Recommend me a sub £6k Saloon - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

842 posts

171 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Hi All,

As title really, I am after a reliable well-built saloon car for a budget between £4 - 6k, with a preference to get the most car for least money as possible (I am happy to spend the top of my budget for a really good car though). Criteria:

- petrol with average mpg of around 28 or more
- below 80k miles
- 4 doors
- baby seat friendly
- Automatic, but would not rule out a manual
- comfortable and refined (whatever the latter means!)
- Decent handling and well-balanced chasis
- Does not have to be powerful, a sub 8 seconds 0 - 60mph is fine. Not keen on anything slower though.

I do around 8k miles a year, with a 300 mile journey from N.Wales to Midlands and back every month. Some initial cars:

Lexus IS250
BMW 325i
Mondeo 2.5 Titanium X
Alfa 159 (initial Google search suggests that there may be some reliability issues).

Are their any other obvious choices I could consider?

Edited by JimClark49 on Tuesday 28th August 13:12

Fittster

20,120 posts

233 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Personally I wouldn't be too focused on a particular make/model, I'd have a general set of criteria and see if any bargins turn up. I don't think there's going to be much too choose between a Lexus, Ford, VAG, Toyota, Honda, BMW or Merc for 5K.

Having said that, twist my arm and I'd say Honda Accord.

Tall_Paul

1,915 posts

247 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

You'd get a facelift (07-09) legacy 3.0r spec b for that money:

- petrol with average mpg of around 28 or more: just, more like 25-28
- below 80k miles: yep
- 4 doors: yep
- baby seat friendly: isofix
- Automatic, but would not rule out a manual: auto 5spd with flappy paddles or the ultra rare sti 6spd manual
- comfortable and refined (whatever the latter means!): Yep - all the toys, leather, cc, heated seats
- Decent handling and well-balanced chasis: Subaru AWD...
- Does not have to be powerful, a sub 8 seconds 0 - 60mph is fine. Not keen on anything slower though: 245bhp, 7ish to 60mph.

There's a couple on auto trader for a bit over your budget but that's because they're very low miles, the 3.0r (non spec B) models are nearly the same but not quite as highly specced. The saloons tend to be less in demand than the estate versions so they seem to be a little lower priced from what I've seen (I'll be on the lookout for an estate spec b in the next month or 2).

29,752 posts

145 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Original Poster

842 posts

171 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

Thanks for all the replies so far, especially ZX10.

How does this Subaru Spec B look?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-56-SUBARU-LEGACY-R...

I normally never buy from traders and prefer private sellers who 'know' their car.

I would still consider a Lexus IS250, even if slower than 8 secs. The SE-L version is very well specced.

Keep the suggestions coming, as they are helping see cars I hadn't considered.

kieranblenk

865 posts

154 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

This screams Suzuki Kizashi to me.

29,752 posts

145 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

JimClark49 said:

The Lexus is a good option spec wise as I've said before the TXS Mondeo edges it especially in 2.5T form but it does depend on if you can live with a manual.

That Legacy looks like a nice one.

Alternates:

159 JTS

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

Mazda6 Sport

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

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

Cadillac CTS

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

C230 Sport

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

C350

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

3.2 S80

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

Nickp82

3,743 posts

113 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018

kieranblenk said:

This screams Suzuki Kizashi to me.

Ah, you got there before me.

Toed64

299 posts

140 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

ZX10, as usual has thrown you a selection of very lovely cars...many of which I'd quite like!

I've run 2, 3 litre Subarus: a 2005 and a 2006 over a period of about 10 years. They were highly excellent cars. Utterly reliable, fast enough, very sure footed in all weathers, supremely comfortable, quiet...& just a bit different from all the other boxes out there.

If you'd consider an estate (better looking IMO and more practical too) you could look at Outbacks too. There are lots more to choose from, and it's basically the same car, just wearing a bit more plastic wheel arch trim and riding a little higher.

Mine were both automatic & I rarely saw more than 23mpg around town & 27mpg on a run.

From the 3rd week in 2006, they got the expensive road tax rate...

Mr Tidy

28,431 posts

147 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

Toed64 said:

ZX10, as usual has thrown you a selection of very lovely cars...many of which I'd quite like!

Yes, he does find some gems!

To a certain extent it depends what the OP wants - something wafty for the commute, something a bit more entertaining for solo drives or something in between!

I bought a leggy manual E91 BMW 325i (3 Series Touring) earlier this year as a daily, but I do like to drive it like I stole it every now and again! rolleyes

And I don't commute any more so manual isn't an issue for me, plus it cost just under half the OP's budget!

Hope the OP finds the car that works for him. thumbup

Original Poster

842 posts

171 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

Thanks for the further suggestions.

This BMW has come up and is local: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Will it have the N52 engine? Is this a good price, and what do I need to look for if I go to view it?

29,752 posts

145 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

Someone has spent money refurbing the alloys & it seems to have full main dealer history checks wise it's the usual along with an HPI check then test drive it & make sure the shift is good let it get hot & go from there.

ilikejam

1,181 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

Not sure about the 0-60 times, but the C5 might be worth a look as a slightly different alternative.

Sub £4k for a 1 owner 17,000 miler aint too shabby

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

kieranblenk

865 posts

154 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

ilikejam said:

Jesus that's a bargain!

29,752 posts

145 months

Wednesday 29th August 2018

That's a cracking deal.

Original Poster

842 posts

171 months

Friday 31st August 2018

JimClark49 said:

Went to see this and it was a nice well-kept car. It pulled strongly and shifted correctly. By co-incidence my brother went to School with the seller and knows that he is a good guy.

I put a deposit down, and will collect it once the new V5 with original number plate comes through.

Thanks to all for your help throughout. There were lots of cars that I did not know about, and I am all the more knowledgeable now.

29,752 posts

145 months