10-20k budget - Help me!!!
Discussion
Once again in the market for something practical, with a level of luxury or comfort.
For context: WFH 3 days a week, office twice and it's a couple B roads and around 20m journey. Drive to the gym 5 days a week and it's all 30mph roads and about 2 miles away. Just bought a house so want something I can lug things about in so probably not a hatch scenario.
I've looked at a wide range of bigger vehicles with a more premium touch, as I'd rather put on cruise and have some creature comforts on my drive to work. Currently have a 3.0 Z4 but it's getting a bit long in the tooth now, it does a job but the boot obviously is useless and outdated in terms of tech.
I've considered all forms of Volvo T6/8's, think the battery would be good for most of it and I can charge at work for free but in the budget I'm looking near 100k miles and I'm terrified of seeing a repair bill of a couple grand or worse. I've seen plenty of them hit 150k plus so they must be fairly robust but just not sure. I've thought about a D5 but I'm not doing major miles really and I'm worried about DPF failures.
Merc E class is also another nice option, range of engines and would probably try for a 6cyl purely for less engine stress and they usually have better spec. The CLS is also a nice looking car, but wonder what engine and year would be best to go for.
Skoda Superbs are always in the conversation, I know they're not a premium badge, but i'm not a badge snob and understand inside the L&K versions are very nice places to be, but are they on par with the other options?
Lexus also make a couple of options. An RC would be a nice place to sit, but a tad slow for how nice they look. The NX/RX look nice too and get great MPG but wonder how well they hold value.
Also pondered the BMW 3/5 series, would probably go 6cyl again because it's what BMW do best but I feel everyone and their dog has one these days.
Anyone got any insight on these, or any alternative suggestions? I'd rather spend closer to the 10k mark than 20k and have something in the bank for when something inevitably goes boom, but if it's a solid reliable option like the Lexus, I'd be happy to spend closer to the top end.
I'm also happy to go under 10k, I had a V70 barge about four years ago and was genuinely the best car I've had as a shed, cost me £1200 and was a manual 04 D5, nothing to go wrong, nothing went wrong and did about 40k miles and sold it for what I paid for it.
Thanks in advance
For context: WFH 3 days a week, office twice and it's a couple B roads and around 20m journey. Drive to the gym 5 days a week and it's all 30mph roads and about 2 miles away. Just bought a house so want something I can lug things about in so probably not a hatch scenario.
I've looked at a wide range of bigger vehicles with a more premium touch, as I'd rather put on cruise and have some creature comforts on my drive to work. Currently have a 3.0 Z4 but it's getting a bit long in the tooth now, it does a job but the boot obviously is useless and outdated in terms of tech.
I've considered all forms of Volvo T6/8's, think the battery would be good for most of it and I can charge at work for free but in the budget I'm looking near 100k miles and I'm terrified of seeing a repair bill of a couple grand or worse. I've seen plenty of them hit 150k plus so they must be fairly robust but just not sure. I've thought about a D5 but I'm not doing major miles really and I'm worried about DPF failures.
Merc E class is also another nice option, range of engines and would probably try for a 6cyl purely for less engine stress and they usually have better spec. The CLS is also a nice looking car, but wonder what engine and year would be best to go for.
Skoda Superbs are always in the conversation, I know they're not a premium badge, but i'm not a badge snob and understand inside the L&K versions are very nice places to be, but are they on par with the other options?
Lexus also make a couple of options. An RC would be a nice place to sit, but a tad slow for how nice they look. The NX/RX look nice too and get great MPG but wonder how well they hold value.
Also pondered the BMW 3/5 series, would probably go 6cyl again because it's what BMW do best but I feel everyone and their dog has one these days.
Anyone got any insight on these, or any alternative suggestions? I'd rather spend closer to the 10k mark than 20k and have something in the bank for when something inevitably goes boom, but if it's a solid reliable option like the Lexus, I'd be happy to spend closer to the top end.
I'm also happy to go under 10k, I had a V70 barge about four years ago and was genuinely the best car I've had as a shed, cost me £1200 and was a manual 04 D5, nothing to go wrong, nothing went wrong and did about 40k miles and sold it for what I paid for it.
Thanks in advance
In your shoes not doing many miles and wanting something big I’d be going for an e class.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024052099...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024052099...
