Upgrading soon, looking for advice/opinions

[Bazzoie]

So I'm thinking of upgrading my car some time in the next 6-12 months. I'm currently driving a VW Golf 1.6TDI bluemotion which has treated me quite well. I got it at ~65,000 miles in July 2018 and it's now up at 111,000. As you might have figured out my annual mileage is somewhere around 16k per year, about 70% motorway and A roads. I'm fond of the golf, it's comfortable to drive and the interior feels well made, the adaptive cruise control is something I wasn't arsed about when I got it but I actually use it a fair bit. I also get great mpg out of it - somewhere around 61 or 62 according to the on board tracker. It's also given me virtually no trouble over the past 3 years.

But with the mileage now creeping up, and having had a couple of promotions at work in the interim, I'm thinking of upgrading. I'm basically open to suggestions on what people like themselves or might be suitable for me. My list of wants, from most important to least would be something like:

Comfort to drive>reliability>looks>features/extras=MPG>a bit of extra poke for overtaking

Obviously looks are very subjective so I'm open to any suggestions.

My budget will probably be about 13-14k, though I could probably push to 15k for something if it was really worth it. Ideally I'd be looking at a car that's only 3 or 4 years old and maybe up to 40k miles, though if it's smarter to broaden the net I can be reasoned with. I'm likely to be financing with part ex/proceeds of the golf going to deposit. I'd rather own the car at the end though so not keen on PCP.

I've been doing a bit of casual browsing and quite like the look of the mazda 3, though I've heard pub talk that the diesel mazda engines are maybe not the most reliable and should be steered clear of, and I'm not sure if the petrol would be massively less economical than what I have at the moment which might be hard to swallow.

I've also had a quick look through a few 1 series', and even a5s. The better half has recently bought an a3 so I'm not that keen to get another.

Thanks for reading through the long winded post. Not overly experienced with motors in general but always happy to learn more, appreciate any of the advice the wise heads around here might have.

[ZX10R NIN]

At the moment if you want (Comfort to drive>reliability>looks>features/extras=MPG>a bit of extra poke for overtaking) then it's very hard to look past the Infiniti Q30 these are a Mercedes A220d in all but the sheet metal but for less money.

Sport 170 (360 Cameras/Pano Roof/AMG Front Seats/DAB/Front & rear sensors Adaptive)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106224...

Sport In Touch 170 AWD

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107014...

Premium in Touch 170 more comfortable setup with less sporty seats & no Pano roof

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106013...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102018...
The fit & finish is a step above your Golf/Peugeot etc & they can be serviced by an Indy or your local Nissan dealer.

The DS5 Performance is another very good option & a very smart choice:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106284...

308 GT 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107134...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107024...

[Bazzoie]

Thanks a million for the input, much appreciated! Those infinitis are something that would never have even crossed my mind, as I'm not familiar with the brand at all other than having occasionally seen one or two around, but I have to admit that that is a nice looking motor that does seem to fit the bill.

The Citroen and Peugeot are also not something I'd been looking at but both look like good fits too.

Is there a reason that all the ads you've posted are for automatic? If it's due to my wanting comfort to drive i may have misled you a bit, I do want a comfortable ride but I've only ever driven manuals and am happy to do so. I'm also open to automatic but if it comes at the sacrifice of mpg I'd rather stick with manual.

Are you familiar with the Mazda 2.2 diesel engine that would be found in the previous gen of Mazda 3's at all? I'm curious if it would be considered a reasonable engine or if it's best avoided.

Thanks again for your help

[ZX10R NIN]

The reason they're all auto is because on the higher end models they tend to be auto's which really suit torquey powertrains well, you'll struggle to find a manual on the higher spec/bhp cars as auto was the more popular choice.

You'll find the autos are actually better on fuel than their manual equivalents.

The Mazda 2.2d's do have some issues & I wouldn't say they're the last word in reliability.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 21st July 20:57

[Bazzoie]

Ah ok, thanks for that. Definitely food for thought and will be a big help with the search.

[Luanmapo]

If you are after poke and economy, we actually have the A220d auto and believe me it pulls!!
So quick it almost throws me in my seat.
It’s my husbands car and he mainly drives motorway miles with weekends on A roads, we are getting 63-68mpg. It’s awesome!!

However as someone said above, it comes with a price tag, so if you can get same engine in an alternative motor at a price which falls within tour budget, go for it. You wouldn’t be disappointed.

My Husband & I would never go back to manuals now after both having autos, it almost feels awkward getting into our sons little clio :-)).

[Bazzoie]

Cheers for the input, that Q30 is looking more tempting by the minute!

[georgeyboy12345]

I'd still be going for a diesel at that kind of annual mileage. Some more suggestions-

Alfa Romeo Giulietta JTDM-2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106244...


BMW 420d GranCoupe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104231...


Ford Mondeo Vignale TDCI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104241...


Mercedes C220d
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107195...


Skoda Octavia vRS TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012287...


Volvo V40 D4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...


As ZX10R says, don't be frightened of buying an automatic, they are great to drive!

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 21st July 22:22

[ZX10R NIN]

Luanmapo said:

If you are after poke and economy, we actually have the A220d auto and believe me it pulls!!
So quick it almost throws me in my seat.
It’s my husbands car and he mainly drives motorway miles with weekends on A roads, we are getting 63-68mpg. It’s awesome!!

However as someone said above, it comes with a price tag, so if you can get same engine in an alternative motor at a price which falls within tour budget, go for it. You wouldn’t be disappointed.

My Husband & I would never go back to manuals now after both having autos, it almost feels awkward getting into our sons little clio :-)).

Not only do you get the Mercedes drive train you also get the Mercedes Interior too.

[Bazzoie]

Some more cracking suggestions there, thanks a mill for the input! No, I'm definitely warming to the idea of an automatic (in fact my neighbour was selling me on it the other day) I was just always under the impression automatics negatively affected fuel economy, I suppose I was mistaken.

[Mr Tidy]

Old fashioned 3 and 4 spped autos did use to be less economical, and not as quick.

Modern autos and DCTs often get better figures than the manuals.

[Bazzoie]

I see, thanks for that. I saw that the auto models on cars I was checking on honest John mpg tended to be lower, but I suppose there are other factors at play there too.

[david-j8694]

Bazzoie said:

I see, thanks for that. I saw that the auto models on cars I was checking on honest John mpg tended to be lower, but I suppose there are other factors at play there too.

You are right, though, older autos sapped power and economy, but those days are gone. The modern autos tend to have 8 to 10 ratios, with the highest gear being incredibly long-legged, so at motorway speeds they can be ticking over at very low RPM.

Another vote for an auto + diesel engine combo.