Newish family estate or older BMW 5 series?
Discussion
I have recently changed jobs and as a result am now going to be back doing around 25,000+ miles a year, so it's time I moved on my trusty and very good Octavia Vrs Estate petrol.
So I'm going to get a large family diesel estate, looking to spend around £16,000. For that do I go for an almost new Mazda 6 180/Pug 508 163/Insignia 163 or 195. Each of those I can get one about 12 months old with under 10,000 miles & still in warranty. Cheap VED/economical/quite dull but lower costs and more piece of mind. The sensible option.
Or do I look at an 08/09 plate 520d or V70 Volvo. Which will clealy cost more to run but be more fun to drive. Higher VED & maintence costs, plus if anything goes wrong out of warranty so higher repair bills. The heart option, some really lovely examples for sale at that price.
I spent 80% of my time on the motorway with cruise control on, so need a comfy family cruiser. When I first started a similar job in 2006 I got a new 407 - ran it for 4 years and did 120,000 miles. Never went wrong, costs were minimal. I changed that for a Merc C320 cdi, which was an incredible car - but running costs really did go up and it had one major fault £1,800 (which luckily the dealer I bought it from sorted).
So heart of head?? hmmmm.
So I'm going to get a large family diesel estate, looking to spend around £16,000. For that do I go for an almost new Mazda 6 180/Pug 508 163/Insignia 163 or 195. Each of those I can get one about 12 months old with under 10,000 miles & still in warranty. Cheap VED/economical/quite dull but lower costs and more piece of mind. The sensible option.
Or do I look at an 08/09 plate 520d or V70 Volvo. Which will clealy cost more to run but be more fun to drive. Higher VED & maintence costs, plus if anything goes wrong out of warranty so higher repair bills. The heart option, some really lovely examples for sale at that price.
I spent 80% of my time on the motorway with cruise control on, so need a comfy family cruiser. When I first started a similar job in 2006 I got a new 407 - ran it for 4 years and did 120,000 miles. Never went wrong, costs were minimal. I changed that for a Merc C320 cdi, which was an incredible car - but running costs really did go up and it had one major fault £1,800 (which luckily the dealer I bought it from sorted).
So heart of head?? hmmmm.
Nigel Worc's said:
What on earth could be entertaining about driving a 520d .... or any diesel really ?
A 520d, all the sound and performance of a black cab, and yes, I've driven plenty of them !
I am envious you've got 16 grand to spend though.
OiA 520d, all the sound and performance of a black cab, and yes, I've driven plenty of them !
I am envious you've got 16 grand to spend though.
There are plenty of us who enjoy driving diesel.
Mines fantastic, goes like stink, great fun and 40+ mpg!
mattdaniels said:
sanf said:
am now going to be back doing around 25,000+ miles a year, so it's time I moved on my trusty and very good Octavia Vrs Estate petrol.
Why? 
Phil Dicky said:
mattdaniels said:
sanf said:
am now going to be back doing around 25,000+ miles a year, so it's time I moved on my trusty and very good Octavia Vrs Estate petrol.
Why? A combination if things. The Octavia is an 07 so still worth something before a plough loads of miles on it. On long runs it is consistently averaging 32mpg, so is a little juicy. Finally it is a very refined cruiser, superb car but on motorways quite load.
I'm after something that will do 50mpg on motorways and is more refined.
And to be honest I fancy a change. I love having something that is fun to through about, however I will be on motorways so much of the time, I could do with a more refined cruiser.
On the subject of diesel cars - drive a C320 definitely not dull, it can hold it's own against M3's, proper performance car. Ok doesn't sound as good, but superb. I know a 520 won't set the world alight, but I still have the Scoob for sillyness.
If you like the Octavia why not swap over to an Octavia vRS diesel?
Know what you mean about a sudden jump in milage affecting car choice, I'm looking to go more eco from my petrol vRS soon too (Fabia though).
Out of sensible vs new, is a sligthly older sensible estate and an old weekend toy an option?
Know what you mean about a sudden jump in milage affecting car choice, I'm looking to go more eco from my petrol vRS soon too (Fabia though).
Out of sensible vs new, is a sligthly older sensible estate and an old weekend toy an option?
The Octy petrol engine is not suited to LPG from what I've been told. I have a PD170 VRS, mpg is good and it goes with a Shark map and DPF delete but build quality isn't fantastic, the engine is agricultural and it has little of the character of my old Volvo 850R (which was on LPG).
Clearly nobody buys a 520d because they are a drivers car, but they are a very good allround car, have a friend with an Elise who loves his
Clearly nobody buys a 520d because they are a drivers car, but they are a very good allround car, have a friend with an Elise who loves his
I'd get a Superb. I've borrowed a 170 4x4 elegance for the weekend and it's a ridiculous amount of car for the money, it feels like you're a chauffeur - it's really well built, gets an indicated 48mpg on a motorway run, has loads and loads of rear legroom (and heated rear seats!). It's quite a big car, but it also has park assist, so it'll parallel park without you touching the steering wheel.
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