Cheap, Auto, Not too dull

[Scottland]

Hello,

My M140i is getting used less and less these days, my wife's XC60 seems to get used more on days out/trips etc. And I don't get too much time to go out on my own for a blast (plus I've got a cheap mx5 for that...).

I'm thinking of getting rid of the BMW and replacing it with something not too dull, but still has to be practical enough to cart 2 dogs around.

Budget is max of £5k, but would prefer to keep it about 3-4k.

Wish list:
Petrol
Auto
Hatch or Estate - big enough for 2 large ish dogs.
Around 170+ BHP
AWD a bonus but not essential


I'm quite happy to work on the car myself, but still needs to be pretty reliable. Currently eyeing up Subaru Legacy's to give you an idea of where my head is at.


Any suggestions?

[irocfan]

Skoda of some flavour or a DS3?

[SlowV6]

RX400H? Bit different. Mark Levinson stereo the only must have.

[ZX10R NIN]

C230

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

2.0T Mondeo

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

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

Insignia Elite

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

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

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

SE

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

Saab 9-3

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

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

Laguna Dynamique S

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

Subaru Legacy

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

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

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

Honda Odyssey

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

325i

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

2.5T V70

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

Saab 9-5

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

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

[Scottland]

Thanks for the suggestions, will have a route through them

[Oilchange]

‘03 plate Vauxhall Omega Elite, 2.6 or 3.2
Mega comfy and reliable.
Come in estate or saloon versions, only trouble is finding one...

[underphil]

Honda Accord Tourer 2.4 VTEC

Jaguar X-Type Estate 2.5 / 3.0

Mazda 6 Hatch/Estate 2.0

[designforlife]

Toyota caldina GT-FOUR... pretty sure they come in automatic form... might be a bit too pokey at 260bhp though.

[Scottland]

designforlife said:

Toyota caldina GT-FOUR... pretty sure they come in automatic form... might be a bit too pokey at 260bhp though.

No such thing as too much poke Just realised I should have said around 170bhp minimum

These look quite interesting, not sure it beats the Legacy's as a package though (taking into account availability, price etc). The only other thing that's piqued my interest at the moment is a Mondeo 2.5 Titanium or maybe the accords.

[designforlife]

Less bork factor with the Caldina over the legacy, i would say...although...

What about a Forester?

Owning an early 2000s toyota myself I'm pretty sold on their build quality from the era, and the reliability is there to boot.. actually been looking at Caldinas tonight myself after posting earlier... lot of car and bhp for the money!!