which car to get for £12kish?

[dts_boy]

I am looking at either audi a4 2tdi, volvo s40 diesel, saab 93 vector diesel but having not driven any not sure?
i currently do around 300ish miles a week so it needs to be pretty frugal. ideally leather with an auto box would be nice but not essential - i have thought about bmw 3 series but can't find many good sports ones that price (would need to be new shape) so am looking for ideas and opinions please
my heart tells me of the 3 the Audi is the one to get albeit it will be older with slightly more miles than the others but would do people think?

 

[un1eash]

Octavia 2.0TDi VRs?
Seat Leon FR?

 

[Misk0]

I used to have old shape S40, until yesterday, which was great for motorway driving, very comfortable and reliable. Not very exciting on B roads and a little bit lazy (1.8 petrol). Had new S40 with the same engine for couple of days as a courtesy car and wasn't really thrilled with it.

I tried Saab 9-3 auto 150bhp when I was looking for a second car and I liked it and almost got it but somehow misunderstood my Mrs that she will only consider 1 series BMW . It will give you the same level of comfort as Volvo and little bit more fun outside the motorway. I'd be seriously looking into vector sport models, there are about 20 on autotrader which are automatic with less than 40k miles for under £12k. Don't disregard half leather seats, my new car has them and I find them surprisingly good.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

I got a Ford Mondeo with sat nav, 2.5 litre turob engien taken from a volvo, and with adaptive suspension, specifically for sports suspension, with full parkign sensors, and sat nav for a bit more than that 7 months ago.

If the name/badge puts you off, try a google search for reviews of the car.

Obviously, you woudl go for a 2.2 diesel for good balance between performance and economy.

 

[dts_boy]

i have a leon fr at the moment, a bit small really and would prefer slightly more space in the backf for the little one.
Octavia vrs diesel sounds good.
my wife has ruled out the volvo so its really the saab (and yes was only looking at the vectors) or the Audi.

i guess i need to drive some of these things to get a better idea, Internet is great for research but until i can sit and drive these things i won't be able to make my mind up - thanks for the comments so far!

 

[BAN5HEE]

You can get a pretty decent Audi 2nd hand for 12k especially an A4 or you can get a 2003 model S3. Should keep a smile on your face

 

[FZR400RRSP]

If you're looking at a £12K A4, you're as well looking at an A3 sportback (5 door) as well.
The hatchback makes them a bit more practical than the A4.
Then again, the A4 is better built.

As a 'curveball', £12k would get you an Alfa 159 diesel.
Infinitely more stylish than any equivalent Audi or BMW (I've owned them all).
The 1.9 diesel is a cracking engine too (used by Saab and GM)

Cue some dullard saying it'll break down....
Nonsense.

Look at this thing of beauty.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...cedesc&anchor=advert200933339917070&logcode=p

 

[Epicurus]

Look for something like a 3 or 4 year old Audi A4 s-line.

Still look fantastic in dark colours such as black, fantastically frugal and driveable 2.0tdi and very comfortable. You'll get good kit for that money too.

 

[Stoofa]

I'm no dullard and I will recommend the OP stays away from the Alfa unless he is prepared for the worst. (prepare for the worst and if it doesn't happen then great)

I've known four people who have owned Alfa's and only one of those people had a trouble free experience.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

I'm no dullard and I will recommend the OP stays away from the Alfa unless he is prepared for the worst. (prepare for the worst and if it doesn't happen then great)

I've known four people who have owned Alfa's and only one of those people had a trouble free experience.

I've had more hassle with an A3 2.0tdi than three Alfa owners (including myself) have with their cars.
In fact, the company fleet has had fair hassle with every 2.0tdi VAG car we've had (Passat/Jetta/A3).
I've also had some hassle with my BMW, with a juddery clutch and noisy suspension.
So there you go.
Like any make of car these days, it appears you get good ones and bad ones.
The thing with a 159 is that it has style and exclusivity in bucketloads.
So assuming you get a good one, you have those added benefits.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

fantastically frugal and driveable 2.0tdi

The 2.0tdi is not fantastically frugal.
If you go onto the likes of audi-sport.net, you will see endless threads from 2.0tdi owners saying they are disappointed with the mpg they get.
Many report less than 40mpg, which is terrible for a diesel with only 140bhp.
I get high 40s mpg from my 200bhp BMW diesel!
A 1.8T or 2.0T petrol A4 will get mid to high 30s mpg!
The 1.9tdi is fantastically frugal (20% better than the 2.0tdi in my personal experience), but you really don't want that engine, it's awful.

 

[Epicurus]

Sorry for them, the 140psi VW unit was giving me upwards of 60mpg every day on my drives to and from work, if I thrashed the nuts off it I would get no worse than 40mpg. The economy improved dramatically once it had done around 10k miles.

If owners have the uprated 170-80psi version mostly put in 4wd variants then that had a big effect on economy, I drove an A3 of this variety for a few weeks and the best I could get out of that was around 45mpg.

I go by my own experiences not others', sorry.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

I go by my own experiences not others', sorry.

So do I.
I was lucky to see low 40s from my A3 2.0tdi.
I once managed to eek out an average 46mpg, but that wasn't worth the effort.
high 30's/low 40s are the sorts of figures given by other owners on Audi forums.
So I would suggest these are more the norm than your figures.
My 1.9tdi A4, however, consistently did 49mpg, no matter how I drove it.

Oil consumption can also be a concern on 2.0tdi VAG engines, as can coolant loss caused by porous cylinder heads.

Just passing on my experiences as a 2.0tdi owner, fleet controller and frequenter of an Audi forum for three years.

 

[dts_boy]

hmm, i have thought about the Alfa but too many people i have spoken with who have had Alfas say not to buy. i have pretty much settled on a a4 avant but am now looking at leasing instead of buying for £12k. i reckon i can get £9k for my car and then spend around £400-500 on a lease - just need to find the best deal i can now

 

[montybaber]

Phaeton TDI? hell of a car for the money

 

[FZR400RRSP]

hmm, i have thought about the Alfa but too many people i have spoken with who have had Alfas say not to buy.

That's strange.
Alfa-tisti are usually the first to praise Alfas.
Oh well, never mind.

An A4 Avant will be fine, if you get a good one.
I've just spent the weekend driving a 143bhp 2.0tdi diesel A4 saloon (SE executive, new model, 09 plate).
Terribly slow.
I mean "come on...do something" slow.
Really light steering too, which meant a complete lack of feel.
Comfy enough and quiet though (did over 800 miles in it).
It did the job, but left me totally underwhelmed.
Story of my Audi driving history, really.
They're just........joyless and dull........

 

[dts_boy]

That's strange.
Alfa-tisti are usually the first to praise Alfas.
Oh well, never mind.

An A4 Avant will be fine, if you get a good one.
I've just spent the weekend driving a 143bhp 2.0tdi diesel A4 saloon (SE executive, new model, 09 plate).
Terribly slow.
I mean "come on...do something" slow.
Really light steering too, which meant a complete lack of feel.
Comfy enough and quiet though (did over 800 miles in it).
It did the job, but left me totally underwhelmed.
Story of my Audi driving history, really.
They're just........joyless and dull........

All Alfa owning friends love the drive just not the reliability. i still have yet to drive any of the cars on my list but i know what you mean about dull - i almost got an A3 a few years ago but found it left me a little cold. as an estate i think i can live with that (i hope!) unless any bmw 3 series touring customers convince me otherwise....too many choices!!!

 

[FunkyMonkey]

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