Which saloon Car for my Dad for £4-5

[JimClark49]

As per title really, my dad is after a saloon car for around £4 - 5k with the following criteria:

- petrol
- automatic transmission
- creature comforts (as expected in most modern cars)
- lowish mileage
- has to be German or Japanese


He would love a Mercedes or BMW, but is also happy with a Toyota Avensis (he currently has a mid-00's model).

I am not too clued up about the potential models and any pitfalls so will appreciate help from the more knowledgeable on here.

[JamesRR]

E90 325i SE?
Cheaper to buy than a 330i, so can probably get into an LCI model for your budget with reasonable miles. I say SE since you say creature comforts are a priority, and you’d probably get more spec on an SE than an M-Sport for the money.

[tomic]

Don’t get an LCI - that’ll be the N53 engine which comes with all manner of problems. Only get an N52 equipped car (pre LCI).

[Plate spinner]

Ooh, a nice low mileage late plate BMW e39 530i if he can find one.

Still regret selling mine, best all rounder I ever had.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a leggy E91 325i SE with the N52 engine earlier this year and it's still going strong on 134K miles! (And it wasn't much above half the OP's budget).

I specifically didn't want one with the N53 engine because of all the coking-up, injector and HPFP issues - so far so good.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say guide your dad towards a Lexus IS250, they're reliable you can get a low mileage 05-07 model for your budget:

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

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

On a side note PM me as I have a customer who's buying a newer IS300h so their IS250 will be coming up for sale, it's a 57 plate it's a rare Pearl White with the Sport Kit with 68k FSH Nav Mark Levinson stereo Bluetooth Rear Camera & the very rare option of Xenon lights & they're looking for just over 5k.

[nunpuncher]

I'd go for the Lexus IS250 as above.

[kieranblenk]

A another vote for the Lexus IS250.

[ZX10R NIN]

To go German you have to compromise somewhere for instance on the 325i below the seats aren't as nice & the stereo is not good, no heated & air cooled seats in comparison to the IS250's above it's basic.

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

A4 SE this is well spec'd but then there's the gearbox which is not renowned for being the best.

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

I'd still go for the Lexus it ticks all the boxes.

[ElectricSoup]

Lexus, but you don't have to slum it in an IS at that budget. A nice GS should be easy to find. Maybe even a V8 one...

[anonymous-user]

A Honda Accord would fit the bill

[ZX10R NIN]

So OP did any of those meet your requirements?

[JimClark49]

Sorry for the late thread update, I forgot about this thread.

In the end, my dad brought a 2008 Mercedes C180 Kompressor Sport for 5k from an auction. It had 75k miles, is an auto and looks and drives very nicely indeed!