Car recommendations?

boomish

We have 2 old bangers nearing their end and need to replace them with 1 good car and wondered if anyone has any recommendations ?

My wife and I are 49/50 currently she has an old BMW 316 with 60k miles on it but someone drove into it last year making it a Cat D , it survived and damage is superficial but the roof lining is coming away and the front bushes need replacing so it's making some clonking noises.
I have an old Volvo S80 that I've had 11 years, 120k on the clock and going fine apart form a dash warning light that I have to get reset to pass the MOT, I fear there are problems coming though with strange new noise from steering. I love this car and driving it is a breeze but it drinks petrol.

We are after an estate style car as we now have a dog, not to big for my wife to drive and thats cheap to run so I presume diesel.
After months of browsing google and no decided what to get or how much to pay I'm more confused than ever.
Do I risk getting another banger sub 1000 as its more or less what we have now, or spend 5-9 k and buy something 4-5 years old but as a friend told me could still go wrong and end up in large garage bills.

I'm pretty handy with tools and have fixed most of our major repairs so far but having 2 cars and a house that has jobs list as long it could possibly be I simply don't have the time any more so I think 1 decent car might do us. We have to cut back as petrol and MOT & petrol is costing us a fortune. I service them myself so we have just keep them going until now.

Appreciate any advice...on what might be a good car to look for..?

Herzlos

What mileage and type of driving do you do? If it's not huge mileage or mostly short trips I'd go petrol - you'll save more on purchase than you'll lose on fuel.

colino

Spend £2000 on a nice 10-12 year old, fully loaded, BMW e39 estate and enjoy the ride. Either that or default to £1000 on a Vectra/Mondeo hatch for cheapness, fixability and space.

boomish

colino wrote: »

Spend £2000 on a nice 10-12 year old, fully loaded, BMW e39 estate and enjoy the ride. Either that or default to £1000 on a Vectra/Mondeo hatch for cheapness, fixability and space.

Thanks Colin thats the kind of thing I think but I had no idea on models, what about Petrol V Diesel? is this not cheaper both milage and Road tax?

Milage is only a small commute but we do travel to the coast 5 or 6 times a year, I used to travel more with my work but thats kinda drying up now, hence I think we need to loose a car. Well that and our local council's infatuation with CPZ's!

worried_jim

Petrol all the way, cheaper to buy and more choice as everyone "thinks" they need diesel which pushes the price up.

Buellguy

Petrol all the way from me as well. I run a diesel but do the mileage (wife commutes motorway 30 miles a day so perfect) to justify

colino

I still think the best compromise e39 is a petrol 2.5l. Depending on age and model that will be either a 523 or a 525 (same engine, different outputs). Auto obviously (change the transmission fluid and filter before 150k) and avoid the poverty spec models. This isn't just for snob appeal, but many of the low rent ones were company cars where the position just got the driver into one of these, with no frills, and probably was as heavily used initially as your average Transit.
There are nicely coddled examples out there that have had no stress in their life and have many years left in them.
With the Vectra/Mondeo option, still stick with petrol, get a manual to keep repair bills down, though with many priced around £1k, big bills if they come along mean changing the car, not the part.