Edited by Lefty on Sunday 19th January 19:27
Lefty said:
He doesn’t want a hatch and he doesn’t want a risk of a big bill.
What’s a replacement battery on a Model 3? £5k? £10k?
A model 3 isn’t a hatch. What’s a replacement battery on a Model 3? £5k? £10k?
Honestly one of the stupidest things I’ve read on here referencing the battery. All Tesla’s have an 8 year warranty on the battery.
You are aware you linked a 123k mile 12 year old Mercedes AMG with a history of failed MOTs and are talking about reliability?
The Tesla M3 is a really interesting option. Not really considered them after being worried about the battery, without realising they come with a warranty of 8 years. So if I look at a 2021 model, I'm sorted until 2029? By then I'd hope battery replacement/fixes are well on the up, and they're floating around 20k at the moment.
I do have a driveway, but a really old fusebox so would likely need to look at upgrading to handle the charger but potentially be well worth it if it's making my weekly fuel cost be about £2 since I'd charge at work. Would also add some value to the house I guess.
Is there any other things to consider with an EV, or Tesla specifically? I'm pretty well clued up on ICE, but EV is completely new to me and something I've invested no time into.
If it's as simple as buy from a garage, get 12 months consumer rights protection for anything outside the battery, and the remainder of the 8Y warranty for the battery it's a really strong choice, but I also appreciate come 2029 I've got a ticking time bomb worth probably 5k at best, at which point I'd run it until it died. Whereas if I got something like an 3.0 E Class I'd have an asset worth 8/9. But no doubt over those four years I'd have probably spent that on everything that goes inevitably wrong with the ICE layout, including all the other wear and tear items like brakes, which of course last much longer with the passive electric braking.
The AMG is a nice proposition, no replacement for displacement right, but honestly for the drives I do behind tractors and people who can't drive I don't think it's worth the hassle for the 25 seconds of spirited driving I'm gifted on my drive to work. Would happily sit on my drive listening to it tick over though haha.
I do have a driveway, but a really old fusebox so would likely need to look at upgrading to handle the charger but potentially be well worth it if it's making my weekly fuel cost be about £2 since I'd charge at work. Would also add some value to the house I guess.
Is there any other things to consider with an EV, or Tesla specifically? I'm pretty well clued up on ICE, but EV is completely new to me and something I've invested no time into.
If it's as simple as buy from a garage, get 12 months consumer rights protection for anything outside the battery, and the remainder of the 8Y warranty for the battery it's a really strong choice, but I also appreciate come 2029 I've got a ticking time bomb worth probably 5k at best, at which point I'd run it until it died. Whereas if I got something like an 3.0 E Class I'd have an asset worth 8/9. But no doubt over those four years I'd have probably spent that on everything that goes inevitably wrong with the ICE layout, including all the other wear and tear items like brakes, which of course last much longer with the passive electric braking.
The AMG is a nice proposition, no replacement for displacement right, but honestly for the drives I do behind tractors and people who can't drive I don't think it's worth the hassle for the 25 seconds of spirited driving I'm gifted on my drive to work. Would happily sit on my drive listening to it tick over though haha.
Can vouch for a Tesla M3 if you want hassle free simple motoring to get from A to B. I have a performance and whilst it’s not a car you’d get up early on a Sunday for a blast, the insane acceleration and mid range punch never, ever get boring.
They come fully loaded as standard, have comfy seats, loads of tech, handle well enough. The 8 year warranty on the battery/motors is decent piece of mind IMO and outside these not an awful lot goes wrong bar weak control arms. Proving to be quite reliable cars as time passes. If you can get one just under 4 years old/50k miles, get it inspected at a place like Cleevely EV for £180 and pass the report on to Tesla who will carry out all the required fixes (if any) under warranty.
They come fully loaded as standard, have comfy seats, loads of tech, handle well enough. The 8 year warranty on the battery/motors is decent piece of mind IMO and outside these not an awful lot goes wrong bar weak control arms. Proving to be quite reliable cars as time passes. If you can get one just under 4 years old/50k miles, get it inspected at a place like Cleevely EV for £180 and pass the report on to Tesla who will carry out all the required fixes (if any) under warranty.
XFR
The pre-facelift cars arguably have a more premium feel.
Amazing sound and performance for the money.
