Cheap, interesting daily - £5k

[CrouchingWayne]

I’m considering moving to a “two car” solution rather than trying to find a jack of all trades

For up to around £5k what interesting daily could be used for school runs (2x kids), snow days, commutes, trips to the tip, and be reliable enough to rely on it exclusively over winter?

I’m drawn to old Cayennes and RRS / FFRR’s preferably with a juicy engine, but 3.0 V6 TDi Toureg’s seem to be fairly common in budget and more sensible. I do quite low mileage and the draw of the V8 / Supercharged engines in the Cayennes and RR’s keeps drawing me in to the classifieds.

I’d prefer not to lose my shirt in maintenance and tax, but don’t mind a chunky fuel bill as my mileage is quite low.

Any other interesting suggestions? I’m pretty easy on type of car but prefer the idea of an estate or 4x4 with the bigger boots, and as above prefer something a bit interesting power wise.

Other car is a 997

[ZX10R NIN]

5.5 R500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503180...

ML500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405029...

2.7 Santa fe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503280...

S Max:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505132...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505102...

[CrouchingWayne]

ZX10R NIN said:

5.5 R500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503180...

ML500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405029...

2.7 Santa fe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503280...

S Max:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505132...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505102...

Thanks - quite like the ML’s and the R’s. Are there reliability gremlins to worry about with that ge of Merc do you know?

I was looking at the SMax as it would be a brilliant partner for the 911 but just can’t get there with the MPV shape right now

[jamesbilluk]

I would be very tempted by a FFRR my self, or the Cayenne.

Here's a few more choices though,

Infinity FX 3.0D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503180...

Q7 3.0 TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410125...

Or A4/A6 All road possibly,

X type 3.0 V6 AWD estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504291...

Legacy 3.0R
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504151...

Murano 3.5 V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505182...

X5 4.4 V8
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505232...

Or the 3.0D

Edited by jamesbilluk on Saturday 14th June 23:54

[ZX10R NIN]

CrouchingWayne said:

Thanks - quite like the ML s and the R s. Are there reliability gremlins to worry about with that ge of Merc do you know?

I was looking at the SMax as it would be a brilliant partner for the 911 but just can t get there with the MPV shape right now

The R class & ML's are reliable the R class will be a 6 or 7 seater, the R class is harder to find.
The 5.0 does have 16 spark plugs so that can be a pricey change.

There's also the 3.7 Infiniti EX which is a good buy:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186928434659?_skw=infin...

& this one are comfortably under budget.

[davek_964]

I had an old Cayenne - a 2003 4.5S for about 10 years (was already 10 years old when I bought it).

Brilliant car. I bought it for a specific purpose intending to sell it 6 months later (I assumed it would be the dullest car ever) but it was brilliant.
Excellent in bad weather, comfortable, far more fun than it should be on a twisty road if you were in the mood and mine was pretty much problem free (although I didn't put a lot of miles on it as I had other cars).

[ihatecars]

I've been looking for cars under the same criteria. However I have gone completely off the rails and I'm looking at Phaetons, ZF Quattroportes and D2 S8s.

If you wanted an estate maybe you'd like a V10 S6.

Edited by ihatecars on Sunday 15th June 15:12

[paul_c123]

ihatecars said:

I've been looking for cars under the same criteria. However I have gone completely off the rails and I'm looking at Phaetons, ZF Quattroportes and D2 S8s.

If you wanted an estate maybe you'd like a V10 S6.

Edited by ihatecars on Sunday 15th June 15:12

All 3 of those would be interesting cars to have sat on your driveway on axle stands, waiting for parts or waiting for you to be able to afford the relevant parts to fix them.

[ihatecars]

paul_c123 said:

All 3 of those would be interesting cars to have sat on your driveway on axle stands, waiting for parts or waiting for you to be able to afford the relevant parts to fix them.

That might be true, but it's also true for any car, and for around 5000, they make lovely driveway ornaments

[paul_c123]

ihatecars said:

That might be true, but it's also true for any car, and for around 5000, they make lovely driveway ornaments

But some cars are more prone to needing repairs, and/or parts prices being high, and/or parts availability issues.

I'm with you, I'd much rather have an interesting older bigger car and take the hit on extra maintenance than something boring. There is a balance somewhere though.

[ihatecars]

paul_c123 said:

But some cars are more prone to needing repairs, and/or parts prices being high, and/or parts availability issues.

I'm with you, I'd much rather have an interesting older bigger car and take the hit on extra maintenance than something boring. There is a balance somewhere though.

I'm trying to delude myself and say on an S8 at least I have to only worry about the gearbox