New daily driver - Suggestions Please? :D

[Stavros]

Well ive had it with the peugeot, the head gasket has gone on it again only 4000 miles after it was replaced (at 23,000). The car is currently on a 3 year lease with a further 5months left to run on it; although its only a short period left it is the better option to cut my losses now as my brakes are starting to give up and the mileage allowance is coming near.

So; im on the hunt for a new car... preferably with the following options:


Diesel (with a turbo please :) )
Leather interior
Arm rest
4 doors
A boot with enough space for a baby elephant
50,000 miles or less on the clock
40mpg +
Cars I have looked at so far:

1. BMW 520d 05 plate - far too expensive for what it was
2. Skoda VRS Tdi - Very nice car, only thing being is i would need another 3 year lease as its £12,000
3. Alfa 159 JTDM - Again, really nice car, drives well and has pleanty of space
4. MG ZT 2ltr diesel - Nice car and I was amazed how cheap they could be picked up for; i appreciate the rover association, however the engine in the diesel is actially from a bmw 320d

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

... oh, forgot to mention; budget will stretch to £9,000

[macca]

You've stuck it out longer than I would have done! French rubbish.

I'd be very careful about buying any modern diesel at the moment apart form the BMW and Fiat (used in Alfa, Vauxhall and Saab too) engines as these seem to be the only really reliable ones. I've been unlucky with the Mondeo I'll admit, but I've done a lot of research on common rails since having it and my conclusion is that they are all inherently flawed due to design meaning at some point in their life they will have injector or pump issues due to the high fuel pressure. The mileage this happens at depends on lots of things, how it's driven, what fuel you use (supermarket or branded), even stupid things like leaving the tank too empty and condensation getting in there or poor workmanship on a filter change letting in contamination.

From your list, the BMW 520d is a lovely car with a very nice engine. Almost worth the price premium in my opinion. Skoda also a very nice car.

Personally I wouldn't touch the Alfa with a barge pole being Italian, especially if you're fed up with cars going wrong a lot! Saying that it has the best diesel engine in the business in it, it would just worry me what would go wrong around it..

Same goes for the MG too, nice engine but the quality of the build around it would worry me a lot. Availability of parts when it all goes Pete Tong too?

I'd be looking at things like the Audi A4, really nice car. Ryden bought an Avant a couple of months ago, albeit a 1.8T and it is a really really nice car.

Mercedes C-class touring is also a very nice car, I've driven one of these and it was a lovely comfortable drive. Not as expensive as you'd think being a Merc.

Depends what kind of thing you want exactly, hatchback, saloon, estate??

[nunchukhamster]

Volvo S60 D5 (not just because I happen to own a Volvo, but they are bloody good cars).

Plenty on autotrader, but as an example there is one at the moment for £8,775. That gets you an 06 model car with 20,000 miles on it and all the toys.

[Stavros]

Cheers for the responses chaps :).

Just having a look at the volvo's and merc's now... I agree the BMW was really nice, ride was smooth and was extremely comfortable, was almost like driving a 4 wheeled armchair; just 15,000 for an 05 plate with 53,000miles on the clock seemed a tap steep lol.

Im looking for a saloon car, more practical for work and daily use; keep the 2 door for the weekends :D

[macca]

S60 is a nice car, very smooth powerful engine too. But they do suffer from injector problems as with most common rails. It seems they mainly suffer from them at lower mileages and from what I can find if they've been replaced they should be more trouble free.

[Stavros]

That s60 D5 is quite a wolf in sheeps clothing looking at the stats and it has everything I could want in a daily commuting car so kudos to you sir; only question i do have is do they come in manual? ive looked everywhere and all i can see is autos?

[Stavros]

Ignore that previous question; just found a couple of manuals... :D, just a little sparce

[nunchukhamster]

Ignore that previous question; just found a couple of manuals... :D, just a little sparce

Yeah, they come in manual (5 or 6 speed depending on the age) or what we refer to as gaytronic :D

[Stavros]

seen a s60 D5 over e.bourne so going to go for a test drive this afternoon :D. Just dropped both cars to the garages so im in a c3 *puts on balaclava*

[nunchukhamster]

Hope you enjoy. Just be aware of one thing, the turning circle isn't the best (although it is better than in my supertanker-esque C70!).

[Stavros]

Haha, cheers i'll bare that in mind. Written my VT letter for my peugeot today to send off; turns out it wasnt the head gasket after all, theres a problem with where the gearbox meets the engine and has to come out... so peugeot can stick their garlic crusher right up there *cough*. :D

The volvo im taking out today isnt the one i'de buy but just want a feel for how it drives; although judging by all of the reviews ive seen on the net I wont be disapointed :D

[Stavros]

The D5 had gone by the time i got to the dealers, but took an auto 2.4d out and loved it, very smooth and was really impressed with the gearbox (first auto ide driven) - not everyday you can say you had your virginity taken by a hot swede :D.

Going to try and find a D5 to take for a test drive, but i cant see me not being impressed.

Nunchuck - do you have the number for the chap that come and had a look at the repairs to your car? Need some work doing on the peugeot before i hand it back to peugeot.

[nunchukhamster]

Glad you enjoyed the drive. With the D5's, just be aware there are 2 different versions, depending on model year. The later one's (iirc MY2005 and onwards) are 185bhp, the older ones are 163bhp.

The details for the paint repair guy are on my desk at work, I'll grab them on Monday, but I'd be surprised if he comes as far east as Eastbourne. I'll let you know.

[Stavros]

Ahh ok mate not to worry; i'll give chips away a call and see if theyve got someone in the area.

Cheers for the advise bud, i'll keep a look out :D