Car suggestions

[Jack]

So the Avensis is likey to be written off (eventually, when the insurance pull their finger out and drag it away), and we're looking at similar spec stuff to replace it. Obvious choice is another T180 to replace it like for like, but my mind has gone blank as to what else to look at though.

Criteria is (note this is her criteria not mine lol):
- sat nav
- big hatchback or estate, no saloons or small hatchbacks. Might even consider a big 4x4 like an L200 or suchlike
- must be diesel
- Must be relatively reliable and inexpensive to maintain
- Mileage under 120k
- ~10-11 years old max
- Ideally around £2500-3000 but we could go up to 4500 for the right car
- Nothing French (ok so that's my one criteria but hey lol)

At the mo the current choice is either another T180 again or spend a bit more and get a Lancer Sportback GS4 or Juro. But it would be nice to have a few other ideas to consider or compare against in case I'm missing something obvious

She says....
Vectras/Astras no (because, yuck lol)
BMWs and Audis no due to servicing costs
Honda Accord estate was a possible but by god they're ugly
Tried a few big volvos and they weren't nice to drive
Focus & Mondeos no as they're dull, even though a) we have an Avensis lol and b) I know they are good cars
Passats seem expensive if you want one with decent options

Any other ideas to broaden our choice??

[bazzap8389]

How about a Subaru Legacy? Get them pretty well priced.

[TugSR]

How about an Octavia ? We've a 4x4 Tdi - a brilliant "Swiss Army knife" car . . .

:thumb:

[Stuart]

BMW servicing is piss cheap... Oil when on offer from halfords and ignore the rest :)

[Stuart]

Why must it be diesel?
Petrol versions will be cheaper/better speced for the cost etc, fuel costs are irrelevant now and probably due to the sorcery of insurance a big petrol version of a small derv engined car will be cheaper to cover lol

[Novasport]

As Stuart says, BMW service prices are not expensive. I found them cheaper than VW etc. No timing belts etc and big intervals.

[brucer]

Lancer sportbacks have a nice front end but the rear is so disapointing, a gs4 is a must or ralliart lol

The diesel engines from a VAG and the dash is rather plasticy.

I had one as a cortesy car for a few months and looked into buying one before my vec xp2.

[EwanG]

Mercedes as nice to drive and have timing chains. Better off with a diesel as diesel is about the same price as petrol. Better on fuel,cheaper on tax and loads of torque. It's not like you will be a young chav that wants to rag it round roundabouts back roads etc lol

[Southie]

Mazda 6 estate maybe?

[Novasport]

Nice cars too. I know somebody with a 2.0d Mazda 6 with 160000 miles on it. Still drives lovely, more like a 60k mile car.

[Royston]

Saab 150 Tid estate? one without intergalactic mileage

[Will F]

Something VAG
passat b6 sport estate (with oil pump done)
audi a4 b7 s line estate cheap to run and service (I have one with 220k and its 36 quid to service it)

[EwanG]

Buy a seat or Skoda for cheaper alternative to Audi/vw. I have owned my gt tdi golf for 8 years and no big problems!

[Stuart]

If BMW, make sure you get a pre 2007 model or post 2010 to avoid the shit n47 engine in its prime of crapness.... Loving my m47 rover engine lol

[Nova00]

Our 2004 mazda 6 130 K. Only major repair was clutch. Had 7 years very little else wrong mechanically but the dreaded rust/ corrosion now a problem. Pity because still drives very well.


Nice cars too. I know somebody with a 2.0d Mazda 6 with 160000 miles on it. Still drives lovely, more like a 60k mile car.

[Jack]

Mazda 6 is on the list :)
Any Audi is out as my dad has an S3 and my brother in law some posh new A4 Avant and she doesn't want to be the pauper model of the family lol


Why must it be diesel?
Petrol versions will be cheaper/better speced for the cost etc, fuel costs are irrelevant now and probably due to the sorcery of insurance a big petrol version of a small derv engined car will be cheaper to cover lol
I know this, you know this, now try telling her lol

Just been mooching at Mondeos, Titanium X models. Might have converted her to one of those

[phunkynova]

Subaru Outback, Forester ! maybe

[Mike]

£180 for a generic service at an Audi main dealer on a 4 cyclinder engine. B7 A4's (what mine is) have dropped massive in price now, even the 3.0 V6 TDi's (250bhp) are cheap too. Id certainly buy another Audi so much so that mine is going for sale soon, even after all the BS i had with getting the roof skin replaced, im definetly buying another either an S4 or S5.

