Best petrol manual saloon up to £4k, under 2 litres

[davepoth]

I'm starting to get second thoughts about my current car, which has now done 130,000 miles and has let me down a couple of times in the last few months. I do like driving it though, and I'd be sad to see it go.

Just in case the current malady turns out to be terminal I've been looking at alternatives. I'd want to spend £3-4k or so on a manual petrol saloon, with a less than 2 litre engine - preferably N/A. I also don't want an Audi A4 as I really don't like them very much.

Cars I've considered are

Alfa 159
BMW E92 320
Vauxhall Insignia
Mazda 6
Volvo S60
Mercedes C180K

Am I missing anything obvious? Any thoughts on the cars above?

[Ahbefive]

An N/A 2.0 is generally pretty weak.

[Willy Nilly]

Avensis

Accord

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say a 2.0 N/A would be adequate but I'd say be open minded with the capacity up to 2.5 should be enough.

For example a the difference fuel wise between a 2.0 & 2.5 is quite small but on a Mondeo sized car the performance difference is quite big just because of the extra torque which means you don't have to be up & down the box as much.

I'd say look for a Mondeo you can get a well spec'd 2.0 for your budget but I'd be sorely tempted to get the 2.5T version.

2007 2.0 Mondeo Ghia 145bhp 35mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 2.5T Titanium X 220bhp 30mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2006 2.0 Accord EX 155bhp 35mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 2.4 Accord EX 190bhp 31mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2009 Mazda 6 2.0 Tamura 145bhp 40mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2008 Mazda 6 SL 2.5 170bhp 34mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 2.2 Alfa 159 Lusso 185bhp 30mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2006 Lexus IS250 Sport 205bhp 29mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2006 320i M Sport 150bhp 38mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2006 325i M Sport 220bhp 33mpg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

If it's reliability that is your main concern & it has to be N/A then I'd take good look at the larger capacity Mazda6/Honda Accord otherwise the 2.5T Mondeo & 325i would be top of the list.