£5k - £7k budget - big and modern

[Zero7]

I’ve got a £5k budget for a daily, I only do a the odd few miles a week to the station followed by a longer run at the weekends. I need something with a large boot, preferably hatchback as I carry a lot of football training gear.

I really want a car with modern tech, Apple car play etc… Needs to be solid and reliable, don’t care if it’s a bit boring as I have something nice for weekends and track days in the garage.. I was thinking along the mondeo lines but not sure my budget would get me a car with built in car play.

Suggestions please

[E63eeeeee...]

I can't think of anything that obviously fits the good tech/ massive depreciation Venn, but you can get car play fitted to basically anything for a few hundred quid.

[Ryan_T]

That’s a big ask - Big, reliable, modern tech, all for £5k I don’t think it can be done.

I’d probably buy some kind of Lexus and have a CarPlay headunit fitted.

[Zero7]

E63eeeeee... said:

I can't think of anything that obviously fits the good tech/ massive depreciation Venn, but you can get car play fitted to basically anything for a few hundred quid.

True, I wouldn’t rule it out just on that, do need something modern though

[Condi]

I'd look for anything with a double DIN radio socket (or one which can easily be adapted), then fit a new radio for £400. I doubt you'll find what you're after, so better to prioritise the car and the fit the radio as required.

However, don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure any Ford with a Sync-3 radio will either have Android Auto/Car Play as standard, or it can be fitted with a software update. In which case the new Mondeo's which are within budget will have it natively.

EG
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209169...

[Zero7]

A mondeo hatch is certainly on the shortlist, any German offerings that price point

[itlab]

As people have already mentioned replacing the headunit with a CarPlay one can be done for about £400 (300ish for a head unit and another 100 for harnesses, and replacement surrounds etc)

however one thing with retrofitted car play units is that they are often to low down on the dash for safe use as a satnav or heavily rely on you touching them due to lack of integration.

There is a list of cars with CarPlay available

https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models...

the one that might be suitable from that list is the Vauxhall insignia, cheap and big

[ZX10R NIN]

Zero7 said:

I’ve got a £5k budget for a daily, I only do a the odd few miles a week to the station followed by a longer run at the weekends. I need something with a large boot, preferably hatchback as I carry a lot of football training gear.

I really want a car with modern tech, Apple car play etc… Needs to be solid and reliable, don’t care if it’s a bit boring as I have something nice for weekends and track days in the garage.. I was thinking along the mondeo lines but not sure my budget would get me a car with built in car play.

Suggestions please

I wouldn't worry about the head unit tech as Android Auto/Apple Carplay can be added to most vehicles for between £400-500.

2.5T Mondeo Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207187...
Insignia Elite:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111109...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208259...

[SlowV6]

The Mondeo has had a lot of modding money spent on it if that is your thing. The ad says "Extensive work carried out by a Ford enthusiast. 325bhp/400 ft lb Torque. "

Must say the 5 door Insignia looks good vfm. What is that 2.0T engine like?

The OP is asking a lot given current 2nd hand prices. Wonder if a previous generation Skoda Superb 1.8T estate could be had in budget?

[Zero7]

Thanks for the suggestions

[HelldogBE]

The Skoda Octavia has a huge boot for the type of car.

2009 SKODA Octavia 2.0 TFSI vRS DSG

Add an android auto headunit with a reverse cam to it for 300 quid

[Previous]

Vw passat / Vw cc.

Largish. Available with petrol engines for shorter mileage usage.

Easy to add OEM option tech, or aftermarket, with lots of knowledge of how to do so.

Saloon or estate.

[smn159]

Condi said:

I'd look for anything with a double DIN radio socket (or one which can easily be adapted), then fit a new radio for £400. I doubt you'll find what you're after, so better to prioritise the car and the fit the radio as required.

Yep, I bought a BMW E46 Touring on a whim and fitted a double DIN unit with CarPlay and DAB. Fits the brief admirably, except it's not 'modern'

Great car though