Any suggestions?

List of requirements:

Reliable

Room for 2 adults, 1 child and pushchair, etc etc etc!!!

Fun to drive (not necessarily fast, but entertaining, maybe like a 4x4)

Not a Skoda! I've got one and selling one, so would like something else!

Nothing over 10 years old as I woant to keep some reliability

Mileage doesn't matter as long as it is reliable.

Cars that I have considered so far (comments welcome)

Mercedes ML430

Volvo V70

Volvo S60

Saab 9-3

Saab 9-5

Mercedes E class

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7 V8

Jaguar x-type 3.0 V6/2.5 V6

Mondeo Estate

BMW 3 series

The list goes on really.

What are peoples thoughts on here?:confused:

Looking at the BMW and Jag suggestions - did you know you can get yourself a tidy E39 5 series for within your budget now, or even a Jag S-Type (but avoid the first two or so product years)? I wouldn;t bother with the Saabs because they don't offer enough different except for lovely seats and decent styling. The Jeep will bankrupt you for fuel and go wrong a lot.

The Lexus IS Sportcross was a decent, entertaining motor with a good amount of space and amazing reliability, but there aren't too many around. They also climb up the tax brackets a bit too far for my liking given their performance.

Here are a few of my thoughts

307 xsi 2.0hdi

R A Motors - Yorkshire : 307 2.0 HDi XSi - 6-SPEED 136BHP 3dr

Honda Accord

driven image ltd : HONDA ACCORD EXECUTIVE, LOW MILES LOVELY CONDITION

Here are a few of my thoughts

307 xsi 2.0hdi

R A Motors - Yorkshire : 307 2.0 HDi XSi - 6-SPEED 136BHP 3dr

Honda Accord

driven image ltd : HONDA ACCORD EXECUTIVE, LOW MILES LOVELY CONDITION

I should have added "Not French" to my list of requirements!!

Thanks for the suggestions, I had actually thought about the Honda so I may give it another look. I have had a Megane 1.6 and a Peugeot 306 HDi and both gave me no end of electrical headaches, so I will be avoiding all things French I reckon.

Thanks again mate.

Do you have any requirements for petrol/diesel or economy?

Do you have any requirements for petrol/diesel or economy?

Not especially. Economy is always good of course, but I have found the larger the petrol engine, the cheaper the car at the moment. My mileage shouldn't be that high either maybe 10/12,000 miles a year tops. How reliable are BMW's over 100,000 miles? Any experience of this anyone?

With my experience of older BM's the mechanics are fine and nothing to worry about - it's the body work that can be a letdown.

My suggestion would be a Saab 95 Estate, maybe a 2.3t ?

The previous gen 3 series can suffer from issues with the front suspension, the old 7 can pick up electrical gremlins, but the 5 is pretty solid all over. With a decent service history they're generally pretty good.

With my experience of older BM's the mechanics are fine and nothing to worry about - it's the body work that can be a letdown.

My suggestion would be a Saab 95 Estate, maybe a 2.3t ?

the only trouble with the saab is they do suffer a little at high milage turbo etc etc and if its the old 95 then you must make sure the recal was done on the cam chain and balance shaft if not dont go near i think it was a3 stamp on wing to see if it was done

if you want more info on saabs pm me i did my apprentaship and another 2 years as a fully qualified tech:thumbup: i know them inside out and back to front

Accord Type Rs are dropping into this price range now matey. If you can get away with a totally different style of driving (have to be revved hard), they are superb to drive and more than big enough for what you need. Very underrated car.

Accord Type Rs are dropping into this price range now matey. If you can get away with a totally different style of driving (have to be revved hard), they are superb to drive and more than big enough for what you need. Very underrated car.

I had a look on Pistonheads at one of these yesterday. A mate of mine once had a 1.6 vtec civic coupe, is it the same sort of engine, where once warm, you can rev it to a certain point and then an extra burst of power comes in and the engine sort of turns it's volume up too!! A little like a turbo!

Deceptively agile car too, very good fun to drive but is a normal family car when you need it to be. The only reason I sold mine is that it just doesn't suit my day to day driving style.

I would go for a BMW my father in law has one of the 4 series and its never gone wrong and he has had it for coming up to 3 years, just that parts are a bit more but they do last longer and the ride quality is great. So far he has clocked up 91,000 and its on a 2001 y reg.

