Suggestions for new car ?

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taxboy

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I've got an endowment maturing in 3 months time & I'm thinking I might splash some of the cash on a replacement car.

Current vehicle 2001 BMW 520i SE Auto, which I've had from new. I really like the blend of solidity & ride comfort but on the odd occasion if I want to push on it can handle the twisty bits easily. It's also good at motorway munching for longer trips. I'm thinking I may be looking at a diesel to improve fuel economy and also I would like a little more low end torque - so nothing really revvy please.

I also don't want to spend a fortune on servicing, maintenance, tax etc or low mpg but still with a dash of style.

I'm thinking that the sensible option might be a new shape 5 series diesel but to be honest the interior doesn't really do it for me compared to the current car (and the exterior isn't that good looking IMHO).

So over to you guys for suggestions please - oh and BTW budget up to £18k but can be pre-owned
 
When I saw this thread I thought it was something posted by Matt Sayle..

But clearly I am wrong :(

If you could push your budget up by about £2k you can get a new ford focus featured on Top gear last week. And in that lovely green colour :p
 
if you've had the BMW from new, it's reliable and in good condition why not keep it, or buy something at the right money, since I saw the light I haven't lost hardly any money on a car in 5 years, the last 2 I had were a 2 1/2 yr old RAV 4 bought for 8k run for 8 months sold for 8k , 55 plate subaru legacy, bought for £3700, run for 10 months, sold for £3500.

as long as you're not fussy there are some real bargains out there, especially in this financial climate, look for the unusual
 
£18k should see you in fairly new 5-series, you'll even be able to get 2006/7 520 SE Diesel if you don't mind something a bit up on the miles, or newer if you fancy a trip to the auctions.

Alternatively, if you don't mind something slightly smaller a 2008/9 Lexus IS 220d would be a nice place to be for the same sort of money..
 
Jordie said:
When I saw this thread I thought it was something posted by Matt Sayle..

But clearly I am wrong :(

If you could push your budget up by about £2k you can get a new ford focus featured on Top gear last week. And in that lovely green colour :p
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Assuming you're talking about the RS, try an extra £7k.
 
The new shape Mondeo TitaniumX good looking and nice to drive, you could get an 08 for 18K
 
Depends what you want.

New 520d msport with sat nav and full leather?? I may know where to get one on a contract hire for £450 p/month.

Means you don;t worry about depreciation, and have a tasty motor.

Either that or a vectra. nice car and economical in diesel, and cheap cs of the launch of the insignia.

VW are good as are AUdi.

I like the seat leon.

Or get yourself a sports car.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
£18k for a secondhand Ford Mondeo???? :cuckoo:
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titanium spec is very good, you can get lower specs very cheap. Mondeo gets a bum rap, but is actually a chuffing good car.
 
Best buy for me at the moment has to be a SAAB 9-3 TTid Vector, very nice looking car with numerous toys and 180bhp diesel twin turbo. As GM struggles, these are available on 08 plates with delivery mileage at litteraly half price. You can even get a convertible for £16k. For a little bit more you can also get a one owner 06 plate Merc CLS 320 diesel at around 30k miles through a main dealer for £20k
 
SAAB 9-3 TTiD Aero (top of the range). Full spec inc heated leather seats, sat nav, etc plus 50+ MPG. and 180bhp. I have one and love it.
 
if you like your e39 why not upgrade it to i higher spec model, maybe a 530d sport,
i used to have a 330d sport tourer and the engine was fantastic, theres quite a significant jump from the SE to the sport in my opinion that would be a great option for you,
204 bhp returning 30-35 mpg from an auto

and servicing and maintenance costs wont be much more that what you have already

i wouldnt go for the newest car you can get becasue you tend to by a lower spec'd model, best thing is to get is a slightly older car with better spec for the same money. ( as long as its mint)

IMG_1644.jpg
 
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Skoda Octavia vRS - Diesel or Petrol versions available.
As mentioned, the Alfa 159 is a stunning car. The 2.4 diesel puts out about 200BHP IIRC.
Landrover Disco is well within budget, but probably fails on running costs. It's a lot of car for the cash though, and 2nd hand prices are silly cheap.
For £18k you could probably run to something for the weekend (S1 Elise for about £8k) and an everyday cruiser (the other £10k should get a good spec Vectra etc...)
 
What about a 123d BMW?

60mpg, 204bhp and 400nm of torque :).
 
I love the new 5 series shape to look at

if it was me, then with that amount of money to spend and a diesel in mind I'd look at a nice A4, the 5 series, or for pure looks the Alfa 159, 2.5JTD is supposed to be nice.
if you want cheap but handy with good spec, there is a new SEAT, which means VW and audi chassis' and lots of spec with 170BHP in a diesel. doesn't have the credible oomph of a BMW though
 
matty said:
titanium spec is very good, you can get lower specs very cheap. Mondeo gets a bum rap, but is actually a chuffing good car.
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Thank-you, totally agree.
 
matty said:
titanium spec is very good, you can get lower specs very cheap. Mondeo gets a bum rap, but is actually a chuffing good car.
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Even so, it's still a Mondeo for the same money as a Lexus of similar vintage and, for me anyway, that just doesn't make financial sense.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Even so, it's still a Mondeo for the same money as a Lexus of similar vintage and, for me anyway, that just doesn't make financial sense.
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each to their own, a lexus is just a Toyota at the end of the day.
 
