Sorry, another what car - need help!

[scam73]

About to start a new job so need a comfy car for spending all day in attending sales appt's, 30k miles + pa. I'm 6"5' so need space, have two big dogs so large hatch or estate and ideally would like auto with a good turn of speed but with really good economy.

This car is just gonna be used to do miles, have spent fortunes on cars previously like brand new 330d's etc and just sh@t money unnecessarily so not looking to spend more than £5k.

I know it's a small budget but just want a disposable, reliable motor with comfort, space and economy.

Ideally modern looking without a vauxhall or ford badge too, I'm a bit of a snob,

Any ideas?

Many thanks!

[spikeyhead]

A Passat, or Octavia estate, though for £5k you'd be a lot better off with an Astra, Vecra, Focus or Mondeo.

[Gargamel]

tough criteria

fast & Automatic - with great fuel economy
Big enough for you plus two dogs - but economical
budget 5k but you're a badge snob

plenty of contradictions here

Honda CRV (mine did 32-35 mpg on a 2.2 diesel)
Honda Accord Estate
Alfa Romeo 155 Sportwagon
BMW 3 series tourer

good luck

[robsco]

156 Gargamel?

[Torquey]

A jag x type?

[Gargamel]

robsco said:

156 Gargamel?

yes sorry, 156. What was the previous model alfa that was a tourer

[scam73]

Thanks but I don't mean fast I just mean not slow, I.e less than 10 to 60 mph, the car I keep thinking of is a v70 d5, I like the look of them most so far, had loads of audis and bm's before.

Problem is at my price level I'm looking at v70's/9-5's on an 03 plate 120k miles plus, OR 05 plate mondeos, vectras with 80k miles....

Would a Volvo with 120k be tighter and no less reliable than a mondeo with 80k?

[Gargamel]

don't know on reliability but the parts on a volvo will be more expensive

[chrisispringles]

BMW 530d se touring: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Mercedes E320 CDi: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Volvo V70 D5: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[scam73]

Update, what are your thoughts on this? If I forgo a boot for dogs and diesel economy, i have spotted alfa 166 2.0 twin sparks that look great, 51 plate, 100k miles, around £1.8k!! That leaves £3k for fuel insurance and buy a hatch for shipping dogs about!

Thoughts on 166's?

[jbi]

166 is a good car with supposedly better reliability than your average alfa.

Shame it never took off

[chrisispringles]

My dad's got a Volvo 850 with 120k on the clock and it feels tight as a drum and we had a T5 that lasted until 200k and it only died because of an accident on the ice last winter, apart from slight issues with 3rd because that's the gear he'd use for accelerating and a rattly bootlid trim from being rear ended 7 years ago, it was absolutely solid, even started on the button at -13C.