Next car advice - requirements combo

[Artsy]

Hey All,

Thought I'd post here as I'm sure there will be options I hadn't thought of.

I'm looking to get a second car due to relocating out of London.

I'd like something a little more powerful than the current car which is a 2010 prius as I've previously had an X3 with a 35D engine and I miss that kind of acceleration and effortlessness.

I don't expect to be doing high mileage annually while I do expect regular short trips so as much as I'd like a 35D engine again in some car I think it's probably not a good idea.

So, here is a list of criteria:

Price - up to £15k
Doors - 4 or 5 (family of 4 with two young children)
Boot side - close to 500 or more.
Gearbox - Auto or CVT
Fuel - Petrol or hybrid due to the above short trips comment
VED - cannot stomach £735 a year purely on principle! Ideally £350 or less
Engine size - not concerned about this or fuel consumption but see comment on VED above
BHP - a good amount please
Acceleration - a good number please
Reliability - would prefer good...
Mileage - would prefer below 70k

Based on the above, I'm drawing a bit of a blank. Cars I've considered that are petrol are the following (removing the price criteria for some of these)

BMW 435i gran coupe
BMW 335i GT
BMW 335i estate
Lexus GS450h (getting a bit old now but meant to still be super reliable)
Infiniti Q50S (bit of a rare one and not sure about meaintenance and dealers)
Golf R estate
Skoda VRS saloon or estate

I've also toyed with the idea of large Japanese saloons but anything interesting is always a grey import which I'm not too sure about. Still, some nice stuff with 3.5L V6 engines that doesn't get VED above £325.

Anything I'm missing from the above that may be a good call?

[RustyMX5]

Subaru Forester XT?

[Every day a journey]

Mazda MX 5

[Robertb]

Audi S4 Avant?

[Artsy]

Nice call in the S4.

What's the consensus compared to a BMW 35i in terms of reliability and costs?

[ZX10R NIN]

Artsy said:

Hey All,

Thought I'd post here as I'm sure there will be options I hadn't thought of.

I'm looking to get a second car due to relocating out of London.

I'd like something a little more powerful than the current car which is a 2010 prius as I've previously had an X3 with a 35D engine and I miss that kind of acceleration and effortlessness.

I don't expect to be doing high mileage annually while I do expect regular short trips so as much as I'd like a 35D engine again in some car I think it's probably not a good idea.

So, here is a list of criteria:

Price - up to £15k
Doors - 4 or 5 (family of 4 with two young children)
Boot side - close to 500 or more.
Gearbox - Auto or CVT
Fuel - Petrol or hybrid due to the above short trips comment
VED - cannot stomach £735 a year purely on principle! Ideally £350 or less
Engine size - not concerned about this or fuel consumption but see comment on VED above
BHP - a good amount please
Acceleration - a good number please
Reliability - would prefer good...
Mileage - would prefer below 70k

Based on the above, I'm drawing a bit of a blank. Cars I've considered that are petrol are the following (removing the price criteria for some of these)

BMW 435i gran coupe
BMW 335i GT
BMW 335i estate
Lexus GS450h (getting a bit old now but meant to still be super reliable)
Infiniti Q50S (bit of a rare one and not sure about meaintenance and dealers)
Golf R estate
Skoda VRS saloon or estate

I've also toyed with the idea of large Japanese saloons but anything interesting is always a grey import which I'm not too sure about. Still, some nice stuff with 3.5L V6 engines that doesn't get VED above £325.

Anything I'm missing from the above that may be a good call?

Jaguar XF 3,0S, spacious ride well & rekiable:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

Q70h, these can be serviced at most Nissan dealerships:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402186...

Lexus ES300 but you're looking at 100k on the clock:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

Arteon R Line:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404078...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404058...

2.0t Q50:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402287...

[Summit_Detailing]

535i
Octavia VRS
Tesla Model S
Mondeo Vignale 2.0T
Passat 2.0TSI R-Line
Lexus GS250

[dino_jr]

Arteon, Peugeot 508, Superb/Octavia all have big boots and easy access tailgates.

[Jimjimhim]

I think that version of the BMW engine is the one that goes wrong a lot, so maybe best avoided. I would personally also avoid anything with a CVT gearbox, they are awful things.

[Artsy]

Thanks All

The CVT is mentioned only as I'm open to Lexus offerings that usually have this rather than torque converter

[Jimjimhim]

Drive one and see what you think for yourself is the best thing, but I find CVT gearboxes are slow to act when you pull away at junctions and I also think they are awful when you push on a bit.

I think the next engine on from the 35i is meant to be much more reliable, or if you're looking at a 4 series gran coupe then maybe a 430i might work well for you.

[flatso]

Artsy said:

Thanks All

The CVT is mentioned only as I'm open to Lexus offerings that usually have this rather than torque converter

True, the GS450h has the large 3.5 V6 with the hybrid system and the CVT is a good fit in that application. Lovely machines!

[blueacid]

I think the Lexus "CVT" system is the same as the Prius. There isn't actually a CVT at play, the varying speeds are handled by a wonderfully orchestrated dance of motors and computers. It isn't like a Daf Variomatic in there.

So, while Lexus and Toyota Hybrids are 'cvt', they are subtly different.

</bearding>

[ninjag]

Artsy said:

Nice call in the S4.

What's the consensus compared to a BMW 35i in terms of reliability and costs?

If looking at an S4 Avant I would recommend the B8.5 CREC engine (identifiable by the one piece engine cover and four bolts on the supercharger pulley). It introduced manifold port injection which solved the carbon issue and improves economy. Being end of line most of the teething problems are all sorted, including the DSG. It's regarded as one of their best engines.

Servicing is pretty much routine stuff with regular parts and plenty of pattern part options. The air filter is an enclosed SRI type. If it has the optional sport diff (LSD) then there's an extra fluid used when servicing. The DSG is a 40k service interval and easy to do. Parts and fluid cost c.£222. Lower front bushes around 60k miles can go but it's all standard parts. ABS sensors can corrode and scare the life out of you by lighting up the dashboard. £29 part to replace.

Mine has so far been the most reliable car to date, which includes plenty of Honda's, ticks a lot of boxes and I can get 38mpg on a run. Steering can be a little vague, but good tyres improves this and also helps get the most out of the quattro system. A remap alone can take it to over 400bhp.