Replace Galaxy and Boxster with....?

[clockworks]

I'm currently running a 2014 Galaxy 2.0 diesel and a 2007 Boxster S. Annual mileage is 9 or 10k. I live in Cornwall, so mostly rural roads, and journeys between 5 and 20 miles.

Since getting the Galaxy last year, I find myself driving that most of the time. At the age of 60, it's so much easier to get in and out of, and the higher driving position makes it easier to see approaching traffic over the hedges/walls on country lanes. It's comfy and practical, but a bit dull.
I rarely need more than 5 seats, but it's handy having all that space for tip runs, etc.

A friend has just picked up an unloved X5 3 litre petrol for £900. It had a few problems with things like door locks and warning lights, but we've fixed most of it at minimal cost with the help of a few Youtube videos. 120k on the clock, and it's mechanically sound. Drives almost as nicely as my old 5 series did, but a bit slow.

I'm considering replacing the current 2 cars with a V8 X5 (I've never owned a V8 before, so that'll be ticked off the bucket list) and something else for short journeys, either a small hatchback (Panda or similar), or an MX5.

The idea of a car with a high driving position and performance not far off the Boxster is appealing. The running costs shouldn't be too much higher than the Boxster. There's more to go wrong with an X5, but fixes should be cheaper and easier to DIY?

I'm not looking to put in more than a couple of grand over what I'd get for both my current cars, so max budget is £25 to £30k I guess. preferably less, and cash back into the bank.

Anything else I should be looking at?

Edited by clockworks on Tuesday 10th October 15:12

[Willy Nilly]

If you like the Galaxy, why not get the faster version?

[DoubleD]

Why would you need something else for short journey if you have an X5? Sounds like a waste of cash to me.

[Earthdweller]

S-Max ?

2.0 petrol turbo with about 240bhp ?

Very similar to the Galaxy but a sportier drive

[Codswallop]

If you're after a V8 4x4, how about a Merc ML63 or Cayenne GTS?

[clockworks]

I did think about just getting the Galaxy remapped (proper custom dyno job), should be good for close to 200bhp. A lot cheaper than replacing it.

I chose the Galaxy over an S-Max because there's more boot space. The S-Max looks sportier, but is it really (given the same engine)? The Galaxy actually drives OK. A bit of roll, but it doesn't lack grip (at the kind of speeds I drive). It's actually quite relaxing driving an MPV. There's no need to drive fast unless I want to, nothing to prove. It's quite funny when I do push it, other drivers don't expect that.

I guess I'm just a bit bored with the cars I have, change for the sake of it?

Running 2 cars does sometimes seem pointless. Most of the time when I go out, it's just driving 5 miles to work early in the morning, or because I need to deliver or collect something (not generally practical in the Boxster). A drive just for the sake of it accounts for about 10% of my mileage.

One car that "does it all" would suffice. I've never owned an SUV, a V8, or anything with 4 wheel drive. An X5 (or similar) ticks a lot of boxes. Newer ones depreciate quite a bit, which puts me off.

Maybe I'll just spend £400 on a remap, and garage the Boxster for the winter. I've taken the big depreciation hit on both vehicles now.

[DSLiverpool]

Cayenne V8 with essential air suspension and sports exhaust - perfect.

[clockworks]

Aren't Cayennes a lot more expensive to buy and to run?

One problem with owning a Porsche for me is that it's a 2 hour trip to get it serviced (indy or main dealer). Much easier to get a BMW fixed down here.

[Codswallop]

clockworks said:

One problem with owning a Porsche for me is that it's a 2 hour trip to get it serviced (indy or main dealer). Much easier to get a BMW fixed down here.

Surely any decent garage can service a boxster?

I might need to rethink my plans if not (was considering consolidating my Monaro V8 and MR2 Roadster into one Boxster shaped do it all daily, but given I also live in Cornwall if you struggle for servicing...)

[clockworks]

I guess any decent garage could do the servicing, as long as they can find the engine. Mine has full main dealer service history until the last service, which was done by an indy. I wanted to keep the history going, and the indy (in Saltash) knows what to look for to hopefully pre-empt any big bills.

There is a chap in Truro, but I prefer to take it to Saltash.

[steve-5snwi]

Go and try an Audi SQ5, i'm not a fan of audis but i do like the SQ5.

[dave_s13]

An electric car to supplement the v8 might work well.

