[Closed] Arghh, need a car. Struggling..help!

Go and haggle with the dealer over the E class.

I got a 530d tourer for similar money to what you're spending, just over 100000 on the clock and its been fine for 2 years bar a stereo issue and servicing.

blowing £10-11k on a car with 80-100k on seems wrong

100k on an E class/ 5 series will be fine.

really want to go see the Merc but it's a 5hr drive away now! Local merc dealer has been trying to find me the spec I am looking for in their network but no luck (buying from merc it would be £3-5k more but <50k miles).

They did get me in to test drive one the other day as they had taken a part ex with with the engine I am looking for. They knew it wasnt the spec I wanted but and had lots of little car park and bumper dings so they were going to send it to auction but wanted me to try the car/engine out. They did have a 2013 model in and I was prepared to be talked into it but they sold it the day before.

Mondeo is surely the stock answer on here.
Huge, comfortable and bullet proof.

APF

100k on an E class/ 5 series will be fine.

should be. Seen plenty of E-classes on ebay with >200k on the clock and still going for £7-8k!

Good chance of getting a full dealer history or part dealer, part specialist wit a big merc or bmw. Putting history and condition first.

Bought my current peugeot with 120k on the clock for £1k when I started working for myself. Now approaching 180k and only times it has let me down have been the key jamming in the ignition due to wear (replaced with spare barrel and key out of old car) and the radiator getting a hole last month due to corrosion.

Mondeo is surely the stock answer on here.
Huge, comfortable and bullet proof.

I can't do it. I know they are good cars but just can't. Same goes for Passats, Octavias etc.

I was going to buy a Lotus Elise earlier in the year as they make financial sense (appreciating) and would make my 2+hrs a day in the car a lot more interesting but not exactly practical!

I fancied a T5 to be able to stop for a ride on the way home but in reality I can just take my overhead surfing towel thingy to get changed without getting arrested squeezing into the lycra!

Ford galaxy?

Volvo v70 t5?

It's a tool for a job at the end of the day,

Mercs are lovely cars, I've driven quite a few over the last eleven months or so, A, B, C, E-Class, ML, including a C63 AMG, and I've come to appreciate just what a nice car they are to drive, especially when you're looking at a couple of hours behind the wheel, because most of them I take to Ambrosetti at Chipping Warden, which is a refurbishment offshoot of British Car Auctions where there must be several hundred at any one time, all ex-lease cars, so I'd suggest keep plugging away 'cos I'm sure you'll find just the car sooner or later.
It may be worth registering with BCA and getting their catalogues, they often have specialist auctions of single marque cars, so you could grab a good deal.
Volvos are damned nice to drive, especially the V60, so have a look at those as well.

yeah been looking at V60's an am already registered with BCA and Manheim. Shame you have to go along to bid though as the general public.

Will take a look again now.

I'm guessing the big issue is being picky on spec/engine.
What specifically (minimum spec and engine size) from merc/bmw were you looking for?

andyl - Member

I was going to buy a Lotus Elise earlier in the year as they make financial sense (appreciating) and would make my 2+hrs a day in the car a lot more [s]interesting[/s] uncomfortable

Fun for twenty mins, not for a commute.

Honda Accord Tourer or Toyota Avensis Tourer?
I don't find the BMW 5-series especially roomy inside for a big car, and the RWD models aren't at their best in snow

Perhaps a bit small, but what about a SEAT Exeo estate? Based on the audi a4, it has the same quality but without the price tag. Plus because they didn;t sell that many, the prices are lower than the same age Leon.

I can fit two bikes with just the front wheels off and kit for a week in France all in the back no issue. I've done 60k miles in the last 3 years (now at 90k @ 7 years old) and feels as good as it did when i got it.

[quote="andyl"]I can't do it. I know they are good cars but just can't. Same goes for [b]Passats[/b], Octavias etc.

Oh. I was just about to say Passat.

We had our last one ('06 B6) for about five years, and have just traded up to a '63 B7. Low miles, one owner, nice spec, it's a nice car. And that's coming from me as a confirmed BMW fanboi.

I'd still go Mondeo.... Drive one first before dismissing it.

My 11 year old E Class Estate has 200,000 on it - owned it from new. At 5 years old with a 100,000 miles on it it still drove like a new car but felt just about run in.

