Rules of the game!

Essentials:

1. Comfy
2. Easy to get in and out off
3. Automatic
4. Good VFM

Deisrable:

1. A bit of a larf to drive!
2. Decent

What I would really want is a Subaru Forester STi... if only they did an Auto!

I've had a Forester S Turbo and wasn't impressed by it, they are quite small and not that quick, but i suppose you could modify it, how about a Legacy?

How about a...
Porsche Cayenne?
Porsche Cayenne 4.5 Turbo Tiptonic Auto MODIFIED 550 BHP

e-Bay

What about something like an S-MAX. It should cover the first few points, not sure about the desirable.

the man mentioned good value for money


What he didnt mention was a budget...

As you mentioned a Freelander how about Nissan Xtrail?? I actually enjoy driving the small 4x4's, they are good to throw around, you can reach the limit at such low speeds you can have anywhere and usually within the speed limit. My mate used to have fast cars, then got a mitsi L200 and has had it for years as he loves the practicality, but also when he wants to play he reckons its great fun as you can slide the back everywhere.

Another mate has just picked up a 51 plate V8 300BHP Lexus LS430 for 4k, its massive and super comfy, even has back massagers in the seat. Its definetly easy to get into to, looks decent, not so sure how much fun to drive round corners though, but fast in a straight line

Would your back cope with a BMW 840ci?

Like this one...

bmw E39 540 Touring
Audi A6 4.2 Quattro Avant
Volvo T5 estate
Audi S4 avant

Those would be my choices, between 2 and 5k.

Edit: for some reason i thought it had to be an estate! Id still chose the estates over the saloons tho!

[Edited on 27/8/09 by alistairolsen]

Cheers guys. No set budget, but certainly no more than £12.5k.