I wouldnt have a mondeo there are lots of them around and the people i know that have the last shape from the current model are having rust issues from 51 plate to 54 plate so watch out for this especially around the wheel arches and sills in todays market you shouldnt have to worry about rust but ford do seem weak in this area.

Lexus are good and have toyotas lengendry reliability.

Edited 12 April, 200917 yr by justinbarrow

I would go for a BMW my father in law has one of the 4 series and its never gone wrong and he has had it for coming up to 3 years, just that parts are a bit more but they do last longer and the ride quality is great. So far he has clocked up 91,000 and its on a 2001 y reg.

I wouldnt have a mondeo there are lots of them around and the people i know that have the last shape from the current model are having rust issues from 51 plate to 54 plate so watch out for this especially around the wheel arches and sills in todays market you shouldnt have to worry about rust but ford do seem weak in this area.

Lexus are good and have toyotas lengendry reliability.

Thanks for your input. Do you mean a 3 series BMW or a 5 Series? I'm pretty sure that a 4 series doesn't exist!

I must admit BMW seems the way to go. I want a 3 series but can see me heading for a 5 series as they seem to offer better value for money at the moment.

JEEP! you gotta go for the Jeep. I have a '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 straight 6 and it's awesome for the money (£1600).

It's not economical. It's not very fast, It's not as roomy as other 4x4's, but it has character. And it's a proper Jeep. I've often found myself lustng after the V8. They have all the toys under the sun, and the petrol models are really rather reliable for an American vehicle. Impecible off road manners as well.

If you go for the V8 try and get an LPG model, you'll be surprised how well the LPGs hold their value.

I have to add that I was never ever a fan of 4x4s until I bought the Jeep on a whim, I'd definitely have another!

Vauxhall Astra!

Vauxhall Astra!

Loon!

BMW 5 series or Audi A6, if I opt out of the company car scheme it will be one of those.

Just been having a look on the trader web site and you could add 7 series or the much better looking A8 to your list.

Edited 12 April, 200917 yr by DaveI

Vauxhall Astra!

LMAO:P

Thanks for your input

I can give you a site for ex MOD police cars, mainly Mondeos in white, a few miles on the clock......................

Knock a 0 off and you could have bought this........

http://briskoda.net/general-car-chat/woot-woot-im-back-skoda/143560/

Subara Impreza Estate in a fetching rally blue? Getting some less than 5 year old for under £4k on autotrader?

Any suggestions?

List of requirements:

Reliable

Room for 2 adults, 1 child and pushchair, etc etc etc!!!

Fun to drive (not necessarily fast, but entertaining, maybe like a 4x4)

Not a Skoda! I've got one and selling one, so would like something else!

Nothing over 10 years old as I woant to keep some reliability

Mileage doesn't matter as long as it is reliable.

Cars that I have considered so far (comments welcome)

Mercedes ML430

Volvo V70

Volvo S60

Saab 9-3

Saab 9-5

Mercedes E class

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7 V8

Jaguar x-type 3.0 V6/2.5 V6

Mondeo Estate

BMW 3 series

The list goes on really.

What are peoples thoughts on here?:confused:

Some nice Alfa Romeos at this price, they depreciate quite heavily and tend to look really good for their age, iv'e highlighted in red where your requirments will need to change if you want one of these,

Dont forget the S80 too, I like that

Not an Alfa. My mates got a 2001 156 Sportwagon and he's had nothing but grief with it. New wishbones, struts and shocks, new central locking system, water keeps leaking into it, power steering went etc etc… He's spent more than it cost him

What about an Accord Tourer?

Not an Alfa. My mates got a 2001 156 Sportwagon and he's had nothing but grief with it. New wishbones, struts and shocks, new central locking system, water keeps leaking into it, power steering went etc etc… He's spent more than it cost him

What about an Accord Tourer?

On The other hand I had a W Reg Alfa 146 with over 140k on the clock and it didnt have a single fault, apart from some blown dash bulbs. The 1.8 Twinspark was a hoot, especially at the last 1kRPM it was like VTEC style:D

But seriously, they dont have a reputation for reliability

5 Series.... this one might be worth a look. Click

The mileage is high though... but at least you'll have some change left