£25k, 25k pa, What the hell do I buy?

[D_T_W]

Will be looking to replace my shed shortly as it's marching on toward 150k and as some of the originally minor issues are starting to become major ones it's looking like it's time to get shot and move on.

Having saved my arse off for the last couple of years, I'd like to treat myself to something newer and nicer. Plan would be to buy it and run it until it dies. I typically cover around 25k a year, mostly motorway miles commuting to work with the odd 5/600 mile trip every couple of months. That mileage may increase to about 30k in the next 18 months though.

Budget would be around £25k max, I'd like to keep under that though to give me some margin for the inevitable bad decision making.

It would be nice to have something I could take the B roads home after work occasionally and have a bit of a blast or want to take out for a drive just for the hell of it, but it's not a must have.

I also have a rather terrible habit of buying the dud examples of good cars, with almost everything I've owned requiring money to be thrown at it within months of purchase to rectify the stuff I didn't spot when buying it, then cutting my losses and punting it on having spent more than the purchase price trying to put it right.

My Saved Cars list on Autotrader is currently littered with all sorts of stuff from big diesel saloons/estates to hot hatches to SUV's and with so many options and not a great deal of time to go and look at them all due to work commitments I'm trying to at least narrow the field a little.

So, stuff I need!

It would be nice if I could get 40mpg
Ability to carry a couple of mountain bikes, ideally either roof rack or towbar rack mounted but I'll live with them going inside the car so long as I don't have to dismantle them into their constituent parts
Cruise control is a must
A decent sound system would be lovely
Heated seats would be nice
Reliable! I can't handle another phone call to the AA whilst stuck at the side of the road, I just want it to work. I'll service it regularly, replace stuff as it's needed but a failure to proceed isn't on my wish list.
It will only need to carry more than 2 people a handful of times a year, the bulk of my journeys have just me in the car.
It would be nice if it was quick, I've rather missed a fast car
Sensible running costs in terms of servicing. I try and service my current car 3 times a year, with the big service in January (Belts, gearbox service etc)

So I open the floor to those who know better than I do, because I'm buggered if I can narrow my list down any!

[Jasandjules]

E class estate? Comfy motorway mile muncher and can chuck bikes and passengers. Get the Premium Plus for upgraded sound and enhanced lights....

[MiniMan64]

I’ll suggest a big Skoda diesel estate and ZX will be along shortly to suggest either a Mondeo or something Korean.

Something like this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106123...

Edited by MiniMan64 on Friday 18th June 19:14

[loskie]

Octavia VRS Estate

I would have derv but I like the torque

[Mammasaid]

Add the Volvo V90 to the above, the are a lot worse ways to spend time in.

[stevemcs]

A Volvo v60 is what you need, or buy another shed and a lotus Elise

[Objective Alpha]

25k will get you a very nice octavia vrs diesel
seems to tick all the boxes, big, comfy, can get decent economy, will 100% be in warranty so no need to worry about problems and will take a b road
you might just be able to get the new model which from the looks is a better car if you can squeeze one

[Mammasaid]

stevemcs said:

A Volvo v60 is what you need, or buy another shed and a lotus Elise

The only thing that the V60 lacks is Pilot Assist which if you're doing 25k is a boon.

[D_T_W]

I should I can only have one car, I don't have enough time for 2 and I only have one parking space at the flat!

For just me the V90 is too big, but I do like the look of the V60 but the engines are a bit on the uninspiring side I always thought?

I had already thought the Octavia was probably the best bet, but there must be something else out there I should consider?

[barryrs]

Mercedes C300 coupe with a roof rack for the bikes?

Pretty quick, decent spec, has been 100% reliable for me and I regularly get 42mpg.

[Wagonwheel555]

Whatever you buy perhaps look at Approved Used from a dealer so you get at least a years warranty, saves you worrying about throwing money at it in the first few months.

Dealers tend to sort out wear and tear things like brakes and tyres before sale too.

[D_T_W]

barryrs said:

Mercedes C300 coupe with a roof rack for the bikes?

Pretty quick, decent spec, has been 100% reliable for me and I regularly get 42mpg.

I fancy an E350d, but the image that I should be retired and walking with a zimmer when I get out of it keeps putting me off. There's a stunning one for sale just now though that I keep going back to look at as it's just such a handsome big thing

Wagonwheel555 said:

Whatever you buy perhaps look at Approved Used from a dealer so you get at least a years warranty, saves you worrying about throwing money at it in the first few months.

Dealers tend to sort out wear and tear things like brakes and tyres before sale too.

That had been my plan, having typically bought at the cheaper end of the scale I'm not sure how comfortable I would be handing over £20+k in a private sale

[barryrs]

I that the W212 model?

I traded in a 2014 E class coupe against a new C class coupe C205 model as it’s pretty much the same size. Personally I can’t quite get on the the proportions of the new E class coupe.

[stevemcs]

The Volvo engine won’t be any duller than a very diesel, how about a Jaguar XF or is that too big ? A lightly used 5 series would be a much better buy over a superb

[loskie]

Why does image worry you?

[scoey1001]

Golf GTD?

[D_T_W]

barryrs said:

I that the W212 model?

I traded in a 2014 E class coupe against a new C class coupe C205 model as it’s pretty much the same size. Personally I can’t quite get on the the proportions of the new E class coupe.

I have to confess to not being up to speed with the latest Merc model identifiers, it's a 2017 model year if that helps?

I'm not a fan of the coupe's, but I think the E class has a lovely shape to it especially compared to the comparable 5 series. I just wish they did a C350d as I'd probably be all over it

stevemcs said:

The Volvo engine won’t be any duller than a very diesel, how about a Jaguar XF or is that too big ? A lightly used 5 series would be a much better buy over a superb

Not a Jag fan to be honest, unless it was an XJR but no matter the man maths involved I can't make that one work.

I did look at the T5 V60 but there's not many about in the spec I would want.

And I've been down the M140i, 340i, 540i, 335d, 535d rabbit hole but I don't know if I'm prepared to deal with the BMW tax when it goes horribly horribly wrong

loskie said:

Why does image worry you?

I suppose it shouldn't, but I'm only in my 30's and the E class has always tended towards the older generation, certainly in the larger surrounding area where I live. As I said though, with the big wheels in the right colour it's a bloody good looking car in my opinion

[smashy]

I think for power /mpg you cannot beat the bmw 330d 0-62 in 5.6sec and one long middle lane M1 run to Leicester got me 61 mpg ......I have to get rid of my euro 5 and been looking at main dealer 3 year olds for less than your £25k decent low mileage as well...The 335d is even faster 4.8 I think just make sure that one has adaptive suspension otherwise it's a floating blangmange they are in your budget at 3 years as well

[stevemcs]

How about a few toys and some change ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106033...

[D_T_W]

Having experienced BMW reliability at higher miles and the price of the parts it really puts me off them. I want to love the 335d and even the 340i but it nags me that when it breaks it’s 4 figures and I don’t know any specialists where I live.

I’ve looked at the Mondeo as well, having had two before I’d like a change to something else