Large/ish petrol commuter

[Norton850]

New to the forum and it's time for a newish daily as my aging Alfa 156v6 has seen better days.
Mid 20s mpg and crashy ride (another suspension refresh looming) has me looking at its replacement and a Vauxhall insignia 1.5t auto seems to fit the bill.

Maxda6 ,Ford Mondeo 1.5 also look good..


I have a budget of £20k and want a auto petrol that will do the 12,000 miles per year A and B road commute for the next 3 years and newer the better would be nice.I have some toys to keep me entertained at weekends so something staid/boring is ok.

Any other ideas would be appreciated but no suv's please...thanks

[fflump]

As it's A and B roads rather than motorway a bit of adept handling could be in order. For all 156's fault it was pretty light and nimble, anything too big and stodgy may make B roads tiresome.

I presume as an Alfista you've considered the Giulia, but that would be my choice. The 280 bhp version would require a 2017/18 model, the 200 bhp version would get you a 2019 MY in budget.

[Norton850]

Thanks for the reply,

I discounted the Giulia due to them having a timing belt (tired of this issue on my 156) but a quick search says the Giulia has a chain, or does it? as some say it has a belt.....confused

Good pick though and 2.0 would be more than adequate..

[ZX10R NIN]

I'll go with the alternates first:

Mazda6 GT Sport Nav+

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010235...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010315...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...

508 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102118...

Infiniti Q50 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101158...

Giulia Veloce

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103110...

Super

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102038...

IS300 F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102038...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

Mondeo Vignale H

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102169...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103120...

[Norton850]

CheesecakeRunner said:

380bhp v6 Jag do?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

Mine averaged 25mpg over three years.

Funny you mentioned that as I was just looking at XE 2.0's as id like a bit more than 25mpg with this new car..

[aka_kerrly]

Petrol, luxury an loads of toys, Lexus and Infini spring to mind.

A Lexus GS 350 gives you 6 cylinder wafting an potentially hybrid versions to improve economy

[Norton850]

Great list ZX10RNIN..

Peugeot,Alfa and Infiniti jump out..

[irocfan]

Skoda Octavia or Superb?

[ZX10R NIN]

I agree it would be the Alfa/Peugeot & the Infiniti.

[Norton850]

irocfan said:

Skoda Octavia or Superb?

Horror stories of DSG issues put me off these which is a shame as I like the Octavia (friend had problems on his 2 yr old VRS auto)

Thanks

[ZX10R NIN]

If you don't mind haggling & stretching the (by around £500-700) budget then a 2.0T Kia Stinger with 5 years worth of warranty left.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102279...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103130...

[fflump]

Norton850 said:

Thanks for the reply,

I discounted the Giulia due to them having a timing belt (tired of this issue on my 156) but a quick search says the Giulia has a chain, or does it? as some say it has a belt.....confused

Good pick though and 2.0 would be more than adequate..

I had a 156 4 cars ago so remember them and their timing belts well. Mine suffered the classic water pump collapse dragging the timing belt with it!
Pretty sure the Giulia has a timing chain, the only belt is the accessory belt.
(Plus with the 156 you are talking about something designed 25 years ago).

Anyway whatever you choose I would not go too boring or staid given the sheer amount of your life that you will spend in it. Plus if you have some weekend toys a real barge of a commuter car will seem even worse in comparison.

[rfn]

A friend has a Guilia Veloce. Recommended.

[Wheel_Turned_Out]

Supposedly the Giuilia 2.0 is actually turning out to be quite a reliable buy for those who have had them. I don't know if you'd want to step out of one Alfa straight into another, then again why wouldn't you - but if it's in budget it's definitely a bit more interesting than the alternatives to my mind.

Having said that, with your sensible trousers on there's a lot to be said for a Mazda 6 I think - especially the estate. Very nice cars indeed.

[Norton850]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you don't mind haggling & stretching the (by around £500-700) budget then a 2.0T Kia Stinger with 5 years worth of warranty left.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102279...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103130...

I didn't know they did a 2.0T version and the stats look very good, that warranty looks very enticing..

[Norton850]

Wheel_Turned_Out said:

Supposedly the Giuilia 2.0 is actually turning out to be quite a reliable buy for those who have had them. I don't know if you'd want to step out of one Alfa straight into another, then again why wouldn't you - but if it's in budget it's definitely a bit more interesting than the alternatives to my mind.

Having said that, with your sensible trousers on there's a lot to be said for a Mazda 6 I think - especially the estate. Very nice cars indeed.

Yes sensible trousers often win..but so much choice and far more than I thought and some really nice metal out there.

Great responses from you all...now I am really starting to do some research.

[ZX10R NIN]

Norton850 said:

I didn't know they did a 2.0T version and the stats look very good, that warranty looks very enticing..

They're spacious well appointed, a decent steer & a decent amount of go too, the warranty is an added bonus.

[anonymous-user]

I've not driven one but I've read the Giulia has a harder ride compared to others in the class. You could also consider the recently facelifted Passat in 1.5 petrol SEL spec which looks respectable on 17s and has most of the latest gadgets, including predictive cruise (travel assist).