Diesel Q5's time is nearly up

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

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Yesterday (10:55)

The main family car for the last three years has been a 2017 Audi Q5 2.0 TDI, well spec'd car with pan roof, bose, virtual dash etc..

It's been fairly reliable, other than one major issue when it needed a new steering rack to the tune of almost £6k, which was covered by the Audi extended warranty I have on it.

However, it is just too dull and once I'm back from holiday in a couple of weeks I am going to look at changing it for something petrol powered - probably a year ahead of what I had planned and so with a smaller budget. Had been thinking £35k to £40k next year.

With two kids, aged 10 and 8, lots of activities and family trips/holidays, criteria is as follows:

Petrol powered, would consider a hybrid but already have an EV so would rather not.
Four wheel drive preferred, rear wheel drive an option.
Estate or SUV probably preferred, but will consider others (see example of the 640i GT below).
Decent levels of performance, so minimum 250bhp, more the better.
Good technology inside - mainly for Mrs Aussieal, although I know that a car play conversion gives everything you really need.
Ideally no older than 2018.
Premium interior, I'm mid forties now and like a bit of comfort.

Budget is max £25k, closer to £20k the better so that I can minimize the cost to change as plan to either part ex the Q5 or sell through Motorway.

Some options I've considered:

SQ5 of similar age as been happy with the overall package just not the dull engine,
Pre facelift Macan S's just about sneak in to budget around 2017/18, although whilst they have a lovely interior, I am 6'2" and they look cramped to me.
BMW 640i GT, looked at a one when I was buying the Q5 and really liked it.
BMW 540i touring - few and far between and tricky to find one with a nice spec that isn't high miles.
P958.2 Cayenne - without wanting the running costs of a turbo, petrols are few and far between.
F-Pace 3.0 V6 S - think they look and sound great, apparently drive well too. But interior and reliability give me concerns.

Over to you PH, what have I missed, are the options I've looked at any good, should I try to stick it out with a diesel for another year?

Edited by aussieal on Monday 14th July 10:58

Chrispee

60 posts

78 months

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Yesterday (12:15)

I had a similar requirement list to you and ended up with a Volvo V60 Cross Country T5.

Won't set the world alight as a drivers car but is a nice place to be, easier to find a much better spec than the German offerings (heated seats + screen + wheel, adaptive cruise, Carplay/AA & a towbar on mine)

Mine was Approved used with a 2 year Volvo warranty and was comfortably in your budget.

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

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Yesterday (12:24)

I do like the V60 CC, hadn't thought of that. Thanks, will take a look.

dmsims

7,186 posts

282 months

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Yesterday (12:28)

530e estate

jrock78

133 posts

64 months

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Yesterday (12:37)

Alfa Stelvio - You might be able to sneak the Quad version with that budget.

RizzoTheRat

26,867 posts

207 months

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Yesterday (12:45)

aussieal said:

Petrol powered, would consider a hybrid but already have an EV so would rather not.

If you're looking at automatics then it's definitely worth considering a hybrid IMO, putting your foot down in auto and waiting for the gearbox to kick down is frustrating when you've driven an EV or PHEV with instant electrical power. Then there's the power difference, eg the Rav 4 has about 200 bhp in pure petrol form, and 300 in PHEV guise, similar the XC60 has 250 bhp as a mild hybrid, but 350 or 450 in the PHEV versions.

Magnum 475

3,802 posts

147 months

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Yesterday (13:02)

The Macan is basically a Q5 in a posh frock, but with less rear headroom & less load capacity.

SQ5 is a good option, as is the Q5 55TFSIe which is almost indistinguishable from the SQ5 is a straight line, but gives about 35 miles battery range for local driving, plus better than 40mpg on motorway drives.

I tried several cars in this category before buying a Q5 TFSIe 50 (slightly slower, but available with smaller rims & softer suspension than the 55). Similar requirements - two kids aged 8 & 10, plus two tall adults - Mrs M is 6’1” with long legs and one of the kids has to sit behind her. The kids are also tall for their ages, so a Macan just wouldn’t work.

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

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Yesterday (13:02)

I think the 640i GT and the SQ5 are probably still top of the list.

The F-Pace would challenge as there's a couple of really nice looking ones low £20k's, although 2016 registered cars. It's just the JLR reliability that concerns me.

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

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Yesterday (13:14)

Magnum 475 said:

The Macan is basically a Q5 in a posh frock, but with less rear headroom & less load capacity.

SQ5 is a good option, as is the Q5 55TFSIe which is almost indistinguishable from the SQ5 is a straight line, but gives about 35 miles battery range for local driving, plus better than 40mpg on motorway drives.

I tried several cars in this category before buying a Q5 TFSIe 50 (slightly slower, but available with smaller rims & softer suspension than the 55). Similar requirements - two kids aged 8 & 10, plus two tall adults - Mrs M is 6 1 with long legs and one of the kids has to sit behind her. The kids are also tall for their ages, so a Macan just wouldn t work.

Agree, just don't see how the Macan is of any of use to me.

As I posted above, think the SQ5 is a good option - even though I've had the cooking version for 3 years. Finding the right spec doesn't look too hard either for around £25k. Suspect a 55 TFSIe would be over my immediate budget.

