25k to spend on a family car...

[ppysjrh]

Moving back to the UK (from Oz) in November and have recently started researching what car to get. Has to be an automatic estate, ideally with leather. Not fussed about diesel as I wont do huge miles. I'd like it to feel a bit special, be fun to drive but relaxing on long hauls. I intend to keep it for over 5 years.

Currently considering
- C250 CGI
- A4 2.0 TFSI S-Line
- A5 2.0 TFSI S-Line
- 330, or
- Yeti Elegance (alto the OH hates the look of them!)

Has anyone got any experience of these, or any other suggestions? I am bound by a few house rules, the OH doesn't currently want anything much bigger than those listed, or a 4x4 (which is a shame as I reckon an X5 would be a great choice)

Thanks

[LukeSi]

335i M sport.

And you will have 5k spare as well.
http://bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156___as...

It is a 58 reg but a facelift 335i on BMW AUC for less than £20,000 is a massive bargin.

[dowahdiddyman]

What bout one of the new so-called `crossover` type vehicles. Then you get the estate plus 4 wheel drive.
Subaru Legacy Outback.
Kia Sorento
BMW X3.
etc.

[voiceofreason]

It has to be a 335i for that money.

[LukeSi]

voiceofreason said:

It has to be a 335i for that money.

He is even going to come away with 5k change if he goes for that 58 reg one.

Or if you can wait for it to become available then there is this 335d
http://bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156___as...

[dowahdiddyman]

LukeSi said:

voiceofreason said:

It has to be a 335i for that money.

He is even going to come away with 5k change if he goes for that 58 reg one.

Yeah, but the op says `it must be an automatic estate`.

[LukeSi]

dowahdiddyman said:

Yeah, but the op says `it must be an automatic estate`.

http://bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/bmwauc/details/0,,1156___ask-23%40adm-xx,00.html?ch=_V0JBVVk5MjAyMEEyMTkxOTA=

330d M sport Touring then.

[Otter Smacker]

Insignia 2.8i V6 Turbo 4x4 VXR Tourer


This being a nudge under 27k, you could either shop around for the same spec, or wait till September for the new reg and bag yourself a bargain.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3005506.htm

Well, I think it's a good looking car atleast anyway .

[voiceofreason]

Otter Smacker said:

Insignia 2.8i V6 Turbo 4x4 VXR Tourer


This being a nudge under 27k, you could either shop around for the same spec, or wait till September for the new reg and bag yourself a bargain.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3005506.htm

Well, I think it's a good looking car atleast anyway .

Nice looking car, good performance and spec, but CATACLYSMIC depreciation surely?

[Jw Vw]

voiceofreason said:

It has to be a 335i for that money.

+1

Another vote for the 335i.

[volvick]

perfect family wagon:

http://www.audi.co.uk/used-cars/used-car-locator/v...

or even: http://www.audi.co.uk/used-cars/used-car-locator/a...
if your feeling a bit frugal

[eldar]

voiceofreason said:

Nice looking car, good performance and spec, but CATACLYSMIC depreciation surely?

Buy it at a year old...

[volvick]

Otter Smacker said:

Insignia 2.8i V6 Turbo 4x4 VXR Tourer


This being a nudge under 27k, you could either shop around for the same spec, or wait till September for the new reg and bag yourself a bargain.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3005506.htm

Well, I think it's a good looking car atleast anyway .

ive always been under the impression that buying secondhand on the latest plate is a bit of a mugs game . a couple of months of people thinking "oh look hes got a new car" and most of the time a <£1000 loss

[anonymous-user]

Prompted by a thread in the Merc forum, go onto the Mercedes retail used cars website and that budget will see you in a 2010 automatic C350 cdi sport estate with COMAND and full leather with 10k-ish miles.

[ppysjrh]

Thanks all, will add 335 and C350 to the list!