Second hand car - £20k

[PeteinSQ]

I'm about to change jobs. Currently I've got a company car (Polestar 2) and that will have to go back. New job I'll have an allowance instead. Previously I'd leased cars with my allowance, but I won't have the luxury of waiting for one to be built for me.

So I'm planning on buying something. Budget is up to £20k and I was considering one of the usual German options. It should probably have five doors, could be a saloon or an estate, can't be too old (up to five years?).

Petrol or diesel but I don't want something with horrendous economy.

[Crusoe]

Edit as slightly too old, stick a private plate on and they won't know. 320D xdrive estate auto in silver with approved warranty https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202308211042915...

530e se if you wanted to keep some electric use. https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202308110671073...

Edited by Crusoe on Monday 21st August 20:25

[jamesbilluk]

Is it just German saloons you’re looking at?

How about an Alfa Guilia

There’s the 2.2D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308080...

Or 2.0T petrol
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308090...

[PeteinSQ]

That 530e is nice. Shame it's white, I too have been too mean to pay for a colour on both of my previous BMWs...

[PeteinSQ]

jamesbilluk said:

Is it just German saloons you’re looking at?

How about an Alfa Guilia

There’s the 2.2D
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308080...

Or 2.0T petrol
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308090...

No would consider anything really, it just sort of has to look the part as I'll be working in sales and you have to look reasonably successful!

I do like the Giulia, are they reliable? I'll be racking up a lot of miles.

[jamesbilluk]

PeteinSQ said:

No would consider anything really, it just sort of has to look the part as I'll be working in sales and you have to look reasonably successful!

I do like the Giulia, are they reliable? I'll be racking up a lot of miles.

They do look smart, Ah, not too sure reliability wise. I’m on an Alfa forum with the GTV, and not to many folk report on there with problems with them.

Another is the Mazda 6, quite a handsome thing in the latest shape
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306178...

[jamesbilluk]

Or the C7 A6, very good interior quality, and I think a good looking car too, and this one’s not in grey, silver, white or black.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306188...

[turbomoggie]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023081809...

If you're spending 20k to purchase outright then I'd go with something made by lexus. You can extend the warranty up to 10 years just by getting the car serviced by lexus. After owning multiple unreliable German cars for many years: VW, Porsche, BMW - I've become a Toyota/Lexus convert. Build quality of the mechanical and electronic bits is just leagues ahead of anyone else. They hardly ever go wrong. Many people moan about the eCVT gearbox but once you learn to get the best out of it, they're excellent - very reliable, smooth and relaxing.

[PeteinSQ]

I've evolved my thinking a bit. I'm now getting an estate which I'll have for a couple of years before passing it onto my wife.

So under consideration would be 5 series touring, E class estate, V90, or the Passat. And I'm sort of leaning towards the Passat as I can get something either under budget or newer.

Any estates I should be considering? We have a very old, very high mileage Skoda Superb which I intend to replace with whatever we get in two years.