12k budget - family car

[benjijames28]

I've got a 12k budget to spend on a car suited to a family.

I want a fairly new car with under 60k on clock, something I can look after and make last at least 5 years.

Mondeo is too boring.
I want nothing from the VW group.
Hyundai i40 felt very cheap.

Ive looked at Mazda 6 and really like them. I'm going to view a Subaru outback and a honda accord tomorrow.

Estate car is preferred but I could make a saloon work.

Reliability is a big factor here. I'm sick of throwing money at cars, my Audi A3 has cost me a fortune. I want rid now. Hence no VW cars.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mondeo is boring? No family car is going to be a ball of fire unless you're buying an M5 or E55 etc, the Mondeo with 200bhp is a good capable car (better than the Mazda) & with a tickle from Mountune 250-260bhp will be yours.

Titanium X Sport 200bhp

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

Hatchback

Titanium X Sport 240bhp

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

Mazda6 SE-L 145bhp

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

Hatch

Sport 145bhp

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

Insignia VXR 320bhp

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

Hatchback

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

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

Jaguar XF Premium Luxury 235bhp

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

SV8 410bhp

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

BMW 335i M Sport 310bhp

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

330i M Sport 275bhp

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

[benjijames28]

Those suggestions are good and well but my insurance will limit me to certain cars on the policy I'm on.

I tried to change my car to a Subaru wrx and a BMW 330i earlier in the year and​ they would not do it without starting a new policy with a different underwriter.

My policy finishes in October, then I have 5 years no claims.

I'm currently in talks to buy a honda accord diesel from a main dealer. It's done 50k is the facelift model, aka last one they ever made, and it's only 9k , or my piece of st car plus 5k, oh and it has a year's honda warranty.

Two problems... I don't do huge mileage so I don't need a diesel but will happily give it a good thrash every few weeks to keep it sweet. Second issue the girlfriend has a illogical hated of honda, she says that are old Mans cars and feel cheap. Dunno what planet she is on.

Any other ideas?

[ZX10R NIN]

2011 Infiniti G37 Hybrid 21k swift different should be reasonable on insurance & under budget.

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

[Deerfoot]

That Infiniti looks great value.

I ran an Accord, it's an underrated car.

[benjijames28]

Infiniti looks a beast. Don't think my insurance will cover me tho.

I am a fan of the accord, it's the girlfriend who isn't. She is mental.

[Deerfoot]

benjijames28 said:

I am a fan of the accord, it's the girlfriend who isn't. She is mental.

Is she paying for it / contributing to the running costs? If not tell her to stow her tits....

[ZX10R NIN]

benjijames28 said:

Infiniti looks a beast. Don't think my insurance will cover me tho.

I am a fan of the accord, it's the girlfriend who isn't. She is mental.

Check first but if you can't get cover I'd just wait until around 4 weeks before your policy runs out (giving yourself time to look for the right car rather than rushing) & then start looking, why limit yourself to a car you don't really (especially as you don't need a diesel) want just for the sake of waiting 3 months at which point you could get the Infiniti/335i etc.

[sisyphal]

I've just bought a Honda Accord Diesel Tourer and I've had a lot of trouble. It may be a car where you don't get the usual reliability expected from Honda.

They have problems with
- Clutch/DMF
- DPF
- Sunroof (rust)

I recently bought a 59 Reg Tourer, 65000miles, 2 owners, FSH. Everything checked out and looked good on the surface.

I soon noticed the clutch slipping in 5th if I throttled it. That needed replacing, luckily the DMF was within tolerance otherwise I could've been facing a £1500/£2000 bill.

Within a tank of diesel the DPF light was on and it went into limp mode. Regeneration failed within 200 miles or so. Got an aftermarket (non OEM) part and decent independent to replace for £600. Official part costs around £1200 so I could've been looking at a much larger bill.

The sunroof got stuck in the open position until I forced it back. It's rusting away so that will need to be sorted soon. I think they were replaced under recall (with Honda extending the guarantee to 8 years) but mine's not been done.

Power steering failed on starting once. Engine light on and no power, hasn't reoccurred so I'm crossing my fingers that doesn't reoccur.

Sat Nav can be finicky. Drive is in the boot so dust gets in there and dirties the lens. Also condensation in the morning means the disc won't read correctly sometimes.

It's given me a lot of stress and I've nearly traded it a couple of times, but I've persevered which may or may not be the right thing to do. Regret not going for a Petrol Civic Tourer or CRV now.