We currently have an E class estate and a Kia soul EV and the 2 balance each other out nicely. And electric cars are made for short trips to work, the shops etc.

I chopped in my galaxy for the Merc as it happens.

[anonymous-user]

steve-5snwi said:

Go and try an Audi SQ5, i'm not a fan of audis but i do like the SQ5.

Yep, this would be my suggestion too.

[ZX10R NIN]

Grand Cherokee SRT8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

BMW X5 50i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

X5 M

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Cayenne GT-S (look for a specialist closer to home)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Turbo S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

GL500

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

ML63 AMG

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


Or if you want a fast diesel SUV then there's these

Audi Q7 6.0tdi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Range Rover V8d not the sharpest but still a good car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

SQ5 (this could be fun in a silly way)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Touareg Altitude 4.2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[clockworks]

Interesting idea to go electric for a local runabout. Strangely, I've never noticed a pure electric for sale secondhand around here, just a few hybrids.
The lack of electric cars here could be because there are very few public charging points.

Not a fan of Audis (they all look the same, but I guess you could say that about most BMWs too), but I'm willing to have a look. I guess an Audi could be a cheaper option to the "equivalent" Porsche SUV? At least there's an Audi main dealer in Cornwall.

I never realised there were some truly "mental" diesel SUVs on the market now. One of those might be a more sensible option as a single vehicle. I do like the way modern diesels deliver their power when coupled with a decent auto box, and fuel consumption in the mid to high 20's would be fine as an everyday driver.

Don't think I'd risk a Range Rover, unless it was a real bargain, and I had a second car for when it was being fixed.

[steve-5snwi]

I would never buy a Q5, i don't really like Audis despite having 2 on the drive, but trust me, go and drive an SQ5, you will not be dissapointed with its performance. It has a proper auto box too, not the stronic. With a remap it could be a stonking car.

[clockworks]

Had a chat with an ex car salesman (main dealer secondhand sales) who now owns a couple of jewellery stores.
His suggestion was a Cayenne Turbo for half my budget. His reasoning was that it's a good car, and will always be worth something, less depreciation than an X5 or Audi.
I can see the logic. Pay a bit more at 10 years old, worth a lot more at 15+ years old.

What's reliability like on a Cayenne Turbo?

[steve-5snwi]

I would guess the potential for big bills would be scary.

[DSLiverpool]

clockworks said:

Had a chat with an ex car salesman (main dealer secondhand sales) who now owns a couple of jewellery stores.
His suggestion was a Cayenne Turbo for half my budget. His reasoning was that it's a good car, and will always be worth something, less depreciation than an X5 or Audi.
I can see the logic. Pay a bit more at 10 years old, worth a lot more at 15+ years old.

What's reliability like on a Cayenne Turbo?

I would get a GTS or a 4.8S both are plenty fast enough to use every day.

[davek_964]

DSLiverpool said:

clockworks said:

Had a chat with an ex car salesman (main dealer secondhand sales) who now owns a couple of jewellery stores.
His suggestion was a Cayenne Turbo for half my budget. His reasoning was that it's a good car, and will always be worth something, less depreciation than an X5 or Audi.
I can see the logic. Pay a bit more at 10 years old, worth a lot more at 15+ years old.

What's reliability like on a Cayenne Turbo?

I would get a GTS or a 4.8S both are plenty fast enough to use every day.

I've had a 2003 4.5S for about 4.5 years now, and although it needed plenty sorting out when I bought it - it's been fairly problem free for the last few years. Had about ~80k when I bought it, and is a bit over 100k now.
There were practical reasons that I needed it at the time I bought it, but I fully expected to get bored of it and once those practical issues disappeared I thought I'd sell it. But in fact, it's a brilliant car - you can jump into it and drive like a zombie in full auto mode, air suspension on comfort etc. Or you can stick the suspension in sports mode, change to manual gears and drive like a hooligan - which it responds to far better than a car like this should be able to.

The only thing that stops me trading it in for a newer one is that the one thing I dislike about it is the mpg - and that's not any better on the newer cars. I figure it's worth about 50p (although in reality it's probably not worth much less than I paid for it) so I suspect I'll keep it until it eventually dies.

Don't think I'd bother with a turbo - they are quite a bit more to buy and I've never felt like mine lacked anything. It will still leave most average cars behind if you want to.