23yr old looking for mid-executive type car
23yr old looking for mid-executive type car
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Discussion

swiftguy

Original Poster:

68 posts

97 months

Saturday 29th March 2025
quotequote all
Hi

I have a 23yr old Son whose got a new job which involves travelling to customer sites 2-3 times a week motorway miles.
He quite fancies a Audi A5 so have been looking at those, insurance front coming in around £1200 black box and £1600 no black box.
He says 2.0l petrol is cheaper than diesel on the insurance front.

Any thoughts on other options, did mention maybe a C-class, bmw seems to be high on the insurance front.

swiftguy

Original Poster:

68 posts

97 months

Saturday 29th March 2025
quotequote all
Forgot to add budget is around £10-£14k, seems be models from 2019 onwards at this price point.

RSTurboPaul

12,787 posts

281 months

Saturday 29th March 2025
quotequote all
I'd avoid the black box options - some of the horror stories about them are terrible, and it seems likely he may need to drive 'flexibly' if he has strict deadlines / time windows to meet...

Rob 131 Sport

4,388 posts

75 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
You can’t really go wrong with any Audi, BMW or Mercedes around this price point, provided it’s unmodified and has a full history.

The 2 Door A5 is a great looking car and would probably be my first choice. My son had a few years ago a 66 plate A4 TDI 190 S Line that I used for a few weeks. I was really impressed by all aspects of the car.

ChocolateFrog

34,954 posts

196 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Whether he's paying for his own fuel or not will dictate a lot.

A couple of hundred quid saved on insurance could disappear in a couple of months if he's paying for a difference of 20mpg.

davek_964

10,700 posts

198 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Wife has an A5 - although older (2013) diesel.
I don't like it - it feels huge, suspension always feels fairly rock hard to me.
It is pretty reliable though - despite being on 185k now - and it's worn well inside. And she will almost certainly replace it with another one

Tony_T

910 posts

104 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Alfa Romeo Giulia?

nobrakes

3,771 posts

221 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
C class would be my shout.

Sensible respectable image for his job.

A5 looks like a great motor for that money, but if it has an influence on his job I’d stick with the c class.

Whichever car, try for the simplest engine make up. I’d avoid low cc with hybrid bolt-on EV bla bla. Complications mean increased risk of the thing being in the garage and not earning money for you by being reliable - that’s worth way more than a few mpg here and there.

It will be the usual toss up also between low mile older or high miles newer, too.


nobrakes

3,771 posts

221 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Random car supermarket will get you a very new Mondeo

They have one at £14 that’s 4yr old and, ok, at stretch to £15, but it’s only 3yrs old ffs.

https://www.cargiant.co.uk/search/ford/mondeo


Ok maybe not those specifically, but they are worth a look.

anonymous-user

77 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Just buy a cheap diesel car for the mileage. Do you honestly think anyone looks in the carpark to see what car they turned up in?

nobrakes

3,771 posts

221 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
^ a lot of truth in that.

He’s 23, not 43.

Still, there’s a nice motor at a Merc dealer:
2017 C200 SE 69k miles in metallic blue.

It’s probably the 1.5 turbo petrol

7.5 secs to 60, 147mph, so goes fine.

£11,995 on the screen

https://shop.mercedes-benz.co.uk/used/results?Mode...

You might be surprised that for not too much more you’ll get a totally checked out service historied motor.






Edited by nobrakes on Monday 31st March 04:26

Sheepshanks

39,293 posts

142 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
nobrakes said:
Random car supermarket will get you a very new Mondeo

........

I did smile at the Audi / BMW / Mercedes list - time was, it would have been Ford / Peugeot / Vauxhall.

ScoobyChris

2,286 posts

225 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Not sure where in the country you are, but if you’re near West London my neighbour is selling his immaculate 67-plate 420d.

Chris

anonymous-user

77 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
ScoobyChris said:
Not sure where in the country you are, but if you’re near West London my neighbour is selling his immaculate 67-plate 420d.

Chris
Yes but are the owners mid executive?

ScoobyChris

2,286 posts

225 months

Sunday 30th March 2025
quotequote all
Cliodci12235 said:
Yes but are the owners mid executive?
Of course! Wouldn’t suggest it otherwise wink

Chris

nobrakes

3,771 posts

221 months

Monday 31st March 2025
quotequote all
ScoobyChris said:
Cliodci12235 said:
Yes but are the owners mid executive?
Of course! Wouldn’t suggest it otherwise wink

Chris
‘Is it a Ghia?’

Giantt

885 posts

59 months

Monday 31st March 2025
quotequote all
RSTurboPaul said:
I'd avoid the black box options - some of the horror stories about them are terrible, and it seems likely he may need to drive 'flexibly' if he has strict deadlines / time windows to meet...
Or set off earlier?

ZX10R NIN

30,026 posts

148 months

Monday 31st March 2025
quotequote all
swiftguy said:
Hi

I have a 23yr old Son whose got a new job which involves travelling to customer sites 2-3 times a week motorway miles.
He quite fancies a Audi A5 so have been looking at those, insurance front coming in around £1200 black box and £1600 no black box.
He says 2.0l petrol is cheaper than diesel on the insurance front.

Any thoughts on other options, did mention maybe a C-class, bmw seems to be high on the insurance front.
Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503180...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501087...

C220d AMG Line (when looking for a C Class Premium/Premium Plus models are the ones to go for) Premium Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503200...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503160...

320i Shadow Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502289...

330e:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503250...

320d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502139...

Q70 Sport, these have the same 2.1d as the Mercedes C/E Class & are a very good option as you'll get a nice low mileage example:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503079...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503260...

Q50 Sport

MC Bodge

27,652 posts

198 months

Monday 31st March 2025
quotequote all
nobrakes said:
ScoobyChris said:
Cliodci12235 said:
Yes but are the owners mid executive?
Of course! Wouldn’t suggest it otherwise wink

Chris
‘Is it a Ghia?’
Does it have headlamp wash/wipe?

Countdown

47,333 posts

219 months

Monday 31st March 2025
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
I did smile at the Audi / BMW / Mercedes list - time was, it would have been Ford / Peugeot / Vauxhall.
Isnb't that basically why Ford/Peugeot/Vauxhall (and the other mainstream manufacturers) have stopped making mid-sized saloons? Basically anybody who was in the market for a Mondeo went for a 320 instead