Recommended an estate £5k

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a BMW 325i Touring earlier this year for well under your budget, although mine has done 135K.

I only do about 7,000 miles a year in it (I've got a fun car as well) so petrol was the only sensible option for me, and my BMW Indy recommended avoiding the 4 cylinder ones. Which suited me anyway!

95% of my driving is on dual-carriageways and motorways but the OBC is showing an average of 35.7 mpg.

Mind you it isn't the biggest estate around - a 5 Series Touring might suit you better.

Good luck anyway.

[ZX10R NIN]

As you know if you're buying a diesel & not doing long enough journeys any money saved on fuel could be eaten up in bills, so have a think about the how long the majority of your journeys are, if you were only averaging 20's then that suggests it really wasn't getting a run.

If you want a diesel then I'd suggest one of these as they don't have a DPF & the drivetrain will be okay with short journeys.


C220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E270

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E320

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

All the above have heated leather seats the 320 is the pick of the bunch though with enough space to cater to your needs as well as a bit of grunt which means you won't be on the throttle as much.

[ninjag]

Undecided_buyer said:

Haha, dog is on the large side, I have a dog cage for the boot which would be good to keep, although not absolutely essential. But 2 young kids too, bikes etc so a big boot is definitely a big plus.

In that case I'd now be looking at something like 3rd gen CRV, probably petrol. The boot is big and the rear seats slide forward and and back. Stick a roof box on top and you can practically move house.

[Undecided_buyer]

ninjag said:

In that case I'd now be looking at something like 3rd gen CRV, probably petrol. The boot is big and the rear seats slide forward and and back. Stick a roof box on top and you can practically move house.

Thanks for the suggestion, i'll take a look.

Unfortunately, i fear i may be back to where i started soon though, big petrol engine giving me 20MPG...

Maybe i'm looking for something that doesn't exist!

[Undecided_buyer]

Something like this any good??

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[kurt535]

ninjag said:

2010 Toyota Avensis 1.8 V-Matic TR @ £4,390 plus whatever antidepressants cost
64k miles on the clock, petrol, 43mpg combined

OI! top estate second hand. reliability spot on. the day your friendly isis starts using vw/skoda/ out in the bad lands then ill start using them. till then, Jap it is. the only time ive needed anti-d's is when my Jag XJS kept busting my wallet on its light 'recommissioning' - decommissioning was more appropriate

[ninjag]

Undecided_buyer said:

Thanks for the suggestion, i'll take a look.

Unfortunately, i fear i may be back to where i started soon though, big petrol engine giving me 20MPG...

Maybe i'm looking for something that doesn't exist!

CRV 2.0 is well into the 30's with lazy mixed driving. The Accord 2.0 will be high 30's. The latter, if 7th or 8th Generation, is built in Japan and not Swindon.

[ninjag]

kurt535 said:

OI! top estate second hand. reliability spot on. the day your friendly isis starts using vw/skoda/ out in the bad lands then ill start using them. till then, Jap it is. the only time ive needed anti-d's is when my Jag XJS kept busting my wallet on its light 'recommissioning' - decommissioning was more appropriate

lol yeah sorry. I'd probably say the Toyota Avensis is one of the most overlooked cars despite it's credentials.

[Undecided_buyer]

ninjag said:

CRV 2.0 is well into the 30's with lazy mixed driving. The Accord 2.0 will be high 30's. The latter, if 7th or 8th Generation, is built in Japan and not Swindon.

ok thanks

[Fastchas]

These can be had for less than £5k/<100k miles.
You'd be surprised how small an A4 is, the A6 is much better.

[kurt535]

ninjag said:

kurt535 said:

OI! top estate second hand. reliability spot on. the day your friendly isis starts using vw/skoda/ out in the bad lands then ill start using them. till then, Jap it is. the only time ive needed anti-d's is when my Jag XJS kept busting my wallet on its light 'recommissioning' - decommissioning was more appropriate

lol yeah sorry. I'd probably say the Toyota Avensis is one of the most overlooked cars despite it's credentials.

