Sensible car dilemma

[ChinaTom]

I just have to face the fact that I need a sensible car to use as a daily - I don't really want to rely on a 200k mile car (albeit German). It is easy to say that providing I keep piling on the preventative maintenance it'll be OK, but something major is going to go bang at some point soon. I have tried to do a sensible search for a sensible car but each time I visit a "configurator" I end up speccing the car up to beyond what I want to pay, and so end up scanning to used section. As soon as I do that, I start going crazy again with the "ooh, I can afford that now" etc etc.

 

For instance I configure a Volvo V70 to £35k, swear a lot, then visit the used car section and find a bunch of V8 engined cars that make me smile and can nearly afford.

 

I do the same with the Passat and end up tapping the calculator for used big V6's. No discipline.

 

I'll sacrifice £25k as investment in a tool for my business - I want to get to places quickly if necessary, comfortably and she won't sit in anything that isn't beige. Estates only and I am thinking AWD will be helpful on the lanes around here. But then I think about all the other things I need to buy and find a budget of £18k much more palatable.

 

So, a new Octavia 4x4 High Power diesel or second hand Volvo etc etc? I am also tempted by the Superb

 

But what I really want to know is how long I would need to wait until an Audi Q7 V12 diesel depreciates to somewhere around £20k.

 

Suggestions welcome.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Come on man, the answer is patently obvious! Its a secondhand VW phaeton. You must be able to get a mega one for 18k, you have bust right out the other side of the price range of the v6 pez ones, must be into supa diesel territory.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

here you go:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-DUTTON-PHAETON-2ltr-Pinto_W0QQitemZ330384333082

[ChinaTom]

Been there, thunk it already. Need an estate though. I mentioned the Superb as they are about to launch one. Phaetons are actually very nice - I had a test drive in a 4.2V8 and loved it. But, I already have a large saloon with a stupidly thirsty engine. The idea was to migrate to "sensible-land" and have a car that I can use for work, put dogs in the back, reduce the fuel bills a little and present an appropriate image to people I meet professionally. I reckon I'll end up spending £10k on the best and latest E39 530d estate I can find.

[ChinaTom]

here you go:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1981-DUTTON-PHAETON-2ltr-Pinto_W0QQitemZ330384333082

 

I can see how much help you're gonna be!!

[mk1_4dr]

I reckon I'll end up spending £10k on the best and latest E39 530d estate I can find.

and would that be a bad thing? Last of the handsomely styled german exec saloons IMO

[Guest]

Phaeton?! Sod that - here's a really sensible idea.

 

 

Bet you could get a Quattroporte V for £20K-ish nowadays. It's not an estate, but if you get any big loads it won't take, you could just leave it all at the side of the road and drive around enjoying the lovely engine note, that would take your mind off it.

 

It would present an appropriate image to the people you meet professionally, in that they would be unlikely to "mess" with you.

[ChinaTom]

 

but not on my daily rate!!!

[Milford Cubicle]

Screw your V8s, what you want is a staggered in-line 8.

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-VW-PASSAT-W8 ... 0265425374

[ChinaTom]

W8 v v tempting.Pros: Like the idea, the performance, the price (assuming this is good value for one of these rare beasties)Cons: Mrs CT just glanced at it, asked me the engine size and gave me "that look" and walked off muttering awful awful words in Cantonese."That look" captured spares prices, service costs, bad mpg, basically all fun, no practical improvement over what we have - all in 2 seconds.Also, it's in Middlesborough, which is a long way away.Bloody good effort though.

[Milford Cubicle]

Just stick some TDI badges on it, she'll be none the wiser.

[Cavcraft]

Is the Q7 the big fugly 4x4 thing? Don't know about the V12 dizzlers but distinctly recall hearing last year the 'common or garden' models were dropping a grand a week on forecourts at one point

[Rusty Pelican]

Is the Q7 the big fugly 4x4 thing? Don't know about the V12 dizzlers but distinctly recall hearing last year the 'common or garden' models were dropping a grand a week on forecourts at one point

Serves them right for buying the thing in the first place ,

[carlo]

I reckon I'll end up spending £10k on the best and latest E39 530d estate I can find.

and would that be a bad thing? Last of the handsomely styled german exec saloons IMO

That would be my choice. I seriously hanker after one of the last BMW 5 series 530 diesels, the ones before the styling went all wonky. Haven't driven one but they sound lovely and powerful. Get the best one with a good dealer warranty and that should do you.

[Justin Case]

A nearly new Subaru Legacy estate should tick all the boxes and come within your budget. Diesel for economy or 3.0r if you want to always get there on time

[Tayne]

/

[Lord_Isleworth]

What about an Alpina B10 touring

Not sure how easy they are to come by but you have the budget!

[Lord_Isleworth]

Or this?

 

Good enough for James Bond

 

[ChinaTom]

Cheers for all the advice guys - it all sounds obvious, but it is helping me reconcile the options.Looked at Subarus before and now the diesel is here, I may have another look. Mrs CT doesn't like Ford interiors and Mondeos drivers have a bit of a dodgy reputation in China so they don't find favour with her (little like 3-series drivers are sometimes portrayed here). Thought about the X-Type too but you can't have 2 Jags without being likened to Porky Prescott.I drive a petrol E39 at the moment and definitely wouldn't mind having another in diesel form. Just worried that I was missing out on something better. Doubt I'll find an Alpina, but in no massive hurry so will add that to the searches.I think it's going to be either the 530d or an XC70 D5 to be honest. Or the Quattroporte.

[CIH]

Mercedes ?

[ChinaTom]

low mileage E280 and 320CDi added to the list. I don't think I'm quite old enough for a Merc though - a few neighbours have them and they're all in their 80's!

[Gompo]

A nearly new Subaru Legacy estate should tick all the boxes and come within your budget. Diesel for economy or 3.0r if you want to always get there on time

I was going to say this too. Very rarely read anything negative about them. I reckon they're quite reasonable looking too, nothing controversial or 'emotive' etc. Just solid design.

 

[Milford Cubicle]

Shame the new shape Legacy is so horrific.

 

[Betaphile]

Phaeton?! Sod that - here's a really sensible idea.

 

 

Bet you could get a Quattroporte V for £20K-ish nowadays. It's not an estate, but if you get any big loads it won't take, you could just leave it all at the side of the road and drive around enjoying the lovely engine note, that would take your mind off it.

 

It would present an appropriate image to the people you meet professionally, in that they would be unlikely to "mess" with you.

I say this in all seriousness, in certain parts of Europe the Lancia Thesis has a cast-iron (and deserved) image along exactly these lines. I mention - purely for reasons of academic interest - that Thesis 2.4 20V MultiJets with low mileages are all over the place on Italian fleabay and are now down to €10-15k...

 

Erm, or an Octavia/Superb.