Mazda 6 would get my vote to, friend of mine bought one new & managed 190k miles before any major issues.

[L14MNP]

Just been mooching at Mondeos, Titanium X models. Might have converted her to one of those

I have a 2010 Titanium X Mondeo, 170K miles, and it as good as gold. Drives more like it's covered 30K.
The spec (and build quality in many cases) pisses all over a lot of the so-called premium brands.

I recommend them to everyone.

My mate has just bought a 2011 Tit X 2.2 TDCi estate, today. Radar cruise control, lane departure warning, DAB, memory seats etc etc etc.
£8K.

[Jack]

Off to view a local-ish Mondeo Tit X later this week. Bonus with them at the moment seems to be availability, there's more of them around locally compared to stuff like Mazdas and T180s.

Suggested an Octavia, turned her nose up saying its an Audi in an ill fitting dress lol Also refuses to touch a Subaru :roll:
Did look at A4s but they're still more expensive than most other stuff (actually found equivalent A6s to be cheaper). And there's still the thing of my dad and brother in law both having newish Audis so the line was drawn through that one very quickly!

The MOT checker thing is proving very useful though, looked up a few cars for sale to check out their history. One Mondeo I checked had it's mileage going down for the past 3 years and was advertised at even less again lol

[Stuart]

I had an octavia for a few weeks, it was nearly new (few hundred miles on the clock), but it was hateful to drive. Its only redeming feature was no matter how hard it was driven, it returned 50mpg lol
an audi in an ill fitting dress is still a crappy audi lol

[brainsnova]

Mondeo gets my vote

[L14MNP]

How's the search going, Jack?

[Southie]

How's the search going, Jack?
He's looked around at all these cars but it's not up to him. Wives really kick ass once that rings on there finger lol

[Jack]

lol

So far we've looked at three Mondeo Titanium X's - two local, one a bit further away. One we liked very much, had all the options ticked but high mileage (for the age) and no service history BUT the seller was trying to get documentation from the previous owner/local dealer, as he'd not long had the car himself. It had clearly been looked after though.

Haven't looked at any T180s yet as they're all 100+ miles away! But picked a few we like the look of.

The other insurance has accepted full liability though so we're now just waiting on repair/write off assessments on the Avensis. The 'approved repairer' said the earliest they could do was 16th March! So after wife getting her angry trousers on at Admiral - bearing in mind they're not giving us a courtesy car until (or if) it goes in for repair - we got put with another local one. Should be going there Thursday next week for assessment, so by next weekend we ought to have an idea if we're buying a Mondeo or not lol

[Jack]

Avensis has been officially written off and we were offered a surprisingly fair payout for it, at bloody last.

So next week we're picking up this titanium x, with a massive options list

http://i.imgur.com/ckGTBDa.jpg

[brainsnova]

Cool do you know the reg and I can run it on fords system for everything it has fitted

[EwanG]

The ford should be realiable ish but cheap plastic interior would put me off. I will always buy vag. You only get what you pay for. Hopefully it serves you many happy miles.

[Stuart]

The ford should be realiable ish but cheap plastic interior would put me off. I will always buy vag. You only get what you pay for. Hopefully it serves you many happy miles.


Vag interiors are just as cheap and plastic lol

[EwanG]

If your happy then that's fine but I always say buy cheap buy twice. Spend a wee bit more and buy better quality as you only get what you pay for.

[wwmnw]

My mate has just bought a 2011 Tit

Surely I'm not the only one that laughed?...

Maybe I missed something, Jack what happened with the Avensis?

[brainsnova]

The only vw I'd entertain is the mk1 golf, I'll always choose a ford transit over a vw van

[Jack]

We did look at a few Passats but they were a bit expensive for what we were looking at and didn't have the same level of equipment. Or had interstellar mileage

TBH we've been a bit spoilt with the build quality of the avensis, its way over everything else we've been considering. Just was unfortunate all the T180s were ~100 miles away and I didn't fancy a road trip in the GT4 to potentially not buy anything. The Mondeo was only t'other side of bristol :)


Maybe I missed something, Jack what happened with the Avensis?
It got harpooned by a Corsa lol Would have been repairable but it put a very small kink in the base of the A-pillar. enough to make it a write off in the eyes of insurance - shame really as the rest of the car is in good nick.

