Car, what should I buy

[timwilky]

Budget is around £10,000

I need to be able to seat 5 adults, comfortable for 150 plus mile journeys.
Must have boot capacity for at least 3 large suitcases. In the past Passat failed this basic requirement. Looks like it has a boot. but a useless one.

Reasonable performance and last at least 5 years

annual mileage 8,000

Any recommendations, I have been looking at Modeos, Insignias, 508 etc. What else should I look at?

[ibby33]

I have an insignia estate 2.0 diesel Ecoflex
Best car I've ever bought. 700 miles to a tank.

[timwilky]

Yes, the 2.0 Diesel looks the better. The 1.8 Petrol appears to be a little underpowered. My last Vauxhall was a 2006 1.9D Vectra SRI which has clouded my judgment when it comes to Vauxhall as it was lacking refinement, nav system was CD based and cost a fortune to update. Not exactly comfy for a long journey and for a diesel quite thirty.

But most worrying was at 900 miles the oil level dropped sufficiently for the level light to come on. I topped it up but there after had to keep any eye on it. Worrying for a brand new car with a 20,000 service interval if you were the sort not to do anything under the bonnet.

[Bluepete]

Skoda Superb.

I love mine. Limousine cruising, plenty of power and 55 plus mpg.


Pete

[Red Herring]

One of these all day long. Barely run in as well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-BMW-5...item417f6cf9e3

[Littlepeahead]

Tim I just paid that for my 7 series, see my thread on IB, it's just so comfortable, big boot, pretty economical, and unlike many of the 5 series it doesn't rattle or feel plasticity. Maybe a slightly leftfield choice, but due to the depreciation on them you can get a lot of car in great condition for your budget and I reckon you'd easily get 5 years out of one.

[Biker Biggles]

For 8000 mile a year I wouldnt get a diesel.Too many potential expensive problems with modern ones compared to petrol,and not enough fuel savings to offset the risk.

[Jayneflakes]

Now don't dismiss this right away, but a good friend of mine has just bought a new Kia. The car is lovely, is very economical and has a nice interior.

It also has a seven year guarantee! The insurance is cheap and who would want to nick a Kia? The best part? It cost the same as a five year old Mazda.

In my view the Mazda was prettier, but I was not the one trundling up the motorway for two hundred miles per day, five days a week for work.

Have a look at them and see if they appeal.

[yorkie_chris]

Skoda, absolutely.
As late as 2010 you can find the PD engines which aren't as bad as modern common-fail sh*te.

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Skoda, absolutely.
As late as 2010 you can find the PD engines which aren't as bad as modern common-fail sh*te.

2nd that, we bought one of the 2010 1.6td Fabias, what a pile of rubbish. Kept it a year before chopping it in in an almost direct swop for a 2009 1.9t model which is better to drive, better on fuel, and far more reliable.