice even if can be expensive to repair, but I was advised to go for an 04 onwards. I've looked at the sport version due to having better handling however however an 04 with 80K miles still going for 7K!!

I was thinking about it today again, I guess what I miss from the 350 is the tons of torque...

[anonymous-user]

Cost £70 for a remap to 430Nm on mine. That's plenty enough to keep a Boxster honest once on the move...

[dema]

325ft/Lb for a car weights 1750Kg doesn't sound much (not poor either) considering that the skoda I had was running on 304ft/lb at 1100Kg but I guess it is all in the feel