Best £3k car?

[danlightbulb]

What car thread sorry in advance.

I currently have a 2003 Honda accord estate 2.4 petrol. I find it hard work to drive. In city traffic it's slow because it needs revving hard to be fast. I don't really enjoy revving cars hard.

So id like something that is both naturally fast but also achieves that power/speed fairly effortlessly. Something with good low down torque for city driving.

I don't really need an estate any more due to family circumstances changing. Still need room for some family things, like kids in the back, the occasional luggage or chunky item. Nothing too small.

Budget is small. I don't want to spend more than £3k. Don't want insurance to skyrocket either. I'm 37 so shouldn't be too much of an issue but I currently pay £400/year so don't want to incur too much more cost here really.

Will be only car so needs to have winter comforts, good lights etc. Nothing too high maintenance and with basically sound underlying reliability.

Daily commute at the moment around 10 miles each way and I do motorway journeys a few times a month so needs to be relaxed/stable to drive under motorway conditions as well.

What is the fastest, smoothest, most relaxing to drive yet poweful car I can get for £3k?

Thanks.

[daniel-5zjw7]

Given how you like your performance I'd be inclined to suggest a diesel perhaps a BMW E46 320/330D saloon, but with the issues modern diesels can suffer in terms of DPF's etc and your price point perhaps they're best avoided..

Perhaps consider a Skoda Octavia VRS, available in a 2.0 turbo petrol or diesel and saloon and estates, any variant should deliver performance in the way you prefer and be a better steer than the Honda. 3k should get you a decent 2006/2007 model with around 100k.

[ZX10R NIN]

You changing again Dan, is the Honda an auto? It sounds like you need a turbo petrol or a 3.0 N/A engine.

GS300

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

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

E320

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

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

C320

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

325i

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

525i

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

530i

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

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

330i

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

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

My pick would be one of these:

2.5T Mondeo with 220bhp & 240lb/ft to play with you get the lowdown grunt you're looking for & still have a family friendly car, but they're aren't many about so finding one isn't as easy as other models.

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

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

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

There's also the Insignia but these are even rarer within your budget.

Audi A4 2.0T

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

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

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

3.2 A4 (basically the R32 engine)

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