Estate, High Spec, Diesel, £7/8k max. Help me?

[Adz517]

Hi chaps. I need some advice/ideas from you fine people.

I'm looking to change my car. At the moment I have a BMW 325, lovely car but the running costs are too high for someone of my income (Sigh). I need to save money, and I have decided since I want to keep a roof over my head the car is the next best way to do this.

As per title. I'd like to stick to a manual, and I'd like a car capable of gobbling up miles since I plan to spend a lot more time on the road from now on. I'm also very found of leather interiors/ other high spec add ons. It also has to be resonably quick and look pretty smart.

The car top of my list at the moment is a Astra H 150 CDTI estate, but I'm open to other ideas.

Thanks loads in advance

Adam.

[ticmon]

Octavia VRS

[Blackpuddin]

320d Touring, no brainer

[bobbo89]

Saab 9-3 maybe? Or even a 159 if your into your cushty interiors.

[POORCARDEALER]

C220/320 cdi

[JREwing]

The Astra and Skoda sound good. I can't see the other suggestions saving OP any money.....

[Krikkit]

If you really want to free up some money go way, way down the budget ladder and do some shedding. You can pick up a very comfy diesel smoker for a couple of bags these days, save yourself another £5k.

[Six Fiend]

Left field choice would be a Jag X-type (plenty out there to choose from), I find my saloon extremely comfy and a very relaxing place to be (mine is sand leather and walnut though so a bit old man )

Heated leather etc and a more modern colour scheme:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-X-type-Estate-2-0...

[mattnunn]

Volvo V70, for the love of god how many more times must this be said?

[mattnunn]

Volvo V70, for the love of god how many more times must this be said?

[Six Fiend]

At least twice apparently

[delmatt]

mattnunn said:

Volvo V70, for the love of god how many more times must this be said?

And again from me!

[Deerfoot]

Your budget will get you a 2.2 i-cdti Accord Tourer EX with heated leather, sunroof, nav, electric tailgate etc.

There are a few on the trader, around 2007 with 50-60,000 miles on them.

[the_lone_wolf]

delmatt said:

mattnunn said:

Volvo V70, for the love of god how many more times must this be said?

And again from me!

And another V70 vote here, especially as a distance driver. Maybe not the most dynamic or the fastest, but definitely one of the nicest places to be if you have to cover miles. Plus, you'll get a lot more Volvo for your money than most brands, my boss and I purchased new estates at the same time a few years back:

2007 BMW 325d Touring, 76k miles = £18,000
2006 Volvo V70 D5 SE, 81k miles = £7,500

Similar condition, similar toys, 18" vs 17" wheels on the Volvo but that's about it...

[wemorgan]

Astra/Focus are both decent VFM options. Don't be tempted by older 'Premium' cars in budget. Generally premium cars remain premium to maintain.

[SuperHangOn]

I bought a perfectly decent '05 Mondeo tdci for £1500 (95k, 2 owners).

[ALawson]

Deerfoot said:

Your budget will get you a 2.2 i-cdti Accord Tourer EX with heated leather, sunroof, nav, electric tailgate etc.

There are a few on the trader, around 2007 with 50-60,000 miles on them.

I did exactly this, 56 plate 73k miles for £5.2k.

1 owner and FHSH. Does about 45 mpg on a run, as above electric and heated everything.

[wemorgan]

The 2.2-cdti is a very good engine. I have the same in my Civic.
The only real weak area I know of is the exhaust manifold, which can crack. But I hear Honda are very generous with replacing this, even outside of warranty.

[Evo]

Another vote for a d5 v70, ultra reliable, better built than most others and so comfortable.

[big_boz]

Evo said:

Another vote for a d5 v70, ultra reliable, better built than most others and so comfortable.

Apart from the shonky electrics, snapping springs and ECU issues.

A4/Passat 1.9 TDi (pre 2004) for £3k pocket the rest of the cash, Run the car on Bio Diesel if poss and save yourself 40p a litre on fuel to boot.