£4,000 considerations

[AshleyB23]

Hi all,

Just weighing up what second car to get for £4,000-£4,500.

The car will be used for mainly motorway runs up to work and back (440 mile round trip every 5 weeks) and the odd short journeys at home when im off. I'll probably be doing about 6,000 miles annually.

I'm after something saloon size or bigger, reliable, comfortable and with a reasonable amount of kit.

Been considering these;

- Toyota Avensis
- Volvo s80
- Volvo v50
- Honda Accord
- E90 330i or 330d touring
- Passat

I'm not overly fussy about higher mileage examples with good service history as it's expected for my price bracket.

Open for any other recommendations that I might of missed.

Thanks!

[soad]

IS250?

[pb8g09]

I think you’ve already listed some of the best there.

Quite surprised you can get a 330i/d at that price in this market, but it’s where my money would be going.

[AshleyB23]

soad said:

IS250?

Good shout but fuel & tax heavy?

[VeeReihenmotor6]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307159...

[M.F.D]

Do you already have a fun car elsewhere?

E90 330i is a solid shout, followed by any D5/T5 Volvo. If it's solely a commuter, and reliability is the goal then I'd get in a Toyota or Honda at this price.

[ZX10R NIN]

AshleyB23 said:

Good shout but fuel & tax heavy?

No not if you go for the Auto BUT you'll need to get a 2008 model as the older cars aren't compatible with the E10 fuel.

IS250 SE-L:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307159...

Rather than the Lexus I'd take a good look at the 2.5 Mazda6 a nice amount of power & some decent spec too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307089...

At this price point if it had to be petrol then I wouldn't look past the 2.5T Mondeo Titanium X:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305277...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306198...

Diesel wise the CLS is where I'd be looking.

CLS 350cdi Grand Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307219...

320cdi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306018...

[AshleyB23]

ZX10R NIN said:

No not if you go for the Auto BUT you'll need to get a 2008 model as the older cars aren't compatible with the E10 fuel.

IS250 SE-L:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307159...

Rather than the Lexus I'd take a good look at the 2.5 Mazda6 a nice amount of power & some decent spec too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307209...

Both of those look great. I'll have to do some research on the Mazada to see what common issues there are but a lot of car for the money.

[biggbn]

Saab 9-3 or 9-5, your budget would buy the best of these. Ignore the Vauxhall in a frock comments these are maybe old fashioned but they are decent cars.

[Brassblaster]

S80 D5 was my choice in similar circumstances... Reliable engine with some 5-cyl character and capable of pretty huge mileages - a very comfortable place to sit and waft.

As long as belts are done to schedule not much really goes wrong with the engines.

[Brassblaster]

biggbn said:

Saab 9-3 or 9-5, your budget would buy the best of these. Ignore the Vauxhall in a frock comments these are maybe old fashioned but they are decent cars.

Compared with their predecessors (the 9000 and 900) they very much feel their Vauxhall origins... But compare with a vauxhall and they're definitely a noticeable step up.

They're decent cars, just lacking some of what made Saabs interesting in previous generations.

[CrippsCorner]

That Lexus looks fantastic for the money, albeit the interior's a bit 'old man' for me!

[Scootersp]

not sure if facebook links work but this IS200 seems minty and fit for purpose, old but saves you a lot.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/71801284...

[biggbn]

Brassblaster said:

biggbn said:

Saab 9-3 or 9-5, your budget would buy the best of these. Ignore the Vauxhall in a frock comments these are maybe old fashioned but they are decent cars.

Compared with their predecessors (the 9000 and 900) they very much feel their Vauxhall origins... But compare with a vauxhall and they're definitely a noticeable step up.

They're decent cars, just lacking some of what made Saabs interesting in previous generations.

Agreed almost 100%. I never thought the 9000 felt 'saabish' either. I was a bit of a Saab snob in my younger days, owned loads of 900s, a 99, a handful of v4s and various gm models and one 9000. The way you out it is bang on. If you're used to SAABS, the gm models don't feel Saaby enough, but if you're coming from 'normal' marques, they still feel a cut above. Strangely, my unicorn saab is a gm model, I'd love a three door gm900 v6 manual. Thinking man's vr6!!

[Brassblaster]

biggbn said:

Agreed almost 100%. I never thought the 9000 felt 'saabish' either. I was a bit of a Saab snob in my younger days, owned loads of 900s, a 99, a handful of v4s and various gm models and one 9000. The way you out it is bang on. If you're used to SAABS, the gm models don't feel Saaby enough, but if you're coming from 'normal' marques, they still feel a cut above. Strangely, my unicorn saab is a gm model, I'd love a three door gm900 v6 manual. Thinking man's vr6!!

I know what you mean, it's definitely the beginning of the crossover - I still find the 9000 distinctly more Saabish than the 900NG, for example, but it's definitely just a touch watered down on the quirk front... But nowhere near as much as the 9-3/9-5.

I think there's a few things that make the "cutoff" there for me - one is the presence of diesels in the lineup (and I'm not anti-diesel, the daily Volvo S80 has a D5 diesel under the bonnet), and in my eyes diesels in a Saab are about as appropriate as a Jag badge on an SUV... Another is the subtle shifts to slightly less of the overbuilt things that really define a Saab - reducing weight in the engine blocks for fuel economy is great and all that, but the B205/B235 in a 9-5 isn't as tough internally as the B204/B234 that preceded it (and doesn't have as much tuning potential).

I wouldn't swap my B234/td04 9000 CSE for the V6 9000 - for some reason it just doesn't interest me.

