What interesting 4 seater car for £12k?

Atelier

Bit of a plagarised title here

After many years of running around in a solid but uninspiring car, we are now able to upgrade my car to something more enjoyable / luxurious.

My wife has the load lugger for us and the children so I can have something a little less practical for once.

Rules:

• Budget up to £12K
• I have a daily commute of 64 miles so must be returning 40mpg
• Needs to seat 4 people occasionally
• Happy with higher mileage on a younger car
• would like 2006 onwards but will look back to 2004

I've had a look around over the last week and have generally been uninspired.


Thanks

jaydeeuk1

So, probably be a diesel then.

Howzabout

Lexus IS
Alfa Romeo GT
Merc E class
Jagwar X type
Chrysler 300c (only 36mpg, but 3.0 V6 diesel)

Or for something a little more special (but probably won't quite do 40mpg, and will have service/running costs of a premium car)
Merc S class
VW Phaeton

Atelier

Thanks

The Lexus and VW are being researched now.

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

So, probably be a diesel then.

Howzabout

Lexus IS
Alfa Romeo GT
Merc E class
Jagwar X type
Chrysler 300c (only 36mpg, but 3.0 V6 diesel)

Or for something a little more special (but probably won't quite do 40mpg, and will have service/running costs of a premium car)
Merc S class
VW Phaeton

inmypocketnottheirs

Does this meet your requirements:

0-60 mph 8.1 secs
Top speed 142 mph
40-42 mpg combined useage


Just bought a 55 Volvo S60 D5 SE 2 Auto with 42000 miles, 1 owner, full Volvo history for £8k from a non franchised dealer. Dolby Surround sound, full leather, very comfortable, great for long distances.

Flearoy

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Does this meet your requirements:

0-60 mph 8.1 secs
Top speed 142 mph
40-42 mpg combined useage


Just bought a 55 Volvo S60 D5 SE 2 Auto with 42000 miles, 1 owner, full Volvo history for £8k from a non franchised dealer. Dolby Surround sound, full leather, very comfortable, great for long distances.

It'd meet my requirements alright!

Atelier

Nice car. What is the drive like on country roads?

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Does this meet your requirements:

0-60 mph 8.1 secs
Top speed 142 mph
40-42 mpg combined useage


Just bought a 55 Volvo S60 D5 SE 2 Auto with 42000 miles, 1 owner, full Volvo history for £8k from a non franchised dealer. Dolby Surround sound, full leather, very comfortable, great for long distances.

rev_henry

Also consider BMW 730d...?
You could also consider buying something more thirst and petrol and converting it to LPG.

Hintza

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Chrysler 300c (only 36mpg, but 3.0 V6 diesel)

Hmmmm.......had one wish I had got 36mpg out of it. Was around 30-32 but dropped to 28 if short journeys.

Must say though it was a superb car IMO. And very different.

Atelier

The LPG option has caught my eye.

Need to do more reseqrch into servicing etc but a quick search has come across things like a 54 reg CLK320 LPG convertible for 12K with sensible mileage on it.

rev_henry wrote: »

Also consider BMW 730d...?
You could also consider buying something more thirst and petrol and converting it to LPG.

rev_henry

Atelier wrote: »

The LPG option has caught my eye.

Need to do more reseqrch into servicing etc but a quick search has come across things like a 54 reg CLK320 LPG convertible for 12K with sensible mileage on it.

And its about £1500-£2000 if you're thinking of buying something and then getting it converted.

somech

to me this is crying out for BMW 330d
may a little older than some suggestions but is a cracking drive and endlessly reliable.