Frustrating search for a new car - decent power and economy
Discussion
Hi all,
Currently drive a Fabia VRS, remapped to 160bhp. However, it now has 168,000 miles and it was only a 'stop-gap' car really. It has great economy but it's not refined in the slightest and I miss the joys of things like a good sound system, cruise control, sat nav, heated seats etc so trying to find a car which ticks the boxes for under 10k.
I'm a bit picky which makes it all that bit harder. i am also considering depreciation massively.
Cars I wouldn't touch are the likes of Ford, Renault, Peugeot and such like.
To get an idea, I've been looking at W204 C250CDI and C350CDI but I've read a few horror stories, especially when it comes to the timing chain on the C250 CDI (It's a blue efficiency). I guess all cars have some kind of issue. I've looked at BMW 3 series too, but they seem to have yet more issues too!
Does anybody have any ideas? I do around 15-18k miles a year but I'd say my average journey is 10-20 miles, with some long runs all over the country for football matches and other events. I'd like to be able to get at least 40mpg on a run, with 35 average probably the minimum.
I'd like the 0-60 time to be under 7.5 if possible too. If that's to be done with a remap that's not an issue
Also under say 60-70k miles.
Currently drive a Fabia VRS, remapped to 160bhp. However, it now has 168,000 miles and it was only a 'stop-gap' car really. It has great economy but it's not refined in the slightest and I miss the joys of things like a good sound system, cruise control, sat nav, heated seats etc so trying to find a car which ticks the boxes for under 10k.
I'm a bit picky which makes it all that bit harder. i am also considering depreciation massively.
Cars I wouldn't touch are the likes of Ford, Renault, Peugeot and such like.
To get an idea, I've been looking at W204 C250CDI and C350CDI but I've read a few horror stories, especially when it comes to the timing chain on the C250 CDI (It's a blue efficiency). I guess all cars have some kind of issue. I've looked at BMW 3 series too, but they seem to have yet more issues too!
Does anybody have any ideas? I do around 15-18k miles a year but I'd say my average journey is 10-20 miles, with some long runs all over the country for football matches and other events. I'd like to be able to get at least 40mpg on a run, with 35 average probably the minimum.
I'd like the 0-60 time to be under 7.5 if possible too. If that's to be done with a remap that's not an issue
Also under say 60-70k miles.Edited by geg1992 on Wednesday 26th December 11:43
kiethton said:
What budget?
He did mention 10kI have C350CDi estate remapped to 300bhp, I do a daily 60 mile round trip commute and get around 40mpg on that trip, I averaged 45mpg on a recent trip down the motorway. And the performance side will see off most hot hatches with ease and I managed a self timed 0-60 of 5.6 seconds, not bad for a diesel estate...
Had to replace the thermostat recently which was a pain, and had an injector seal leak last year, not an expensive fix. Servicing is expensive but ive found a decent specialist who seems to know the cars well being an ex Merc master tech. Also depreciation is bad but it is now on 123k miles and only 5 years old so its going to nose dive and the recent negative press being a diesel isnt helping.
Mikey G said:
He did mention 10k
I have C350CDi estate remapped to 300bhp, I do a daily 60 mile round trip commute and get around 40mpg on that trip, I averaged 45mpg on a recent trip down the motorway. And the performance side will see off most hot hatches with ease and I managed a self timed 0-60 of 5.6 seconds, not bad for a diesel estate...
Had to replace the thermostat recently which was a pain, and had an injector seal leak last year, not an expensive fix. Servicing is expensive but ive found a decent specialist who seems to know the cars well being an ex Merc master tech. Also depreciation is bad but it is now on 123k miles and only 5 years old so its going to nose dive and the recent negative press being a diesel isnt helping.
Thanks for coming back! I believe that is the Blue Efficiency engine, correct? I'm looking at pre-BE with my budget sadly I have C350CDi estate remapped to 300bhp, I do a daily 60 mile round trip commute and get around 40mpg on that trip, I averaged 45mpg on a recent trip down the motorway. And the performance side will see off most hot hatches with ease and I managed a self timed 0-60 of 5.6 seconds, not bad for a diesel estate...
Had to replace the thermostat recently which was a pain, and had an injector seal leak last year, not an expensive fix. Servicing is expensive but ive found a decent specialist who seems to know the cars well being an ex Merc master tech. Also depreciation is bad but it is now on 123k miles and only 5 years old so its going to nose dive and the recent negative press being a diesel isnt helping.
I started reading your post and got as far as "no Renaults Peugeots and Fords" and thought "Well that rules out lots of Toyotas, BMWs and Mercedes as well given the level of component sharing nowadays". Then you mention that the only German models you like the look of have actual mechanical issues. Then I struggle with 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. When did you last do a full bore clutch dropping wheel spinning 0-60? Then a man with a small car with 168,000 on the clock says he'd like no more than 70,000 miles.
