£4-5k. Comfortable, reliable, economical
Discussion
I'm not sure I'll be able to get what I'm after but it's worth a try.
My circumstances have changed now that more jobs have started coming in a little further away from usual, it puts me in a position of needing a new car. I travel quite a bit now to client sites for work and installs so require something a little more comfortable.
I don't carry a lot of kit with me but can't help thinking having a bigger boot for some equipment might be handy. Kit is usually some switches/routers, tool kit, surveying kit (WiFi stuff) and now, electrical equipment, some cables (ethernet and electrical). Not too much but still a bit. Not all has been carried at the same time, yet.
I can't fault a lot of cars made in the 15 years as even smaller hatchbacks perform quite well on longer drives nowadays. I was thinking something along the lines of a BMW e91 318/320/325d (or petrol if 325) I punched in some requirements on the PH site after looking at mundane things and it was presented with some options I absolutely didn't think of. Was looking at estates too, well, because estate.
So, options provided have been a CLS and S Class 350 CDI, an A6 Avant 3.0/2.7 and a Phaeton. Didn't think anything like that would be in my price bracket but there you go. 5 series tourings have gone up a lot in price, so I don't think I'll find one.
Looking at autos for journeys like this so reliability is a key factor. Also want an engine that isn't wailing like a banshee at 70/75 on motorways but brisk enough in other conditions.
I have 3 children also, so as well as shopping, it needs to occasionally seat them comfortably for said longer journeys.
I live just outside of the M25 zone, so ULEz will be an issue later on if Watford gets included (the Mayor has asked Captain Sadiq to put this area in the ULEZ for some reason) but most of these journeys will be outside that. Anything inside will be rare, if it can be avoided long enough.
What would you chaps recommend?
My circumstances have changed now that more jobs have started coming in a little further away from usual, it puts me in a position of needing a new car. I travel quite a bit now to client sites for work and installs so require something a little more comfortable.
I don't carry a lot of kit with me but can't help thinking having a bigger boot for some equipment might be handy. Kit is usually some switches/routers, tool kit, surveying kit (WiFi stuff) and now, electrical equipment, some cables (ethernet and electrical). Not too much but still a bit. Not all has been carried at the same time, yet.
I can't fault a lot of cars made in the 15 years as even smaller hatchbacks perform quite well on longer drives nowadays. I was thinking something along the lines of a BMW e91 318/320/325d (or petrol if 325) I punched in some requirements on the PH site after looking at mundane things and it was presented with some options I absolutely didn't think of. Was looking at estates too, well, because estate.
So, options provided have been a CLS and S Class 350 CDI, an A6 Avant 3.0/2.7 and a Phaeton. Didn't think anything like that would be in my price bracket but there you go. 5 series tourings have gone up a lot in price, so I don't think I'll find one.
Looking at autos for journeys like this so reliability is a key factor. Also want an engine that isn't wailing like a banshee at 70/75 on motorways but brisk enough in other conditions.
I have 3 children also, so as well as shopping, it needs to occasionally seat them comfortably for said longer journeys.
I live just outside of the M25 zone, so ULEz will be an issue later on if Watford gets included (the Mayor has asked Captain Sadiq to put this area in the ULEZ for some reason) but most of these journeys will be outside that. Anything inside will be rare, if it can be avoided long enough.
What would you chaps recommend?
If you do go for an E9* 3 Series I'd ignore the 4 cylinder models - my ex-Sytner Indy told me to avoid them if I didn't want to see him too often!
If you consider 325 models why not 330s? They cost the same to run but just have a bit more fun under the right pedal.
I had an E91 325i for a year but replaced it with an E90 330i 4 years ago and there is quite a difference in performance, although economy, road tax and all other running costs are the same as they have the same engine, just different sizes. Mine were both manual but 70mph was just 2,500rpm which is nothing for an engine with a 7,000rpm red-line.
And thankfully they are both ULEZ compliant as my sister lives in Sutton but those diesel options wouldn't be, which may become an issue even if it isn't now.
I don't know anything about the non-BMW options though, but hopefully someone will.
If you consider 325 models why not 330s? They cost the same to run but just have a bit more fun under the right pedal.
I had an E91 325i for a year but replaced it with an E90 330i 4 years ago and there is quite a difference in performance, although economy, road tax and all other running costs are the same as they have the same engine, just different sizes. Mine were both manual but 70mph was just 2,500rpm which is nothing for an engine with a 7,000rpm red-line.
