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Advice on a 'family' car? £5-8k


Homer

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The wife's 13 year old Astra needs to be replaced so we're looking for a 2nd hand, sensible, car. I'm totally out of touch with what's available so welcome any suggestions and ideas from you knowledgeable lot :)

 

We have between £5-8k to spent, but it can be a little flexible. The missus would much prefer a BMW 3 series but the price of these puts me off a bit. She also mentioned a Toureg but I imagine the running costs will be pretty high.

 

Must have's:

- 4 door

- Modern safety points for child seats (Planning for future ;) )

- Turbo Diesel, or very fuel efficient

- Must have average performance or better (i.e. sub 10s 0-60)

- 8 years or newer (newer preferred)

 

Must not's (This is the wife's doing):

- Be a Skoda or similar 'cr*ppy' badge. Yes, I know....

- No estates

- No auto's

- No red cars (FFS!!)

 

The 320d saloon ticks pretty much all boxes but they are quite pricey (comparatively), so I'm really looking for sensible alternatives to that. Are the Focus, Astra or Golf worth considering?

 

Any advice is welcome :)

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MK6 Golf 2.0 TDi 140hp.

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/volkswagen/golf-mk5-mk6/volkswagen-golf-gt-2-0-tdi-140-5dr-sharp-example-fsh-inc-cambelt/4410409

 

Nice car to drive, and more than quick enough while still being very frugal on long journeys. I've driven several and much prefer them to the equivalent A3, which has a very harsh ride IMO. A friend of mine has a 5 door mk6 that she had since before her son was born, and it hasn't caused her any issues with getting a pram in etc.

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Get get her a 320d, if you get one 8 years old then they would have lost a large chuck of the depreciation. They are good cars, just overpriced new.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201502130930973?transmission=manual&channel=cars&maximum-age=up_to_8_years_old&sort=default&maximum-mileage=up_to_70000_miles&model=3_series&price-to=8000&fuel-type=diesel&price-from=6000&radius=1500&page=1&postcode=e148ss&search-target=usedcars&make=bmw&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

 

Failing that, what about a Lexus IS220d? Fantastic cars, great to drive, interior is lovely too and looks nice on the outside and then you have the reliability as well.

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If you want value for money I would possibly look at a Kia Sportage or Pugeot 3008. We bought a top spec 3008 from new in 2010. Was a tad over £20K. Has every extra you can imagine. We went for the 1.6 turbo deisel engine. This will not give you a sub 10 sec 0-60 but it's an OK drive.

 

Average MPG is around 54, and that is predominantly short trip at the moment.

 

It's done 89k miles with minimal issues. So reliability hasn't been an issue for us. For a good few years the wife was doing a 100+ mile daily round trip to work and back.

 

If you could get over the badge snobbery it's a great car. Could probably pick up the 2 ltr deisel engine with low miles and loads of toys for you budget.

 

Loads of room both up front, for passengers and in the boot.

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Kia, Hyundai, Toyota. Wouldn't touch anything from anywhere in Europe. It's all unnecessary, over complicated, stupid technology and it all breaks. Very rarely does anything Japanese come in for repairs, only maintenance. Literally everything that comes in on the back of a lorry is French or German. Infact, as much as it pains me to say it, but the French are doing better with reliability at the moment than BMW/Audi/Merc!

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Contrary to Ben's opinion I would have an Alfa.

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-romeo/159/alfa-romeo-159-1-9-jtdm-16v-lusso-4dr/4351990

 

Love the look of them and the reliability of the 159 was excellent from what I can gather since to guy from BMW joined them. Not sure about servicing costs etc though.

 

If I didn't have a company car I would buy one of these in TI spec.

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Not really contributing much here, just chipping in that I'd love an Alfa at some point - just their shocking reliability worries me! There are some great Spider and GT bargains to be found at the moment.

 

As for the family car, my sister in law had a 3 series diesel, was a very good car in their ownership to my recollection. You do see them everywhere mind and they are pretty uninspiring - not bad performance (like most diesels), but just felt a bit generic. I think they only got rid in the end because changing the tyres was so costly (being runflats) and seemed with their average mileage they were doing them more than expected. Could have been an imbalance somewhere I suppose, but they were happy with it other than that.

