Hello,

 

Been away for a while, looking to replace the wife's car and thought I would ask on here as from memory you tend to get some good advice.

 

The wife currently has a 12 plate BMW 116i sport which she as covered a massive   8200 miles in over the past 3 1/2 years.

 

We are looking to replace this with something a bit bigger which will become the main car in the house (cover more miles)  when I get rid of my company car ( 320d touring)

 

Options are Audi Q5 s line plus or BMW X3 M sport (will be new) simply down to what she likes. 2.0 tdi engine are the options as it has to be a manual.

 

Wondering if anyone has an experience living with these. Will need to carry 1 or 2 kids ( young) and a big dog.

 

Thanks

 

Steve

sayin' nowt, self moderating, keeping schtum...............

Sell the wife. That is all.

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Not directly helpful but a friend of my wife's has a Q7 and is amazed by how such a big car has so little storage space. So maybe be very careful in choosing a Q5?

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No experience of either, and i understand those 2 are what she likes.

I would still suggest at the £30,000 and a bit that they are costing, look at a Volvo XC 60 and see if that appeals to her.

I looked at both those when I was after a 4x4 Steve - and ended up with a Tiguan.

 

Just thinking about the (low) mileage though; wouldn't she be better off with a petrol car?

Read lines 6 & 7.

All change, main Family Car, more miles.

Okay, okay!  :p

 

I suppose it depends upon how many miles the 'more' miles is. In saying that, I'd be loath to have a petrol car after having diesel ones for the past 30 years or so. Fortunately my mileage hasn't caused any DPF problems but others have commented to the contrary.

Okay, okay!  :p

 

I suppose it depends upon how many miles the 'more' miles is. In saying that, I'd be loath to have a petrol car after having diesel ones for the past 30 years or so. Fortunately my mileage hasn't caused any DPF problems but others have commented to the contrary.

More miles will be 15K ish per year

Edited 6 September, 201510 yr by sah682

Both models IMO are pure vanity an example of form over function.

 

Not my cup of tea but each to their own.

 

A Volvo V70 would fit her needs quite well. XC70 if you must have 4wd. Or any estate for that matter.

Subaru Outback?

Do you tow or go off road?

Why 4x4?

Edited 7 September, 201510 yr by loskie

Honda CRV

 

Wives love 'em

 

Buy yourself something nice with the change

 

Or if she's anything like my wife buy a Dashia Duster and pay someone £500 to change all the badges to BMW. She'd never notice.

Edited 7 September, 201510 yr by Aspman

Don't take this the wrong way but neither???   Both overpriced and under-specced with too much 'baggage' associated with them (although the Q5 does have a nice interior).

 

Not sure what I'd suggest as alternatives though as I'm not in that price level of the market and I'm not hooked on upmarket badges...   I'd be looking for something with less badge snobbery, less 'baggage', more function and less price.     

Wasn't there talk recently of a larger version of the Yeti? Is it going to happen? Worth waiting for?

I'd go Q5, purely because I wouldn't mind one myself.

 

The boss has an X3, nice car but not as good looking as the Audi in my opinion.

 

I'd have no issue playing this at full volume on the BOSE sound system whilst looking down at everyone else in their practical estate cars 

 

 

i was gunna suggest a audi sq5 but they only come in auto

I'd probably pick the X3 as I think it just shades the Audi, but I would also be happy with the Q5. It's nice to have such a difficult choice.

Transit custom tourneo. Same size, better driving position, more comfortable, more reliable, more interior space, tows well and can drive down a lane that sometimes has leaves on it.

Good call when you want a nice biggish People Carrier / Mini Bus that you still need to tow that trailer with if you fill the seats because there is no space for luggage.

Rather expensive as well by the time you get an Automatic, and if you can not claim VAT back.

 

Mumsnet might have reviews on Ford Transits.

 

**

EDIT,

Sorry my bad,

i was forgetting it is asking on Prestige SUV's with a manual box, and not a Automated Manual / auto.*

Vats not a factor, you can't reclaim it on any personal vehicle.

Point I'm making is it does all the things people think a soft roader can do, better, chalet.

Downside is you'll think everyone else thinks you're common outside the school or in the supermarket car park. In reality, no one will really care.

Exactly my point, they are expensive to buy as private vehicles when you can not claim back the VAT.

 

You sometimes wonder why someone buys an ordinary Family Home with a 2-3 Car garage & driveway, 

when they could buy a Small Car Dealership with a roadside forecourt Flat Above it for similar money.

 

Maybe it is a life style thing.

I see more Q5 up here than X3, if going smaller I see more X1 than Q3, & if bigger I see more X5 than Q7.

 

X3 has less luggage space than my MK7 Golf estate which has less than the MK3 Octavia estate.

 

If you want loads of room, space for the kids to stretch their legs & 4wd get an Octavia 4x4 2lt diesel 150ps which has the manual gearbox option (SE, SE-L, & Scout trim spec).................

 

 

EDIT:-

Thinking about your current cars these cars are not as "intimidating to drive" when coming from such a small car such as a 1series, where as the SUV's can be difficult to get the hang off in tight car parks etc. Also the cornering/handling in the ones I mention would be nearer to what you are used to compared to the SUV's.

 

Most SUV's are what I call "inverse Tardis design", big on the outside, small on the inside.

 

Go to the showroom, sit in the drivers seat & adjust to suit you, get out & then measure the level horizontal distance between the lower back of the rear seat to the rear face of the drivers seat. That gives you the leg stretch room for your kids, as kids like to stretch legs out & kick the seat in front!

 

Also the MK7 Golf Alltrack 4x4 estate is available in a 2lt diesel 150PS manual option in the UK also, just it is 2inches shorter in the wheelbase & 4inches shorter overall than the MK3 Octavia estate

Edited 15 September, 201510 yr by fabdavrav

If you buy either get a set of roofbars and a roofbox makes family holidays a lot easier.

After having a M Sport spec car I now have an SE spec car and the only thing I miss is the sports steering wheel. The softer ride on the SE is much better on England's potholes roads - its also more comfortable for your passengers.

Any reason for the adversion to an auto? We ended up with one and like it, didn't take long to adapt.

I would look at a Volvo XC 60 and see if that appeals to her.

Was going to mention this myself. Only seen the advert though, Look very nice. Classy without being snobbish IMO.

Was going to mention this myself. Only seen the advert though, Look very nice. Classy without being snobbish IMO.

The xc60 is quite small on the inside. My Mother-in-law had one, it was quite cramped on the inside. And avoid the 6speed auto, its terrible.

If you buy either get a set of roofbars and a roofbox makes family holidays a lot easier.

Roof bars are standard with the Q5.