Aston Martin Viagra.

 

Honda CRV? Scores well on the trim/comfort and reliability.

 

Lamborghini Mierdedeltoro?

 

Thanks for ideas. Not sure I'm aware of the Lambo Mortadella - sounds like a bit of a donkey...

Brera is a good call, I'd need to do a bit of reading about current reliability and long term quality - 156/9's that I have been in have not aged well in terms of cabin quality.

Mazda 6 - never thought about it and worth a visit to a dealer - I know nothing so would be starting from scratch - anyone have experience?

CRV - it's a maybe - when I bought the audi, I looked at early CRV's - they seem to old their value very well.


A 5 is attractive, especially haven gotten used to the wafty A6 - it would also be useful to see if I could get it into the BMW warranty, though I understand that's getting a little harder now. E60 is ugly though.....

 

not dissimilar criteria to my imminent replacement. The need for 4 doors and some comfort has arrived. I have been round the houses and think I have settled on a merc, not sure why, never had one, had BMW's and Audi's and a bit bored. Looked at 159 (seemingly a very pretty car for the money, but concerned about it falling apart).

I was toying with a B-Class, but they are officially classed as an MPV, so on the grounds of being a man, it's out. Think I am getting an 06/07 ML320, overkill for karting the kid around I know, but fancy something like that and they seem good value and look very well equipped.

I'll let you know how it goes if and when I get one.

I have something else for high days and holidays, so speed is really not important, comfort / reliability / safety are.

I'll follow your progress with interest.

 

Saabs are an absolute steal at the moment, we just picked up a 2007 9-5 estate with full dealer history and a year's warranty for £4k. The equivalent Beemer was double that.

Avoid the diesels (GM 1.9 diesel eats flywheels and EGR valves, it's used in the Vectra and has a very poor reputation) and go for a 2.0t.

Parts are still easy to come by, although some body parts are a bit more expensive than they used to be, but we figured for a £4k car we weren't too worried.

 

I think it's now called a Spyker 9^5, Mark. An aerospace company gets upset about your use of that marque...

 

Signum

 

Best mate bought a very well specced derv X5 earlier this year, bit footballers wife but it is a lovely car, and seems to be very reliable at this point.

My other suggestion would be a CL7 shape Accord. Lovely car, and reliable too of course

 

Hmmmm.....
I might be about to throw away some if not all of my criteria and my budget.....

I am slightly enamoured of the 635d Sport. Although it falls down badly on the "running costs appropriate to the cost of the car", given the cost it would almost certainly be bought BMWAUC, so warranted and hopefully extend-able....

I may need horror stories to push me in another direction.....