large executive car with low running costs

[wazza]

looking for an old executive car with low running costs. willing to spend up to £4000. Since i only use the car on weekends might as well enjoy driving a large car. Must be dependable. Any ideas?

[Pink-winged]

I am going to move this over to the Motoring & Public Transport, where hopefully you will get more replies.

Pink

[ArsenalFC]

A Bmw 3series diesel or an audi A4 diesel would fit your requirement. Low fuel running cost and not too high insurance. As always part cost could be high on these cars.

[jjames]

You might want to look at Lexus as well. These don't hold their value quite as well as BMW/Audi etc, but they're just as refined, and as reliable as the day is long. The "not holding value" bit works in your favour because you'll be able to get a much newer one for the same money.

[Fortyfoot]

You might want to look at Lexus as well. These don't hold their value quite as well as BMW/Audi etc, but they're just as refined, and as reliable as the day is long. The "not holding value" bit works in your favour because you'll be able to get a much newer one for the same money.
I agree, I wish that I had done that years ago when the kids were at home instead of buying the smaller "economical" cars. I have had a number of Volvos since then and now run the S70 auto 2.5, 5 cylinder. They are cheap when a few years old. Check THE AA (https://www.theaa.com/portal/appmanager/cbg/live?PSESSIONID=CUgZuRcdMgAK3fku2SZC2ZFwMW071sdYq7 CpiES5ltgGqUH51TpK%211344698643%211676481729&PSESSIONID=CUgZuRcdMgAK3fku2SZC2ZFwMW071sdYq7CpiES 5ltgGqUH51TpK%211344698643%211676481729&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=page_home&home_1_actionOverride=/pageflow/master/begin) for info and prices on all the vehicles suggested.
Fortyfoot

[vansboy]

You'll be hard pressed to beat a Mazda Xedos - pronounced Zedos.

It's not a 'big' car, Vectra/Mondeo/BMW 3, class. Go for a 2lt engine & VERY high spec. Most were sold to private buyers, as it didn't have the image of similar upmarket makes.

You'll find a few lurking in the small ads, still.

Other than that, if you want larger, Vauxhall Omega represent EXCELLENT value, not that anyone paid full price new!! Even the 2lt GLS spec is quite reasonable, if you don't want millions gadgets - but you can find plenty of options, engines & trim levels.

Go to www.honestjohn.co.uk clik in The Backroom in Discussion, ask there!! Also in HJ's site, Car By Car Breakdown page tells ALL about whats wrong with EVERY car you can buy!!

Friendly lot in there - just like us!!

& it's free!!

VB

[jjames]

If you are just looking for a big luxury barge with the toys, and are not worried about image or that sort of thing, the Hyundai Sonata is a good buy. Dirt cheap, quiet and soft-riding, every gadget imaginable. There are a fair few around as well, retired execs get them when they want that big-car feel for beer money. They're also reliable, and the parts are reasonably-priced on the whole.

[avantra]

Probably the best kept secret when looking for a nice big exec saloon is the Toyota CAMRY with the 2.2 litre engine either in auto or manual tranny.
A good example with low mileage from 1998 - 2001 will cost you less than a £2500. Toyota stopped importing of these nice cars in 2002. The reason was due to low demand.

Now this is the most popular family saloon in the US. Here people snob them for “lack of image” , (you Brits always make me laugh), if you buy a Camry you are buying incredible reliability and safety and it will do happily 34 mpg on the M5 (I know - I have one). The car is big and roomy (I know, I am 17 stones) and all the toys are working and keep on working. There are plenty of cheap parts from Thailand and the US and a full service will cost you something around 100 bobs. I doubt you will need any parts as these beasts are cast iron when it comes to reliability. Mine is a 79k , 1998 2.2 auto from ebay! Got it for the grand sum of £1400.

[vansboy]

The Japanese are good at building quality - but no street cred cars!!

Another, if you see it is Nissan QX - now they REALLY are luxury, for pennies!!

Just find one, first!!

VB

[mr_accountant]

The Japanese are good at building quality - but no street cred cars!!
VB


what you mean like the honda s2000 or nsx or preludeor civic type r or madza mx5.

i think youve been watching to much top gear!

the japenese cars have far more steet cred in comparison to unrealible rubbish like audi.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9835&item=4552139406&rd=1

[mr_accountant]

The Japanese are good at building quality - but no street cred cars!!
VB


what you mean like the honda s2000 or nsx or prelude or civic type r or madza mx5.

i think youve been watching to much top gear!

the japenese cars have far more steet cred in comparison to unrealible rubbish like audi.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9835&item=4552139406&rd=1

[jjames]

I know that, you know that.

But most of the masses don't even consider it. Most still see a Japanese car as being the same as the rotboxes of the 70s and early 80s (these were very reliable as well, but folk forget that), when that no longer applies. They also think the parts are ruinously expensive, and that a Honda Civic is a grandad's car (so where does that leave a Vauxhall Astra then?).

So as a result many people don't even consider the cars, which leads to a negative perceived image. People are nuts, but that's the way it is in the UK unfortunately.

[avantra]

Can't agree more!
Just a matter of taste, in the US middle and far east jap cars have more street cred than any rubbish coming out from the VW group. Is it a miracle that the biggest car manufactures are Toyota and Nissan? and in few years the Korean will be at the same level. The moneysavers will vote with their wheels.
Good idea for a survey .. do the people who write to the forum drive more jap/korean or they like to leave money on the table in the form of the Pug 307 and the TT?
Personally I think the best jap cars are the one built in the UK.

[vansboy]

I'll stand (slightly) corrected!!

What I MEANT to say, is that within the 'luxury' sallon market, the Japenese brands have struggled to portray the REAL upmarket brand image.

Lexus, is about the only truly sucsessful one.

& I'm CERTAINLY no fan of the German marques - not that too many of their vehicles actually get built in Germany, theses days. Plus, of course, the poorer build quality, which is now appearing, in their vehicles.

I DO rate, the aforementioned Xedos & QX, for value AND quality!!

For the record, Mrs V drives a new Mx5 & I've an Omega!!

VB

[tonys]

Have you looked at Jaguars converted to lpg?Quite a few on the market.
If you intend to keep the car for a while,then lpg may well be the best option anyway.Just seen an article by an oil expert that although iol will last for another 40 years or so,as early as next year,demand will start to outstrip supply.An American
governmemnt official said that when that happens,oil will be cheap at $180 a barrel
[currently it is around $50 a barrel.]

[jjames]

> Good idea for a survey .. do the people who write to the forum drive more jap/korean or they like to leave money on the table in the form of the Pug 307 and the TT?

Japanese and Korean for me. I own a Nissan and a Hyundai, and I'm toying with either a Honda or Mazda as my next car. The only Eurobox I'd consider at the moment is Skoda, and ironically they still have a negative image. They're VW, but seem better built than some of Volkswagen's other efforts.

[gord]

Have to agree with avantra and vansboy.Japanese is the way to go for value for money and reliability,dont forget the Honda legend.I'd avoid an Omega,my brother in law has had 2 and they are very unreliable and the running costs are huge.