Another urgent what car - need a car by 1/11/12

[texasjohn]

Criteria:

- Comfy on the motorway
- Sub 100k miles
- 35-40MPG at a constant 70MPH but ideally petrol
- 4 doors ideally, 2 doors and 4 seats would work
- 2002 onwards (ISOFIX)
- Up to £4k (ideally, can stretch a bit further if necessary)
- Nice stereo as standard a bonus (one less thing to sort)
- Manual gearbox ideally, but would consider an auto - comparing an auto and a manual of the same type of car, provenance is far more important than a leggy manual.
- Within 100 miles of DE12

Best I have found so far:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-VOLVO-S60-T-SE-AUTO...

Edited by texasjohn on Sunday 21st October 07:57

Edited by texasjohn on Sunday 21st October 08:19

[JonnyO]

I have a Honda Civic Type S I'm considering selling in LE11. 2005, 5 door, 40mpg on a 70mph run, 88,000 miles, being MOT'd on Monday, full service history. Stereo is only ok though but easily changed and takes double din if wanted. Would be after £2750 for it.

[pbarlow0032]

Audi a4 cabriolet 1.8t manual. Surprisingly practical, surprisingly economical at 70mph, added bonus of roof down in summer!

However, if you want the comfiest seats I've ever tried, you need a saab (I would think you'd pick up a bargain somewhere now)

[Dave Hedgehog]

lol i thought you meant under 100 grand

[texasjohn]

Dave Hedgehog said:

lol i thought you meant under 100 grand

Ahh!

Let me edit that!

[eltax91]

E46 320/25/30 surely?

I chose this as its comparable to a turbo Volvo on mpg. Not a chance you will see a regular 35+ from the s60!!

[texasjohn]

eltax91 said:

E46 320/25/30 surely?

I chose this as its comparable to a turbo Volvo on mpg. Not a chance you will see a regular 35+ from the s60!!

I didn't want to bias the thread but I am a bit of a BMW fan as it happens and, from experience, know a 130i will hit 40mpg on a run (if you keep it at 70 or just below). Appreciate the N52 is a newer engine of course:

[RoadToNowhere]

For comfy seats you need a Volvo or a Saab.

I have a 2004 V50. Very comfy. It's not ISOFIX, but I've found that largely irrelevant for child transportation.

Edited by RoadToNowhere on Monday 5th August 20:40

[GreigM]

RoadToNowhere said:

It's not ISOFIX,

V40/V50 are easy to retrofit isofix bars to - part is cheap here:
http://www.volvopartshop.com/rear-seat-isofix-moun...
and about 5 mins to fit

[RoadToNowhere]

GreigM said:

V40/V50 are easy to retrofit isofix bars to - part is cheap here:
http://www.volvopartshop.com/rear-seat-isofix-moun...
and about 5 mins to fit

Proving yet again that every day is a school day. Thanks!

[texasjohn]

I thought ISOFIX was mandatory 2002 on...

Everyday a school day!

[philmots]

Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T

That will hit your every point on your list.

I had the 2.8, great car apart from a creaky dashboard. Extremely comfortable.

[philmots]

philmots said:

Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T

That will hit your every point on your list.

I had the 2.8, great car apart from a creaky dashboard. Extremely comfortable.

Sorry, the stereos are crap as standard in the 2.0T... Look for one with at least the small screen then you can add better speakers with good results as there's an amp built in.

One with no screen is just 4 speakers powered from HU.. On early cars it's not easy to upgrade.. Although you'd get a later car 56/07 with the newer dash in budget which uses more common parts.

[GreigM]

texasjohn said:

I thought ISOFIX was mandatory 2002 on...

Everyday a school day!

I think even today its not mandatory - but has to be available as an option.

[texasjohn]

Ok, ignoring the fact that some of my criteria isnt met here but which is going to be most reliable (or cost least if bork appears) and easiest to resell in a few months please?


MB C180 auto - 1998 - one owner garaged from new 57k £1795

Mazda6 2.3 - 2003 - one owner 77k £1495

MG ZS180 - 2002 - one owner 67k new clutch and cambelt £1250

Mondeo 2.5 V6 2002 - 76k £1300

All have FSH

I presume the Japanese one is the safest bet?
Yours, soon-to-be-made-redundant of Derbyshire!

Edited by texasjohn on Thursday 25th October 08:47

[s3fella]

How about a 2 litre petrol mondeo, Ghia x or titanium model.

Should get a nice one for 4k, or even nearer 3.

[texasjohn]

s3fella said:

How about a 2 litre petrol mondeo, Ghia x or titanium model.

Should get a nice one for 4k, or even nearer 3.

Certainly near the top of my list of potential cars, I am not discounting the 4 cyl petrols at all!

[texasjohn]

The Crack Fox said:

Good luck job-hunting

Thanks, much appreciated.

[kiethton]

The toyota avensis is rather frugal and there should be plenty around in budget, especially petrol...]

Dull as dishwater though

[texasjohn]

I'd pick a Honda Accord over an Avensis - still dull but I have a bit of history with Hondas (in fact having owned a 98k mile 1990 Accord 2.0i auto in 2001 for a few months and it never missed a beat).

H880XUA IIRC, probably scrapped now.