I drive these regularly and am always pleased to do so.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17829821
The pre-facelift cars arguably have a more premium feel.
Amazing sound and performance for the money.
I drive these regularly and am always pleased to do so.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17829821
It's worth pointing out that the Tesla will be neither luxurious or particularly comfortable - the ride is pretty crap with lots of road noise and the interior has all the luxury of a wheelie bin.
They obviously have their strengths but, having owned two, I'm not convinced they fit the brief very well. Ours have also needed some pretty expensive repairs.
Lexus of some sort a better shout I suspect.
They obviously have their strengths but, having owned two, I'm not convinced they fit the brief very well. Ours have also needed some pretty expensive repairs.
Lexus of some sort a better shout I suspect.
Jalo1548 said:
The Tesla M3 is a really interesting option. Not really considered them after being worried about the battery, without realising they come with a warranty of 8 years. So if I look at a 2021 model, I'm sorted until 2029? By then I'd hope battery replacement/fixes are well on the up, and they're floating around 20k at the moment.
I do have a driveway, but a really old fusebox so would likely need to look at upgrading to handle the charger but potentially be well worth it if it's making my weekly fuel cost be about £2 since I'd charge at work. Would also add some value to the house I guess.
Is there any other things to consider with an EV, or Tesla specifically? I'm pretty well clued up on ICE, but EV is completely new to me and something I've invested no time into.
If it's as simple as buy from a garage, get 12 months consumer rights protection for anything outside the battery, and the remainder of the 8Y warranty for the battery it's a really strong choice, but I also appreciate come 2029 I've got a ticking time bomb worth probably 5k at best, at which point I'd run it until it died. Whereas if I got something like an 3.0 E Class I'd have an asset worth 8/9. But no doubt over those four years I'd have probably spent that on everything that goes inevitably wrong with the ICE layout, including all the other wear and tear items like brakes, which of course last much longer with the passive electric braking.
Yes your battery would be covered till 2029. I do have a driveway, but a really old fusebox so would likely need to look at upgrading to handle the charger but potentially be well worth it if it's making my weekly fuel cost be about £2 since I'd charge at work. Would also add some value to the house I guess.
Is there any other things to consider with an EV, or Tesla specifically? I'm pretty well clued up on ICE, but EV is completely new to me and something I've invested no time into.
If it's as simple as buy from a garage, get 12 months consumer rights protection for anything outside the battery, and the remainder of the 8Y warranty for the battery it's a really strong choice, but I also appreciate come 2029 I've got a ticking time bomb worth probably 5k at best, at which point I'd run it until it died. Whereas if I got something like an 3.0 E Class I'd have an asset worth 8/9. But no doubt over those four years I'd have probably spent that on everything that goes inevitably wrong with the ICE layout, including all the other wear and tear items like brakes, which of course last much longer with the passive electric braking.
So I bought a 2020 car from an independent dealer that had the Tesla 6months warranty left for suspension, door handles etc. This could be extended provided still under original 4 year warranty for £1100 a year I think (I didn’t bother).
The only real potential issue with the Model 3 is suspension control arms (£1000). People pay Cleverly to take a look (come to you I believe) before their warranty runs out and they do a full check ~£200 and basically get everything replaced so its an as new car. Tesla also do the check for £100 but it’s a bit like marking your own homework. My car is now 45k miles and is 100%.
I haven’t bothered with a dedicated charger. I just use the outdoor plug socket and granny charger and charge roughly 7miles an hour. We done this with both her 2023 330e and the Tesla with no issues.
Personally I think the depreciation thing is going to slow down quite a bit. More people are driving Tesla’s now and I think its fair to say they end up being significantly better than people who haven’t actually driven one expected. Even at 4 year old and £20k you just have to be really antiEV not to consider one as the a lot of value for money.
We had a brand new 2023 330e to compare the Tesla against and we find the Tesla superior in every way.
We looked at replacing her 330e with other electrics or hybrids for sub £20k but they weren’t as good and the only car seriously considered was another Tesla. We ended up going a diesel X3 so certainly not an EVanglist by and chance!
They aren’t perfect but as a daily driver they are the best all round package I’ve ever experienced.
At the very least it’s worth a look and test drive and make your own opinion up. There must be some reason they have the most loyal buyers.
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