Can I do better for £4k or less?

[OMNIO]

Been looking for a car to buy in a few months time.
It will used around town mainly but want a quiet comfy motorway cruiser as I do 300 mile round trips occasionally.

I have been eyeing up a few 2004 - 2006 reg Saab 9-3 Aeros as they seem good value for money and not too bad on insurance for a 210bhp car. I have read an encouraging review on the Saab sub-forum as well.

Is there anything out there I should be considering?

The basic criteria is;
Comfy
Quiet on the motorway at normal motorway speeds and not revving its nuts off at 80mph
Fairly frugal…. Mileage won't be huge but mid to high 20s round town and mid to high 30s on a runs would've nice
Reasonable insurance
Reliable.
Manual

I have looked at bmws in that price range but milages are galactic. Cars with similar performance are also a lot more to insure. Not really after an Audi as I currently drive one and fancy a change.

[300bhp/ton]

OMNIO said:

Been looking for a car to buy in a few months time.
It will used around town mainly but want a quiet comfy motorway cruiser as I do 300 mile round trips occasionally.

I have been eyeing up a few 2004 - 2006 reg Saab 9-3 Aeros as they seem good value for money and not too bad on insurance for a 210bhp car. I have read an encouraging review on the Saab sub-forum as well.

Is there anything out there I should be considering?

The basic criteria is;
Comfy
Quiet on the motorway at normal motorway speeds and not revving its nuts off at 80mph
Fairly frugal…. Mileage won't be huge but mid to high 20s round town and mid to high 30s on a runs would've nice
Reasonable insurance
Reliable.
Manual

I have looked at bmws in that price range but milages are galactic. Cars with similar performance are also a lot more to insure. Not really after an Audi as I currently drive one and fancy a change.

There's really no shortage of choice at this price range, be it some sort of large engined Alfa, Volvo, Ford or Vauxhall.

You can also nab a bargain of a luxury brand such as Jag or a larger BMW too if you want. Although mpg might take a hit.

Jag X or S Type or a big Volvo would be on my hit list I daresay.

[anonymous-user]

What about a Lexus is200/300, reliable as anything, decent enough interior and supportive seats (usually heated) Not that fast but they sound lovely and handle fantastically. 2005 Model sports come with loads of kit as standard, I get around 25-30 mpg around the city and 35 - 40 on a run cruising in 6th gear

[Riknos]

Accord? Big, comfy, bombproof.

[Grenoble]

You won't get 35-40mpg from an IS300...

[Bonefish Blues]

Why not get a 9-5 Aero instead as you're already looking at Saabs?

[NISMOgtr]

Riknos said:

Accord? Big, comfy, bombproof.

+1 for the Accord. Comes with a lot of kit - heated seats, cruise, auto windscreen wipers etc.

[OMNIO]

Bonefish Blues said:

Why not get a 9-5 Aero instead as you're already looking at Saabs?

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I'll get some quotes when I get home.

Not going for a 9-5 as I don't want / need a car that big. Our drive is pretty narrow and parking on street is fairly limited.

I should probably add that I'm 23 and need to speak with insurers to find out if they take my ncb earned as a named driver into account. I'm basing insurance on 0 ncb at the moment but I have 5 years as a named driver.

[CurvaParabolica]

I have the same set of criteria as you OP and I've got a 2005 9-3 Aero; first owner had it chipped so it have 230 bhp (apparently). Anyway 3 years in and it has been very reliable; no engine or electrical issues to speak of; although there are a few squeaks (cabin fan) and beeps (parking sensors don't like the wet) but on the whole it's been really good to me. Averages 30 mpg on my mix of M25 and A-road commutes. I've done 4x 1-day trips from Aberdeen to Surrey in it in the past few months and it really helps that the seats are very comfy.

The ride around town isn't great tbh but it's not the worst. I've gone from 80k miles to 130k in 3 years and everything is still original and in perfect working order - turbo, clutch, gearbox etc. Try and get a car with the sat-nav option; it's a pain to update the sat nav but the interior looks a little better with the screen in the console rather than the standard green-text radio.

[billzeebub]

BMW E46 325.4dr? Maybe the 320?..though even the 318 has much appeal. Six cylinder models the ones to have if you can find a good one and insurance allows. The economy will surprise you on a run. Around town mid 20s, careful right foot on open road should easily see mid 30s. My tip would be to go with condition, history and 'lack of being fkerd about with' over all else. At this price level these are far more important than alloys, colour, interior and gadgets. Buy privately from first or second owner usually brings best results in price/longevity trade off.

[320touring]

OMNIO said:

Been looking for a car to buy in a few months time.
It will used around town mainly but want a quiet comfy motorway cruiser as I do 300 mile round trips occasionally.

I have been eyeing up a few 2004 - 2006 reg Saab 9-3 Aeros as they seem good value for money and not too bad on insurance for a 210bhp car. I have read an encouraging review on the Saab sub-forum as well.

Is there anything out there I should be considering?

The basic criteria is;
Comfy
Quiet on the motorway at normal motorway speeds and not revving its nuts off at 80mph
Fairly frugal…. Mileage won't be huge but mid to high 20s round town and mid to high 30s on a runs would've nice
Reasonable insurance
Reliable.
Manual

I have looked at bmws in that price range but milages are galactic. Cars with similar performance are also a lot more to insure. Not really after an Audi as I currently drive one and fancy a change.

I've had a prev generation 9-3 to the one you're looking at, and my mate has a 9-5 of the same gen as the 9-3 you speak of.

They are reasonably comfy, if a bit "uninvolving"

Quiet, yep

I got 40mpg on motorway commuting just nursing along at 60mph, my mate gets low 30's driving like he stole it

Insurance was reasonable

Both suffered from H/gasket failures, mine was a 2.0t7 2.0, and his was a 2.3. They also like to "Sludge" up if run on incorrect oil

Manual, yep, but having to select reverse to get the key out is a PITA!



For £4k or less, why not get an MG 180 v6 estate,and have £2000 of a slush fund?

[Bonefish Blues]

OMNIO said:

Not going for a 9-5 as I don't want / need a car that big. Our drive is pretty narrow and parking on street is fairly limited.

Apropos of nothing (but mainly because it's lunchtime) it's a little bigger than the 9-3, but perhaps not by as much as you'd imagine, looking at them.

4629/1936 (9-3) plays
4805/2042 (9-5)

[Tyre Smoke]

Volvo V70?