Compact saloon/hatchback for commuting and travel???
Discussion
Hi
Looking to change car soon as I've been summoned back into the office for work and my banger is ready for the scrapheap.
I'll be commuting 100 miles daily on a mixture of motorway, major and minor roads. I'm looking for something in the small saloon or hatchback categories that is comfortable, efficient (maybe with need of a remap), well equipped, reliable and decent looks.
Budget is around the £12k - £13k mark, but could go a bit higher for something that stood out.
Initially I thought about an XE, but have been put off by poor reliability reviews online and from some owners. I then thought about C Class or a CLA, but decided against them due to length or cost reasons. It will mostly only be myself in car, so a big bus is not necessary.
My current car is 1705mm wide and 4188mm long. So something in that region would be ideal.
I don't generally like BMW, but the 2 series looks okay. Also really like the look of the A-Class saloon, but they are as rare as hens teeth and probably out of budget.
I had thought I seen a CLA style car that was similarly sized to a TT. However, I can't find it now.
I don't want a Tesla and I've been told also to avoid a Guilia. I've seen recommendations for an Infiniti Q50, but the interior is just meh to me and seems like an oddball choice.
I had thought about a Lexus, but now that they are dropping a lot of models I don't want to get an IS300H.
I've also thought about a Golf or a hatchback A-Class. I've no real idea about all the variants of Golf. For the A-Class I've read that best to avoid the 180 and go for the 200 as the 180 has a rear beam whereas the others have multi link rear suspension.
What else are my options here?
Thanks.
Looking to change car soon as I've been summoned back into the office for work and my banger is ready for the scrapheap.
I'll be commuting 100 miles daily on a mixture of motorway, major and minor roads. I'm looking for something in the small saloon or hatchback categories that is comfortable, efficient (maybe with need of a remap), well equipped, reliable and decent looks.
Budget is around the £12k - £13k mark, but could go a bit higher for something that stood out.
Initially I thought about an XE, but have been put off by poor reliability reviews online and from some owners. I then thought about C Class or a CLA, but decided against them due to length or cost reasons. It will mostly only be myself in car, so a big bus is not necessary.
My current car is 1705mm wide and 4188mm long. So something in that region would be ideal.
I don't generally like BMW, but the 2 series looks okay. Also really like the look of the A-Class saloon, but they are as rare as hens teeth and probably out of budget.
I had thought I seen a CLA style car that was similarly sized to a TT. However, I can't find it now.
I don't want a Tesla and I've been told also to avoid a Guilia. I've seen recommendations for an Infiniti Q50, but the interior is just meh to me and seems like an oddball choice.
I had thought about a Lexus, but now that they are dropping a lot of models I don't want to get an IS300H.
I've also thought about a Golf or a hatchback A-Class. I've no real idea about all the variants of Golf. For the A-Class I've read that best to avoid the 180 and go for the 200 as the 180 has a rear beam whereas the others have multi link rear suspension.
What else are my options here?
Thanks.
Audi A3 Saloon?
I had one and was driving 100 miles a day. Get one with an automatic and it's a nice cruiser. Very well equipped (2016 facelift models come with carplay and android auto so you can use Waze/Spotify etc).
I had a 1.6 TDI. Wasn't mega quick but had more than enough power to keep up with most motorway traffic. Not the most exciting to drive but very competent.
I had one and was driving 100 miles a day. Get one with an automatic and it's a nice cruiser. Very well equipped (2016 facelift models come with carplay and android auto so you can use Waze/Spotify etc).
I had a 1.6 TDI. Wasn't mega quick but had more than enough power to keep up with most motorway traffic. Not the most exciting to drive but very competent.
zx6hdi said:
Hi
Looking to change car soon as I've been summoned back into the office for work and my banger is ready for the scrapheap.
I'll be commuting 100 miles daily on a mixture of motorway, major and minor roads. I'm looking for something in the small saloon or hatchback categories that is comfortable, efficient (maybe with need of a remap), well equipped, reliable and decent looks.
Budget is around the £12k - £13k mark, but could go a bit higher for something that stood out.
