Help me choose please - 12k family car.

[SurferManDan]

I’m looking at spending up to 12k on a reliable family car. My 07 320d has blown its last turbo.

Have the money ready to go and currently have no car so I can’t be dithering for much longer. Been thinking about changing for couple of years but couldn’t justify whilst the BM was still working. I even fixed the DMF last year. 😡

I’m going through all the usual suspects:

Mondeo - hard to get exited about these.
Insignia - seem great value and the grand sport is very good looking but worry I need something bigger. Not sure on the estate version looks wise.
Passat - very smart, lovely inside. This is leading the choice right now. I think the GT spec looks great in saloon but estate not so pretty.
Superb - finding one in a spec I like is proving tricky, not keen on the base trim. Prefer these in estate. Budget stretching for a Skoda seems wrong. I’m from the 80’s.
Mazda 6 - these look great in estate which appeals. Heard bad things about the diesels.

There are not many SUVs I actually like. Considered a CX-5 but I just don’t like them.

To answer my own question, I need to sit in them and drive them.

Either way it’s good place to collect my thoughts.

I’m driving around 12k per year but a lot of short journeys. I do get out of town for a blast quite regularly though so not overly concerned by diesel.

Also thinking mileage of 70k ish max but this could be a terrible idea due to belts required etc but I have no idea about any of that right now.

Thanks for opinions.

[catman]

You may not find Mondeos exciting, but I've run 4 over the last 15 years. I've found them to be comfortable, very reliable, huge space for passengers and luggage and in Titanium trim, very well equipped.

I've probably only spent a couple of hundred pounds over the 15 years on non service items, as they have been so reliable..

[SurferManDan]

Sat in an insig GS Sri vx line Nav earlier. I must admit I liked it a lot. Loads of kit. It was new and low
Miles. The 170 BHP is appealing too.

Also test drive a 1.6 tdi Passat saloon. The Passat really is head and shoulders nicer in terms of interior quality.
I don’t think the 1.6 if for me tho. It wasn’t slow or fast. I’d drive with my foot on the floor all the time.

Superb later for interior test only as that’s another 1.6d.
Also a Mazda 6 saloon has just popped up close by.

Would you believe the nearest mondeo is 40 miles away.

[ElectricSoup]

Infiniti Q70

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107094...

[catman]

SurferManDan said:

Sat in an insig GS Sri vx line Nav earlier. I must admit I liked it a lot. Loads of kit. It was new and low
Miles. The 170 BHP is appealing too.

Also test drive a 1.6 tdi Passat saloon. The Passat really is head and shoulders nicer in terms of interior quality.
I don’t think the 1.6 if for me tho. It wasn’t slow or fast. I’d drive with my foot on the floor all the time.

Superb later for interior test only as that’s another 1.6d.
Also a Mazda 6 saloon has just popped up close by.

Would you believe the nearest mondeo is 40 miles away.

Mazda 6 is a Mondeo in a posh frock...

[C G]

I've not had direct experience but I agree the Insignia is the best buy of these options. Good looking (subjective) and good value. Lots to choose from, too. And a hatch where some of the others aren't.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Insignia in Elite Nav spec is a great pick & a good car & a generation ahead of the Mondeo.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107195...

But I choose the Mondeo as my daily it just edged the Vauxhall everywhere for me but I have lots of satisfied clients who picked the Insignia:

Vignale 180 you may not get excited by them but they're a bloody good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103150...

Titanium with X Pack 180 Auto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105082...

Titanium 180 Manual

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107285...

There are two very good alternates from these two & they're the DS5 180 which is a very nice comfortable family steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107275...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106254...

The Infiniti Q50 Sport 170 is a great pick loaded with kit & the Mercedes C/E220d drivetrain means reliability & ease of maintenance is a given:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

Or if you want something bigger (E Class sized) then there's the Q70 Sport 170 which adds a sunroof & air cooled seats:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101308...

[andrew-e46]

I didn't think much of the Mondeo's until I drove a friends and it was just a super comfy, nice place to be. That would be my pick of the bunch, in a Titanium trim.

[stevemcs]

I’d take the insignia or Mondeo if reliability was a concern although the facelift Mazda isn’t as bad

[catman]

andrew-e46 said:

I didn't think much of the Mondeo's until I drove a friends and it was just a super comfy, nice place to be. That would be my pick of the bunch, in a Titanium trim.

That's what I have. I can't believe the equipment it has for an older car. Heated screen, electric heated folding mirrors, heated seats, cruise control, voice activation for the climate control and audio, automatic lights and wipers, auto dipping mirror, front and rear parking sensors and electric windows all round.

It makes every journey a little easier. I have the 2.0 petrol, which is rather thirsty, but that's about all I can find to criticise.

[georgeyboy12345]

If you don't want to be mucking about replacing turbos, DMFs or DPFs, then get yourself something normally aspirated and petrol powered, and preferably Japanese.


Lexus IS250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105313...


Mazda 6 2.0 SE with only 25,000 miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107285...

Estate version in a handsome red colour
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107054...


2017 Toyota Avensis 1.8 with less than 30,000 miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103310...

Estate version
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107054...


Honda Accord 2.0 i-VTEC with only 15,000 miles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105072...

Estate version
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106264...

I'll try and find some non-Japanese stuff to post tomorrow.

[SurferManDan]

Wow thanks for the responses. I’ll be sure to check them out properly tomo. Camping with mates now and took my mum’s car. What is the world coming to?

[SurferManDan]

Forgot to mention in all the gush, I drove the superb 1.6d in estate form today too but in DSG. I found the auto suited the engine well. Felt more torquey? Or, maybe it is just better at gear changes than me.

[SurferManDan]

Just to update, I test drove a Mazda 6, 2.2d sport nav yesterday and put a deposit down.

£12k, 39k miles. 16 plate. IMO it was the prettiest option, and bonus of being an estate swayed me. What can I say - I like posh frocks.

A quick WBAC price was £10450 so I also thought that it was well priced and it was the only one in sport nav trim that I could find within budget.

Pick it up on Wednesday.

[catman]

Hope that you enjoy it.

[georgeyboy12345]

Nice one!

I see you had some concerns about the 2.2d, but there doesn't seem to be many problems reported on motorreviewer

https://www.motorreviewer.com/engine.php?engine_id...

I think you have made a good choice. Enjoy!