Help... new to me car...

[454697819]

Right..

I am fed up with crap cars... I have to have one for work, I have had 10 in six years, mainly to them being crap. My curret 02 Laguna is breaking more and more evry day, although when it comes together it does what it should...and well (big fat french tourer)

So I want you lot.. (well those that drive) to reccomend me a car based on the following ...it MUST HAVE

Auto Box (Fiance only has auto Licence)
leather or part leather
Not bother about engine size up to 2.5 L is fine
Under £10k
Be a little special ( i.e good to look at and or drive very well)
Dont mind it being powerful, providing its not in your face (so the kitten does know its power)
up to 60k miles dependant on year.
3 door minimum and no 2 seaters.

I have been looking at 05 plates Audi A3 tdi S Lines and Jag S types Sports etc but Jag wont be around for much longer and Audi's are too common (but very good)

or something like a Navara - Aventura?

help... too much choice!

[wyrdness]

Saab 9-3 Convertible?
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?deriv=25713&plate=73
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?deriv=25711&plate=73

Or just a normal 9-3?
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?deriv=23299&plate=77

The diesels are supposed to be very good too.
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?deriv=28646&plate=77

[pmapp]

I had a Nissan Navara Aventura (pickup) for just over two years. That was auto, leather interior, all the toys etc. It was easy to drive, really comfortable* (and I mean reeeeeeeally). It's slight downside was it's turning circle, but nothing really to grumble at.

Fuel wise averaged 29-30 mile to the gallon if driven sensibly. It was pretty quick off the line and quite happy to sit at 80 on the M-way. The pickup was quite wallowy (sp?) in corners, but once you got used to it, it was quite fun. Was capable of upsetting others.

They can be had for less than 10k now due to the tax costs etc, the value has dropped massivly on 'em.

I can't really comment on long term ownership as I didn't have it long enough. Probably not a right lot of help, but a bit of info all the same.

*Drove to the Isle of Skye in it, 9 hours constant, only stopped at Glasgow for a brew, pee and refuel and we were off again. Got out with no aches or pains and could quite happily of carried on driving.

[andyb]

Brother had just bought a BMW 325CI M Sport for £8.5k from a dealer. Being a coupe it looks quite nice, has around 200ish BHP and is large enough for four adults.He says it drives very very well too. Has everything you are asking for...leather etc. I'd go and take a look around some dealers.

[gettin2dizzy]

Just get a ford focus :thumbsup:

[454697819]

usefull.. thanks Guys...

Pmapp..did much go wrong with the Navara? My fear of buying it myself is the cost when it foes wrong... i can possibly get one though the company you see..?

[454697819]

Just get a ford focus :thumbsup:

had one..

the auto boxes sapped all the "power" and got 24mpg... was also made of cheese...Drove well though 05 plate GHIA model

[gettin2dizzy]

had one..

the auto boxes sapped all the "power" and got 24mpg... was also made of cheese...Drove well though 05 plate GHIA model
The diesel is great. Just make sure it's a TDCI. More torque than a Mondeo St220!

[fizzwheel]

I really like our Focus TDCi its fun and responsive to drive, and its frugal to. I had 506 miles out of a tank full of diesel the other week.

I like Mondeo's they're also really nice to drive as well.

I'd be plumping for something German TBH though with your budget, Golf, Passat if you want a bit bigger, A3 or A4, I also think that BMW's are using their driven by c*ck reputation so 3 or 5 series as well.

Dont rule out the Skoda Octavia, which is basically an A4 underneath, the VRS is very well spec'd and also good value for money to.

[chris8886]

I really like our Focus TDCi its fun and responsive to drive, and its frugal to. I had 506 miles out of a tank full of diesel the other week.

I like Mondeo's they're also really nice to drive as well.

I'd be plumping for something German TBH though with your budget, Golf, Passat if you want a bit bigger, A3 or A4, I also think that BMW's are using their driven by c*ck reputation so 3 or 5 series as well.

Dont rule out the Skoda Octavia, which is basically an A4 underneath, the VRS is very well spec'd and also good value for money to.

just what i was thinking, but would also consider ford, saab and volvo. pretty well known for reliability and plentiful parts for fixing and your local mechanic will probably know what to do on them. so no need to be going to stealers for repairs etc.

could you stand the shame of owning a skoda? ;)

[pmapp]

usefull.. thanks Guys...

Pmapp..did much go wrong with the Navara? My fear of buying it myself is the cost when it foes wrong... i can possibly get one though the company you see..?

Well we had 4 at work, mine went in twice as I kept getting an engine fault light, which ended up being something and nothing, a loose earth bond I think. Other than that I don't think there were any other real problems. Mine did once go into "limp home mode" after sitting in traffic for 2 hours - but that is not a problem as such.

I really did enjoy having it, and do miss it now (well it's 4 wheel drive and heated seats :mrgreen:).

There was apparantly a problem with the drive shafts on that particular model (D40) but we never had any issues.



