Post-budget car choices

[Teacake]

Our esteemed Chancellor's recent tax grab has prompted me to have a rethink about my future car plans.

My Saab 9-5 HOT Aero is currently up for sale, because although it's a very nice car it wasn't really me. That leaves us with a 9000 CSE and a Clio 1.4. Sometime next year, I'd intended to change to a Subaru Legacy Spec B, but now the VED is going up to £440 a year, I'm reconsidering that plan. We don't do many miles, so changes to VED make a big difference in our running costs. I'm damned if I'm going to pay hundreds more to Mr. Darling for a car that only does a couple of thousand miles a year, so I'm seriously considering sticking to pre-2001 cars until something like the Subaru Legacy diesel gets into my price range second-hand.

We need:

1) A big comfortable car that can take all the paraphernalia of us and our (soon to be two) kids on long journeys. We need room for all the travel cots and pushchairs, toys and stuff that we take on holiday. This car needs to be able to deposit us un-knackered at the end of a four hour (or more) motorway stint, so I'm looking at cars with big under-stressed engines and highish gearing. Because I'm both tall and bony, the driving position needs a good range of adjustment and decent seats. A decent stereo and heated leather would score big bonus points.

2) A smallish, handy, but safe car for local trips.

3) I would like one of the cars to be 4wd, because the roads round here can get a bit challenging in winter, and the Saab in particular has been very nearly defeated on more than one occasion.

Budget is, say, £8k.

So far, the best pairing I can come up with is an E39 BMW 540i Touring and a Subaru Impreza Turbo estate, both pre-2001.

Another obvious choice would be an A6 4.2 quattro, which would fit the bill in many ways, but after my experiences with my S8, I'm in no rush to have another Audi.

So, over to you guys. What two cars fit the bill?

[cruiser647]

I have an A6 Quattro Tip V6 Avant (2.8) and it is fine for swallowing luggage and unstressed cruising. Top gear is something like 35 mph/1000.

With your budget, you could get the 3.0 V6 or the V8 4.2

And for town, I have the Bora 115TDi. Boot is big enough for pushers. Golf boot might struggle with the size of some of them! The Bora rear seat belts were on full extend to accomodate the rear facing kiddy seats though. That was a struggle each time.

[Teacake]

Thanks, Cruiser. Unfortunately, after spending two years dragging Audi through the court system, Audi's off the menu at the moment. Otherwise it would be a natural choice.

Actually, BMW would be an extremely hard sell with Mrs. s8ed, too. But Audi would be impossible.

[cruiser647]

Actually, my mate is dragging BMW through the court with their X5. 2 of my mates joint action!!! BMW (as with all big ocmpany's against the 'little man') are dragging it out hoping they'll drop the case.

In which case, a V6 CDTi Signum will hold everything and then some. Should just be coming into budget. They are great cars. Comfy, well specced and handle OK.

You could of course, get the last of the line Omega 3.2 V6 Elite....Best auto box going, RWD, every toy in the book and dirt cheap now for a 51/02 reg example.

Bargain

[cruiser647]

[ QUOTE ]

Actually, my mate is dragging BMW through the court with their X5. 2 of my mates joint action!!! BMW (as with all big ocmpany's against the 'little man') are dragging it out hoping they'll drop the case.

In which case, a V6 CDTi Signum will hold everything and then some. Should just be coming into budget. They are great cars. Comfy, well specced and handle OK.

You could of course, get the last of the line Omega 3.2 V6 Elite....Best auto box going, RWD, every toy in the book and dirt cheap now for a 51/02 reg example.

Bargain

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, get the last of the Y reg facelift Omegas, so probably 'just' a 3.0 V6 - having read the title again.

[Teacake]

Ooh, the Omega. I'd forgotten about them. Nearly bought one a couple of years ago, and my dad's had several. Sound choice. Needs to be a pre-2001 car...