Getting fed up with the Alfa GT.. what next?

[phil1979]

Last night was a sad occasion. Didn't enjoy the drive home... hard suspension starting to piss me off, jittery ride, diesel getting harder to start in the cold etc etc. Maybe I am getting old?

So, what next? I want something good looking, and practical (which the GT actually is - the hatch/boot is really big), softer suspension without having to opt for comedy balloon tires, petrol (but without paying huge RFL and ideally a little bit economical). I also wouldn't rule out an estate, as my young family would benefit from this. Also no older than 5 years.

I am a little stumped. Beemers etc hold their value too well, or have stella mileage. E-Class Mercs remind me of taxis. I won't abide an Audi. I don't want a repmobile.

All I can seem to find, circa £15k or under, is an Alfa 159 turbo petrol estate. Which I guess will hack me off just as much as my current wheels.

Any thoughts?

[F1GTRUeno]

Surely a 159 in non-TI spec would be fairly decent riding? (Won't look as good but still look brilliant)

Maybe a 166?

[kambites]

I think our Octavia VRS fulfills those criteria reasonably well.

Go for 17 inch wheels though, the 18 inch ones ruin the ride and weigh a frankly stupid amount.

[Volvo360]

Volvo V50? Or S60 if you can tolerate a saloon?

[JaegerLeCoultre]

Jag X-Type Estate?

...you did say you were getting older

[POORCARDEALER]

Merc C320 cdi estate is a nice blend of ride, economy and performance

[Agoogy]

V70 Volvo or Subaru Legacy, both handsome estates
Maybe a Signum as a left field choice although for me the facelift looks awful..the original was/is a bland, but it suited the rest of the design which again, for me, is a handsome shape.

[MC Bodge]

phil1979 said:

Last night was a sad occasion. Didn't enjoy the drive home... hard suspension starting to piss me off, jittery ride

When will people realise that suspension needs only be firm *enough* and that rock-hard on enormous wheels doesn't automatically equal 'faster' and almost certainly does not equal 'better' for a road car or any car for that matter?

[bakerstreet]

phil1979 said:

I am a little stumped. Beemers etc hold their value too well, or have stella mileage. E-Class Mercs remind me of taxis. I won't abide an Audi. I don't want a repmobile.
?

Your not giving your self much choice there are you?

What about a Citroen C5? The estate is huge and tyt least they have a nice ride and you usually get a lot of car for your money.

[phil1979]

F1GTRUeno said:

Surely a 159 in non-TI spec would be fairly decent riding? (Won't look as good but still look brilliant)

Maybe a 166?

Every time my eye would catch a TI-spec, I would die a little inside, if I didn't have the same.

[phil1979]

Merc C320 cdi estate not a bad call... off to the classifieds...

I like the Subaru idea, but I'd have to have the 3.0, which I guess will be a petrol nightmare.

[HughG]

How about a BMW 630, such as this? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...