Best diesel for £3k thats looks like it cost more!!!

[strath44]

Okay some pretty similar posts to this been had in the past but.......

I have had a string of new cars for a while inc a 318d touring, a current new Passat etc

In an attempt to save money for a house I want to ditch monthly payments and buy a car for a few year rather than finance. My budget is £2500 to £3000.

It has to be diesel as I do pretty big mileages and manual. I am handy with a spanner!

I have been looking a Saab 9-3s 1.9 07 onward also Volvo V40 as both have pretty good fuel economy. Maybe an Audi A3 but its a little small.

Any other suggestions?

[mwstewart]

Well at least you're honest! Why not just get something that is actually good, and forget the image? A n older Passat would be a good buy, and they are usually reliable.

[Rawwr]

Must be some ropey Phaetons about for that now?

[strath44]

haha yes well it was a bit tongue in cheek!

I thought about an older Passat but they seem to have quite a few problems and that they aren't as good as the golfs reliability wise, is that true?

Its not really so much about image, more cars that are good value / a bit of a bargain.

[vanordinaire]

Civic

[triggerh4ppy]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
e46 320d sport?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
audi a4 (with a little budget stretch and haggling)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
alfa? (get your spanners ready)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
S-type for the waftiness (looks may not be your taste but looks worth a lot more than 3k)

[SHutchinson]

triggerh4ppy said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
e46 320d sport?

That's what I'd pick too. I just traded a 2004 320cd M Sport in and got £3.5k for it. I didn't think it was worth it so snapped their hand off. If you keep them clean and shiny they look really smart.

[strath44]

That Audi is pretty nice, miles are getting pretty heafty, as I'd be adding on a fair bit.

A 320cd m for 3.5 seems like good money as a trade in, would quite like that!

I almost got an Alfa, the interiors look great, but.......

[triggerh4ppy]

SHutchinson said:

That's what I'd pick too. I just traded a 2004 320cd M Sport in and got £3.5k for it. I didn't think it was worth it so snapped their hand off. If you keep them clean and shiny they look really smart.

You may even find a 318d sport a little cheaper. Not as quick, but its not like the 320d is a performace car anyway and you can have a couple more mpg (waiting for lynchmob to chase me away from pistonheads)

[Esseesse]

The Audi looks ok, but the interior is drab.

[Esseesse]

£2k for a 2002 530d Sport!



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-BMW-530D-SE-SILVER-...

[JayBM]

How about a 2005 VW Bora 130 Highline? They can be had for that type on money with reasonable miles and the highline gives you a relatively decent spec.

[david_h]

I wouldn't touch the old e46 320d they have a habit of blowing turbos which is costly, stick with a 330d instead.

[Matt UK]

I had a 2004 B5.5 Passat with the 130bhp PD TDi motor. It was very reliable, up to and beyond 160k when I sold it.

In a year I put 25k miles on it and gave it one DIY oil service - it asked for nothing more.

[benedwards64]

This has got E39 5-series written all over it. I've put 30k on mine in 18 months or so, all long motorway journeys and it has been flawless. It's a very elegant looking car as well, no-one's going to think badly of you for turning up in one!

[Sinatra21]

Alfa GT. Very good looking car and the engine is as reliable as any other current diesel engine. Might have more other niggles but a nice coupe that can actually fit 4 adults in.

[strath44]

that 530d is nice,

I didn't buy a Bora 4 years ago for £1700 I looked at for the better half, I'm not going to buy one now............. ;-)

[ajb85]

Given your needs/fairly large commute, I wouldn't go for the 530d. 38-40mpg on the motorway yes, but 23-25 round town until the thing has warmed up. What was the reason you didn't go for the Bora? I was going to recommend an old PD engined VW/Audi TDI type, considering you'll be looking at a 10 y.o + diesel, you really can't go wrong with these old buses!

[Fox-]

strath44 said:

that 530d is nice,

It's got dog written all over it IMHO, no service history after 2010 by the look of it, seems to come up as a 530d SE when it looks like a Sport and even has black headlining so unlikely a Sport/SE conversion, plus 2k is somewhat cheap for a non battered 530d Sport, people are still happy to pay way over the top for the diesels.

[johnny fotze]

D5 if you want a comfortable cruiser for the motorway. If you're doing big miles your arse will thank you for it, and it's a very relaxing drive. Superior in every other way is the e46. Go for the 330d, a bim should have 6 cylinders like a woman should have two tits; any less is wrong.