impossible brief - which car to buy

[ejenner]

Replacing a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate because it's £555 per year to tax and does about 15 MPG (despite claims you'll see in print). It's a very good example of the type, but tax on fuel and road tax mean it's pointlessly expensive to run. It was ok when I bought the car living in the city as the distances were short so the fuel wasn't a problem.

So my impossible spec... I like to own my cars rather than paying monthly payments. So the budget is what I can get for the Saab plus some new cash to top it up. Say around £6000

This is the rest:

Full size Estate (not an Audi A4 or Ford Focus size... they're too small)
Automatic
Comfortable
Stylish
0-60 around 8 seconds or less
30+ real world MPG
No 'people-carrier' type vehicles
I don't like the interior on Volvos!
High mileages make me nervous (especially with the possibility of dodgy automatics)
£250 annual tax - in the region of... the less the better

I won't say what I'm most favouring currently as I don't want to skew the results.

[joropug]

Facelift 530d touring (57 onwards) - 45mpg on a run, 35 average. 270bhp if you remap them, ZF6 gearbox is very reliable.

[denzilpc]

INSIGNIA TOURER

[ejenner]

I just had this terrible feeling some smart-alec on here would've come back and said Saab 9-5 TiD… but I just checked and they're really slow so it would've been an invalid suggestion...

[ejenner]

denzilpc said:

INSIGNIA TOURER

Not a bad suggestion, I'm a bit put off by the spangley interior and the only thing coming up on Autotrader for the above selections is the 2.0 CTDi which is a slow car.

They appear to have a massive boot though!

[Palmers]

Mondeo estate 2.2 tit x sport?

Make good dailys the dingos do.

[lawyered07]

Does this pretty much leave 5 series touring, a6 avant or e class estate?

Or maybe a Subaru legacy. Wouldn't say no to this....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

[ejenner]

For 20 seconds this seemed good... then I realised it doesn't meet the tax or fuel requirements… it's what happens if you go for a faster insignia https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[lawyered07]

Octavia vrs

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

[Macron]

Superb in Elegance or L&K trim. Job jobbed.

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

[Mr E]

We replaced a 9-5 estate with an E-class estate.

Although 15 mph out of the saab is good going.

[ejenner]

lawyered07 said:

Does this pretty much leave 5 series touring, a6 avant or e class estate?

Or maybe a Subaru legacy. Wouldn't say no to this....
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Think the only potential pitfalls with that are fuel consumption... one of the main problems living in the country. And potentially looks a little lacking in comfort... I've not been in a comfortable car with 18-inch wheels before. Really good suggestion... but I reckon with that power on tap it will drink almost as much as the Saab as the output is identical although the Saab is particularly inefficient so it would probably outdo the Subaru.

[ejenner]

lawyered07 said:

Octavia vrs

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Sorry... old enough to remember the jokes... still can't do it.

Anybody got a wiper blade for a skoda… seems like a good swap.

+ the interiors on Skodas are deliberately cheap... not a fan.

[ejenner]

Mr E said:

We replaced a 9-5 estate with an E-class estate.

Although 15 mph out of the saab is good going.

I replaced my E-class estate with a 9-5 estate... lol.

The E350 petrol was more economical than the Saab.... but still £500+ to tax and the seat was giving me thigh ache on long journeys.

[unsprung]

Meeting the OP's brief -- which is very interesting -- whilst simultaneously having a bit of zest about it: I would look for a Mondeo or Passat. Estate, as per the brief.

[Pica-Pica]

ejenner said:

lawyered07 said:

Octavia vrs

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Sorry... old enough to remember the jokes... still can't do it.

Anybody got a wiper blade for a skoda… seems like a good swap.

+ the interiors on Skodas are deliberately cheap... not a fan.

[ejenner]

Macron said:

Superb in Elegance or L&K trim. Job jobbed.

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

Small boot... and a SKODA

[ejenner]

unsprung said:

Meeting the OP's brief -- which is very interesting -- whilst simultaneously having a bit of zest about it: I would look for a Mondeo or Passat. Estate, as per the brief.

Any examples?

This Mondeo is pretty close... but a bit slow... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ejenner]

Mondeo seems to be in the same boat as the Insigna

i.e. can't get a fast one which is automatic. Biggest engine automatic Mondeo seems to be 2.3 petrol. You can get a 2.5 v6 as well... but it's no faster.

[unsprung]

ejenner said:

Any examples?

This Mondeo is pretty close... but a bit slow... https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

When you click on the following short-URL are you able to click through to the 18 results?

https://is.gd/EXKQis

There's at least one Ecoboost Titanium on that list. Meets your criteria apart from being a manual (which I rather like, but I certainly understand your preference).