New car dilemma

simoncrouch · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 13

Dare I suggest a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, fully kitted and get your bike in the back no problem.

I currently have a rather excellent V70. Great car if a little dull to drive.

BMX · Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 3:38 pm Post subject:

Hate cars overall but we currently have a courtesy new Vauxhall Insignia, utter balls, steering wheel full of poo-poops, seats that have destroyed my back, parking sensors that go off when you pull in to let oncoming traffic through, ~#*$ bleeps when I put a bag on the passenger seat and screens all over the place telling you what radio station you're listening to rather than anything usefull.

I hate cars.
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Andy916 · Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 712 Location: Cambridge

Jorgan · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:24 am Post subject:

So, another huge bill for our POS BMW 520d means we're going to cut-loose; it truly has been a sh1t car as far as reliability/costs.

Fortunately I'd been looking at alternatives the last time we got a big bill, and having trawled though Autotrader looking at alternatives to the Subaru Outback, I can't see anything else I want for the same money (ca.£18k). All the premium German stuff is lower spec and expensive for similar mileage (and prob sh1t like our 520), the Skoda Superb is similar cost, lower spec, Passats are similar money lower spec. Have to admit to being a Subaru convert, and I like the niche aspect, and the fact that Japanese cars are well specced in top trim and the reliability (touches wood).

So I'm going to look at an Outback 2.0d SE Premium tomorrow in Bristol. Would have preferred Petrol, which is the only choice from 18MY, but petrol choices still limited/expensive.
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explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 16060 Location: Farthingstone

Gus · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 12:10 pm Post subject:

I used to be a Legacy driver many years ago and loved it (although as a petrol engine I was getting <20mpg when I thrashed it).

Anyway, after I got rid of my 520d after it's catastrophic £3k gearbox failure at 105,000 miles (effing BMW POS as above), I went for a Volvo S60.

I had one of the originals back in 2002 and absolutely loved it - one of the most comfy and nice cars I'd ever driven. It got me hooked on Volvo for many years (several V70's after that).

So I got a 2017 S60 a few months ago for around £16k.... and wow, totally bowled over with it. I get 50+mpg (genuine) even though I give it some welly. It absolutely p*sses on my old 520d in terms of performance/acceleration - it really goes like sh1t off a shovel. It's an utter JOY to drive and in great comfort too. Up here North of the Wall where we're blessed with endless miles of good, empty, windy country roads, I feel like I'm in a Top Gear article when I take it cross-country. I often laugh out loud to myself as I power it through long, never-ending curves, clinging unrelentingly to the tarmac no matter how hard I push... the pleasure leaves me always looking for reasons to take it up the Glen on my own.

Mine's a saloon, but the estate is apparently as good. New model out shortly, I believe...
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Jorgan · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 12:26 pm Post subject:

Aye the V60 is a bonny car, but the boot is fairly small for a family estate; the Polestar model would be awesome though. I want something I can take 4 people, luggage and occasionally the bike dismantled on top of the luggage, like when we visit the in-laws in Glasgow (hope to ride up over the Campsies during Xmas). XC60 still a bit pricey for lower mileage high spec examples.
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Gus · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:14 pm Post subject:

It's a shame they stopped doing the V70... whenever I did family road-trips in that, packing up was never a case of 'can we squeeze it in?' but more a case of 'do we need it? Dunno, put it in anyway, there's room'.

The V90, its replacement, looks really nice but is silly money.
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Gus · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:17 pm Post subject:

snowie · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 765 Location: derby

doug · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 12:38 pm Post subject:

explorerJC · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 16060 Location: Farthingstone

mattsurf · Joined: 28 Sep 2016 Posts: 852 Location: Zug, Switzerland

JaRok2300 · Joined: 01 May 2014 Posts: 461 Location: Worcester, UK

Can a Bilbo's get in on the basis he"s a mate of Frodo?

Jorgan · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:50 am Post subject:

It's done. We are now a 2 Subaru household, bought an Outback. Let's hope there's some snow again this winter, so we can pity all the prematurely smug 2WD SUV drivers who've bogged down Very Happy

To be fair, our village is on the Cotswold escarpment, so it's either up or downhill to get there, and the main road through was closed due to snow in March (to lorries at least), so 4WD is useful.
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