Initially I thought about an XE, but have been put off by poor reliability reviews online and from some owners. I then thought about C Class or a CLA, but decided against them due to length or cost reasons. It will mostly only be myself in car, so a big bus is not necessary.
My current car is 1705mm wide and 4188mm long. So something in that region would be ideal.
I don't generally like BMW, but the 2 series looks okay. Also really like the look of the A-Class saloon, but they are as rare as hens teeth and probably out of budget.
I had thought I seen a CLA style car that was similarly sized to a TT. However, I can't find it now.
I don't want a Tesla and I've been told also to avoid a Guilia. I've seen recommendations for an Infiniti Q50, but the interior is just meh to me and seems like an oddball choice.
I had thought about a Lexus, but now that they are dropping a lot of models I don't want to get an IS300H.
I've also thought about a Golf or a hatchback A-Class. I've no real idea about all the variants of Golf. For the A-Class I've read that best to avoid the 180 and go for the 200 as the 180 has a rear beam whereas the others have multi link rear suspension.
What else are my options here?
Thanks.
Strange to dismiss an IS just because Lexus are dropping some models, Lexus make great cars and could be a top choice.Looking to change car soon as I've been summoned back into the office for work and my banger is ready for the scrapheap.
I'll be commuting 100 miles daily on a mixture of motorway, major and minor roads. I'm looking for something in the small saloon or hatchback categories that is comfortable, efficient (maybe with need of a remap), well equipped, reliable and decent looks.
Budget is around the £12k - £13k mark, but could go a bit higher for something that stood out.
Initially I thought about an XE, but have been put off by poor reliability reviews online and from some owners. I then thought about C Class or a CLA, but decided against them due to length or cost reasons. It will mostly only be myself in car, so a big bus is not necessary.
My current car is 1705mm wide and 4188mm long. So something in that region would be ideal.
I don't generally like BMW, but the 2 series looks okay. Also really like the look of the A-Class saloon, but they are as rare as hens teeth and probably out of budget.
I had thought I seen a CLA style car that was similarly sized to a TT. However, I can't find it now.
I don't want a Tesla and I've been told also to avoid a Guilia. I've seen recommendations for an Infiniti Q50, but the interior is just meh to me and seems like an oddball choice.
I had thought about a Lexus, but now that they are dropping a lot of models I don't want to get an IS300H.
I've also thought about a Golf or a hatchback A-Class. I've no real idea about all the variants of Golf. For the A-Class I've read that best to avoid the 180 and go for the 200 as the 180 has a rear beam whereas the others have multi link rear suspension.
What else are my options here?
Thanks.
Don’t know your circumstances and if low emissions zones come into the commute but diesel could make sense with that high mileage. There’s all kinds of stuff you can get for your budget. Golfs are worthy but boring to look at. You could consider a Scirocco which is fairly practical and in a prettier body, also VW CC. There’s numerous Audis, Mercs, BMWs of different body styles. Volvo make good mile munchers (S60 R Design D4/D5) and Vauxhall Insignias are bargains.
LightningBlue said:
Strange to dismiss an IS just because Lexus are dropping some models, Lexus make great cars and could be a top choice.
Don’t know your circumstances and if low emissions zones come into the commute but diesel could make sense with that high mileage. There’s all kinds of stuff you can get for your budget. Golfs are worthy but boring to look at. You could consider a Scirocco which is fairly practical and in a prettier body, also VW CC. There’s numerous Audis, Mercs, BMWs of different body styles. Volvo make good mile munchers (S60 R Design D4/D5) and Vauxhall Insignias are bargains.
ULEZ is not an issue for me, but I'd want something in a low cost tax bracket.Don’t know your circumstances and if low emissions zones come into the commute but diesel could make sense with that high mileage. There’s all kinds of stuff you can get for your budget. Golfs are worthy but boring to look at. You could consider a Scirocco which is fairly practical and in a prettier body, also VW CC. There’s numerous Audis, Mercs, BMWs of different body styles. Volvo make good mile munchers (S60 R Design D4/D5) and Vauxhall Insignias are bargains.
Why is there a plethora of white cars out there at the minute?
Seen this IS300H. A bit on the dear side, but looks like a nice wagon:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301093...
