Fun, family car up to £6k

[LincolnLovin]

I've not posted a WhatCar thread in sometime but here goes, with the Town Car going into storage over winter, I a have a space on the driveway and it would be a crime to let that go to waste.

So... I need (want?) another car, we have a Nissan Leaf for round town but it would be nice to get something petrol powered for longer journeys as it should not be a choice between heating and wipers during winter imo.

The requirements are for a family of four (11 month old kid and a 5 year old), so boot space is important - we always have to cram stuff around the kids on longer trips and it would be great not to have to do that. MPG isn't massively important as its not going to get used that much but 30 on a run would be good. Comfort is also important, so any car will need to have suspension and decent seats, alongside a decent stereo.

I would prefer not to have a car that has done a million miles (and the moon on a stick as well please), but condition is king.

As I'm typing this a Saab 9-5 Aero estate seems to fit the bill but we've already had a saloon version of that - any suggestions welcome.

[MattyB_]

Octavia vRS

[ElectricSoup]

This is pretty much my situation. I have a Leaf which does most of our daily use. 2 adults 2 children. Options for me pretty much boil down to:

Skoda Superb 2.0 or even 3.6
Ford Mondeo 2.5
Merc E Class 320
Volvo V70 2.5
(And SAAB 9-5 as you say).

We've currently got an E320 alongside the Leaf but it's a diesel, and I'd like to change it for a petrol car, it only does 3k miles a year. I'd like to think there's something Japanese out there, but there isn't, not in estate form anyway. There's the Lexus RX, but I'm no way driving an SUV.

Vauxhall Insignia Turbo maybe, if you're as badge blind as me.

Sadly, petrol engined motors of this size at this price point are a rarity these days. Here's my autotrader choice for a bit more budget...

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

[300bhp/ton]

The World is your oyster tbh.

Maybe something 4x4 like a Range Rover, Disco or even a V10 Touareg? They all make for very nice family vehicles.

[Olivergt]

Lexus LS430?

Not sure it would meet your 30mpg requirements, but they are sublime places to travel by all accounts and if you are not doing big miles in it, shouldn't cost the earth in maintenance etc.

[underphil]

The thread title says fun doesn't it??

[LincolnLovin]

Superb is an interesting one, Range Rover and Touareg are too unreliable for me.

Wouldn’t a £6k LS430 have starship mileage?

[ninjag]

There's a 2008 Jaguar X-Type 3.0 V6 Sport Premium Estate, 48k miles for £5,995. It has AWD and heated front windscreen so ideal for winter. 0-60 in 6.9 seconds for fun and 27.2mpg combined so a ball hair away from your requirement.

[LincolnLovin]

The misses has put a spanner in the plan, she wants a 4x4 suv thing.

So about those Toueregs

[ZX10R NIN]

Jeep Grand Cherokee

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

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

2.5T Kuga Titanium this is the sensible option

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

25si X3 M Sport

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

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

3.0 X3 Sport

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

4.8is X5

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

Subaru Tribeca (you'll have to like the looks)

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

ML55 Check for rust

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

[rufusgti]

Lexus RX. These are super cars. The design is looking quirky now on the older ones and they last really well. I'm thinking I may try and pick a good old one up to replace my golf estate.

[ninjag]

LincolnLovin said:

The misses has put a spanner in the plan, she wants a 4x4 suv thing.

So about those Toueregs

I think they suffer some pretty expensive issues with the drivetrain, especially the propshaft centre bearing. I'd probably look more at the Porsche Cayenne Turbo which is based on the Touareg but can do 0-60 in under 5 seconds. But you will be looking at higher mileage.

How about the Volvo XC90 2.9 T6? There's some nice ones cutting about with low miles and they are meant to be very comfortable.

[Olivergt]

LS430 won't have starship mileage.

This one is in budget and only has 65K miles:

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

And this one, in a much nicer colour with 89k miles:

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

You also have bear in mind that mileage on these is but a number.

But I do take the point on the FUN comment.

I'll see what else I can find...

[LincolnLovin]

those are tasty - does the LS430 series have ISO fix?

[ninjag]

Looking at the photos in that second link, are those round things on the rear seats not ISOFIX markings?

[GravelBen]

Legacy 3.0R or GT wagon? Better to drive than most/all of whats been suggested so far, comfortable though not as luxurious as some if thats what you're after.

[iwantagta]

Go cheaper - Mazda CX7.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Very random choice, probably not SUVy enough but interior looks nice.

[LincolnLovin]

CX-7 £540 a year in tax!

[ElectricSoup]

If you want something fun and big enough to be a family car, but don't want that tax bracket, you'll be looking at something older than March 2006 in all likelihood.

[dmsims]

LincolnLovin said:

The misses has put a spanner in the plan, she wants a 4x4 suv thing.

Why ?