Recommend me a car please!

I’ve been looking for a car for a few weeks and simply can’t make my mind up. It’s driving me nuts so I’ve sat down and tried to write down a list of all the things I’d (ideally) like based on what I’ve seen so far. I’ve a budget of £30G and wouldn’t want anything more than 2 years old. Preferably it would do more than 35mpg. I am looking for a moon on a stick?

• 4×4 or crossover style in black
• Able to fit 1 (preferably 2) bike(s) inside easily
• Able to fit roof bars/towbar (if fitted even better)
• Automatic gearbox
• Automatically folding mirrors
• Boot suitable for dog
• Car handle lights/puddle lights
• DAB radio
• Dark tint rear windows/privacy glass
• Flat load bay (important for loading & where I sit to change)
• LCD display
• Leather seats
• LED side/day lights
• Sat nav
• Sunroof
• Xeon lights

Bring on the abuse!

4×4 Skoda Superb estate loaded with the pimp items you desire

Volvo XC60

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503111608700/sort/pricedesc/body-type/suv/colour/black/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/channel/cars/maximum-age/up_to_2_years_old/postcode/bs11aa/price-to/30000/transmission/automatic/radius/1500/fuel-type/diesel/usedcars?logcode=p

Touareg

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201502191066735/sort/pricedesc/body-type/suv/colour/black/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/channel/cars/maximum-age/up_to_2_years_old/postcode/bs11aa/price-to/30000/transmission/automatic/radius/1500/fuel-type/diesel/usedcars?logcode=p

X3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503171801602/sort/pricedesc/body-type/suv/colour/black/radius/1500/price-to/30000/usedcars/channel/cars/maximum-age/up_to_2_years_old/fuel-type/diesel/transmission/automatic/postcode/bs11aa/page/4/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Q5

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503242017670/sort/pricedesc/channel/cars/body-type/suv/fuel-type/diesel/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/colour/black/usedcars/maximum-age/up_to_2_years_old/postcode/bs11aa/transmission/automatic/page/5/radius/1500/price-to/30000?logcode=p

Mercedes GLA

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503051448305/sort/pricedesc/body-type/suv/colour/black/radius/1500/price-to/30000/usedcars/channel/cars/maximum-age/up_to_2_years_old/fuel-type/diesel/transmission/automatic/postcode/bs11aa/page/4/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

BMW 5 series touring 4×4 ?

I’ve a budget of £30G and wouldn’t want anything more than 2 years old. Preferably it would do more than 35mpg.

Late model high-spec Freelander should tick most of those boxes.

My wife has an SD4 model, recommended.

Ticks most boxes, probably all if you find a s/h one with that particular spec.

And has the great benefit of being lower than a high 4×4 in that you can comfortably sit on the (flat loading) boot lip. I have a piece of heavy duty geotextile that I fold out to protect the bumper when the kids are changing their wellies etc.

And 35mpg – based on what driving? I can get 45+ out of mine on the motorway, about 25/30 around town.

Thanks a lot guys for all the (sensible) recommendations.
There is a lot more choice and value in than the NI autotrader Simon – Thanks.
John – I’m currently driving a 2007 Santa Fe. I don’t change cars very often!

Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0 INVINCIBLE D-4D 8STR + REAR ENTERTAINMENT SATNAV,REAR CAMERA,LEATHER Automatic gear too! £21,990. Too cheap?

This one meet majority of your requirements but you can always install these …

LED side/day lights
Xeon lights

Or this … Toyota Land Cruiser 3.0D-4D LC5 4WD at £22k

Plenty here so choose one …

😀

Johndoh, I think I have that car in that exact colour and spec (ie black and black edition)

Batmobile

Petefile, which engine have you got?

I’m just looking at them, and wondering whether I really need the bi-turbo or whether the 245ps is more sensible. I have a 6 year old A6 3 litre currently.

Ah, aye I thought it looked slightly different from mine…I’ve got the A4 2.0 TFSI

A4 and A6 avant look surprisingly similar from that angle!

I have the 246bhp V6 diesel turbo auto A6 Avant Black Edition SLine – pretty much fine , goes amply quick enough and flies from junctions in wet conditions thanks to the 4WD. Still wish I’d gone for manual sometimes but I do like it.

haha funny you should say that…I often wish I’d gone for the auto 🙂

We were talking about it on another thread, but I’d initially wished I’d gone for the S4 Avant, but couldn’t quite get the numbers to stack up on 15-20k per year (I wanted a petrol). I’m regularly getting 40mpg with this and even hit high 40’s coming back from glencoe in a couple of months ago (DIS is about 5-7% out)…really impressed with the economy considering it’s 211ps and generally fully loaded. Economy wasn’t particularly high on my list of priorities (otherwise I’d have bought a diesel!), so it’s a nice bonus and helps ease the slight pain of not getting the S4. Pretty sure I’ll go for that next mind you 😉

That’s very good economy.

I don’t think that the current A6 comes in a petrol, apart from S6/RS6, and only the 2 litres are available as a manual.

The Black versions do look good, but I’m not convinced that the 20″ alloys would be comfy or last very long on the potholes of Sheffield. The SE Biturbo however could be a bit of a stealth wagon.

Alloys are a bit on the rough side, but not so much that I’d bother changing them. I do most of my miles on highland roads of (very) varying quality and I reckon it’s only a matter of time before I hit something at 60 and destroy one of those wheels. I’ve taken out relatively cheap insurance for that exact purpose, since the wheels are pretty expensive.

Doubt I’ll ever buy a black car again though…5 minutes after cleaning it and it looks like I haven’t washed it in a month! I think I washed my last car twice in a year and it rarely looked dirty (silver). I don’t mind having a dirty car, but it’s quite frustrating that it ALWAYS looks dirty! Black looks nice though I think, especially with the black edition, it’s subtle and doesn’t look as **** as a white audi avant IMO.

The Black versions do look good, but I’m not convinced that the 20″ alloys would be comfy or last very long on the potholes of Sheffield. The SE Biturbo however could be a bit of a stealth wagon.

The massive rims on the new A6 are still hugely better than the smaller ones on the old A6 Le Mans Avant I had – the ride is an indescribably better experience. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending the Black at all – and I do quite regular 200 mile + drives in it and never feel like it has been a burden.