Another what car thread!

[mindthegap]

As the title says, I'm after a bit of advice on next car!
I have had one of the Audi A4 1.4 TFSI lease deals for the past 18 months and trying to work out what to do next.
The car has been fine and is very comfortable and actually goes pretty well providing you make sure you are in the right gear!
It is however a bit dull so thinking about next car already.

I do 10 - 15K per year so would consider diesel or petrol if I lease again but leaning towards petrol or hybrid if I buy.
The Audi was a 9 + 23 @ £144 so pretty cheap but still £5000 for 2 years motoring so I either wait for or find another bargain lease or get a loan and buy something. Budget would be up to around £15K

Have been considering the following as things to buy:
Lexus IS300H - Can get a decent looking one for £12 - £15K but I am 6ft4 and have 2 kids so not sure there would be much room behind my seat?
Skoda Octavia VRS Petrol - Prefer the estate and would be useful with the family but very few petrol ones around..
Something else like Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 diesel - Nice looking motor but diesel and maybe expensive to run?

Any suggestions or advice much appreciated!

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're buying then & want a Hybrid go a bit leftfield & there are some good options:

Infiniti M

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Ford Mondeo Titanium (the boot's huge on these I'd be surprised if you needed an estate)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[davidkellighan]

I've recently moved from a '12 plate VW Golf to a '60 plate Jag XF 3.0d (240bhp). The jag had 84k when I bought it and I've put another 7k on in the last 6 months. Gave it a major service at a local specialist for around £280 I think, got 2 new tyres from black circles for £70 per corner fitted (yokohama). It has averaged 35mpg since I got it but on a motorway run sitting at 70mph I average between 45 and 50mpg which does me fine.

The car itself is wonderful - refined, spacious and comfortable on normal driving but with a peach of an engine when you drop it into sport and dynamic mode. All electrics work fine, you get the odd night light coming on from time to time but I'm kinda used to just switching it off (it's operated by touch).

I'll run this until it does or starts costing me too much. Insurance is about £500 per year for me (32, no points, 3 years ncb).

Hope this helps!

[mindthegap]

Thanks both for the replies!
I didn't know a hybrid Mondeo existed so will have a look into them and the Infiniti.
Jag sounds very nice. It feels like it would be more of a special car to own if I go down the diesel route.
Still quite tempted by an Octavia VRS as well as should get around 35MPG out of it but not so keen on the hatchback version but sure a decent estate would come up at some point if I kept my eyes open.

Any other ideas / opinions much appreciated!

[ZX10R NIN]

Also look out for the Mondeo 2.0T in estate form it's 240bhp but hard to find, in diesel form the 180bhp Titanium with the X Pack are a good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Jaguar wise you can get some really good deals on the next size up XJ it uses the same running gear so will cost no more to run but you get a nicer more spacious car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[davidkellighan]

Those XJ's look amazing - I think that's the direction I'll be going after my XF!