2 - 4k for a family car

[Benjijames28]

Currently own a BMW F10 520d m sport. Love the car but it has its down sides, mainly the paranoia that comes with a n47 engine and the 50 quid a month warranty im paying to cover it. I am also paying 140 a month on a loan to pay for this car, 56 months left. So over next 5 years it's going to cost me 11.5k to keep the car not including consumables and servicing.

I love the car, it's a lovely place to be and a pleasure to drive. But my priority have changed. I don't want debt and I don't want stupid warranty.

This means downgrading to a car for up to 4k.

I need something similar in size to a 5 series. I've got 2 children and a baby to cart around. I am trying to stay away from people carrier type cars.

Petrol is preferred but I could go for a diesel. Road tax under 300 a year is a must.

So far I've had the following ideas:

- BMW 5 series older shapes, probably petrol
- Ford Mondeo 2.5t would be perfect if unrealistic
- Volvo V70

I am open to all suggestions. Super high mileage cars will be avoided too.

[CubanPete]

Those cars would be my starting point choices too.

[CubanPete]

Or a mazda 6, lots or boot space and reasonable drive

[Benjijames28]

I forgot to mention a Mazda 6 has crossed my mind too. Seem to get lots of car for the money.

I also am very keen on lexus. There's certain years of gs300 with a lower tax bracket.

[iwantagta]

9-5 Aero estate.
Space.
Comfy.
Fast (in a straight line).
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
& depreciated like a fricking stone.

Breaks the £300 tax by £5 though....

[Benjijames28]

iwantagta said:

9-5 Aero estate.
Space.
Comfy.
Fast (in a straight line).
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
& depreciated like a fricking stone.

Breaks the £300 tax by £5 though....

I can live with a fiver a year. I just don't want to pay 500+ a year in extra tax

[ZX10R NIN]

The Mazda6/Mondeo or Insignia tick a lot of the boxes.

Mazda6 Sport 2.5

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

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

Lexus IS250 these are smaller so check to see if that works for you:

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

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

Mondeo 2.5T Titanium X

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

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-FORD-MONDEO-2-5T-P...

2.0T Insignia SRI

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

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

[guitarcarfanatic]

Honda Accord tourer? 2008 (?) facelift makes it look pretty decent.

[Benjijames28]

I do like honda.

As for Vauxhall, I think I would avoid, I dislike the brand and a relative recently had a terrible experience with his insignia, he had it from new for 6 years and it was nothing but problems.

I am more of a ford man, and been a petrol head the 2.5t is the standout model Mondeo.

There's a beautiful one near London, 3.5k ticks every box! I have no way down there until next Tuesday. It will be gone by then.

[ZX10R NIN]

Where abouts in London a fellow PH'er may be able to check it out for you.

[Willy Nilly]

Avensis

[Benjijames28]

ZX10R NIN said:

Where abouts in London a fellow PH'er may be able to check it out for you.

St Alban's, junction 9 M1. Not exactly London but it's still 150 mile each way from me.

[Benjijames28]

There's a Mondeo 2 litre diesel top of range with 80k on it not too far from me. Dealer wants 4k.

Not exactly a petrol head car, I would defo prefer a 2.5 petrol lol. I've got no way to get down to at Alban's until next week tho. At 3.5k the one I mentioned will.be gone by then.

[ALawson]

I have a 57 plate Accord EX Tourer Cdti (or whatever the diesel is), 2 owner car including me. I got it in 2012 at 65k and its now on 114k.

Apart from the odd thing its really been buttons to run, it has gone from being 1 1 year old to now having 1 7 year old and a 4 years, its driven around the country, alps etc. without issue.

Lots of toys, no reversing camera or sensors, no DAB but virtually electric everything and full leather.The diesel engine is ok, emissions not that low, average about 44mpg on a run.

You need to look out for clutches which are hideously expensive (£1k) which I may be due soon, ABS module can fail. Honda charge £3k to repair but a Bosch place can do it for £300 once removed from the car.

Suspension components will need doing, I recently paid £500 for front lower arms, and break calipers can stick, circa £100 for a reconditioned unit.

I paid £5.2k 5 years ago and reckon it worth £1500-1800 now. Anything new would have cost me that per year. Good thing about the previous generation accord diesels is no DPF.

I am almost talking myself out of selling it and replacing it.

[daniel-5zjw7]

Seeing as you like a 2.5 mondeo how about either of these? I guess older than you'd like but both going very cheap and look good cars.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-mk3-Zetec-S...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Ford-Mondeo-2-5-V6...

[TurboHatchback]

What's unrealistic about a Mondeo 2.5T? I've got one and it's great, £2-£4k is bang on the price range for them too.

[Benjijames28]

Well I'm.back at work now until Tues, so I'm gonna just wait and see if the 2.5t Mondeo down near London is still for sale by then. It's up at 3.5k and looks beautiful.

I know very little about the engine, but I think it's the perfect car for my needs. Petrol head points, space for family, and no debt!

I love my 5 series but I don't like payments. Cash is king.

[ZX10R NIN]

The engine is the same 5 cylinder turbo that you find in Volvo's it's reliable & powerful, you might read stories about the liners going but this mainly happened on cars running big boost.

As a sidebar you will read about these derating on hot days, this is down to the intercooler being too small the fix is to get a bigger intercooler.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIRTEC-Ford-Mondeo-Mk4-...

And you'll be doing this for added reliability

[RTaylor2208]

I'd echo the suggestion of a 9-5 Aero Wagon as well. I have had 2 over the last few years the first a 2002 auto bought back in 2013 for £1100 and sold 2 years later for £850. Only issue was a dead fuel pump at 127K miles. Everything else worked perfectly but I did buy a pretty mint 1 owner car with full dealer history and 98K on the clock. It was surprisingly OK of fuel as well averaging 30-35MPG.

My current 2008 (58 plate) 9-5 Aero Wagon is again an auto and unfortunately in the top tax bracket. Again 1 owner , full dealer history and purchased last December for £2200. The 2006 and onward face lift models are mechanically near identical to the previous model but with 10 more HP. However the interior is no where near as well put together. Its my only gripe with the current one. It started off quite nice 10 months ago but the wife, kids and dog have seen to that. The 20-25MPG is a bit tiresome, although its running very well it struggles to get any where near the consumption of the older car we had.

If I was to buy another I'd buy the best 2005 model I could find as it was the last face lift of the previous model, the potential engine sludging issues are not to be worried about and the auto is still in the cheaper tax brackets. They also tended to be high spec with the Leather, NAV (its pretty ste), HK Audio and electric everything.

[Benjijames28]

Bit of a left field suggestion here, but I've been looking into the ford focus c max. They have the following plus points:


- can be had for well under 2k
- basic petrol engines are reliable
- enough room for 3 kids on back seats
- boot is bigger than my F10 5 series
- replacement parts and maintenance very cheap
- based on the focus so should be a fairly good steer

Negatives:

- slow
- boring

I'm going to go view one locally Tuesday.

Anyone had any experience?