The Accord carried a premium over the Avensis when i was looking a couple of months ago which, given my history with car abuse , i couldn't see it being worth paying up for. Auto box is weird, especially after the spot on bmw 535 I owned but, this car cost 10% of the price so beggars cant be choosers! Im spoiling it as well; Im waiting for the arrival of my 'Boot-Buddy' today to see if that can stop my rescue dog wrecking the interior with its ginger fur she loves shedding 24/7/365

[nobrakes]

ZX10R NIN said:

As you know if you're buying a diesel & not doing long enough journeys any money saved on fuel could be eaten up in bills, so have a think about the how long the majority of your journeys are, if you were only averaging 20's then that suggests it really wasn't getting a run.

If you want a diesel then I'd suggest one of these as they don't have a DPF & the drivetrain will be okay with short journeys.


C220

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E270

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E320

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

All the above have heated leather seats the 320 is the pick of the bunch though with enough space to cater to your needs as well as a bit of grunt which means you won't be on the throttle as much.

This.

Plus, in your budget, I wouldn’t get hung up about mpg. It’s overall maintenance costs you need to consider.

The Eclasses mentioned are all well proven and any Indy will keep costs down. I get over 30mpg in a 100k 320cdi when I keep it down to 70 with bikes on the roof and fully loaded.

The petrol Mondys mentioned will go for years too - triggers broom.

[Undecided_buyer]

nobrakes said:

This.

Plus, in your budget, I wouldn’t get hung up about mpg. It’s overall maintenance costs you need to consider.

The Eclasses mentioned are all well proven and any Indy will keep costs down. I get over 30mpg in a 100k 320cdi when I keep it down to 70 with bikes on the roof and fully loaded.

The petrol Mondys mentioned will go for years too - triggers broom.

Thanks for the info.

So the Mondeos likely need a lot changing on them ?

[Undecided_buyer]

Just seen an 07 A6 2.0TDI with low mileage, looks like it's been an elderly owner, Audi history. Not much more info on advert at the moment.

Worth looking at? Any know problems/issues?

Cheers

Edited by Undecided_buyer on Tuesday 9th October 14:57

[grant8064]

Considered a Saab 93 estate?

5k bought me a low miles petrol auto one recently. More personality than an Avensis, 3 series etc, decent leather and seats, reasonable boot space.

[Undecided_buyer]

grant8064 said:

Considered a Saab 93 estate?

5k bought me a low miles petrol auto one recently. More personality than an Avensis, 3 series etc, decent leather and seats, reasonable boot space.

Not considered a petrol one actually. Like the shape etc. Family member had big DPF issues with their diesel 93 so I guess that's put me off.

I'll have a look. Cheers

[blueg33]

3.0l Subaru Outback

Very well made, great engine, we averaged 25mpg in ours. Was sad to see it go.

[nobrakes]

Undecided_buyer said:

nobrakes said:

This.

Plus, in your budget, I wouldn’t get hung up about mpg. It’s overall maintenance costs you need to consider.

The Eclasses mentioned are all well proven and any Indy will keep costs down. I get over 30mpg in a 100k 320cdi when I keep it down to 70 with bikes on the roof and fully loaded.

The petrol Mondys mentioned will go for years too - triggers broom.

Thanks for the info.

So the Mondeos likely need a lot changing on them ?

No, sorry. It was a poor effort as a I meant it as a compliment to the Mondeo. They are very good cars. Consumables will be very cheap for it, and parts easily available.

Parts are not cheap for the merc, but I can’t recall the last time it needed anything other than service items and even that costs just over £400 a year on a main dealer service plan (which also includes grearbox oil change when due). Insurance will be much higher for the merc too. Tbh though for a normal large car it really shifts when asked.

[Undecided_buyer]

Thanks for all the replies, food for thought.

No opinions on the A6 I mentioned?

Cheers

[Fermit and Sarah]

Undecided_buyer said:

Thanks for all the replies, food for thought.

No opinions on the A6 I mentioned?

Cheers

Could you copy and paste a link to it?