[biggbn]

Brassblaster said:

biggbn said:

Agreed almost 100%. I never thought the 9000 felt 'saabish' either. I was a bit of a Saab snob in my younger days, owned loads of 900s, a 99, a handful of v4s and various gm models and one 9000. The way you out it is bang on. If you're used to SAABS, the gm models don't feel Saaby enough, but if you're coming from 'normal' marques, they still feel a cut above. Strangely, my unicorn saab is a gm model, I'd love a three door gm900 v6 manual. Thinking man's vr6!!

I know what you mean, it's definitely the beginning of the crossover - I still find the 9000 distinctly more Saabish than the 900NG, for example, but it's definitely just a touch watered down on the quirk front... But nowhere near as much as the 9-3/9-5.

I think there's a few things that make the "cutoff" there for me - one is the presence of diesels in the lineup (and I'm not anti-diesel, the daily Volvo S80 has a D5 diesel under the bonnet), and in my eyes diesels in a Saab are about as appropriate as a Jag badge on an SUV... Another is the subtle shifts to slightly less of the overbuilt things that really define a Saab - reducing weight in the engine blocks for fuel economy is great and all that, but the B205/B235 in a 9-5 isn't as tough internally as the B204/B234 that preceded it (and doesn't have as much tuning potential).

I wouldn't swap my B234/td04 9000 CSE for the V6 9000 - for some reason it just doesn't interest me.

V6 9000 doesn't appeal, although what 'tipped me off' about 'modern' saabs was an absolutely wonderful manual v6 turbo 9-3 convertible I owned. That drove NOTHING like a Vauxhall, wonderful non saab engine, brilliant seats, composed, quick, relatively frugal. I really liked that car. But....we have stolen the thread. As you were...

[imck]

AshleyB23 said:

Both of those look great. I'll have to do some research on the Mazada to see what common issues there are but a lot of car for the money.

I have recently replaced my Mazda 6 2.5 2008 (2010-2012 are facelift).
Had it 5-6 years covering 50-60K. 120K when I sold it

Very smooth. Sound quite nice when pressing on. Not too bad on fuel. Mid 30s day to day. 40+ on a run.
No great problems. Calipers, some minor suspension bits, thermostat and the Bose amp is all I recall.
They can get a bit scabby underneath. Bodywork OK

[georgeyboy12345]

Out of all those in your list, I'd go for a 2.0 petrol Honda Accord with the auto 'box for max reliability. Like this one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304256...


Was going to say a VW Passat would also be ok as long as you go for a newer (post-2013) one with a manual gearbox, but having had a look, they are all ropey and have likely been used as taxis/private hire, etc. Best avoiding at this price point.

Edit: I also put a couple of Lexi in, but as ZX rightly pointed out, there is the E10 issue, which will get expensive and tedious quite quickly.

Mercedes CLKs might suit your needs quite nicely as they are comfortable wafters, and since most people usually want more practicality than a coupe, you can get a lot of car for your money. Just go for a post 2006 model, by which time rust issues should have been sorted

CLK350
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258...

low mileage CLK220 CDI if you want lower running costs - this car should have hundreds of thousands of miles left in it
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307219...

Best (or worst?) of both worlds with this CLK320 CDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307219...


Jaguar XF 3.0d V6 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306168...


Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...


Or for max waft factor, what about this Volvo S80 T6?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304076...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 26th July 23:02

[biggbn]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Out of all those in your list, I'd go for a 2.0 petrol Honda Accord with the auto 'box for max reliability. Like this one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304256...


Was going to say a VW Passat would also be ok as long as you go for a newer (post-2013) one with a manual gearbox, but having had a look, they are all ropey and have likely been used as taxis/private hire, etc. Best avoiding at this price point.

Edit: I also put a couple of Lexi in, but as ZX rightly pointed out, there is the E10 issue, which will get expensive and tedious quite quickly.

Mercedes CLKs might suit your needs quite nicely as they are comfortable wafters, and since most people usually want more practicality than a coupe, you can get a lot of car for your money. Just go for a post 2006 model, by which time rust issues should have been sorted

CLK350
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306258...

low mileage CLK220 CDI if you want lower running costs - this car should have hundreds of thousands of miles left in it
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307219...

Best (or worst?) of both worlds with this CLK320 CDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307219...


Jaguar XF 3.0d V6 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306168...


Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...


Or for max waft factor, what about this Volvo S80 T6?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304076...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 26th July 23:02

Avoid T6, lots of issues with autoboxes which simply weren't up to the job in that model. Shame, lovely old cruiser. A D5 engined S80 that shape is a rather wonderful thing though.

[Gad-Westy]

AshleyB23 said:

Hi all,

Just weighing up what second car to get for £4,000-£4,500.

The car will be used for mainly motorway runs up to work and back (440 mile round trip every 5 weeks) and the odd short journeys at home when im off. I'll probably be doing about 6,000 miles annually.

I'm after something saloon size or bigger, reliable, comfortable and with a reasonable amount of kit.

Been considering these;

- Toyota Avensis
- Volvo s80
- Volvo v50
- Honda Accord
- E90 330i or 330d touring
- Passat

I'm not overly fussy about higher mileage examples with good service history as it's expected for my price bracket.

Open for any other recommendations that I might of missed.

Thanks!

Being a custodian of an E90 (well E91 in my case actually) I'd say you have to tread very carefully indeed at this budget. There will no doubt be gems out there but these are not especially robust cars and many have fallen into the hands of abusers. They're just in that phase that all BMW's fall into where many are run on a shoestring and will eventually end up being crushed and some will come out the other side unscathed in a few years time and be cherished. I also don't think they're necessarily as comfortable as you might expect. They're nice cars, I don't want to sound too negative!