I do now have a Ford Focus "climate" - woooooooooo. I must say that it does everything it says on the tin. Only let down is it's a bit lacking in power (1.6 petrol).

[Paul the 6th]

http://www.autofilmy.info/images/stories/mondeo1/800px-Ford_Mondeo_ST220_Blue.jpg

Tonnes of car for your money, the 2.2 turbo diesel ("ST220") will chow less fuel than the petrol st220 but still give enough torque. I've got the basic 2.0 tdci lx model which has the heated screen, aircon, cruise control, electric seats, 0-60 in around 9 seconds on my basic diesel (and it's only the 115bhp version - probably a fair bit quicker on the st220), pretty good handling imo and the servicing costs are amazing.

170 quid for a full service, never ever had one single problem with my mondeo in 45,000 miles of ownership (coming upto 2 and a half years), MOT, 2 new front tyres and fitting ebc greenstuff pads to the front cost me 120 quid just before xmas. Spare parts are cheap and plentiful and they look great :) oh and the fuel consumption on mine is around 50mpg, squeezing 550 motorway miles out of a full tank (55 litres)

Here's one for £8k, half leather, 18inch alloys, climate control & aircon, full service history, doesn't say how many miles on the add but "Under 20k miles" was in the search criteria, and there's 7 others under 20,000 miles all for between £7,000 and £10,000

[fizzwheel]

could you stand the shame of owning a skoda? ;)

Yep and we did we had a Fabia for a little while, it was a great little car. Anything that Skoda have produced in the last few years is more VAG than Skoda anyway...

[Mr Speirs]

Wanna buy my Lexus??? It aint Auto tho

[454697819]

ST220 ... Nice but I NEED AUTO...

I cant turn around and go... ooooh look new car.. sorry kitten ur not driving it!

useful though thanks guys..

[Paul the 6th]

ah shizzle, sorry I forgot about that during the search.

Found this one for 1800 quid?

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=862992857

same idea lol

[Biker Biggles]

Theres a reason Audis are common.Good cars,and used to be known as the poor mans Merc,but less of the poor man these days.

[454697819]

lol... Paul.. nice.. love the colour... but I already have a poc as a car... i do not want another lol.

Biggles - My uncle has one and it has been faultless that I know of, hes done 100k in 5 years (A4 a.9 tdi Sport) and still looks great. Randomly expensive to insure though!

[454697819]

this is the sort of thing I was thinking..

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=855024382

[Paul the 6th]

is that the sportback? I've always liked the audis, just seems in recent years they're all driven by *****.. and not because jeremy clarkson has started saying it - although he is right, my friends have been saying it for about 2 years. It has replaced the bmw as the ultimate nobster car (especially on motorways for some reason)

anyone else noticed this?

[fizzwheel]

Guy I work with has one of them, its a very nice car, dont rule out the Golf, its exactly the same underneath, except its cheaper as it doesnt have an Audi Badge on the front of it.

[454697819]

oooh good point

[fizzwheel]

oooh good point

This kinda of thing, but it hasnt got leather or half leather...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLKSWAGEN+GOLF/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-23-63-240-4294966995-4294967159/advert.action?R=200845322685915&distance=60&postcode=ba20+2ne&channel=CARS&make=VOLKSWAGEN&model=GOLF&min_pr=&max_pr=9000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=2005&vehicleRegLetter=05

[Paul the 6th]

those diesel gti's are meant to be super fast. A friend had one and got it chipped... It was "pushing 400 torques" when he had it dyno'd - super fast :)

[fizzwheel]

The A3 has the same engine in, Just make sure its the 2 litre diesel and not the 1.9 as the 2l makes more power and its more refined.

The chap I work with has the 2 litre diesel and its pushing out 170bhp as standard..

[454697819]

they are sooper nice, could be onto a winner...

It will have to wait a little bit, but If I have to spend two more weekends under the car its going regardless of the cost.

[kwak zzr]

3 year old merc c180 cdi?
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/kwak-zzr/n522058829_520827_9880.jpg

[speedplay]

My company car is a honda accord i-cdti 2.2 sport.
Bit of a mouthfull i know but....it does 55 to the gallon if driven properly, is more than capable of upsetting hot hatch drivers, comes with every toy you could possibly ever want in a car and is really comfy too. These things are pretty cheap 2nd hand now as there are a few of them around and the newer shape (my next one :) ) has hit the 2nd hand price too.

