Babies due - new car ideas needed

[Stock323iSaloon]

I have twins arriving in 3 months. I've got the double buggy, two cots, two car seats, two of everything and it's already cost me a bit. I now need to choose a car for my wife to fit the following requirements:

Must
Medium/Large Estate or 4x4 (no MPV:mad: )
Automatic/Tip Tronic
>£7000
>60k miles
>6 years old
>Insurance Group 15
>Band F CO2 (under 225g/kg)
Above average reliability
Big boot
Combined 30mpg+
Good driver view (like MPVs)


Nice to have...
Chain cam belt
Parking sensor
Run flats
Xenon (auto or height adjustable)
Sat nav


Don't like
Any cars that is likely to breakdown or costly to repair


Can I stretch to a E class or Audi A6 estate? I am going to be realistic so any sensible recommendation welcome:)

[jurka]

congratulation!!!

how do you do twins? any special technic? ;)

[bigshout]

I will soon be in the same boat. I've benn thinking about it for a while and there are no really nice 4 door/estates when compared to simular 2 door coupes.

I've cut it down to Audi A4 (s-line) or VW Golf GTI 5 door.

[mr sideways]

I would go for a clean e39 530d touring.
you would pick up a nice one with 60k for £7000

[Moe]

E46 estate?

p.s Congrats and wow twins thats going to be so kool

[scorcher]

Yay! I'm so happy for you both :)

[rahrah]

congrats fella!

[huzi7]

Congrats mate!

E46 Tourer or A4 Avant?

[peppernick]

Congrats Mitsu! :cool:

Time for a Mercedes Benz I would say ;) ........

You can get a nice W210 E240 with a peachy V6 taking into account the requirements you need. The boot is HUGE!

[Mud]

Congrats Mitsu, and there was me thinking you spent all your time just playing computer games!

[Mah_c180]

Congrats Fella.

E46 tourer or a E class estate.

[adood84]

congrats dude :)

haven't got any clue about prices over there so can't help , but seems a diesel would be a good choice?

[MEGA]

Don't get the E. Even a nicely modded one still looks like a dodgy mess of a car imho:

http://www.bmwm5.com/articles/IAA/BrabusTE.jpg but each to their own :S

I'd say E39 for the budget, its the best looker of those stated.

And if the one you get doesnt come with full parking censors Andy can always hook you up...

[phat///M3]

When we first had our son I bought an A4 Avant, the boot space was good, but for twins you will probably need more space I guess.

I say go for an audi, I think there the best looking estates out there.

[Styler]

I like the Audi estates. How about a used X5?

[FullHouse]

Congrats on the bambino's, car wise its got to be an A4 2.0tdi Avant

[mysticm3]

congrats mitsu!

can't go wrong with either E46 or E39 tourings.

otherwise Audi estate are good buys too.

[Stock323iSaloon]

Is A6 the same as Passat apart from the price? I am assuming the build quality is identical so it may be a cheaper option.

My colleague suggested Accord Estate or Mondeo Estate (the later apparently has bigger boot space than an E Class). Sorry, ET maybe too classy for Accords/Mondeos:)

[Moe]

Whats wrong with the audi or beema option?

[Fox]

I would go for a clean e39 530d touring.
you would pick up a nice one with 60k for £7000

A 60k 530d Touring for 7k is going to be a lot older than 6 years old - I'm thinking with this mileage it is likely to be a prefacelift example on a T, V or W plate.

Whats the reason for the C02 limit btw? Its worth knowing that Kens congestion tax is the only thing where the 225g/km thing will affect you, becuase every Mar 2001-Mar 2006 car with more than 185g/km is in Band F and will cost the same to tax.

[Fox]

Congrats on the bambino's, car wise its got to be an A4 2.0tdi Avant

Well no, becuase the 2.0 TDI hasn't been around for that long and has not depreciated below £12k let alone £6k. They are massively over budget.

BMW/Audi diesel estates for under £7k that are 6 years old or newer will be limited to 320d's, 530d's and A4/A6 1.9 TDI's with over 100k on them. 320d suffers from chronic reliability issues - the swirlflaps in the manifold break down and the engine ingests them. This ruins the engine.

[richie_rvf]

The A6 is bigger than the Passat AFAIK

I would go for an E39 touring, great handing car and still looks great.

The Mondeo is also a very nice car to drive, surprised me to be honest - worth a test drive at least,

Best of luck - and congratulations - instant family :D

[huzi7]

Passat estate are nice an spacious. I think it is slighlty more spacious than the A4 Avant too. A6 would be larger

[Doc Matt]

http://www.bmwtuningmag.com/wp-content/uploads/acs5_rear_1_72.jpg

Twins, well done mate :D

[gie0320]

Congrats on the twins mate! Get that car quick before you find out how much nappies cost!:)
My choice would be the audi A4 estate.

[Raj]

Big congrats to you and your wife.


Congrats on the bambino's, car wise its got to be an A4 2.0tdi Avant

This really is the way forward. Audi have always been at the front for their Avants and the interiors on Audis are excellent.

[Fox]

How can a 2.0TDI be the way forward, its twice his budget??

I think you guys need to be realistic here, I see mentions of X5's as well - he wants to spend under £7k.

It will be an A4 Avant 1.9 TDI 130 or BMW 320d both 2000-2002 with >100k, or a 98-01ish E39/A6 Estate, again probably at over 100k, both in SE form. Thats what the budget allows.

Sure a 2.0 TDI would be nice, an X5 would give loads of space and a 530d is awesome but for this money they are not attainable :)

[Raj]

How can a 2.0TDI be the way forward, its twice his budget??


I was just referring to the Audi Avants and nothing more. Admittedly the 2.0TDi is out of price but there are plenty of Audi Avants out there and you just need to search. Also, high miler diesels aren't exactly an issue as that is what they were built for.

[Stock323iSaloon]

Does anyone know whether a 2001 A6 2.0 petrol is a chain cam or belt?

[d_sport]

Congrats mate!

That will be a belt mate on the 2.0 lump.

My 2p worth would be to opt for a Passat, simply for the value for money over the Audi, you will get newer, possibly less mileage and maybe even more equipment. Admittedly the Audi is better belt but the VW is not far behind and the engines and general running components are the same too.

Good luck with your search!