Bored of hot hatches - which £15k saloon or estate

[Ratae]

After a series of hot hatches in recent years (Octavia vRS, Leon Cupra 300, GR Yaris) I’m looking for a new daily to cover 7-8k a year, something to run alongside my NC MX5 and family wagon SUV.

Criteria:

4+ doors
4+ seats
Petrol
200bhp+ or sub 7 secs to 60mph kinda performance
25+ MPG
~£300 tax
Enough rear legroom for kids in car seats behind a 6ft 2 driver

I like the look of the 435i Gran Coupe and 535i F10/F11 but they are few and far between in my budget. I’ve got £15k ish to spend, can stretch a little bit. Not overly fussed by age as long as I can retrofit Android Auto.

[rallye101]

I'd go old skool....c36's/ c43 mercs in mint condition have missed the crazy classic car prices....low mile minter for £15k

[CG2020UK]

I know it’s a hatch but it’s got it’s own USP and feels very different to hot hatches.

So maybe an M135i.

It’s like a wee mini muscle car so might be a different enough character to make it worth a test drive?

Admittedly you might just fancy a saloon or estate in which case ignore me.

[georgeyboy12345]

Here are 10 suggestions from me, from vaguely sensible to really rather silly

Volvo S60 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207147...


Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...


Jaguar XE S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210140...


Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210010...


Mercedes CLS500
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209...


Mercedes C55 AMG
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207177...


Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII FQ-300
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210170...


BMW E60 M5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206026...


Audi RS4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...


Bentley Continental Flying Spur
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202122...

[Zarco]

Love that Alfa

Some proper money pits there!

[fflump]

Zarco said:

Love that Alfa

Some proper money pits there!

I presume you mean the GTA? Looks great value for a classic.

The modern Giulia with nearly 300 bhp and Q2 LSD is a lot of car for the money too.

Respect to anyone who has a £15k budget and buys a Flying Spur!

[Ilovejapcrap]

Lexus GS

[fflump]

The XE above a great shout, but if a bit tight in the back then I'd be tempted to waft about in an XJ.
Quite a lot of toys to go wrong though.

3.0Ds fit your criteria in terms of VED, mpg and running costs. Sadly a diesel

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210040...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207067...

Nice creamy V8 but a popular choice with your local petrol station manager
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210261...

A V6 XF may be in the Goldilocks zone:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

A Mondeo 2.0T EcoBoost 240 bhp would be newer, just as spacious and lower running costs.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210070...

Infiniti Q50 2.0T looks good value
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206176...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210150...

Insignia 2.8i Turbo V6 VXR -decent pace and 4WD.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211121...

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Octavia VRS or the Superb 280?

[Zarco]

fflump said:

I presume you mean the GTA? Looks great value for a classic.

The modern Giulia with nearly 300 bhp and Q2 LSD is a lot of car for the money too.

Respect to anyone who has a £15k budget and buys a Flying Spur!

Yes I did. I overlooked the other one.

Didn't realise the Giulia was that powerful or had LSD. As you say; seems pretty decent for the money.

[fooman]

You can put yourself in a RS4 for under £15k wowzers I guess 13.6mpg puts a few people off but I don't do many miles these days... Tempted... I'd consider the Evo too but looks a bit salty underneath.

Edited by fooman on Sunday 20th November 08:49

[Ratae]

Some cracking suggestions there, cheers

I’m watching a couple of XE S’ actually

Octavia and Superb are great cars but not really what I fancy this time. We’ve already got a Kodiaq too so would feel a bit too familiar

I don’t want a Ford or Vauxhall I’m sure they’re great just not my cup of tea

I wish the japs did some more interesting fast saloons or estates, I’ve already had an IS-F which was an awful daily because of the suspension and cramped rear. Test drove a Legacy GT (BP5) but they feel long in the tooth now and old jap interiors are pretty drab

[ChattingWham]

A compromise on the VED but I’d possibly look at an Audi A8 4.2 V8. Waft and shove in the same package.

[ajguk]

Similar search for me at the moment. I test drove an XJ just to rule it out, it was lovely but 5m long and just a bit unnecessary! That 3L supercharged engine though was lovely so I’m keeping my eyes peeled for that in the XE or XF. 4-series grand coupe (probably the 428i) should just about be in budget too.

[ZX10R NIN]

Vauxhall have some good offerings at this price point.

6.2 VXR8 manual just over budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203023...

6.0 VXR8 auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208319...

Insignia VXR SuperSport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208239...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211091...

Giulia Veloce 280:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...

Jaguar wise I'd go for the 3.0 XF in Premium Luxury 340 spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210210...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...

Mercedes wise my picks are these.

5.5 E500 saloon:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211041...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210130...

E63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210150...

Audi S5 Sportback:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210311...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211161...

528i M Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210200...

535i GT if you can live with the looks then you'll have a spacious well appointed roomy (these are based on the 7 series platform) car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...

Leftfield options:

Hyundai Genesis not the sharpest but one hell of a family car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205306...

T6 S80 with an official Polestar map:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211041...

Infiniti Q50h (quicker than the 2.0t & just as good on fuel) Sport Tech 360:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210261...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210220...

Premium in Touch, if the mileage on this is correct then this is a bargain:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211141...

Passat R36:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211101...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211201...

[roca1976]

Depends how many miles you intend to do? I picked up a 2010 E63 for similar budget, 20mpg and 600 ved however hopefully done most of it's depreciation. I use it a few times a week as a second car.
Absolutely epic.
If I wanted a daily I would have probably bought a S3 saloon.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022100303...

[Ratae]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I ended up buying a B9 S4 Saloon. Pick it up next week

[georgeyboy12345]

Ratae said:

Thanks for all the suggestions, I ended up buying a B9 S4 Saloon. Pick it up next week

Excellent choice! Bet you are excited?

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP.

[Ratae]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Excellent choice! Bet you are excited?

Yes, very! 150bhp to 350bhp will be fun