Champagne tastes for lemonade money
Discussion
I want a station car, since most days of the week my car is just parked at the station now. Started looking at 'premium' 4x4 of yesteryear, thinking FFRR, X5, Q7 type dealies in the £3-5k range. Obviously most of these will disintegrate as soon as money has been handed over, but is there anything approaching a sensible buy in the sector? Not completely opposed to another saloon, mainly thinking an SUV will be handy for tip runs etc.
Surely a premium SUV is the worst possible car for a station car?
Too big for the parking spaces, terrible mpg, bad reliability, high VED.
I also don't understand why people buy cars for "tip runs". I've only ever been to a tip once, people will take all sorts of crap for free on gumtree and FB marketplace these days.
Lexus IS is a decent suggestion, nice and comfy and won't ever break.
Or an E46/E90 straight 6 petrol BMW, bit worse on the reliability front but great engines.
Too big for the parking spaces, terrible mpg, bad reliability, high VED.
I also don't understand why people buy cars for "tip runs". I've only ever been to a tip once, people will take all sorts of crap for free on gumtree and FB marketplace these days.
Lexus IS is a decent suggestion, nice and comfy and won't ever break.
Or an E46/E90 straight 6 petrol BMW, bit worse on the reliability front but great engines.
This is pistonheads! Shaoxter said:
I also don't understand why people buy cars for "tip runs". I've only ever been to a tip once, people will take all sorts of crap for free on gumtree and FB marketplace these days.
If I might venture a guess; because those buying cars for tip runs visit the tip on many occasions, rather than once?iphonedyou said:
Shaoxter said:
I also don't understand why people buy cars for "tip runs". I've only ever been to a tip once, people will take all sorts of crap for free on gumtree and FB marketplace these days.
If I might venture a guess; because those buying cars for tip runs visit the tip on many occasions, rather than once?A friend of mine has owned quite a few BMWs over the years. He's a massive fan, and won't consider running any other make. He has had a couple of E53 X5s, both 3.0 petrol models.
They have been by far the most unreliable cars that he has ever owned. Great engines, but the electronics and suspension really don't age well.
Fuel consumption is pretty dire too - around 18mpg, and that's without any city driving.
He has owned an E39 5 series for a few years - same engine, same age. This has been much more reliable.
If you want a premium-badge old SUV, a Touareg or Q7 might be a safer bet. The one good thing about an old X5 is that, if you do buy a lemon, there will always be another punter willing to buy it from you if it's cheap enough.
They have been by far the most unreliable cars that he has ever owned. Great engines, but the electronics and suspension really don't age well.
Fuel consumption is pretty dire too - around 18mpg, and that's without any city driving.
He has owned an E39 5 series for a few years - same engine, same age. This has been much more reliable.
If you want a premium-badge old SUV, a Touareg or Q7 might be a safer bet. The one good thing about an old X5 is that, if you do buy a lemon, there will always be another punter willing to buy it from you if it's cheap enough.
The ethos of this thread;
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
BMW 760 (V12), £2650, job, jobbed.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
BMW 760 (V12), £2650, job, jobbed.
cerb4.5lee said:
A E53 V8 X5 in 4.4/4.6/4.8 guise could tick the box and they are available at your budget. They are comfortable/practical and the V8 engine makes a lovely noise. 
I would be worried that I might come back to find the car park locked up as the car park owners think they are about it be overrun with Caravans, dags and members of the travelling community.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff