Hey look, it's another what car!

[Derp]

Edited by Derp on Thursday 4th October 16:05

[HeatonNorris]

Alfa 159 2.4 JTD?

They must be getting cheap enough by now.

[danjama]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Audi-A4-Avant-SE-TD...

or similar...

[Caulkhead]

How many miles do you do?

[bakerstreet]

Derp said:

Im fed up of my ST220. I can tolerate the 25mpg (we'll come to this later) but from a reliability point of view, at just 75,000 miles, there's the odd few things going wrong and im falling out of love with it.

I've adored the 3-series all my life. I had a 318i touring SE about 2 years ago, and only sold it because it was too slow.

So, what car? I was going to go and buy a 2007+ 330d touring earlier this year, but am now trying to sell my house, which means my budget has reduced from £16,000 down to £5,000-ish (including the £2000 i assume i would get as a part ex for the Mondeo).

Im considering an E46 330d (or maybe 320d if i find a good example). In terms of MPG, i know the 330d wont be perfect, but it will be better than the ST220, and better than a 330i. I've kind of got my heart set on another diesel, so its probably not worth trying to convince me to get a 330i instead of a 3xxd.

I love gadgets in a car, i've seen a 330d with swirl flaps removed, full service history, nav, xenons, tracker and new gearbox oil for £5500. Downside is it's done 132,000 miles (2003 model).

Any decent alternatives i'm overlooking? I'll only accept something with 4 doors and 4 seats+, reasonable pace, and nothing older than 2003/2004. Saloon or estate considered. Not a fan of hatches (golf, focus etc).

I've seen a 1.9 Vectra Estate with 70k on, for about £4800 on a 2007 plate. I know it won't be half as fun as a 3-series, but it might make a little more sense.

I suppose im really looking for people to convince me to throw my cash at a 330d which has more miles than the USS Enterprise, but still, any ideas or suggestions considered

I have driven a 330D with 228k on the clock. I couldn't tell the difference between that one and the one that I drove that had 139k on the clock.

However if you can get over the 100k plus on the clock, try upping your budget and going for the 320D which can go to 180bhp with a remap and that is the same as an early 330D and 20bhp of a later car.

If your looking at Vectras, then have a look at the Saab 93. I maybe a bit biased, but they are great value for money

[Derp]

Caulkhead said:

How many miles do you do?

Anywhere between 12 and 15k per year. I know this isnt instant justification for diesel terriroty, but surely 15k at 34mpg is better than 15k at 23mpg?

[HaylingJag]

Derp said:

Anywhere between 12 and 15k per year. I know this isnt instant justification for diesel terriroty, but surely 15k at 34mpg is better than 15k at 23mpg?

Nah

[djt100]

HaylingJag said:

Derp said:

Anywhere between 12 and 15k per year. I know this isnt instant justification for diesel terriroty, but surely 15k at 34mpg is better than 15k at 23mpg?

Nah

One repair away from losing any money saved

[Derp]

djt100 said:

One repair away from losing any money saved

[66comanche]

Was in a similar situation, shortlist of estates was something like
Mondeo Mk4
Saab 9-3
Toyota Avensis
Jaguar X-type
Vauxhall Vectra

Curveballs
Impreza WRX STI 5dr
Subaru Legacy 3.0R
Vauxhall Vectra VXR
Mondeo Mk4 2.5T

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Head ruled over heart for once, ended up with a Mondeo Titanium X.

[clunkbox]

Quick maths tells me the difference between 25mpg and 34mpg at 15k year is £4k in petrol or £2.8k in diesel. So £1200 a year. But taking into account purchase cost and fun factor, is it worth it? It's worth bearing mind deprecation and how long you will keep they car, deprecation can be neither here nor there, but if you are planning on keeping the car for 50k+ miles it'll start favoring the diesel, it'll be a £4000 saving in fuel.

[80quattro]

I have a late E46 320d 150 with 162k on it, and it runs tighter than a nuns chuff. Flaps are still entact as well.. If you look at 330d's, make sure you get a later 6 speed facelift car. They have a touch more powah than earlier cars.

[Derp]

80quattro said:

tighter than a nuns chuff. Flaps are still entact as well.

I laughed. Hard.

[HeatonNorris]

Derp said:

80quattro said:

tighter than a nuns chuff. Flaps are still entact as well.

I laughed. Hard.

Me too. Everyone knows it's 'intact'...

[Derp]

Back on topic, would anyone touch a 2.4d V70?

Im starting to go round in circles now, and have looked at beamers, vectras, v70's, a'4s, and everything else under the sun.

[MikeGTi]

Derp said:

Back on topic, would anyone touch a 2.4d V70?

Im starting to go round in circles now, and have looked at beamers, vectras, v70's, a'4s, and everything else under the sun.

I'd check the windows worked first. But I quite like V70s.

[Derp]

MikeGTi said:

I'd check the windows worked first. But I quite like V70s.