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Kia, Hyundai, Toyota. Wouldn't touch anything from anywhere in Europe. It's all unnecessary, over complicated, stupid technology and it all breaks. Very rarely does anything Japanese come in for repairs, only maintenance. Literally everything that comes in on the back of a lorry is French or German. Infact, as much as it pains me to say it, but the French are doing better with reliability at the moment than BMW/Audi/Merc!

 

I'd have an is220 or an avensis or a Mondeo.

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Contrary to Ben's opinion I would have an Alfa.

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-romeo/159/alfa-romeo-159-1-9-jtdm-16v-lusso-4dr/4351990

 

Love the look of them and the reliability of the 159 was excellent from what I can gather since to guy from BMW joined them. Not sure about servicing costs etc though.

 

If I didn't have a company car I would buy one of these in TI spec.

 

The 1.9 Diesel engine's aren't actually that bad in those. Saab, Fiat and Vauxhall all use it too. They do look nice. It's the quality that lets them down.

 

I'm going to punch myself in the face now for bigging up an Alfa!

 

Get the Focus. It'll be reliable, cheap to run (with the cheapest spare parts too) and it drives better than a Golf or Astra. No-brainer!

 

That.

 

I'd have an is220 or an avensis or a Mondeo.

 

That too.

 

The newer Mundane-o diesel uses the Peugeot 2.0HDI lump, which isn't a bad engine. Everyone's using them. Ford, Peugeot, Citroen, Volvo to name a few.

 

The Avensis' are actually nice cars. Toss up between the Toyota and a Lexus though, it's always gonna be the Lexus.

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My family barge is a 2007 Audi A6 TDI (3.0 quattro) and I have no complaints it's a lot of car for the money. The boot is enormous, good build quality, bags or torque and for a car that weighs as much as a small planet it handles pretty well as well. Mine is worth around £5k now so you could get the newer shape within your budget.

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Looks pretty good that, though what's betting Nisha has put Ford's into the crappy badges category?! :D

 

Believe it or not, Ford is one of the best badges going just now. It's the stigma attached to it that people can't see past.

 

I'm currently driving a 535D and I've been looking at the new-ish Mondeo's to replace it. I doubt I would get another BMW unless it was something silly fun. We've got the older shape ST TDCi and it's a fantastic car. Nothing like the powerhouse of the 5 Series and nowhere near the drive, just about everything else is better though. It's more comfortable, the stereo is better, the ride is better, the boot is bigger, the cruise control is better and it's miles cheaper overall.

 

I don't hesitate recommending Ford nowadays. Choose the right engine and you really can't go wrong.

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Get get her a 320d, if you get one 8 years old then they would have lost a large chuck of the depreciation. They are good cars, just overpriced new.

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201502130930973?transmission=manual&channel=cars&maximum-age=up_to_8_years_old&sort=default&maximum-mileage=up_to_70000_miles&model=3_series&price-to=8000&fuel-type=diesel&price-from=6000&radius=1500&page=1&postcode=e148ss&search-target=usedcars&make=bmw&onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&logcode=p

 

Failing that, what about a Lexus IS220d? Fantastic cars, great to drive, interior is lovely too and looks nice on the outside and then you have the reliability as well.

 

Economy on the Lexus is pretty poor. I only get low to mid thirties on mine.

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Economy on the Lexus is pretty poor. I only get low to mid thirties on mine.

 

Is that around town? I know they aren't the best on fuel compared to other cars but not bad considering it weighs 2.2 tonnes and a nice place to be in.

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Guest XPS420

Don't buy an Audi, terrible peice of poo!! [emoji35] unless you get warranty.

 

They are very nice cars up until the moment they go boom.

 

Bought an A3 2.0 TDI. Great car. Fast very good handling modern. Thought it was perfect little car. After about 2 weeks of owning one night saw a green traffic light so dropped it a few gears and floored it, turbo went boom. Damn I couldn't turn it off being an Auto.

Took my jacket off tried to cover the air intake but wasn't having it must of been taking air in from somewhere.

Well let's just wait here until the engine oil runs out. After about 4 minutes finally it began stalling.

Towed it home with my 4x4. Removed exhaust turbo front end of car intercooler manifold and everything to clean the oil up from everywhere.

