What large well appointed Family Saloon up to £9k?

[Hobzy]

9k was the absolute limit TBH and they are just too thirsty.

[sa_20v]

2007+ Volvo S80 D5.

It won't set your World on fire but it's a safe, solid car which eats up the miles without draining your wallet.

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3566102.htm

[LiamM45]

If you go for a Passat, as discussed, make sure you get a common rail one. The 2.0 PD engines are potentially huge moneypits. My friends have had a couple, problems include one car killing 4 turbos in less than 18 months, one car killing 2 turbos, a head and 2 injectors in the same time period, one had total engine failure and another has had 4 new injectors. Another lad has had a common rail one, NOTHING has gone wrong in 20-30k miles, it has only need basic maintenence. If they aren't nippy enough a good ECU remap can push the 140bhp versions to 170-190bhp and a few extra MPG

I had a B5 Passat, and that was a brilliant car, can only see the B6 being a lot lot better!

This looks nice, and well... it's a Honda, heard good things about their diesel lumps.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3600742.htm

[flattotheboards]

frosted said:

08+ passats don't have many issues, my car on nearly 100k just had all injectors and loom replaced by vw for free, didn't even asked about service history or anything like that .

Does that not strike you as a massive issue that would have potentially written the car off had it not been under warranty?

[Hobzy]

LiamM45 said:

This looks nice, and well... it's a Honda, heard good things about their diesel lumps.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3600742.htm

Thanks for the info on the Passat.

That Honda looks a good shout actually - any one got any reasons not to buy it?

[PTE993]

Have been considering similar myself... the list I put together were...

Volvo V50 - 1.6D seems asthmatic 2.0D looks to be a better compromise perhaps a little small
Volvo V70 - as above, would be tempted by the D5 and accept sub 40MPG
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 1.9JTD but 2.4JTD sounds more fun...apparently relatively reliable too
Subaru Legacy 2.0D.
BMW - 123d - but probably a bit above £9K and a bit small
Saab 9-3 1.9TiD sure you could get a 9-5 for your budget.

Had a Lexus GS430... faultless...but 23mpg. Got an RX300...faultless but 22mpg...

Gotta say that Jaaag looks great value...

[sjc]

This is over budget , but plenty within it..
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2838414.htm

[sa_20v]

D5 Volvo will do 40mpg all day long...

[flatline84]

and provide you with bills written with forks while doing it.

[Hobzy]

flatline84 said:

and provide you with bills written with forks while doing it.

ok, you've lost me with that one...

[VidalBaboon]

Hobzy, the way I see it, unless you're doing masses of miles every year, say over 20k. The added costs of running a dag dag will hit harder (in one go) than spreading it at the pumps by using a petrol.

Thinking outside the box somewhat, what about LPGing a 745i with change left over for the conversion?

[sa_20v]

Hobzy said:

flatline84 said:

and provide you with bills written with forks while doing it.

ok, you've lost me with that one...

You and me both! No issues with the S80 - except people have a habit of running into it and driving off.

[alfa pint]

Anyone mention the S type Jag with the diesel lump in it? Not dissimilar performance to a 530d and available with reasonable mileage for about that price and pretty decent (surprisingly) reliability.

[Bloosey]

GERROFF MY LAAAAAAAAAAAND!!!

you cant have a Jag ......... by order of the Hobzette who has asked me to write this

[yahtzee]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3537453.htm


something like that well kitted out etc.. look nice

[woody2846]

OP you have mail.

[Hobzy]

woody2846 said:

OP you have mail.

Cheers, will look when I get home.

[cptsideways]

Andy665 said:

Lexus GS300 - comfortable, well equipped and what you lose in economy is more than made up for in bulletproof reliability

+1

The one car you wont ever need to worry about to going wrong, you budget for servicing in advance, worst case would be a PAS pump re-seal (£100) maybe a front suspension bush at higher mileages. You only need look at the adverts for ones with 180k miles to realise not much goes wrong.

Super comfy, quiet, good handling & not too juicy if driven sensibly, swift if required too. Plus 3k buys you mint leggy one. If you fancy something a bit quicker you can get a V8 GS430 sport but they are juicy though equally reliable.

[cptsideways]

Utter bargain, flippin heck I might have to go & buy it
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3618214.htm

[AndyACB]

Zwolf said:

Skoda Superb

Better looking and less ubiquitous than a Passat, nicer inside too. Figures look like 30-50 mpg for the petrol.

That is bloody hideous, it might just be a poor colour but