We have been looking for a new family tintop for ages now and have become completely pissed off looking for the right car in budget. I am after suggestions from the masses. I'l be doing a lot of miles next year so will be spending significant amount of time in it.

Must be:
sub 13k
Diesel
cruise
air con/climate
smart black leather interior
native ipod control
low milleage
preferably with some warranty left

I like Volvo's (a lot), Lexus, saab etc, anything a little different or less common.

Don't like BMW's Mercs, VAG (except Skodas) Ford, Vauxhall,

Anyone want to chip in with suggestions/discussion.

Cheers

Here's an idea - why not get a volvo which meets your criteria?

Edit - I got my Alfa 159 last year (18 months old £12.5K) which meets all your criteria including the ipod stuff

Cheers

Mark

[Edited on 13/2/10 by mookaloid]

The little Lexus (the IS200 I think), my daughter had one, lovely car. There again she's got the small Volvo now (V50 I think) that's also brilliant.

Thats the idea generally but been struggling to find one that ticks all the boxes and is near. Plus I'm fussy about wheels and stuff.

I have a company lexus IS 220D this week and must say its pretty nice.

quote:

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Originally posted by liam.mccaffrey
We have been looking for a new family tintop for ages now and have become completely pissed off looking for the right car in budget. I am after suggestions from the masses. I'l be doing a lot of miles next year so will be spending significant amount of time in it.

Must be:
sub 13k
Diesel
cruise
air con/climate
smart black leather interior
native ipod control
low milleage
preferably with some warranty left

I like Volvo's (a lot), Lexus, saab etc, anything a little different or less common.

Don't like BMW's Mercs, VAG (except Skodas) Ford, Vauxhall,

Anyone want to chip in with suggestions/discussion.

Cheers

---

another idea a few are going for these days, and its different and very useful, a nissan navara, with a top on the back, i drove one once and was very impressed, good on fuel, not slow, high driving, all leather, big factory sat nav screen built in, and they don't look out of place on a posh estate, but i'm guessing your only into cars.

I know most cars are rebadged,
I much prefer the styling of Saabs to Vx's and much prefer the styling and trim of volvos to Fords. I don't think the Volvo D5 engine is available in ford range is it? Thats a great engine.

I think its important to like the car you own.

I LOVE pickups but I'm not allowed I would have a Navara, we have them as work truck and they're pretty good. I lived in the states and fell in love with pickup culture. I had a 2005 F150 and then an F250 both of which I loved. My favourite was my buddies fully loaded white Dodge Ram 1500 with the small block Cummins V8 diesel, that thing was awesome!

I am refurbing my Ford P100 right now and installing a supercharged Volvo T5 engine.


[Edited on 14/2/10 by liam.mccaffrey]

[Edited on 14/2/10 by liam.mccaffrey]

Are you a fan of other Jap cars? Worth also having a look at Toyota, Mazda (Ford) etc?

I've got a Vauxhall Vectra which is utterly boring to look at, but I love it. It's a 150bhp SRi 1.9 diesel and does about 65mpg with plenty of grunt to make good progress on the long trips up and down the country. Cheap insurance, cheap tax, cheap motoring!

What exactly do you want from a car? If it's something you love then it can be any make or model, or do you want to stand out? It's also worth trying 2 or 3 cars of the same type as I've found quite a big variation when jumping between one car and another of the same model, year, spec etc.

Having said all that - Volvos are great and I'd have one if I could afford one. D5 of course....!

Ed.

[Edited on 14/2/10 by Madinventions]

Have you been to your local SAAB dealership recently? I don't know where mine is but I'm told most of them have been having massive sales because of the 'uncertainty' though that might not be the case now.

I don't think its fair to say someone is wrong for not liking a car and liking another based on the same platform, the Vectra, 9-3, Croma and the BLS are all related but they're all very different machines.

Sorry if you said and I missed it but what sort of size do you need? If its big enough for your requirements, I'd reckomend having a look at a Fiat Bravo, your budget should get you a nearly new one from the top end of the range, and if your good at haggling could get you a decent new one (1.6 dynamic eco diesel has a target price of £12,600, in Decembers TG mag, and 62.8 as the quoted combined MPG). I don't know for sure but you could probably get one with all the toys you want and 165 bhp within budget.

Toyota's will be cheap as chips now
If i had that budget id get either a

Skoda superb TDI for 13k you would get a good spec'd one.

Honda accord cdti.

Both lovely to drive, economical and go like stink.

another vote for the civic icdti bloody brilliant we had one three years from new as a lease through my wifes work good miles to gallon and comfy. just dont go for the 18s like we did they look awesome but ruin the ride and its a honda so bullit proof to boot swapped it for a 100,000 mile accord when we came out of the lease scheme not a single rattle or squek from the trim honda know how to build a car.