What small german car upto £18k?
What small german car upto £18k?
Author
Discussion

dm2583

Original Poster:

10 posts

157 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
As above, what would you get? I've been asked to source something for a family member

Needs:

Petrol
Auto
4/5 years old max
Reasonable/low mileage
Good spec

Im swaying towards a 2019/2020 A Class A200 with either the Premium or Premium plus pack...

Should I be looking at anything else?!

Thank you

foccer

20 posts

7 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
Audi A3 or possibly the A4?

ExBoringVolvoDriver

11,281 posts

65 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
dm2583 said:
As above, what would you get? I've been asked to source something for a family member

Needs:

Petrol
Auto
4/5 years old max
Reasonable/low mileage
Good spec

Im swaying towards a 2019/2020 A Class A200 with either the Premium or Premium plus pack...

Should I be looking at anything else?!

Thank you
Why German specifically?


Anyway I would be inclined to look at a Golf for perhaps better value.



dm2583

Original Poster:

10 posts

157 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
Family member is a brand snob i guess?!

Also, prices of Golf’s are on par with 1 series/A Class etc

dm2583

Original Poster:

10 posts

157 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
sunnyb13 said:
M140i/ M135i
Needs to be sensible and half decent on fuel, sadly!

Pickle_Rick

625 posts

82 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
ExBoringVolvoDriver said:
Why German specifically?
Maybe they're best mates with a mechanic so not worried about shoddy reliability

Rob 131 Sport

4,281 posts

74 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
1 Series. Great all rounder and stylish. TBF any of the German offerings would be a good choice, it’s just that I personally prefer the 1 Series.

Coldplaya

2,230 posts

210 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
The infiniti q30’s always seem good value to me, basically a merc A class but with a bit of japanese reliability thrown in?

ZX10R NIN

29,916 posts

147 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
Premium Plus i'd the pick spec wise, personally I'd go for the 2.0 engine the 1.3 Nissan unit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508315...


Rob 131 Sport

4,281 posts

74 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
1 Series. Great all rounder and stylish. TBF any of the German offerings would be a good choice, it’s just that I personally prefer the 1 Series.

georgeyboy12345

4,176 posts

57 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
For the VW group stuff, I'm deliberately recommending 2.0 litre cars as they were paired with the better wet clutch DSG gearboxes

That means you'll get slightly more tasty stuff, like this VW Polo GTI. They are also decent on fuel as they only weigh 1280 kg, so will get high 30s to low 40s mpg.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507314...


The Audi A1 40 TFSI is basically the same car but maybe not quite as shouty. Couldn't find one with as low a mileage, but 50,000 miles in one of these wouldn't concern me in the slightest.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509086...


Or you could go up a size with this Audi A3 Quattro
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508285...


BMW 118i M Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508125...


Mercedes A250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508215...



georgeyboy12345

4,176 posts

57 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
quotequote all
sunnyb13 said:
dm2583 said:
sunnyb13 said:
M140i/ M135i
Needs to be sensible and half decent on fuel, sadly!
128ti is meant to be pretty good too in that case. heard it will hold its value pretty well compared to say a 120i or similar
128ti’s are starting at more like £20k for a decent (albeit leggy) one

venster70

102 posts

60 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
quotequote all
We have an A-series at work albeit AMG (diesel!) spec. and the seats are very uncomfortable on long journeys.

I can vouch for the F40 - BMW 1 series, a great overall package, plus the B series engines are solid.

I would be test driving the A3 or the F40 1 series, Mk 7/7.5 Golf.

I would be looking more for ride comfort and refinement, the suspension on the 'sportier' AMG/M/GTI spec. cars can be a bit tiring.

It depends if you are after something with sporting prowess or something easy to live with on a daily basis.

Matt_T

1,080 posts

96 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
quotequote all
Would it be pedantic of me to recommend this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/317188981911?_skw=opel+...

In all seriousness though, I would be looking at Skoda probably.
Mercedes customer service is atrocious, I suspect Skoda are probably able to acknowledge your presence.

Matt_T

1,080 posts

96 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
quotequote all
Coldplaya said:
The infiniti q30 s always seem good value to me, basically a merc A class but with a bit of japanese reliability thrown in?
Question for ZX10R...

In Infiniti's and A Classes, are the 1.3 petrol and 1.5 diesel Renault engines reliable? Other than the AMG's, I think that all the engines in A Classes are Renault units now?

ZX10R NIN

29,916 posts

147 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
quotequote all
Matt_T said:
Question for ZX10R...

In Infiniti's and A Classes, are the 1.3 petrol and 1.5 diesel Renault engines reliable? Other than the AMG's, I think that all the engines in A Classes are Renault units now?
The Infiniti's never came with the 1.3, it was the 1.6T & 2.0T only.

The 1.3 can have an issue with it's thermostat housing so that's something to keep an eye on.

The cars you're looking at are the mewer gen but as I said before I'd go for the 2.0t it's the more proven drivetrain.

dm2583

Original Poster:

10 posts

157 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Premium Plus i'd the pick spec wise, personally I'd go for the 2.0 engine the 1.3 Nissan unit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508315...
I knew one of the engines was French but wasn’t sure which one!