[brainsnova]

Here's an example of the ford info





Mondeo 2007-2014, 2.0L Duratorq DOHC(150/163PS)-DW10C, Panther Black (Metallic)

VIN Number: WF0EXXGBBEAT01349
Registration Number: EF10BWE
First Registration Date: 21.05.2010
Registration Country: GB
Type Approval Number (TAN): E13*2001/116*0249
Primary Features
Build Date: 05.05.2010
Vehicle Line: Mondeo 2007-2014
Body Style: 5 Door Saloon
Version: Series 60
Engine: 2.0L Duratorq DOHC(150/163PS)-DW10C
Transmission: 6 Speed Powershift 6DCT450 - MPS6
Drive: RHD FWD
Emission: Stage V Emissions
Air Conditioning: Dual Zone Auto Temp Control A/C
Territory: (+)"GB"
Paint: Panther Black (Metallic)
Interior Fabric: Alcantara Platinum / Gen Red/Ebony


Minor Features
Less Rear Mudflaps
Less Front Mudflaps
With Hill Launch Assist
With Standard Liftgate
(-) Version Packages
Genk Plant Build
Security Lock Group No.10
Less Special Equipment Package
Less Fleet Options
Less Special Order Paint
Full Dress Up RSO Less Rear Spoiler
S Edition SVP
Less Safety Packs
Enhanced Interact Vehicle Dynamics
Less Tyre Repair Service Kit
With Global Closing
With Electric Rear Windows
With Privacy Glass
Infrared Reflective Windscreen
With Heated Windscreen
With Console Ashtray
Less Temp Controlled Glove Box
With Monotone Instrument Panel
Front Floor Carpet Mats
Rear Floor Carpet Mats
Less Sun Blinds
With Level 5 Door Trim Panel
Less Load Rest
Less Rear Screen Sun Blinds
Body Colour Surround/Mesh Insert
Less Roof Rack
Rocker Panel Moulding - VP
Electric Operated Rear View Mirror
Dual Ext Mirror-P/Ht/Mem/Fold Back
With Front 4 Way Headrest
Less Special Front Seat Covers
Less Special Rear Seat Covers
Rear Centre Armrest With Stowage
With Drivers Manual Lumbar Support
With Passengers Man Lumbar Support
With Drivers Heated And Cooled Seat
With Pass Heated And Cooled Seat
Less Rear Heated Seat
Less Child Intergrated Seat
Drv Power Seat Adjust With Memory
With Pass 8 Way Power Seat Adjuster
Less Rear Seat Armrest Packs
Less Trailer Coupling
Body Coloured Exterior Door Handle
With Leather Gear Shift Knob
Power Door Dead Lock W/Elec Release
Keyfree System
With Keyless Entry System
With Automatic Windscreen Wiper
With Heated Washer Jet
With Headlamp Washer
Less Sun Roof
Bumper Extension - Front-VP
With Rear Bumper Skirt
Air Curtain Restrnt LH
Air Curtain Restrnt RH
Inflatable Knee Bolsters - Driver
With Side Air Bag - Drivers Side
With Side Air Bag - Passenger Side
Less Passenger Air Bag Deactivation
Spare Wheel - Mini Steel
Less Tyre Pressure Sensors
With Standard Rear Shock Absorbers
18" Wheel - Style 2
Limited Service Mini Spare Tyre
Less Wheel Covers
Locking Wheel Nuts
With Sports Tuned Suspension
Front Spring Load Class-S
Rear Spring Load Class-G
With Chrome Exhaust Pipe Extension
With Brake Emergency Assist
Less Skid Plates
Sports Front Seat
With Rear Duct / B-Pillar
Less Air Purifier Sensor
With 70 Litre Fuel Tank
Less Gaseous Prep Pack
Unique Met Finish Foot Pedals Pads
Soft Feel Type Steering Wheel
With Speed Control
With Supplemental Air Heater
Conventional Instruments - Level 3
Navigation Data - Western Europe
Thatcham Catergory 1 Alarm System
With Rear Parking Aid
With Front Parking Aid
80 AH Battery
Less Auxiliary Compact Disc Player
BT/VC Phone Interface + USB Connect
With Tri Band Antenna
ICE-Nav High CD+AM/FM Radio
With 8 High Series Radio Speakers
Voice Activated Module - British
Less Camera
High Intensity Discharge Headlamp
Less Daytime Running Lamps
With Front Fog Lamps - VP
With Footwell Lights
With Submarine Lighting-Interior
With 2nd Row Reading Lamps
With Automatic Headlamp Levelling
With Automatic Headlamp On/Off