That said I know people who do lots of motorway miles and they've had no trouble and are well over 100K and counting in them.

[benjijames28]

sisyphal said:

I've just bought a Honda Accord Diesel Tourer and I've had a lot of trouble. It may be a car where you don't get the usual reliability expected from Honda.

They have problems with
- Clutch/DMF
- DPF
- Sunroof (rust)

I recently bought a 59 Reg Tourer, 65000miles, 2 owners, FSH. Everything checked out and looked good on the surface.

I soon noticed the clutch slipping in 5th if I throttled it. That needed replacing, luckily the DMF was within tolerance otherwise I could've been facing a £1500/£2000 bill.

Within a tank of diesel the DPF light was on and it went into limp mode. Regeneration failed within 200 miles or so. Got an aftermarket (non OEM) part and decent independent to replace for £600. Official part costs around £1200 so I could've been looking at a much larger bill.

The sunroof got stuck in the open position until I forced it back. It's rusting away so that will need to be sorted soon. I think they were replaced under recall (with Honda extending the guarantee to 8 years) but mine's not been done.

Power steering failed on starting once. Engine light on and no power, hasn't reoccurred so I'm crossing my fingers that doesn't reoccur.

Sat Nav can be finicky. Drive is in the boot so dust gets in there and dirties the lens. Also condensation in the morning means the disc won't read correctly sometimes.

It's given me a lot of stress and I've nearly traded it a couple of times, but I've persevered which may or may not be the right thing to do. Regret not going for a Petrol Civic Tourer or CRV now.

That said I know people who do lots of motorway miles and they've had no trouble and are well over 100K and counting in them.

You may have just had a bad one? It happens. Where did you get it from?

This one is from a main honda dealer with a year's used honda warranty.

Any diesel can have dpf issues and they suffer more with clutch issues due to the torque.

Maybe yours was used for town driving from start? So the dpf was already fked etc... Who knows. But you don't hear many stories like yours regarding any honda.

[benjijames28]

I test drove a 14 plate Mazda 6 today. Petrol 2 litre.

Sold by a Mazda main dealer and it was a tacky wreck. Interior falling apart, and the engine was just under powered. Diesel much better buy.

I'm still keen on that honda.

[sisyphal]

benjijames28 said:

You may have just had a bad one? It happens. Where did you get it from?

This one is from a main honda dealer with a year's used honda warranty.

Any diesel can have dpf issues and they suffer more with clutch issues due to the torque.

Maybe yours was used for town driving from start? So the dpf was already fked etc... Who knows. But you don't hear many stories like yours regarding any honda.

Worth confirming what the warranty covers though. Making sure those parts are covered and not excluded as consumables. I think you'd be covered for 6 months under consumer law anyway, but still.

Found it in an Autotrader ad. Small trader, not his main line of work but buys and sells on the side. To be fair to him he paid 2/3rd of clutch and we split the DPF cost 50/50.

I've been unlucky, but it was also traded in for a reason. Like you say it must've been town driven rather than motorways. No sign of a towbar and it's not a likely car for a remap. Just need a couple of trouble free years now to even it out, have hopefully got all the big issues out the way in one go.

Guy at the garage (Independent Honda) said similar, he's seen very few with problems (and nobody that's had the trouble I've had) all manufacturers have the DMF/DPF issues too. It's not put me off Hondas, other car is a 6 year old Civic (45K) that's never had a problem drives as good as new.

Even with all the hassle I'm growing to love it. It has everything you need. Swallows everything the family has and is still spacious. I've got bike racks for the roof bars too.

Had the same thing with my Mrs and the Grandad issue, but once she saw all the gadgets in there and the comfort it offers she was taken by it. Hope you go for it, am sure you'll have better luck than me

[benjijames28]

Yeah, the problems are not end of world. I have a feeling I might end up keeping my next car a long time. So getting a clutch and flywheel won't be a problem.

As for dpf, the car has done 10k a year for 5 years, so probably has seen some motorway journeys. I will routinely give it a blast in 4th gear down the m1, maybe once every week or two. If that fails I could always have the dpf mapped out and deny all knowledge.

As for sunroof mine isn't that posh.

It seems you got lucky with that small trader, in my experience the part time traders are worse people to buy a car from.

[aaron_2000]

335D?

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

Forester STI?

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

C320?

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

Or save some money and get a 2.3 Saab 9-5?

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


Could probably get an S4