£6k to blow on a car - 700 miles a week use

unkleGsif":349xqys9 said:

If you are not TOO bothered about size ( ) but still a bit practical, then you would do well to consider a top spec Audi A2 1.4TDI

Well ahead of their time, 100% aluminium so not rust, frugal, bit different
Will be my next car when the Lupo gets a bit too long in the tooth



G

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I have thought about one of these.

have a look at kias lots buying them for 7 yr warranty
dont know mpg
i have astra does me;will get a newer one when time comes

Pyro Tim":ob2u04vu said:

VAG diesel for me
Audi A3 Sportback,

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Fine until you need a service, MOT etc. Have mentioned before that I have 4 or 5 friends with 53 to 06 reg Audi's and all seem to get hit for at least £500 every time they even look at a (non Audi) garage. It's put me right off unless I had the money for a new one.

Always found Fords reliable and have been driving them for 14 years. Cheap too.

Ford - dual mass fly wheel, seemingly every five minutes (Mondeo anyway).

Pyro Tim":1sxa9uej said:

VAG diesel for me
Audi A3 Sportback, VW Golf, Passat, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia

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What he said. Plus if you are worried about the cost of parts, get round to your local TPS (http://www.the trade parts specialists.co.uk/ (remove the gaps - don't want the link coming up in search engines)) and they will be very helpful in supplying you genuine parts at a very reasonable price. They aren't supposed to sell to retail customers as they are a trade only division of VWG, but in my experience just saying you do a bit of spanner work on the side will suffice to get you a trade discount. ;-)

Nice Mercedes w126 A couple weeks ago I purchased my executive limo: a 760 GLE in showroom condition. It is a great car. A very different car than my 900 classic. The Saab is more a drivers car. The 760 feels bigger and it leans more in corners. On the other hand it evens out about every imperfection in the road. This is a 760 of the 2nd generation and it has a sophisticated independent rear axle. The Volvo is not as versatile as my Saab, but with the front wheel removed I can still fit my bike in the trunk. What they have in common is that they are built to last.

My Volvo hasn't LPG fitted. In Holland road tax is higher for LPG and I don't drive enough to justify LPG.

brocklanders023":1w19yday said:

Pyro Tim":1w19yday said:

VAG diesel for me
Audi A3 Sportback,

Click to expand...

Fine until you need a service, MOT etc. Have mentioned before that I have 4 or 5 friends with 53 to 06 reg Audi's and all seem to get hit for at least £500 every time they even look at a (non Audi) garage. It's put me right off unless I had the money for a new one.

Always found Fords reliable and have been driving them for 14 years. Cheap too.

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Just rubbish. On my Leon TDI it's £125 for the small service, and £250 for the big service at the main dealer. Never had to pay anything extra, other than tyres, and brakes when they've worn out due to the number of miles I've done. I took it to an independent last time, and it cost me more than the main dealer!

Ford stands for fix or repair daily. Cheap, but horrid to drive, uncomfortable and low spec

Get a 2.2 diesel Honda civic or the accord if you want bigger.Well reliable and both will do 250.000 plus if its serviced of course.

After all the suggestions for Mercs/Audis/VWs I did think twice about posting. However ...in for a penny:
You could try a Hyundai i30 1.6 diesel. Cheap as chips to run - £30 road tax and 50mpg even on my hilly journey to work. I did once manage to get 70 mpg and took a photo to prove it! However, it took a bit too much careful driving on the flatlands.
Motorways at around 75mph you're looking at 55mpg. It's comfortable and handles well, reasonable pick up when you put your foot down and quite quiet as well.
The car is a tardis - with seats down we can get all our camping kit in (big tent, bags of clothes cooking stuff, duvet etc etc plus both bikes with wheels out).It also takes our massive double snowboard box (looks more like a coffin).
I do about 20 - 25k a year in the car and it's been brilliant.


OR you could by my MR2 for three grand, have a right laugh and spend the rest on more bikes

Pyro Tim":1c5gnfoa said:

brocklanders023":1c5gnfoa said:

Pyro Tim":1c5gnfoa said:

VAG diesel for me
Audi A3 Sportback,

Click to expand...

Fine until you need a service, MOT etc. Have mentioned before that I have 4 or 5 friends with 53 to 06 reg Audi's and all seem to get hit for at least £500 every time they even look at a (non Audi) garage. It's put me right off unless I had the money for a new one.

Always found Fords reliable and have been driving them for 14 years. Cheap too.

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Just rubbish. On my Leon TDI it's £125 for the small service, and £250 for the big service at the main dealer. Never had to pay anything extra, other than tyres, and brakes when they've worn out due to the number of miles I've done. I took it to an independent last time, and it cost me more than the main dealer!

Ford stands for fix or repair daily. Cheap, but horrid to drive, uncomfortable and low spec

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Audis do tend to be at the pricier end for servicing.

Ford uncomfortable? 6k would suggest very recent Fords.

Driving dynamics are excellent, comfort is on a par with the German offerings and they are anything but cheaply built, with spec levels matching the other marques and great quality finish.

The DMF issue is one thing, but I can't understand these comments.

SEAT are nice cars, but nothing Ford needs to worry about.

If it were me and my 6k I would be looking at relatively low mile Beemer 3 Series.