My car, a ten year old 4x4, is showing its age and, unfortunately, its mileage. Despite having a good strong engine at 225k, other bits are starting to fail, mess up and generally weird out (alarm randomly going off, heater matrix leaking etc). My wife hates it in any case, givent hat it frequently has bikes in, bits of bikes in, kayak kit in, shooting kit in and smells of dog, straw and coolant, so she's keen for me to get something newer and more economical.
I'm really suffering for what to go for though. On the one hand, I need something that is economical (but with a bit of go if need be) so a diesel seems to be the way forward, on the other I need something that is big enough for the dogs, bikes or kit in the boot (meaning an estate car), but on the gripping hand I'm not allowed to have anything "chavvy" or boring looking.
Wife has expressed a liking for Audi A4s, despite my objections on cost, but has accepted the STW issue Octavia as a possible option. I might even be able to sneak an Octavia vRS into the equation, but part of me still wants to be sensible.
So, what are the options? Should I even consider a Mondeo or a Vectra estate? Saab? What about going Japanese and looking at an Avensis or a Mazda 6 or an Accord? Should I really learn th art of frustration by going for an Alfa?
I do want something that inspires me to drive it. I've bought one car based on economy before, and it was shit. I'd rather not make that mistake again, but have something that is comfortable, relaxing and makes me feel like I could drive for hours.
1.9multijet diesel gives about 45mpg and it go's well too