:stir: mondeo 2.0titanium 4 stars, lexus IS2.2 3.5 stars /:stir:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
True, but it will hold it's value far better than the Mondeo...
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i will give you that :D


Ever so slightly worried that his Lexus choice isnt quite as good as a Mondeo Flash said:
In what though?
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Autocar

what car - lexus IS 3 stars, Mondeo 4 stars
Top Gear - Lexus 13/20, Mondeo 15/20

:nuts:
 
JD Power Survey...Lexus IS 3rd Ford Mondeo 36th :shrug:
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its Japanese...what do you expect? :D
 
matty said:
Autocar

what car - lexus IS 3 stars, Mondeo 4 stars
Top Gear - Lexus 13/20, Mondeo 15/20

:nuts:
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lol.

Iwas looking for a newer car last week for myself and had driven the Mondeo through work and didn't expect to like it but was really supprised. It was a Zetec and a bit plasticy inside, but have looked at the TitaniumX and that looks much better inside.

Agree that it wont hold it's value as much but you cant have everything.
 
goslayer said:
lol.

Agree that it wont hold it's value as much but you cant have everything.
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There is always a compromise, in this case it will be and extra £6-7000 depreciation with the Ford over a 3-year period on cars that cost roughly the same price.

So that's an extra £45 a week to drive a Ford :thumbs:
 
Flash In The Pan said:
There is always a compromise, in this case it will be and extra £6-7000 depreciation with the Ford over a 3-year period on cars that cost roughly the same price.

So that's an extra £45 a week to drive a Ford :thumbs:
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parts and servicing costs for Lexus? :|

seriously though, id consider a Lexus, or a BMW or anything else, lol

best bet is to go armed with cash and haggle a nearly new car, deals are to be had.
 
matty said:
parts and servicing costs for Lexus? :|

seriously though, id consider a Lexus, or a BMW or anything else, lol

best bet is to go armed with cash and haggle a nearly new car, deals are to be had.
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Mondeo 2.2 TDCi Titanium X Sport all the way and that not just because I'd get a discount. I could never go Japanese and BMW hold absolutely no interest for me at all.
 
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I'll have a look at the SAAB - having previously owned a SAAB 900 and I hadn't considered the Mondeo before. I would like an auto so depends if Ford have got this sorted these days - historically they were horrid. The Alfa looks interesting too - although I may still be predjudiced against their reliability.

I didn't realise that you could drop 25k on a Focus though - that seems madness to me (and our 2nd car is a Focus so I don't dislike the marque). For that sort of cash I'd rather have something like a BMW 535D or a slightly older Porsche 911. Still each to their own
 
barrypriddis said:
SAAB 9-3 TTiD Aero (top of the range). Full spec inc heated leather seats, sat nav, etc plus 50+ MPG. and 180bhp. I have one and love it.
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Leather seats are horrid in my opinion, and they are only heated because they have to be in the winter but they forgot to include refrigeration for the summer!!, give me a nice velour upholstery any day.

Mrs G's car came with leather only because the spec. for a sunroofed car included it, leather...........never again!!.
 
taxboy said:
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I'll have a look at the SAAB - having previously owned a SAAB 900 and I hadn't considered the Mondeo before. I would like an auto so depends if Ford have got this sorted these days - historically they were horrid. The Alfa looks interesting too - although I may still be predjudiced against their reliability.

I didn't realise that you could drop 25k on a Focus though - that seems madness to me (and our 2nd car is a Focus so I don't dislike the marque). For that sort of cash I'd rather have something like a BMW 535D or a slightly older Porsche 911. Still each to their own
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SAABs are the worst cars on the market atm for retaining value, whilst a 3-year old Lexus or BMW might be worth around 50% of it's new cost and a Mondeo around the 34% mark, a SAAB will typically be worth less than a 1/5th of it's new price, Alfas are almost as bad....
 
I would gladly sell my House, Wife and children and one of my kidneys to keep Ford in Business - £18k is not only cheap for such a superior automobile, it's a steal...
 
Interesting noboby has mentioned Volvo - and before anybody jumps on me from a great height, the Volvo V50 T5 SE Auto is one very quick nice motor.
 
i test drove an S40, its ok, nice inside, but it lacks that....sharpness...that the focus possess..the handling on a Ford is really good, something that vauxhall cant touch, and volvo cant recreate despite using the same chassis
 
Flash In The Pan said:
SAABs are the worst cars on the market atm for retaining value, whilst a 3-year old Lexus or BMW might be worth around 50% of it's new cost and a Mondeo around the 34% mark, a SAAB will typically be worth less than a 1/5th of it's new price, Alfas are almost as bad....
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I agree but that's what makes them good value for an 18mth or 2yr old one. I don't think I will ever buy another brand new car again - I couldn't face the depreciation as you drive off the forecourt
 
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