New(er) car which is reliable to do 20k miles per year?

[Howarth89]

Hi,

New to the site here, so apologies if i'm asking questions that have already been covered.

I'm looking for a new(er) car in the next couple of months to get me primarily to and from work which results in 60miles a day. I'm currently driving an 06 plate Passat with 130k on the clock. Ideally i'd be taking a loan of around 10k out across 4-5 years but could do with a car big enough for 2 children in the back and 1 of them requiring a pram in the boot.

I've not really required the long boot space of the Passat but do like the comforts of it and the supposed reliability. To be fair, it's a been a good runner so far for 4-5 years i've had it.

I was considering going to a hatchback again or maybe sticking with the saloon type car but I don't really know which cars are known as the 'bullet proof' or reliable ones these days. I've heard various things about German cars over recent years becoming less reliable but in all fairness this has usually come from non German car drivers so I wasn't sure if to take this with a pinch of salt..

The cars i've considered so far, but welcome any other suggestions, are ..

Volkswagen Passat 12/13 plate 2.0TDI SE/Sport (140bhp)
Volkswagen Golf 12/13 plate 2.0TDI SE (140bhp)

Seat Leon FR 2.0 TDI, Manual (150bhp)

Ford Focus 2.0TDCI Titanium Manual (160bhp)
Ford Mondeo 2.0TDCI Titanium

Volvo V40 2.0 Diesel (R Design if affordable)



My main priorities are -

Low tax (Below £100 preferably)
140bhp minimum
Room for a pram in the boot
Diesel
Maximum of 11k for the car (In hope of getting 1-1.5k for my current car)
Something that will survive around 130k-140k miles without question.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Cheers,
Steve

[ZX10R NIN]

2012 Ford Mondeo 2.2d Titanium X Sport Auto 56k 200bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

41k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Titanium X 31k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2012 2.0d Titanium X Sport Manual 41k 160bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2011 Honda Accord 2.2d ES GT 20k 150bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2013 Mazda6 2.0d SE-L Nav 26/27k 150bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

I'd say the Mondeo's are really worth looking at as they come loaded with kit & are a good steer, or the Mazda6 presents real good VFM.

[Howarth89]

Nice one, thanks for the advice.

My only potential problem with the Mondeo was they look a nightmare to park due to the width of them.

Are there any known cars around 2012/2013 that hold a good reputation for reliability ?

I was leaning towards another Passat because it's the only real manufacturer (Volkswagen) that I've had for the last 7 years.

Cheers,
Steve

[ZX10R NIN]

Hi Steve all cars are pretty damn reliable these days the Mondeo really isn't any bigger than the Passat, for me kit & comfort come into it as well, I'd say take a test drive in the Mazda & Mondeo to see if they float your boat.

One leftfield option is the Insignia these represent VFM in terms of reg mileage & spec:

2015 Insignia Elite 39k 160bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2014 Insignia Elite 21k 160bhp

http://www.autotrahttp://www.autotrader.co.uk/clas...

2014 Auto 39k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Evanivitch]

Vauxhall Ampera.

Apart from the less-than-big boot space, it meets all your requirements. Check one out, you'll be surprised I promise.

[Glasgowrob]

spend a lot less than your budget on a nice mk4.5 Mondeo,


DO NOT under any circumstances stretch your budget and buy a mk5, they are utter dog turds in relation to the previous cars. certainly not built to last


what about a nice Superb? Elegance or L&K spec

something like this?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Edited by Glasgowrob on Sunday 2nd July 12:44

Edited by Glasgowrob on Sunday 2nd July 12:46

[silver1011]

Number one priority is reliability?

Toyota, Lexus, Honda, then Kia or Hyundai.

Whilst being as dull as dishwater the Toyota Avensis is as reliable as it gets for your budget, lets face it the VW Passat is hardly any more exciting...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Willy Nilly]

I've been in some mega mileage Avensisisisis's as minicabs and the wear the miles very well, much better than the VW's and Skodas, they seem to get very rattly, Peugeot's seem to shrug of the miles too from the passenger seat, they ride nice as well.

I normally speak to the drivers and the last one spoke very highly of his Toyota, it was petrol and he said it appeared to be cheaper to run than his colleagues diesel cars because the driving they were doing was causing a lot of issues which he just wasn't getting.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Toyota diesel has quite a few issues & it's one of the reasons Toyota now use BMW diesel engines now.

[Integroo]

The 1.6 Civic is meant to be a great wee motor, Honda reliability too. Only 118bhp though.