Smallish comfortable and refined car

[IanOE]

I'm looking for a car to replace my Volvo C30 that has unfortunately been written off by the insurance company after the catalytic converter was stolen. The C30 is a T5 auto and whilst I was never a fan of autos before it has been enjoyable to drive and suits my driving environment, which has a lot of busy city and congested motorway driving.

Looking at the C30s currently for sale there are none that I really fancy and so I have also been looking at S40 and V50 Volvos as well because as far as I can tell, they are very similar. I might have to go for one of those, but I am looking for inspiration for any other ideas.

I'm looking for something that is no bigger than the above Volvos and is comfortable, with heated seats and is refined on the motorway, my C30 was about 2.1k RPM at 70mph.

My budget is up to £5k, although if there was something really special then I could go a bit above that.

Thanks in advance for any advice given.

[SlowV6]

How about a late Lexus IS250 auto. With the auto it will be thirsty but driving a T5 auto you will be used to it.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301143...

[IanOE]

Thanks for the recommendation. I hadn't thought of a Lexus but it looks like it would fit the bill.

[aka_kerrly]

Is there the option to buy the car back from the insurance company at salvage cost and buy an aftermarket Catalytic converter ? A quick google suggests a new downpipe + Cat is around £300-500

[IanOE]

I was originally thinking on those lines.

After the catalytic converter was stolen my original plan was to get it replaced, but I took it to my local garage and they said that where the cat had been cut out I'd have to get a whole new exhaust system, which was very expensive. That's why I went through my insurance company and I was hoping that they would get the car repaired.

I know that there might have been a way around it, but I didn't fancy the risk and also the insurance company took a while to get it sorted out and during that time the MoT had run out, so it complicated things more.

[ovlovlover]

I'd be very surprised if a reasonably valued C30 T5 was written off due to an exhaust? A full stainless including sports cat is sub 1k.

Anywho if I wanted to stay in the current size bracket (I have a V50 T5) I'd buy another T5 as boring as that is. I really love it.

I'd recommend the dynaudio and xenons if you look for another.

[Krikkit]

ovlovlover said:

I'd be very surprised if a reasonably valued C30 T5 was written off due to an exhaust? A full stainless including sports cat is sub 1k.

Not really relevant how much aftermarket is to the insurance company doing the writing off though is it?