If you want your £10,000 to go a long way, in comfort, how about an Alfa Guiletta, or 159? Maybe diesel, maybe even a 1.7 TBi, with 240 bhp? But I suspect you just forgot to put Fiat and Alfa Romeo, and Citroen, and Vauxhall and Nissan on your list of cars you don't like the thought of.
Andy
If you want your £10,000 to go a long way, in comfort, how about an Alfa Guiletta, or 159? Maybe diesel, maybe even a 1.7 TBi, with 240 bhp? But I suspect you just forgot to put Fiat and Alfa Romeo, and Citroen, and Vauxhall and Nissan on your list of cars you don't like the thought of.
Andy
geg1992 said:
Hi all,
Currently drive a Fabia VRS, remapped to 160bhp. However, it now has 168,000 miles and it was only a 'stop-gap' car really. It has great economy but it's not refined in the slightest and I miss the joys of things like a good sound system, cruise control, sat nav, heated seats etc so trying to find a car which ticks the boxes for under 10k.
I'm a bit picky which makes it all that bit harder. i am also considering depreciation massively.
Cars I wouldn't touch are the likes of Ford, Renault, Peugeot and such like.
To get an idea, I've been looking at W204 C250CDI and C350CDI but I've read a few horror stories, especially when it comes to the timing chain on the C250 CDI (It's a blue efficiency). I guess all cars have some kind of issue. I've looked at BMW 3 series too, but they seem to have yet more issues too!
Does anybody have any ideas? I do around 15-18k miles a year but I'd say my average journey is 10-20 miles, with some long runs all over the country for football matches and other events. I'd like to be able to get at least 40mpg on a run, with 35 average probably the minimum.
I'd like the 0-60 time to be under 7.5 if possible too. If that's to be done with a remap that's not an issue Also under say 60-70k miles.
You drive a Skoda but wouldn't touch a Ford etc I think you've got things a bit skew whiff but hey, so you're a bit badge conscious then there's nothing wrong with that at least you own it. Currently drive a Fabia VRS, remapped to 160bhp. However, it now has 168,000 miles and it was only a 'stop-gap' car really. It has great economy but it's not refined in the slightest and I miss the joys of things like a good sound system, cruise control, sat nav, heated seats etc so trying to find a car which ticks the boxes for under 10k.
I'm a bit picky which makes it all that bit harder. i am also considering depreciation massively.
Cars I wouldn't touch are the likes of Ford, Renault, Peugeot and such like.
To get an idea, I've been looking at W204 C250CDI and C350CDI but I've read a few horror stories, especially when it comes to the timing chain on the C250 CDI (It's a blue efficiency). I guess all cars have some kind of issue. I've looked at BMW 3 series too, but they seem to have yet more issues too!
Does anybody have any ideas? I do around 15-18k miles a year but I'd say my average journey is 10-20 miles, with some long runs all over the country for football matches and other events. I'd like to be able to get at least 40mpg on a run, with 35 average probably the minimum.
I'd like the 0-60 time to be under 7.5 if possible too. If that's to be done with a remap that's not an issue
Also under say 60-70k miles.Edited by geg1992 on Wednesday 26th December 11:43
It's simple really forget any of the 2.0d offerings from the German offerings, especially seeing as you want refinement then I'd
say go for a 3.0d.
With this & reliability in mind I'd recommend these:
XF Portfolio
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
S Premium Luxury
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Infiniti EX/M if you can find one, these are great cars for eating up the miles with.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mercedes C/E350 I've run this engine in a CLK & it was faultless & reliable, it's a very good drivetrain:
C350 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
E350
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
330d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
325d M Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Phaeton
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
300C Limited
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
S60 D5SE Lux
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Not sure I get it, you’re driving around in a 168k mile Skoda but too much of a snob to drive around in a modern Ford or Renault?
In the price range you’re looking at something with a premium badge on the front with decent performance will be starting to require more expensive maintenance - suspension refreshes, clutches etc. I also wouldn’t be looking for a diesel if my average journeys were 10 - 20 miles, the thing would barely be getting warm.
You’d be far better off looking at some hot hatches from the ‘rubbish’ manufacturers. A Megane RS would be able to achieve 40 MPG on a steady run, have all the toys you’re looking for and be more reliable and cheaper to service than a 10 year old Merc, let alone more fun to drive!
In the price range you’re looking at something with a premium badge on the front with decent performance will be starting to require more expensive maintenance - suspension refreshes, clutches etc. I also wouldn’t be looking for a diesel if my average journeys were 10 - 20 miles, the thing would barely be getting warm.
You’d be far better off looking at some hot hatches from the ‘rubbish’ manufacturers. A Megane RS would be able to achieve 40 MPG on a steady run, have all the toys you’re looking for and be more reliable and cheaper to service than a 10 year old Merc, let alone more fun to drive!
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