Very relaxing to drive - Swallows stuff, takes a complete XL 29er easily.

[quote="andyl"]I was going to buy a Lotus Elise earlier in the year as they make financial sense (appreciating) and would make my 2+hrs a day in the car a lot more interesting but not exactly practical!

Horrible and tiring on a commute.

But if you want to go along those lines, how about a 911 ? Prices seem quite solid, and they are slightly more comfortable. Or early Boxsters are dead cheap now.

The V60 is a Mondeo isn't?

Anyway the correct answer is Mondeo. The only car I've ever wanted a second one of when the first one went back.

The hatch will get a couple of Fives plus a long weekend's luggage the boot in without folding the seats.

The estate? You could camp in the back.

And it's noticeable more refined than my wife's 320.

How brave are you feeling? [url= https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=used-cars&M=514&SortOptions=PriceLowToHigh ]Cheap pork...[/url]

Not sure if you can access Facebook but it seems like you should be looking for a nice condition E Reg Transit 🙂

Honda accord 2.4 lovely car

Used to live Mondeos until I had a mk3.

Great drive when the handbrake and rear callipers were working, butterfly flaps in the engine and rear subframe bushes.

My mk1 never needed a thing but after constantly swapping rear brakes, it had to go and I wouldn't buy a Ford again.

Good handling though.

Well a newish 5 series has recently transported myself and two other full size chaps across Europe with three bikes in the boot( frames and wheels seperate) in some style so I would recommend one of those.

My only concern would be whilst the basics are all sound for multi 000 miles they can though up random £500 bills and if your on a budget that could be a challange.

How brave are you feeling? Cheap pork...

not sure that will fit the economy bit.

Seen a 2011 5 tourer M sport in great condition. Luggage space isn't great for a car that size but day to day it should be a nice car to drive.

I do keep looking at Mondeos and have driven a few (2.2 tdci auto tiptronic estate was a surprise) but a decent one isnt much less than something german with a better badge.

Merc I am looking at is the more powerful of the 2.1 litre diesels with panoramic roof, memory seats and AMG bodykit. Its the old style front though so does look a bit old man.

I am considering a smaller, sportier estate and just getting a roof box for big trips. Sat in a 3 series (current style) and hated it. Also tried a C class and felt too closed in and toy wise a used E-class is much better equipped for the same money.

Out of all the cars I sat in I hate to say the RR Evoke was lovely - not having one though. Jag XF also nice. 5 series was good, Merc was a bit boring but lovely and spacious. I can't stand the feeling of being cocooned in after getting T-boned a couple of years ago which resulted in me taking a huge whack to my left side as the other car had failed to stop at a junction.

Also looked at 911's but the fuel would be silly. If only the diesel Panamaras were a decent price!

I don't find the BMW 5-series especially roomy inside for a big car, and the RWD models aren't at their best in snow

Don't know about the 5 series, but the 3 series are very capable with a good set of winter tyres. This was something that really put me off, living somewhere that is well known for snow, and I researched it for ages, came to no real conclusions, but bought one anyway. When I got to test it out properly, I was impressed. As good as an AWD car with summer tyres. Squirmed a bit when the gradients went above 15% in a good few inches of snow, but took it comfortably.

I run winter tyres on my old peugeot estate (kept them on now as the car is going to the scrap yard before next winter).

We did run winters on the Freelander but switched to Michelin Latitude Cross as we needed better mud performance for towing the sheep trailer. They are M&S rated but not a proper 3 peak snow flake tyre with minimal siping. We don't exactly get full on alpine winter conditions her in somerset anyway.

Have opted for the Merc in the end. Garage has sorted any cosmetic blemishes, given it a full service including the aircon, new brakes all round and knocked off the price of an independent specialist gearbox oil change as that is due. Have the print out of the original build spec and it was £39k + £12k of options. Only things missing I would like is the Harmon/Kardon audio upgrade, some rear tints (for keeping out prying eyes) and a tow bar. The latter two I will sort with either some slight tints or some blinds (prefer drving without tinted windows) and I will get a full hidden removable towbar. At least I know the car hasn't been used for towing.

Not sure if I will pick up a set of cheap alloys and fit winter tyres or just go with the new Michelin Crossclimate come tyre change time.