Azzurrinick

57 posts

76 months

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Yesterday (13:30)

If you have a specialist garage to look after one, a Maserati Levante should be considered on your list.

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

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Yesterday (13:40)

Azzurrinick said:

If you have a specialist garage to look after one, a Maserati Levante should be considered on your list.

Funny you should mention this, a mate has a 3.0d Levante. I saw him on Saturday and mentioned to him that the more the search goes on, the more appealing they are.

There's a lovely 3.0 S on AT at the moment in budget.

Some of the bills my mate has had through Maserati definitely confirm the need to find a good specialist though.

lornemalvo

3,142 posts

83 months

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Yesterday (16:17)

I have a Q5 TFSi 45, it's easily quick enough for most people, and I never saw the need for the SQ5. Researched for a long time before buying and never found anything better (the Macan drove slightly better, perhaps, but way more expensive and quite cramped.

dema

380 posts

190 months

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Yesterday (16:30)

Similar situation here.
Had a 2019 Q5 2.0tdi for just over one year now. Solid car, love the Quattro but, not that inspiring to drive, slow response from stand still and the boot is not that practical.

Had a V60 D4, the engine didn’t pull as well as a VAG but a very decent car. Auto seems to be sluggish, an hybrid may fix that….
6 series GT sounds like a great choice, depends how much boot space you need.
If you consider a Levante, I would go Ghibli, as already mentioned, maintenance can be astronomical!
Love the look of an F-type, RR would also be an option, reliability wise, not sure… rep is not great.
5 series estate seems to be the do it all car, wish they would look a bit more inspiring.
3L e class 4matic seems to tick most boxes for me at the moment

dema

380 posts

190 months

[report]

[news]

Yesterday (16:45)

Similar situation here.
Had a 2019 Q5 2.0tdi for just over one year now. Solid car, love the Quattro but, not that inspiring to drive, slow response from stand still and the boot is not that practical.

Had a V60 D4, the engine didn’t pull as well as a VAG but a very decent car. Auto seems to be sluggish, an hybrid may fix that….
6 series GT sounds like a great choice, depends how much boot space you need.
If you consider a Levante, I would go Ghibli, as already mentioned, maintenance can be astronomical!
Love the look of an F-type, RR would also be an option, reliability wise, not sure… rep is not great.
5 series estate seems to be the do it all car, wish they would look a bit more inspiring.
3L e class 4matic seems to tick most boxes for me at the moment

ZX10R NIN

29,202 posts

140 months

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[news]

Yesterday (17:19)

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

[report]

[news]

Yesterday (19:50)

dema said:

Similar situation here.
Had a 2019 Q5 2.0tdi for just over one year now. Solid car, love the Quattro but, not that inspiring to drive, slow response from stand still and the boot is not that practical.

Had a V60 D4, the engine didn t pull as well as a VAG but a very decent car. Auto seems to be sluggish, an hybrid may fix that .
6 series GT sounds like a great choice, depends how much boot space you need.
If you consider a Levante, I would go Ghibli, as already mentioned, maintenance can be astronomical!
Love the look of an F-type, RR would also be an option, reliability wise, not sure rep is not great.
5 series estate seems to be the do it all car, wish they would look a bit more inspiring.
3L e class 4matic seems to tick most boxes for me at the moment

The Q5 we have as a nice spec and I find it spacious enough for what we need, even if the long term plan had possibly included an SQ7 - although the petrols are still out of the bigger budget.

Spoke to the guys were I get it serviced today (Unit20 in Neston) and they had good things to say about the SQ5, whilst pointing out that it suffers from the same cooling issues as the B9 S4/5.

aussieal

Original Poster

506 posts

176 months

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Yesterday (19:53)

ZX10R NIN said:

Thanks for this, always value your input. Good to hear that you think the F-Pace is a good option, that 540i you linked has been on my radar but discounted it based on being a private sale and higher miles. Will see if it sticks around though for when I'm back from holiday. That E43 is lovely too and already on my saved searches.

Must confess though, getting itchy feet now to change before holiday biglaugh

ZX10R NIN

29,202 posts

140 months

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Yesterday (20:41)

aussieal said:

Thanks for this, always value your input. Good to hear that you think the F-Pace is a good option, that 540i you linked has been on my radar but discounted it based on being a private sale and higher miles. Will see if it sticks around though for when I'm back from holiday. That E43 is lovely too and already on my saved searches.

Must confess though, getting itchy feet now to change before holiday biglaugh

The F Pace/Velar

When it comes to the 5/E class there aren't many about so I think you should consider private if the right one comes up for saleIt's the same with the S6:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507114...

OutInTheShed

11,405 posts

41 months

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Yesterday (20:42)

ZX10R NIN said:

Strong money for cars which will be ten years old and devoid of warranty quite soon!

Total cost of ownership risks being somewhere between fierce and frightening.

jonwm

2,616 posts

129 months

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Yesterday (23:08)

I recently went from a transporter T6 to a 630d GT,I love it, obviously smaller but the standard spec on the 6 compared to the 5 is amazing, also cheaper.

Watch out for brakes on the 640i, I have the same "M" ones and it's nearly 1k for a set of discs and pads!

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