Sub £6k, nice place to be, high mpg, lowish tax? Thoughts?

[Hark]

Looking for a nice run about (whilst trying to fight my badge snobbery) to allow me to have a weekend car.

Possible for £6k? Ideas?

So far I'm afraid I haven't been particularly inventive.

E46 320d
A3 Tdi?
Golf ?

Having had Audis and Bmws for 5 years, so many interiors feel really...naff

Also ideally needs to be around or less than £500 to insure, for this to work.

Edited by Hark on Tuesday 10th May 20:04

[Fox-]

Hark said:

Also ideally needs to be less than £500 to tax for this to work.

There isn't a single car in the country that costs more than £500 to tax after its 1 year old.

So, how about a Ferrari F430?

[Hark]

Fox- said:

There isn't a single car in the country that costs more than £500 to tax after its 1 year old.

So, how about a Ferrari F430?

Typo sorry

editted

[Ben3883]

I recently got a 2.0 diesel X-Type sport for 5 grand. Ticks your boxes, and I would also rate it above an equivalent A4 tdi or 320d of similar age, especially with the full leather interior - it's a very very nice place to be and not a bad steer either.

[Chrisw666]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Waaay under budget, should be cheap to tax, not daft to run.

Failing that an S60 D5 should fit the bill.

[Fox-]

Chrisw666 said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Waaay under budget, should be cheap to tax, not daft to run.

[quote]Fuel consumption (combined) 32.1 mpg

Might as well just buy a 528i with figures that bad, its only 2mpg better than the combined figure on my 530i!

[Chrisw666]

Fox- said:

Might as well just buy a 528i with figures that bad, its only 2mpg better than the combined figure on my 530i!

Nobody is allowed to buy petrol E39s until I have enough cash for a good 530.

[Fox-]

Chrisw666 said:

Nobody is allowed to buy petrol E39s until I have enough cash for a good 530.

Don't forget to pay over the odds for one with under 100k miles on it that's due replacement of pretty much everything, leaving the values of the mint ones with fresh everything but the wrong mileage to..

wait, I'll stop moaning

[Chrisw666]

Fox- said:

Don't forget to pay over the odds for one with under 100k miles on it that's due replacement of pretty much everything, leaving the values of the mint ones with fresh everything but the wrong mileage to..

wait, I'll stop moaning

If it doesn't have a pile of reciepts totalling more than the price of the car it isn't worth buying.

[Fox-]

I'd have a heart attack if I added up the total value of all the BMW Service invoices in the folder

[kieranjholland]

Have you thought about a Vovlo diesel?

I drive an S60 D5 (163bhp), achieve approx 55mpg and tax is relatively low... lots of options spec wise with your budget on a 2003 - 2006 car and they are real great places to be - very comfortable, awesome sound systems and very reliable when looked after (can achieve 300,000+ miles)

[confused_buyer]

Unless they have loads of options there is nothing particularly wonderful about the fleet sale special 2.0 litre diesel 320d, A3 or Golf interiors. Kind of like sitting in a coal scuttle.

S60 D5 SE 04-on facelift in a nice colour would be my first choice too. Vastly nicer place to while away the hours than any of the German suggestions and probably better built too.

[Hark]

Hadn't thought about a Volvo tomorrow, always took the piss out of my mate as thought it was an old man's car. Off to the classifieds I go to be educated...........

[kieranjholland]

Hark said:

Hadn't thought about a Volvo tomorrow, always took the piss out of my mate as thought it was an old man's car. Off to the classifieds I go to be educated...........

Definitely look into it - they have a old man/tweed flat cap/elbow patches/hunter wellies in the boot image but don't let that fool you.

Totally awesome cars and a world away from VAGs, which is where I came from

[sjc]

This'll do it, and you'll have 4500 quid left for petrol...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1879779.htm

or a bit more fun....
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2678937.htm

Edited by sjc on Wednesday 11th May 00:17

[Ben3883]

kieranjholland said:

Hark said:

Hadn't thought about a Volvo tomorrow, always took the piss out of my mate as thought it was an old man's car. Off to the classifieds I go to be educated...........

Definitely look into it - they have a old man/tweed flat cap/elbow patches/hunter wellies in the boot image but don't let that fool you.

Totally awesome cars and a world away from VAGs, which is where I came from

You'll be lucky to find a good one...the S60 D5 for my £6k budget was exactly what I wanted too but after a month of looking at overpriced sheds and cars I was convinced were clocked taxis I got disillusioned and had a look at X-Types instead. For what it's worth, I think it worked out the right way for me at least - it's worth having less power for the nicer Jag interior IMO.

[Stu R]

E38 740i Sport. Use the money saved on purchasing it offsetting the MPG - it'll clear 30mpg on the run though

[va1o]

Volvo S60 D5 SE if you can tolerate the looks/ badge. The 2004 facelift model with the 163bhp EU4 engine/ 5-speed box is supposed to be the best.

[CarbonBlackM5]

I had one of the first S60 D5 from new and did around 50k in 2 years. It was a great mile muncher with loads of toys.

Had problems with the on board computer but I put that down to it being an early model. Never got less than 42mpg no matter how hard I thrashed it. Had a nice 5 pot sound, great seats and a cracking stereo. I had the Maya Yellow/Gold which probably wasnt the best Idea but I was young (28) so was trying to shake off the old man image.

[maccas99]

Another vote for the S60 D5 SE. I've had mine for just over a year now and I've covered over 20k in that time. No problems and 4k of that was all around Europe! The best seats 6k can buy and an amazing factory fit stereo! Don't be scared by high mileage as long as it looks straight and has a full history. Mine is on 138k now.