OK, I know there have been numerous similar threads in the past however I'm not sure I'm in the market for most of the suggestions.

We've got our first child on the way and I've been doing up our house so the next car has to be cheap to run and reliable as I wont have much disposable income for the next couple of year (or ever for that matter).

Requirements:
-Automatic (for the wife)
-4 or 5 door (saloon or hatchback)
-Reliable
-Black or dark colour (Missus doesn't like light coloured cars)

Budget: Between £5k and £7.5k (depends on what I can get for the s2000).

My personal choice at the moment is a 2007 Lexus IS250. Reliable, feels well made and plenty of kit for the budget.

What alternatives would you guys suggest as I'm finding it hard to find a dark auto in good nick for my budget (plenty of manuals out there.. alas it's got to be an auto )?

 

There's loads of cars to buy in your spec/price but all pretty boring. Golf's, focii, etc. The lexus is a pretty good idea in my view.

 

Yeah I think you're onto a winner with the Lexus.

Friend of mine has an older IS300 Auto and it is sublimely refined, comfortable and still with a decent amount of peformance. He's never had any big bills that I'm aware of and even though it's a 3l gives decent mpg.

He uses relatively budget tyres like Nanking and even the snow didn't stop it which is impressive for an auto.

 

i'll get in here first...

Subaru Legacy... I am still tempted when the CRV lease goes back...

Spec B if you fancy a bit of poke, lots are autos...

you wont mind the extra boot space of an estate with the nipper on the way (congrats by the way)... loading a push chair into a saloon is not the easiest

 

I had an IS200 from new back in the day, lovely car and extremely well built. Only issue I had was that my head would brush against the headlining which was really really annoying on a longer than average drive. That was with the seat at it's lowest height and the car had a sunroof, and I'm only average height.

I'd also echo what phil says above - you won't believe how much stuff you end up carting around with you once the baby arrives, a hatchback will be a much better bet in my opinion.

 

I do find the height issue quite surprising. My friend is 6'4" and I'm 6' and even when I've sat in the back it's comfortable.

If you fit in an S2k I'd be shocked if you struggle in a Lexus IS.

 

Good shout with the legacy. I'll take a look.

I'll also test drive the Lexus so will see how much leg room I have. I'm 5'11" but a perfect fit in the s2000, however I think a lot of people struggle with leg room. I have a long torso and shorter legs which probably helps.

Keep the suggestions coming!

 

After the S2000..........................



Well it still has an open top.

 

I have to admit to vaguely looking at 3-series diesels recently; I hadn't realised how cheap they were. A friend of mine recently bought a 530d estate for the sort of money you're talking about.

 

An e46 M3? Or indeed one of the e46s period

They are nice motors, robust and have a few toys and mostly decent leather interior (on the Ms anyway)