Max £5k budget, wafty diesel, something interesting
Max £5k budget, wafty diesel, something interesting
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Mully1906

Original Poster:

67 posts

121 months

Friday 27th August 2021
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Evening all,

Looking to get a new car soon to replace my mk3 Mondeo hatch.

After something a bit interesting, nice kit, decent power. The obvious answers are Volvo D5 equipped cars, 30d BMW variants etc.

I’ve also considered some Mercedes E-class estates (2006 onwards really).

Needs to be big enough to comfortable and easily throw my mountain bike inside, comfy enough to enjoy on long drives and to deal with the god awful roads the UK is blessed with, and reliable.

Mercedes E-class (280/300 cdi)
30d BMW tourings
Volvo V70/60 etc

£5k is my absolute maximum budget but preferably want to spend less.

Any other suggestions?

clockworks

7,515 posts

173 months

Friday 27th August 2021
quotequote all
I had a 5 series touring (E61) a few years ago. Not quite big enough to take a mountain bike inside without removing the front wheel.

Mully1906

Original Poster:

67 posts

121 months

Friday 27th August 2021
quotequote all
clockworks said:
I had a 5 series touring (E61) a few years ago. Not quite big enough to take a mountain bike inside without removing the front wheel.
Removing the front wheel is fine, I have to do that at the moment anyway

SlowV6

720 posts

167 months

Friday 27th August 2021
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An LCI (facelift) 530d auto could be had in SE spec but I think you will get a year or two newer e320cdi for the same money.

Tbh for £5k a mk4.5 Mondeo titanium X estate would be just as good as either and at least 3 years newer. I can get my 29" wheel MTB in the back with both wheels on.

Btw I have a 330d E91 (2008 M57 engine with ZF6) aswell as the 2012 Mondeo TitX estate 2.0tdci with Windsor pleather and sat nav. The mondeo is better at everything except performance and engine note. It is quiet, comfy, well equipped and has a good stereo with Bluetooth and USB aux. Excellent car.

Mully1906

Original Poster:

67 posts

121 months

Friday 27th August 2021
quotequote all
SlowV6 said:
An LCI (facelift) 530d auto could be had in SE spec but I think you will get a year or two newer e320cdi for the same money.

Tbh for £5k a mk4.5 Mondeo titanium X estate would be just as good as either and at least 3 years newer. I can get my 29" wheel MTB in the back with both wheels on.

Btw I have a 330d E91 (2008 M57 engine with ZF6) aswell as the 2012 Mondeo TitX estate 2.0tdci with Windsor pleather and sat nav. The mondeo is better at everything except performance and engine note. It is quiet, comfy, well equipped and has a good stereo with Bluetooth and USB aux. Excellent car.
I’m actually hunting for a Mk4 Tit X Sport but not any close to me at the moment

georgeyboy12345

4,581 posts

63 months

Friday 27th August 2021
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A few cars you might not have considered

Alfa Romeo 159s are pretty heavy, wafty cars, especially with the 5 cylinder 2.4 JTDM and auto gearbox. You'll easily get your bike in the back of a sportwagon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...


This Peugeot 407 SW 2.7 V6 HDi looks good value
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106083...


Vauxhall Vectra 3.0 CDTi V6 24v Elite
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012307...



Other cars that have already been mentioned that look worthwhile

This BMW 525d SE Touring looks fantastic value, even with the admin fee and even though it's a bit leggy - the M57 engine is a reliable workhorse and should be good for at least 200,000 miles. Importantly, this is an SE model, not the M Sport, so should be nice and wafty
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107245...


With a Mercedes E-class, I'd go for one of these pre-2006 E320s as they supposedly have the OM648 straight 6, which is smoother and more reliable than the newer V6 motor, with regular maintenance they can do over 500,000 miles!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107255...


Volvo V70 D5 SE supposedly with a new cambelt and water pump. It is definitely on four Michelin tyres though, which is a good thing
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108236...


Or what about an XC70 if you want something to ride those bumps even more smoothly. This D5 had it's cambelt changed in May
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107165...

ninjag

1,878 posts

147 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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Have you thought about a van MPV type thing? Long throw suspension handles bumps well, high driving position makes long journeys nice as you can see past traffic better and there's tons of room that you could keep the front wheel on.

Even better, something like this has a ramp! Pull that special seat out and just ride right in.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/2021081562...

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

135 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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A6 is quite nice too

efcgriswold

304 posts

67 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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Pistonheader101 said:
A6 is quite nice too
A friend has a 2008 A6 2.7tdi Le Mans S line Quattro for sale at the moment. 101k miles. Thinks he’s asking around the 4k mark which seems ok for one of those. Was with Audi between 2008 and 2015 and has things like soft close doors which I’ve not seen on other A6’s of that year.

I’ve always enjoyed being in it but the s line suspension is a little stiff for the car.

Edited to say I don’t think you would get your mountain bike in a saloon smile

The estate would be nice though.

Mully1906

Original Poster:

67 posts

121 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
ninjag said:
Have you thought about a van MPV type thing? Long throw suspension handles bumps well, high driving position makes long journeys nice as you can see past traffic better and there's tons of room that you could keep the front wheel on.

Even better, something like this has a ramp! Pull that special seat out and just ride right in.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/2021081562...
Would like a van, but you really don’t get a lot for your money

bristolracer

5,944 posts

177 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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Honda Elysion
Toyota Estima
Nissan Elgrand

I reckon you will get a bike in one of those

Mouse Rat

2,083 posts

120 months

Sunday 29th August 2021
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The Mercedes R class 320cdi would be a good practical alternative.

Personally I would would try and find a the best MK1 face-lift Touareg Altitude 3.0tdi model or the less practical but more complicated Pheaton.

While these are complicated cars they were built to be the best in class and this shows in the refinment and engineering details.


ZX10R NIN

30,462 posts

153 months

Sunday 29th August 2021
quotequote all
At your price point for me there are two choices.

Vauxhall Insignia Elite this is the VFM pick for your budget it's a very hard to package to beat:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108126...

508 Allure

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...

Mondeo Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108126...

Alternates:

Jeep Grand Cherokee

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108256...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102129...

Galaxy Titanium X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

oceanview

1,631 posts

159 months

Sunday 29th August 2021
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The trouble with the Ford Powershif/ite gearboxes is most people don't get oil changes done on them, so they're likely to be an expensive, nuisance.

If you can find the one, in say, every 50 that have been looked after, then Yes, Mondeo and Galaxys' great buys.

ZX10R NIN

30,462 posts

153 months

Monday 30th August 2021
quotequote all
oceanview said:
The trouble with the Ford Powershif/ite gearboxes is most people don't get oil changes done on them, so they're likely to be an expensive, nuisance.

If you can find the one, in say, every 50 that have been looked after, then Yes, Mondeo and Galaxys' great buys.
It's the same issue with EDC/DSG boxes they're no better or worse.