Would be more familiar with diesels, although that would rule out the Lexus. Not sure why I'm being fussy as my current car isn't far off the scrapyard.
zx6hdi said:
Hi
Looking to change car soon as I've been summoned back into the office for work and my banger is ready for the scrapheap.
I'll be commuting 100 miles daily on a mixture of motorway, major and minor roads. I'm looking for something in the small saloon or hatchback categories that is comfortable, efficient (maybe with need of a remap), well equipped, reliable and decent looks.
Budget is around the £12k - £13k mark, but could go a bit higher for something that stood out.
Initially I thought about an XE, but have been put off by poor reliability reviews online and from some owners. I then thought about C Class or a CLA, but decided against them due to length or cost reasons. It will mostly only be myself in car, so a big bus is not necessary.
My current car is 1705mm wide and 4188mm long. So something in that region would be ideal.
I don't generally like BMW, but the 2 series looks okay. Also really like the look of the A-Class saloon, but they are as rare as hens teeth and probably out of budget.
I had thought I seen a CLA style car that was similarly sized to a TT. However, I can't find it now.
I don't want a Tesla and I've been told also to avoid a Guilia. I've seen recommendations for an Infiniti Q50, but the interior is just meh to me and seems like an oddball choice.
I had thought about a Lexus, but now that they are dropping a lot of models I don't want to get an IS300H.
I've also thought about a Golf or a hatchback A-Class. I've no real idea about all the variants of Golf. For the A-Class I've read that best to avoid the 180 and go for the 200 as the 180 has a rear beam whereas the others have multi link rear suspension.
What else are my options here?
Thanks.
If you like the A Class then go for the Infiniti Q30 they're exactly the same car even down to the window switches, the only difference is the bodywork & that the Q30 has the slightly nicer interior out of the two.Looking to change car soon as I've been summoned back into the office for work and my banger is ready for the scrapheap.
I'll be commuting 100 miles daily on a mixture of motorway, major and minor roads. I'm looking for something in the small saloon or hatchback categories that is comfortable, efficient (maybe with need of a remap), well equipped, reliable and decent looks.
Budget is around the £12k - £13k mark, but could go a bit higher for something that stood out.
Initially I thought about an XE, but have been put off by poor reliability reviews online and from some owners. I then thought about C Class or a CLA, but decided against them due to length or cost reasons. It will mostly only be myself in car, so a big bus is not necessary.
My current car is 1705mm wide and 4188mm long. So something in that region would be ideal.
I don't generally like BMW, but the 2 series looks okay. Also really like the look of the A-Class saloon, but they are as rare as hens teeth and probably out of budget.
I had thought I seen a CLA style car that was similarly sized to a TT. However, I can't find it now.
I don't want a Tesla and I've been told also to avoid a Guilia. I've seen recommendations for an Infiniti Q50, but the interior is just meh to me and seems like an oddball choice.
I had thought about a Lexus, but now that they are dropping a lot of models I don't want to get an IS300H.
I've also thought about a Golf or a hatchback A-Class. I've no real idea about all the variants of Golf. For the A-Class I've read that best to avoid the 180 and go for the 200 as the 180 has a rear beam whereas the others have multi link rear suspension.
What else are my options here?
Thanks.
Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301143...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302234...
Premium Tech this model adds adaptive cruise but loses the AMG seats in the Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205165...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212022...
Running costs on the above is the same as the Mercedes which will be in the same ballpark as the Golf/A3
Not sure why you have been told to avoid Giulia's, they are good cars. Only reason I'd think to avoid it is that it's quite a bit longer than your previous one.
With the kinds of mileage you are doing you are definitely in diesel territory. Do you ever need to drive into low emissions zones? If you do, you'll want a Euro 6 diesel (post 2016), if you don't ever need to then you might as well go for an older diesel as with the miles you will be doing will cause it's value to plummet anyway.
With the kinds of mileage you are doing you are definitely in diesel territory. Do you ever need to drive into low emissions zones? If you do, you'll want a Euro 6 diesel (post 2016), if you don't ever need to then you might as well go for an older diesel as with the miles you will be doing will cause it's value to plummet anyway.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff