Around £40k budget for a do-it-all car

[Whizzwheels]

I currently drive a VW Golf Mk 7 1.4 TSI GT. I’m looking for a slightly bigger new or used car for touring holidays, for camping gear and to carry two bikes.

Budget is up to £45k approx if new. Would prefer to spend less on a used car due to depreciation when new. Used prices seem high.

Priority is a fairly compact car, good to drive, comfy and well-equipped, for city use / long distances. Needs to be diesel or petrol as I can’t charge an EV at home. We have lots of potholed roads in Edinburgh so I wondered about an SUV. I would like a sunroof.

Used diesel cars seem better value than petrol. Current shortlist:

(New) Cupra Formentor, Skoda Octavia vRS estate.
(Used) Volvo V60 or XC40, Audi A4 Avant or Q5. BMW X3 330d.

At the top of my list has been the BMW 320d or 330i Touring. Used, as we would like adaptive cruise and upgraded hi-fi and neither of these are available on new 3-BMW’s at the moment due to the chip shortage.

New Formentor orders are estimated by local dealer to take 30 weeks! There are a couple of VZ2 310PS on AutoTrader but it looks quite thirsty at 31mpg. I’m used to around 42mpg in the Golf. The 190PS 4WD version is around £35k, maybe more economical and stays under £40k luxury tax threshold. Not critical, but illustrates the complexity of choice.

My gut feeling is I would probably be happy with a G21 320d Touring, but I have read that a Volvo V60 may be more rewarding to live with. Any thoughts welcome.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a do it all car then the E350d:

AMG Line Premium Plus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108286...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109087...

or E400d although these are a much harder find:

All Terrain

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...

Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108116...

In terms of depreciation the 2.0d models will depreciate at a greater rate than the 3.0d models so if you want a G model 3 series then get the 3.0d version.

If you want a more compact do it all estate then then the S4 Avant is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109267...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108065...

[BlueJ]

Another vote for the E class estate.

I bought mine in February for the same reasons - touring holidays, camping, 2 x bikes. It does all of these with ease and I'm really looking forward to doing a continental trip next year.

Boot takes loads and the torque (400d) makes for a very relaxing but swift way to travel. 4WD as well for winter touring.

[J6542]

I am in a similar situation to yourself. Looking to upgrade an Audi S3 to something slightly bigger. I have been looking at all sorts of cars the last few months and keep being drawn back to the Vw Arteon shooting brake. I think there are a few petrol and diesel pre regs for sale in Edinburgh. Carwow have a few good reviews of them on YouTube as well.

[Whizzwheels]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I need to arrange a few test drives. I like a nice car but feel reluctant to go bigger than a Volvo V60 due to living in the city centre, manoeuvring and parking. I agree, will try the Arteon but think the E Class would be too big.

Audi A4 Avant 4,725mm L
Volvo V60 4,761 mm L
Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake 4,866 mm L
Mercedes E Class estate 4,935mm L

Frankly there are many good options and that makes it very hard to decide. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. The new Hyundai Tucson Hybrid gets good reviews, 45mpg and 5 year warranty. The Kia Sportage will be very similar and is due out soon with better styling and 7 year warranty.

[J6542]

If you re thinking of a SUV then have a look at Lexus and Toyota which could both have potentially 10 year warranty. I was thinking of a RAV4 for this reason but don’t know if I could live with the toyotas automatic transmission.

[James-gbg1e]

I've a C43 Wagon, love it. It's a fun car when you want it to be, yet compact and utterly practical and economical when you need it to be (saw 39mpg on a recent motorway run). Take it for a tune and you'll see another 40-60bhp, engines are strong. A car with Premium Plus gets you all the toys and dual pano roof you could want.

If you want more brutal, but less practical (2wd) then a C63 Wagon would creep in to your budget, just.

The S4 Avant, boring car, boring to drive like so many Audi... Compared to a similar BMW/Merc the feel just isn't there. Not a bad car, but boring.

Otherwise you had a decent hunch with a 330/335 Touring, for me the interiors on the BMW though are just old hat. Solid otherwise though.

Newer car? Leon ST which coming from VW will be very familiar, if a little boring in terms of change. The engines are decent though.

[insert coin]

VW T6 Kombi, 204, dsg, 4-Motion

[ZX10R NIN]

Whizzwheels said:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I need to arrange a few test drives. I like a nice car but feel reluctant to go bigger than a Volvo V60 due to living in the city centre, manoeuvring and parking. I agree, will try the Arteon but think the E Class would be too big.

Audi A4 Avant 4,725mm L
Volvo V60 4,761 mm L
Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake 4,866 mm L
Mercedes E Class estate 4,935mm L

Frankly there are many good options and that makes it very hard to decide. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. The new Hyundai Tucson Hybrid gets good reviews, 45mpg and 5 year warranty. The Kia Sportage will be very similar and is due out soon with better styling and 7 year warranty.

I'd say take the S4 for a test drive it has a peach of an engine & the rest of the car is very good too.

[The Cardinal]

Have you thought about having more than one vehicle - perhaps keeping the Golf and adding a van? I seem to be running two cars and a van at the moment - despite low annual mileage between them. (One is kept in a lockup garage).

[georgeyboy12345]

Don't get an SUV they are crap.

New it would probably be one of these as already mentioned

Skoda Octavia vRS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

VW Arteon Shooting Brake 2.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...


Used

Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067...

Seat Leon Cupra 290 Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109137...


Finally some non-VAG stuff

Volvo V60 D4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107305...

Ford Focus ST Diesel
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...


You are kind of restricting yourself if you want adaptive cruise and a fancy sound system. Also, sunroofs are overrated, you can't use them most of the time and they can leak.

[jonny996]

https://www.georgemackay.co.uk/used-cars/mini-coun...

[dunc69]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Don't get an SUV they are crap.


You are kind of restricting yourself if you want adaptive cruise and a fancy sound system. Also, sunroofs are overrated, you can't use them most of the time and they can leak.

Agree, get an estate.

Sunroofs are overrated. They often also creak and rattle.

[Whizzwheels]

There are few bargains in the current second hand market. That Mini Countryman is a good buy for somebody, only 6000 miles. Not quite big enough boot space however.

I would like an automatic gearbox next time. It's a bit mean that VW have been fitting standard ACC adaptive cruise control to the Golf since the Mk 7, but they don't even make ACC an option on most Audis and BMW's.

Another option would be a new Golf or Leon estate as they are quite compact. I just watched a YT review of the new Mk 8 Golf R estate due out in November. Circa £40k I expect after a discount.

There's a big gap in the Golf range between the 1.5 petrol and 320hp R version. I've never driven a high powered car before, not sure whether I would get the benefit of 300hp these days? There are average speed cameras all the way up the A9. Given the huge potholes and speed humps, I wondered whether ride comfort and refinement might be better things to focus on.

[ZX10R NIN]

As I said before test drive the 3.0d S4 refinement & a quality cabin are all there it's leagues above the Golf/Arteon it also comes with ACC.

[lornemalvo]

Taking into account what you mention as priorities ,including potholed roads, I would suggest an AudiA4 Allroad or a Volvo V60 Cross Country

[Whizzwheels]

I'm looking into the S4 Avant diesel thanks. It is at the top of my price range, new £45k and about the same price second hand on AutoTrader. My local Council would charge an additional £200 per year to park an S4 on the street based on CO2 output, so I would need to be sure the drive was worth the extra costs.

I also think the A4 Allroad would be a good choice. It would probably make more sense as a 40TDI than 45 TFSI.

The market seems to be moving away from diesel. I can understand people avoiding Euro 5 diesels, but not Euro 6.

The two examples above show that a modern diesel often seems preferable to petrol, based on torque and fuel consumption. Why are people reluctant to buy a new diesel? Am I missing something?

[James-gbg1e]

You seem more interested in less powerful cars and more driven by efficiency, so:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021092577...

Haven't looked for the finest example, but an idea to consider. Reliable and cheap to run.

[ZX10R NIN]

Whizzwheels said:

I'm looking into the S4 Avant diesel thanks. It is at the top of my price range, new £45k and about the same price second hand on AutoTrader. My local Council would charge an additional £200 per year to park an S4 on the street based on CO2 output, so I would need to be sure the drive was worth the extra costs.

I also think the A4 Allroad would be a good choice. It would probably make more sense as a 40TDI than 45 TFSI.

The market seems to be moving away from diesel. I can understand people avoiding Euro 5 diesels, but not Euro 6.

The two examples above show that a modern diesel often seems preferable to petrol, based on torque and fuel consumption. Why are people reluctant to buy a new diesel? Am I missing something?

No your not missing something, it's a good choice of drivetrain, am extra £200 for parking that's nuts.

There is another option lookout for the BiTDI Passat they're a rare find but well worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

As is the BiTDI Insignia Country Tourer:

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

Both are smart efficient steers.

[pavarotti1980]

Leon Cupra R ST with he ABT upgrade pack. Little dull inside but the drive makes you forget about it

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108206...

Even ULEZ compliant too

Edited by pavarotti1980 on Wednesday 29th September 10:55