7.5k budget, auto, large boot, comfort & reliable?

[redchris]

Need a family wagon for kids and potential mid sized dog. Had a CRV until a horse spooked and bolted from a bridle way and appeared suddenly in front of us whilst travelling at 40mph. Horse miraculously survived but the car didn’t.

Looking to get mortgage soon so don’t want to invest any more than 7.5k at this time. I drive an S3 and car is for the missus who was shaken following the accident and feels safer in an SUV with higher driving position while I’m more inclined to go for an estate for better driving experience.

Want an auto box and looking for some refinement/comfort for longer motorway journeys. Reliability is an obvious requirement whilst appreciating that the age and mileage we’re looking at will always be something of a gamble.

CRV was a sluggish to say the least so looking for something different. C220 Mercs look like they tick the boxes but a mate who’s far more knowledgeable than I when it comes to cars says we could be looking at a money sink given suspect electrics.

Welcome all suggestions. Thanks.

[ZX10R NIN]

At your price point it's hard to beat one of these they're swift reliable & well (360 cameras/adaptive cruise/lane assist/heated/air cooled seats etc) equipped but they're hard to find.

Infiniti EX 3.0d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

When it comes to age/reliability/mileage/spec the above are hard to to beat.

Kuga Titanium X a good mid size SUV but as good as it is I'd be taking the Infiniti for the Interior alone let alone the bigger punchier engine.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

ML420cdi for no other reason than it's a V8 diesel

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

Estate wise it'd be:

C350cdi Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010074...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

330d M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

335d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009173...

[redchris]

ZX10R NIN said:

At your price point it's hard to beat one of these they're swift reliable & well (360 cameras/adaptive cruise/lane assist/heated/air cooled seats etc) equipped but they're hard to find.

Infiniti EX 3.0d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010124...

When it comes to age/reliability/mileage/spec the above are hard to to beat.

Kuga Titanium X a good mid size SUV but as good as it is I'd be taking the Infiniti for the Interior alone let alone the bigger punchier engine.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

ML420cdi for no other reason than it's a V8 diesel

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

Estate wise it'd be:

C350cdi Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010074...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

330d M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

335d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009173...

Some great suggestions that I’d not thought of, thank you.

The Infiniti looks like an awful lot of vehicle for the money (as do the Merv and BMWs) but I worry about running costs and whether the boot will be large enough for a dog. Will definitely give them a closer look though as otherwise they look perfect.

[ZX10R NIN]

Running costs will be cheaper than the German alternatives the boot space is around the size of a Q5/X3 but obviously check to see if it works for you.

Or something in between everything listed above is the Mondeo Titanium X Sport 200 it's the best fwd steer they're well equipped reliable & swift.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

2.0T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

Or there's the 508 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010034...

[redchris]

ZX10R NIN said:

Running costs will be cheaper than the German alternatives the boot space is around the size of a Q5/X3 but obviously check to see if it works for you.

Or something in between everything listed above is the Mondeo Titanium X Sport 200 it's the best fwd steer they're well equipped reliable & swift.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

2.0T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

Or there's the 508 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010034...

Cheers. Ford’s too plasticky for me and I worry about reliability having once owned a Focus ST which let me down on a few occasions.

The Pug looks decent but again I worry about reliability. Not sure whether that’s justified or not though

[redchris]

It’s pushing the budget but this Outlander looks tidy with a good history.


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Anyone got any experience of these?

[Nickp82]

The Outlanders are quite nice, petrol auto is obviously thirsty though.
The MMC media system is clunky and dim-witted and the seats feel cheap but otherwise they drive well enough, have nice spec and great boot space with seats down.
I used to work in a Mitsubishi dealer and they didn’t throw up many issues although they were of course a newer car then.

[redchris]

Thanks Nick. It’s local to us so will go take a closer look.

[samoht]

I've been looking at the Lexus RX400h recently, 2005-08 vintage. Good thing is they sold tonnes, so shouldn't be too hard to find one. Lexus reliability, decent turn of speed with the V6 + electric motors, auto, fairly economical, should be fairly comfortable I guess.

I think if the main driver wants an SUV, I'd be inclined to get an SUV, despite the clear dynamic superiority of estates.

[Jeenyus161]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010145...


Seriously - they are so very capable

[ARHarh]

samoht said:

I've been looking at the Lexus RX400h recently, 2005-08 vintage. Good thing is they sold tonnes, so shouldn't be too hard to find one. Lexus reliability, decent turn of speed with the V6 + electric motors, auto, fairly economical, should be fairly comfortable I guess.

I think if the main driver wants an SUV, I'd be inclined to get an SUV, despite the clear dynamic superiority of estates.

had an RX400h for 4 years, 2006 model bought at 85k miles now on 135k miles. Been perfect for an old car. Apart from consumables, it has had 2 ball joints and a replacement rear camera and repairs to the light leveling sensor. The camera was replaced with a Chinese £6 job, and works better than the original. The leveller thing was just welded back together. The gearbox is a bit different and takes some getting used to. So cost me nothing to run.

[redchris]

Jeenyus161 said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010145...


Seriously - they are so very capable

Thanks and yes, been looking.

Sadly now for unforeseen reasons the budget is looking more like 6.5 than 7.5-8

[Jeenyus161]

No bother, good luck with your hunt!

[redchris]

Jeenyus161 said:

No bother, good luck with your hunt!

Thanks!

[ZX10R NIN]

redchris said:

Cheers. Ford’s too plasticky for me and I worry about reliability having once owned a Focus ST which let me down on a few occasions.

The Pug looks decent but again I worry about reliability. Not sure whether that’s justified or not though

Reliability is good on both (they share the same engines)

[kieranblenk]

A boring option but what about a Vauxhall Insignia?

[redchris]

kieranblenk said:

A boring option but what about a Vauxhall Insignia?

How’s the quality and reliability of Vauxhall nowadays?
Had a Chevette in about 1988 :-)
Not sure I could get over my middle aged badge snobbery.

[AceKid]

At 6.5k, I would go for the Lexus RX400h as previously mentioned, in actual fact I had a budget of 6k and I have just done exactly that...a 57 plate RX se-l, 120k, 1 owner and full Lexus history.
For the money, nothing else came close for comfort, reliability and gadgets!

[redchris]

AceKid said:

At 6.5k, I would go for the Lexus RX400h as previously mentioned, in actual fact I had a budget of 6k and I have just done exactly that...a 57 plate RX se-l, 120k, 1 owner and full Lexus history.
For the money, nothing else came close for comfort, reliability and gadgets!

RX400h looks lovely but are they not all hybrids? Are batteries a concern on a car of this age and a fortune to replace?

[AceKid]

The 400h is indeed hybrid, battery issues are relatively unheard of. If you get one with Lexus history, they do a free hybrid battery check as part of the service, that check then warranties the battery for another 12mnths.
Even if there was an issue, you can replace just failed cells on the battery pack instead of the whole thing.