By now it had been about 2 weeks. Sitting there. Got part number of old turbo got a replacement fitted that. Another week had gone by. ( I work 7 days a week so had little time in evenings to do abit every night, especially being on axle stands on the road at home )

 

Finally got it running wouldn't start had to use brake cleaner for the first start. So few days later I decided it needs a washed so washed it snow foamed it. Came out very nice. Went to go to work in morning got to about end of my road and it stalled. God sake what now!! Left the car there walked back and took my 18 year old MItsubishi 4x4.

 

Came back in evening and thought ill push it home Being a DSG and it stalled while in gear it wouldn't fully come out of gear! So was like pushing a brick wall. Got my 4x4 hooked up the rope and damn did it struggle to pull it it was like pulling 7 cars or something at once. Anyway towed nearby my house and then had to push it into a parking bay. Wasn't happening at this point was blocking my road ( Cul de Sac ) got some blankets put Infront of my bull bar and pushed car into parking bay lol. Luckily no marks on either vehicle. So days gone by can't figure what happened. At this point I'm beginning to question my skills and knowledge of being a motor vehicle engeineer. Am I really that bad couldn't change a turbo. She would run and then begin misfiring. So I began disconnecting the injectors see if its a injector fault. Couldn't figure it out. Again had been few weeks by now. At this point I was having thoughts of setting the damn thing on fire and putting in a insurance claim Driving me crazy! [emoji24] after nearly a month of head scratching and investigating i diagnosed it to the ECU.

The ECU got water damaged when I washed it. GREAT!! Why the hell put the ECU under wiper scuttle. Stupid mentally challenged fools!

 

So new ECU. Way to much bought a second hand ECU of Ebay and sent it to a company we use to recover all data from damaged ECU to new 2nd hand ECU. Received it back within a week. Plugged it in. After 30 seconds NO MISFIRING YAY!!!!!! So car drove fine. Washed it very carefully, Began falling in love with it again. Noticed it could do with some power. So got it remapped. Wow now she flies great! Couldn't be happier about 2 months later while driving somewhere. Let's say on a track day was traveling at around 145mph and lvrormeosoclgkbleodod slfogirodogitiglvpwk lvoheowsrororovgo lvovclolcododlcllcc ccllclclclckcllfdodijcif my camshaft snapped.

 

Many bad word! I suspect this might be due to the turbo failing on a previous occasion and the engine revving exceptionally high for a diesel

 

Rebuilt the engine at a cost of over £3000 wasting around 4 months doing it rebuilding it between other jobs using original parts only.

 

Finally fitted and got it running on the car. Again had to use brake cleaner for the first start. So done a few test drives everything was fine was pulling nicely as well finally it was time to drive home few days had passed. Now so on way home up the hill the power seems to disappear and it splutters and stalls. Won't start now me being me sprayed some deodorant in intake for abit of extra boom but no wasn't having it. Again the thoughts of setting it on fire or pushing it off a cliff were springing to my mind as I stood there heart beating crazy thinking WTF NOW trying not to rage at the car. So pulled it home with my 4x4 again and again was stuck half in gear! Great! Being almost impossible to move tow rope snapped. Had this tow rope along time and it's my off Roading tow rope it's been though a lot but there's nothing like pulling a static object. Did a quick repair using seat belts. Got my bro to bring extra Ropes. Used 1 tow rope 2 ratchet straps and a seatbelt to pull it home. Got it home cursing the pile of junk Audi. Never again. The lack of exhaust pressure coming out I was inclined to check out my Catalyst. Yep it was blocked. Great easy fix. took the car out. Opened it up and smashed it out welded back up. Fit to car and Yep. It works now. YAY falling in love with her again. Being carefull when washing her.

 

So now checking the oil levels and coolant level since the engine has just been rebuilt. Notice white gunky shit in the oil cap. WHAT THE EFF!!!!!??????? Everything has been done to top standard. Turns out it was EGR cooler. So removed the EGR completely. Went and part ex the car for a Vauxhall Omega.

 

And that I conclude is why you should never get an Audi even if it's free. It will make you fall in love with her. And then take all your money!

 

RL53 BS! Pile of bollocks!!

 

Edit

Salute to my MItsubishi Challenger for always being there for me! [emoji8]

 

Damn I miss it!

[ATTACH]202980[/ATTACH][ATTACH]202981[/ATTACH]

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