£5.5k, lots of motorway miles - what car?

[vinnie83]

Ok I'm looking to get a new workhorse, and have a budget of max £5,500.

It needs to be diesel, and have air con and no more than 85k miles - auto would be a bonus. I do about 20k miles a year, of which 15k are motorway miles.

I am currently looking at the following :

BMW E39 525d or 530d (preferably sport)

BMW E46 320d or 530d (again sport would be nice)

Audi A4 or A6 (don't know much about these so no idea which ones)

I am open to suggestions... I'd like something a little PHish if possible, something that looks smart, and can move when needed.

Suggestions are welcome!

Edited by vinnie83 on Saturday 19th June 13:20

[plg]

I think your budget is too low for the cars you mention - you'll struggle to get an A6 for that price.

For big miles and comfy seats, try a Volvo V70 diesel?

[Fox-]

I would not touch a 5 Series Sport with a diesel engine for £5.5k. It's not going to be a great example, if there even exists such a car with 85k or less miles. They also dont do a 520d in the UK thankfully, the E39 was the last 5 Series to only have proper 6 cylinder engines or bigger.

[Chunky La Funga]

A Peugeot 407 or a Vectra would ride better and be a more comfortable place to spend motorway miles than any of those cars TBH.

[andy-xr]

It's not very exciting but a TDCi Mondeo does that perfectly and you'd still have change from a 60k miler to do something interesting with

[StevieS]

Jaguar X-Type?

[vinnie83]

Sorry I meant to type 525d - changed my original post.

I did spot a few 530's and A6 1.9's but there weren't many and I did suspect potential moneypits..

I think it's probably a simular story for an E46, plenty of petrol models but not many diesels... wishful thinking maybe!

Always wanted a 530d sport... what would a reasonable one cost?


What about something like :

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1726109.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1653969.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1695118.htm



Jag X-Type, the diesels seem to be about £7k mark... lots of petrol V6's unfortunately....

Mondeo, 307, Vectra, all great suggestions, but I was hoping for something a little nicer looking

Maybe I'll have to squeeze a slightly bigger budget...

[Parabola]

How about an Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTd? I do about 25K miles a year in mine. Well under budget and looks great!
Something like this

[vinnie83]

Some of the deisel 5 series that got me thinking :

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1804142.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1783201.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1800993.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1790682.htm


Or should I just burn my money now?

[Tallbut Buxomly]

No chance of an a6 or a4 in decent condition or with those engines for that money.
Even if you got an a6 for that money it will be slow as st. Also either in auto is a bad move.

Skip audi next....

[Fox-]

vinnie83 said:

Some of the deisel 5 series that got me thinking :

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1804142.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1783201.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1800993.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1790682.htm


Or should I just burn my money now?

First one seems a bit cheap.

Second one is priced about right if not a bit over - but as you can see it's not a Sport and it's 11 years old.

Third one is at Munich Legends who are not known for really cheap cars. No mileage listed, so expect at least 150k.

Fourth one is the best of the lot - it isnt a Sport and its a 525d which is why its £5k. The rest are £5k because there is something iffy about them.

[delmatt]

Only one really good car for that money and requirement for motorway miles and cost etc.

Volvo S60 D5.

On my third have spent slightly more on the last two but they work well into stupid miles if well maintained. Nice to drive, quite fast and very very economical.

[berg1]

delmatt said:

Only one really good car for that money and requirement for motorway miles and cost etc.

Volvo S60 D5.

On my third have spent slightly more on the last two but they work well into stupid miles if well maintained. Nice to drive, quite fast and very very economical.

+1
However I have the ovlov S80 D5. Huge car, V relaxing on a run and great economy

[300bhp/ton]

vinnie83 said:

Ok I'm looking to get a new workhorse, and have a budget of max £5,500.

It needs to be diesel, and have air con and no more than 85k miles - auto would be a bonus. I do about 20k miles a year, of which 15k are motorway miles.

I am currently looking at the following :

BMW E39 525d or 530d (preferably sport)

BMW E46 320d or 530d (again sport would be nice)

Audi A4 or A6 (don't know much about these so no idea which ones)

I am open to suggestions... I'd like something a little PHish if possible, something that looks smart, and can move when needed.

Suggestions are welcome!

Edited by vinnie83 on Saturday 19th June 13:20

Jag X-Type or MG ZT Tdci.

[H_Kan]

Not going to be a great steer, but a Passat tdi would probably be a pleasant enough way to munch motorway miles.

A bit left field, but the Citroen C5 would be a awesomely comfortable place to while away the time.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1797188.htm


I think the Beemer and Audi derves in your price range are going to be dogs. Aside from the last one you linked, the others all look a bit ropey and I would touch a 5 series without leather. It'll be a pain to shift as most buyers will expect that.

[Escort2dr]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

No chance of an a6 or a4 in decent condition or with those engines for that money.

That's not true - had a few A4s around this price range and they have been bulletproof.

[tomtom]

Fox- said:

Third one is at Munich Legends who are not known for really cheap cars. No mileage listed, so expect at least 150k.

It says 120k in the ad.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Escort2dr said:

Tallbut Buxomly said:

No chance of an a6 or a4 in decent condition or with those engines for that money.

That's not true - had a few A4s around this price range and they have been bulletproof.

Pre 2001/2000 b5 chassis maybe yes but not b6 onwards id find that very hard to believe.

[rastamanblues]

Fox- said:

I would not touch a 5 Series Sport with a diesel engine for £5.5k. It's not going to be a great example, if there even exists such a car with 85k or less miles. They also dont do a 520d in the UK thankfully, the E39 was the last 5 Series to only have proper 6 cylinder engines or bigger.

Really? Why not?

Admitidly mine was picked up with a few more miles, circa 110k iirc, 2001 530D Sport, manual, in a very high spec. I would say it was a qute looked after example. Nothing bar servicing/tyres has been needed. Yeah it will be a struggle/nearly impossbile I imagine to get what the OP wants. But if they compromised on miles then it is easily achievable. Why a limit of 85k max? I picked mine up on 110k, and I'm putting an additional 4k a month on it.

[Matthew_Eames]

delmatt said:

Only one really good car for that money and requirement for motorway miles and cost etc.

Volvo S60 D5.

On my third have spent slightly more on the last two but they work well into stupid miles if well maintained. Nice to drive, quite fast and very very economical.

This

Not exciting but exceptionally comfortable and a lovely place to be

A 530d is a great car, but one that holds potential big bills (to the tune of around £1k) if you have a turbo, injectors or swirl flap go....all of which are known issues with the car, also the diesels hold a premium which although worth it for your mileage, take it out of your budget I would say.

I know they are not the best built, but I would be very tempted by this @4750 (£4500 easy and a grand in pocket to cover any issues)
Is mileage really an issue, once they have gone over 100k you make a huge saving and it doesn't really represent anything more than a number on the speedo at this cost.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1800499.htm