And thankfully they are both ULEZ compliant as my sister lives in Sutton but those diesel options wouldn't be, which may become an issue even if it isn't now.
I don't know anything about the non-BMW options though, but hopefully someone will.
If you want some ULEZ compliant options then take a look at the 3.0d Infiniti's:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206307...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234424920836?hash=item3...
They're reliable spacious compliant.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206307...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234424920836?hash=item3...
They're reliable spacious compliant.
TotalControl said:
I'm not sure I'll be able to get what I'm after but it's worth a try.
My circumstances have changed now that more jobs have started coming in a little further away from usual, it puts me in a position of needing a new car. I travel quite a bit now to client sites for work and installs so require something a little more comfortable.
I don't carry a lot of kit with me but can't help thinking having a bigger boot for some equipment might be handy. Kit is usually some switches/routers, tool kit, surveying kit (WiFi stuff) and now, electrical equipment, some cables (ethernet and electrical). Not too much but still a bit. Not all has been carried at the same time, yet.
I can't fault a lot of cars made in the 15 years as even smaller hatchbacks perform quite well on longer drives nowadays. I was thinking something along the lines of a BMW e91 318/320/325d (or petrol if 325) I punched in some requirements on the PH site after looking at mundane things and it was presented with some options I absolutely didn't think of. Was looking at estates too, well, because estate.
So, options provided have been a CLS and S Class 350 CDI, an A6 Avant 3.0/2.7 and a Phaeton. Didn't think anything like that would be in my price bracket but there you go. 5 series tourings have gone up a lot in price, so I don't think I'll find one.
Looking at autos for journeys like this so reliability is a key factor. Also want an engine that isn't wailing like a banshee at 70/75 on motorways but brisk enough in other conditions.
I have 3 children also, so as well as shopping, it needs to occasionally seat them comfortably for said longer journeys.
I live just outside of the M25 zone, so ULEz will be an issue later on if Watford gets included (the Mayor has asked Captain Sadiq to put this area in the ULEZ for some reason) but most of these journeys will be outside that. Anything inside will be rare, if it can be avoided long enough.
What would you chaps recommend?
Phaeton could use your entire purchase budget on a complex issue…. Car has so many ecu’s.My circumstances have changed now that more jobs have started coming in a little further away from usual, it puts me in a position of needing a new car. I travel quite a bit now to client sites for work and installs so require something a little more comfortable.
I don't carry a lot of kit with me but can't help thinking having a bigger boot for some equipment might be handy. Kit is usually some switches/routers, tool kit, surveying kit (WiFi stuff) and now, electrical equipment, some cables (ethernet and electrical). Not too much but still a bit. Not all has been carried at the same time, yet.
I can't fault a lot of cars made in the 15 years as even smaller hatchbacks perform quite well on longer drives nowadays. I was thinking something along the lines of a BMW e91 318/320/325d (or petrol if 325) I punched in some requirements on the PH site after looking at mundane things and it was presented with some options I absolutely didn't think of. Was looking at estates too, well, because estate.
So, options provided have been a CLS and S Class 350 CDI, an A6 Avant 3.0/2.7 and a Phaeton. Didn't think anything like that would be in my price bracket but there you go. 5 series tourings have gone up a lot in price, so I don't think I'll find one.
Looking at autos for journeys like this so reliability is a key factor. Also want an engine that isn't wailing like a banshee at 70/75 on motorways but brisk enough in other conditions.
I have 3 children also, so as well as shopping, it needs to occasionally seat them comfortably for said longer journeys.
I live just outside of the M25 zone, so ULEz will be an issue later on if Watford gets included (the Mayor has asked Captain Sadiq to put this area in the ULEZ for some reason) but most of these journeys will be outside that. Anything inside will be rare, if it can be avoided long enough.
What would you chaps recommend?
If your budget is 4-5k I’d get a Dacia sandero.
Go for some kind of Euro 6 diesel maybe
Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...
Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302074...
Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi Sports Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302094...
Petrol options
Vauxhall Insignia 1.4i Turbo SRi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301223...
Kia Ceed 1.6 GDi EcoDynamics
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301293...
Renault Megane 1.5 dCi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212122...
Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302074...
Vauxhall Astra 1.6 CDTi Sports Tourer
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302094...
Petrol options
Vauxhall Insignia 1.4i Turbo SRi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301223...
Kia Ceed 1.6 GDi EcoDynamics
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301293...
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