I commute from northampton to the office in coventry in it every day ( and I have reason to believe it will do 140 down the M45...so I have heard ;) )

[richie95]

ahhhh listen to this;
over last 5 years i have had 2 lease cars (through the company) first was the new shape A3 2.0 TDi SE, pretty quick with 140bhp, it kept going in for the sliding seat catch breaking (3 door, told it was common) and the clutch went twice (probably my driving as i tend to ride the clutch, the second was an A4 2.0T s-line special edition, fast as feck got 140 out of it, 220 bhp, really nice car. but... given that with lease car (company car) my tax was affected and i could only claim 10p per mile left me out of pocket and although i had a nice company car i started to get a bit rilled about it. so i gave back car paid 7.5k for a high mileague 3 series e90 bmw and get 44p per mile from work and not taxed as company car, now the miles i get paid for cover cost of car... its only 320i but its reasaonbly fast 150 bhp (why have high bhp thats why i have motorbike!!!!!!) and its pretty decent to drive, maybe try auction for ex-lease with a good mechanic... get a good deal...
limit of my experience

Richie

[454697819]

3 year old merc c180 cdi?
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/kwak-zzr/n522058829_520827_9880.jpg


nice... but I just plain dont like mercs... sorry

[kwak zzr]

and the hand brake is poo if i gotta comment too. i had a passat Tdi before the merc 2004 model but it bored the pants off me i kept that car for a grand total of 6months! good car, built well, good mpg but BORING!

[chris8886]

Yep and we did we had a Fabia for a little while, it was a great little car. Anything that Skoda have produced in the last few years is more VAG than Skoda anyway...

shame on you man, a weeks ban from the forum is required me thinks :p

My company car is a honda accord i-cdti 2.2 sport.
Bit of a mouthfull i know but....it does 55 to the gallon if driven properly, is more than capable of upsetting hot hatch drivers, comes with every toy you could possibly ever want in a car and is really comfy too. These things are pretty cheap 2nd hand now as there are a few of them around and the newer shape (my next one :) ) has hit the 2nd hand price too.

I commute from northampton to the office in coventry in it every day ( and I have reason to believe it will do 140 down the M45...so I have heard ;) )

i'd forgotten, my dad has one of these!! as a company car too. it's a really nice car, far better than the last one (a nissan almera). really does have loads of gadgets, worth a look.

[embee]

Whatever you decide on, check out the J.D.Power survey results and just see where it comes in the table. This survey is probably the most respected one in the auto industry, it reflects owners' experience of living with the cars and having to pay for them, not what some journalist on a jolly thinks of it.

http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/75881243591.jpg
[/URL]
[URL]http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=232612 (http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=232622&EL=3243809)

[Jabba]

Mazda 6. End of.

Totally reliable, well made, great to drive, comfortable and hightly rated as a used buy.

I have an '07-reg 2.0TD TS2 with the 143bhp engine. Best car I've ever had.

Don't think they do auto-boxes on the TD versions, but petrol engines good, frugal and reliable. Perky too :-)

[mattSV]

The A3 has the same engine in, Just make sure its the 2 litre diesel and not the 1.9 as the 2l makes more power and its more refined.

The chap I work with has the 2 litre diesel and its pushing out 170bhp as standard..

I had a golf hire car with that lump in, along with the dsg gearbox (GT Sport) - awesome bit of kit, in automode it was spinning the wheels in 1st & 2nd, and still chirping when it shifted in to 3rd. Mind you, holding it at the lights with the left foot, giving it about 4000rpm then sidestepping the brake probably helped :mrgreen:

Thought it was a great car, responsive steering, quick ,and still did over 40mpg - if you can find one for £10k then it would be a good option.

[Dan]

Right..

I am fed up with crap cars... I have to have one for work, I have had 10 in six years, mainly to them being crap. My curret 02 Laguna is breaking more and more evry day, although when it comes together it does what it should...and well (big fat french tourer)

So I want you lot.. (well those that drive) to reccomend me a car based on the following ...it MUST HAVE

Auto Box (Fiance only has auto Licence)
leather or part leather
Not bother about engine size up to 2.5 L is fine
Under £10k
Be a little special ( i.e good to look at and or drive very well)
Dont mind it being powerful, providing its not in your face (so the kitten does know its power)
up to 60k miles dependant on year.
3 door minimum and no 2 seaters.

I have been looking at 05 plates Audi A3 tdi S Lines and Jag S types Sports etc but Jag wont be around for much longer and Audi's are too common (but very good)

or something like a Navara - Aventura?

help... too much choice!

E39 5 series. I have an early 96 528iSE which has all the toys, and cost me £1800. 10K will get you a lovely top spec low miler with everything, and change to spare for fuel and insurance.

Something like this one (http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+5+SERIES/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-24-86-240-4294967178-4294967202/advert.action?R=200816308133592&distance=50&postcode=DH1+5HE&channel=CARS&make=BMW&model=5+SERIES&min_pr=7000&max_pr=10000&max_mileage=&vehicleYearOfManufacture=2002&vehicleRegLetter=52)...

Alternatively, your 10K will buy you a newer shape 5 series, but the E39 is still regarded by many as the best car BMW have ever built. Put it like this, my 117K, 13 year old car still drives like new, and if I could be ar$ed it'd even polish up very nicely.

[TazDaz]

You can pick up a decent auto volvo for about 10k nowadays...

Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-07-Reg-Volvo-S80-2-4-D5-SE-New-Shape_W0QQitemZ190276868453QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAuto mobiles_UK?hash=item190276868453&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A7|39%3A1|240%3A1318