Opinions / Advice / Experience Please - Family car £9k

[MickeyWheelspin]

Hi,

I'm after a bit of advice / differing opinions as my head is spinning now from looking at classifieds for weeks. I've recently sold my 350Z to buy something bigger as the wife's civic, whilst ok for day trips, just isn't big enough for family holidays now we have two kids. I loved the Zed and whilst a family wagon will be a shock in comparison I don't want something that is completely lifeless. I appreciate that a cheap, fun car that fits the family and goes forever and does umpteen miles to the gallon is kind of the holy grail, but you don't know unless you try :-)

Essentially I'm after a car that...

Costs sub 9K
Big enough to fit the family and associated crap with some comfort
Good (ish) fuel economy
Reliable & not too pricey to repair (so no recurring major issues with gearboxes, ecu's etc)
Not a complete van as I'll be driving it on my own for work most of the time appx 20k per year (motorway miles largely) so no people carriers
Not French
Not Ford (swore I'd never deal with them again!! - long story)

I have been looking at 5 series BMW's (preferably 525D estate) but for that money it'll be 05/06 and have at least 80k on the clock. I thought that Bimmers went on forever but I've seen some threads that suggest that the higher mileage e60's can be troublesome - is this true / something to worry about??

A6 - similar age etc to the 5 series and I'm a little unsure of the interior
Passat - Ditto but slightly cheaper
Mazda 6??
156 estate??

Thanks,

Mike

[CarlT]

Can't go wrong with a Passat Estate. We have a 2.0 TFSi 2007 car, got lots of spec', comfy and looks ok.
The petrol engine is a bit thirsty round town though

[Russ T Bolt]

Toyota Avensis Estate, very impressed with the one we bought recently.

[anyideas]

What about a Mazda CX-7?

[toxgobbler]

Honda CRV, good size, fairly bulletproof, very practical, enormous boot. If you get the Mark 2 the boot has a built in picnic table!

[MickeyWheelspin]

Thanks for the replies guys.

CarlT said:

Can't go wrong with a Passat Estate. We have a 2.0 TFSi 2007 car, got lots of spec', comfy and looks ok.
The petrol engine is a bit thirsty round town though

The Passat looks like a good car - possibly not quite the drive of a BMW but a good family plodder.

Russ T Bolt said:

Toyota Avensis Estate, very impressed with the one we bought recently.

Hadn't thought of an Avensis - never been in one. Good record for reliability but how are they to drive?

anyideas said:

What about a Mazda CX-7?

Don't really fancy a "crossover". Big car with not that much load space and I prefer to be a little closer to the road.

toxgobbler said:

Honda CRV, good size, fairly bulletproof, very practical, enormous boot. If you get the Mark 2 the boot has a built in picnic table!

Similar to the CX-7 - not really my cup of tea.

Has anyone got any experience of high mileage 5 series - 525 or 530? Is it likely to be a maintenance nightmare?

[McHaggis]

A6 is fine; go for the 2.0d or the 3.0d. The 2.7 auto is worth avoiding. The interior is well designed rather than pretty to look at; it is well screwed together.

For that money you may get a 54 plate Sline, fully loaded (BOSE, satnav, etc) and quattro.

[smoken]

The BEST CAR FOR U IS SEAT LEON 170 FR TDI" can be re-maped to 230bhp 350 torque 5doors will top 152 mph re-maped' look stunning' handles great' massive spec' 18'' alloys' btcc kit standard on some ? yes i have one very fast and exciting to drive

[McHaggis]

smoken said:

The BEST CAR FOR U IS SEAT LEON 170 FR TDI" can be re-maped to 230bhp 350 torque 5doors will top 152 mph re-maped' look stunning' handles great' massive spec' 18'' alloys' btcc kit standard on some ? yes i have one very fast and exciting to drive

2 much TXT SPK pls make sense 4 US
LOLS
ROFL

[Bullett]

Octavia - the boot is massive, I take everything for a holiday with the whole family (3yo and a 1yo) in the car. And it's not the estate. My mate needed a roofbox on his A4 avant to carry the same amount of stuff.

[underphil]

Mazda 6 2.5 Sport/SL ? - good value all rounder, loads of nice kit as standard

[SausageBap]

Alfa 159, best looking saloon and well within budget.

[Bitzer]

smoken said:

The BEST CAR FOR U IS SEAT LEON 170 FR TDI" can be re-maped to 230bhp 350 torque 5doors will top 152 mph re-maped' look stunning' handles great' massive spec' 18'' alloys' btcc kit standard on some ? yes i have one very fast and exciting to drive

2 SML

[The Don of Croy]

For that budget you have to get two motors - a cheap D5 V70 for family work (£2k) plus a VX220 n/a for 'personal transport' at £7k.

If the family wagon is not going to do the mileage you can treat yourself to the T5 petrol.

Compromise cars are exactly that. Good luck!