Looking for new (used) car/vehicle suggestions
Discussion
I currently have an astravan for work use, and it's getting a bit long in the tooth, so I'm looking to replace it with something else. Obvious equivalent choice would be a newer astravan, but I'd really like something that would seat 4, since I often get called out at weekends and the missus insists that I bring the family along. I do have a private 'family' saloon, that I currently use in this situation, but it's a bit impractical to keep unloading all my kit from the van to the car (plus I can't get anywhere near all of it in the car).
The van is about 70% filled with my regular tools/spares, and I often find myself using the other 30% with job specific kit. I work for myself (one man band), so I use the van to get to everything from sales pitches to deliveries, so it needs to be smart and purposeful without being too flash. I live and work in Cornwall and Devon, so most journeys invlove winding b roads, a roads, and dual carriageways, but rarely motorways. I would consider bigger commercial vehicles with 2 rows of seats (vito, vw transporter etc), but I don't relish the 60mph d/c speed limit, or the extra width on the narrow lanes.
Main critera then:
Budget ~£6k (maybe stretch to 7.5 for something special)
Seats 4
plenty of load space (~1500 litres min)
manual transmission
less than 5 years old (ideally less than 4)
less than 100k on the clock (ideally less than 80k)
as refined and car like as possible
ideally co2 below 160g/km for tax reasons
which probably means a diesel
I am VAT registered, and will be able to recalaim the vat on the purchase (providing I buy a vat qualifying vehicle, which basicly means ex lease). My thoughts are that I'm probably looking at a medium/large estate car (I know I'll only get the load space with the rear seats folded, but I can live with that compromise). I do about 12k miles per year, and I'm looking for something that will last 4 or 5 years ideally.
The most obvious choice has to be a mondeo estate 2.0 diesel (current shape), but I find that prospect a bit, err, dull frankly.
My first choice so far is for a 2.2d x type jag estate (frustratingly just over 160g/km), which looks like fantastic value for money, a bit more exec, but a bit less spacious than the mondeo. Secondly, a bit off the wall, the Nissan Navara double cab. I looked at the Hilux too, but ruled it out for a couple of reasons: they were a bit too expensive (more durable though I'm sure), higher load bed, rigid rear seats so less practical, interior not very car like. Shame as I much prefer the exterior styling of the hilux.
Other one I've investigated:
BMW 520d touring (E60) - just about scrapes into budget, but is the 2l underpowered in a car this size?
BMW 320d touring (E90) - strangely the 5 series seems better value at this price point.
Volvo v70 (not latest model, still too expensive)
Audi A6 avant (cheaper than I thought they'd be, but not sure I want the image of an Audi)
Subaru Legacy diesel (looks great, but still well out of my price range)
Vauxhall Insignia Estate (again, well above my price range, but not sure why they are?)
Mazda 6 estate (the more I read about it, the more I think the mondeo is a better choice)
Skoda Superb estate (still too new/expensive)
I'm looking for comments on the above or other suggestions please? Specifically, are there any other commercial vehicles that might fit my criteria (other than pickups, I've already narrowed them to the navara)?
The van is about 70% filled with my regular tools/spares, and I often find myself using the other 30% with job specific kit. I work for myself (one man band), so I use the van to get to everything from sales pitches to deliveries, so it needs to be smart and purposeful without being too flash. I live and work in Cornwall and Devon, so most journeys invlove winding b roads, a roads, and dual carriageways, but rarely motorways. I would consider bigger commercial vehicles with 2 rows of seats (vito, vw transporter etc), but I don't relish the 60mph d/c speed limit, or the extra width on the narrow lanes.
Main critera then:
Budget ~£6k (maybe stretch to 7.5 for something special)
Seats 4
plenty of load space (~1500 litres min)
manual transmission
less than 5 years old (ideally less than 4)
less than 100k on the clock (ideally less than 80k)
as refined and car like as possible
ideally co2 below 160g/km for tax reasons
which probably means a diesel
I am VAT registered, and will be able to recalaim the vat on the purchase (providing I buy a vat qualifying vehicle, which basicly means ex lease). My thoughts are that I'm probably looking at a medium/large estate car (I know I'll only get the load space with the rear seats folded, but I can live with that compromise). I do about 12k miles per year, and I'm looking for something that will last 4 or 5 years ideally.
The most obvious choice has to be a mondeo estate 2.0 diesel (current shape), but I find that prospect a bit, err, dull frankly.
My first choice so far is for a 2.2d x type jag estate (frustratingly just over 160g/km), which looks like fantastic value for money, a bit more exec, but a bit less spacious than the mondeo. Secondly, a bit off the wall, the Nissan Navara double cab. I looked at the Hilux too, but ruled it out for a couple of reasons: they were a bit too expensive (more durable though I'm sure), higher load bed, rigid rear seats so less practical, interior not very car like. Shame as I much prefer the exterior styling of the hilux.
Other one I've investigated:
BMW 520d touring (E60) - just about scrapes into budget, but is the 2l underpowered in a car this size?
BMW 320d touring (E90) - strangely the 5 series seems better value at this price point.
Volvo v70 (not latest model, still too expensive)
Audi A6 avant (cheaper than I thought they'd be, but not sure I want the image of an Audi)
Subaru Legacy diesel (looks great, but still well out of my price range)
Vauxhall Insignia Estate (again, well above my price range, but not sure why they are?)
Mazda 6 estate (the more I read about it, the more I think the mondeo is a better choice)
Skoda Superb estate (still too new/expensive)
I'm looking for comments on the above or other suggestions please? Specifically, are there any other commercial vehicles that might fit my criteria (other than pickups, I've already narrowed them to the navara)?
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