Car Suggestions

[Rob 131]

Looking to buy a car (fed up with hiring ) for my trips back to the UK. The car would only do about 6,000 miles per year and 4,000 of those would be in Continental Europe on holidays in June and August. Looking at about a 2007 Car (Ex Fleet high mileage 80k ish bought at Auction). Criteria as follows:

1) Diesel with reasonable maintenance costs and good reliability.

2) A good motorway cruiser.

3) Roomy for the families holiday luggage.

4) Nothing BMW, Mercedes, 4WD, MPV or Japanese.

5) Budget ?4k to ?10k (must be good value within these prices).

6) Slightly interesting (optional).

I know this isn't a 131 Topic; but your answers would be interesting.

If I was writing this in the 80's the answer would be simple 132, Argenta or 131 2.0L Estate

[jasonh131]

Alfa 159

[curt]

Simple one that - mondeo estate ST diesel - If youd said earlier I could have had a 58 plate - with all the toys on board for 6k - Mileage about 84K but with full ford service history - and new michelin boots -missed it now though - a friend an IT genius workks for ** a petro chemical industry - I will ask tomorrow if I see him if anything else is going - they do volvo d5 estates - or mondeos -but  they are right hand drive - still i will ask - good luck in your search

[Rob 131]

I want right hand drive and it deosn't matter if its Saloon, Hatchback or Estate

[paulcas]

Volvo V70 D5 auto 

[Sev131]

Volvo V70 D5 auto 

I look after one of these....cracking car- was very impressed overall.

[Rob 131]

Thanks for the suggestions 

My original thoughts were:

1) Audi A6 2.0 TDI Saloon (Sensible Option)

2) Peugeot 607 2.0 Diesel Executive (Budget Option)

3) Alfa 159 1.9 Diesel

4) VW Passatt / Skoda Octavia /Superb (Too sensible option)

My heart wants the Alfa (I had a 1997 Alfa 155 1.8 Twin Spark many years ago).

However are there any question marks over reliability. Considering that it will be fairly high mileage and for much of the year it will be lying idle and then when pressed into service would be covering quite a lot of miles in a short period.

Does anyone own a high mileage 159 and has it given good serive.

[jack1]

my choice would be an audi a6 tdi ,reliable ,roomy and great value if you look around also great mile munchers  and along with all that you get the class of the audi badge 

[Rob 131]

Thanks for everyone for the advice. I do fancy the 159 as for an Italian Car Fan I have had an amazing lack of Italian Cars.

I would be interested to know about peoples experiences with the 159 at high mileage.

I notice Jack that you have a 1982 Audi 100 GL 5E. You may be interested to know that my Dad had a Audi 100 CS 5E 1982 Y Plate (the last of that shape); he bought it when it was a year old and kept it until the beginning of 1989.

2 /3 years ago I saw the car in Chester looking like new. It's registration number is FMJ20Y. Do owners of these Audi's have meetings etc similar to 131 owners on this site.

[Rob 131]

I know this is an old topic and not a 131 Subject. However the Forum Members input would be highly useful  . It is that time of year again when holidays are been considered and I really need a decent reliable cheap ex fleet car to be based in the UK. Last year I was working in the UK over the summer, so I had a series of Hire Cars. The best being an Insignia 160 SRI  .

Of all the suggestions I am drawn to the Alfa 159 . However I am concerned about the reliability . Any experiences information as regards this would be useful.

I went to British Car Auctions a few weeks ago to look at a late 2007 159 2.4 Lusso Sportwagon. The note from the Auction Company stated that the car smoked  . Minor bit of smoke may be acceptable for a Diesel that may need some filters changing. I think it had done about 70k.

However when it was started up and driven into the ring there were 2 (Twin Exhausts) Enormous Plumes of Smoke  pouring from the car. Naturally I didn't bid 

It did concern me about buying one of these cars. Ideally I'd be after the 1.9 Diesel. Any Information or should I look for an Audi A6 TDI 

[Robert]

Rob,

if I'd be an Englishman I'd strongly advocate buying something like this: http://www.ebay.de/itm/300671493508 - a superb, powerful, reliable and economic cruiser. (would be even tempted to import one of these to Germany, regardless of RHD).

As concerning high-mileage Alfas, I can only speak for the Busso V6 powered 166 (195k miles now) that runs flawless as far as the engine is concerned (needs a brake job and new front wishbones as well as a look at the central lock system). If you want a real Alfa, the 159 is not your car (all Fiat DNA, petrol engines from the GM shelf [Opel or Holden]  ) - however, it looks pleasant.

[Rob 131]

Thanks Robert. I did consider Volvos, but it is really between the Audi A6 or Alfa 159. I am looking to spend a total of about ?8k including Auction Fees and any servicing / repairs it may require.

The Alfa 1.9 Diesel is favourite. It is just that reliability issue  I don't want to be stranded in the Middle of Europe on our summer holiday with the Wife and 2 Children and the Alfa smoking like a Power Station  .

[Robert]

Have you done a research on www.alfaowners.com? This site is quite comprehensive and to my knowledge the guys there are very helpful (quite contrary to the German site www.aflisti.net where you find almost 100% jerks with bad manners). However, from the German forum I learn that the 159 Diesel engines are reliable (suffering sometimes from EGR problems like all modern Diesels) and are capable of high mileages. Hope this can assist you in making the right choice (as far as I'm concerned, you already know I am not an Audi man  - although I did own two in the past: one 1976 Audi 80 LS and one 1987 Audi 100 Avant 5S).

Forza Alfa! 

[Walezy]

Get yourself a nice chrysler grand voyager, perfect cruiser and uses about 7 litres of diesel when cruising about 115kmh on highway. you get lot of room inside and it is reliable, i know it all first hand as it is my third voyager that i have and my has now 390000km on the clock and still runs fine wit no signs of too much wear. i drive it through all europe a lot. Best get one in about 2002-2004 year with manual transmission and 2,5CRD engine. if you intend go drive faster then about 120-130kmh on the highways then do not buy it as it will get broken much quicker and will not be reliable. those cars ware not meant to be driven faster.
The car is very comfortable and you will not feel tired even after 1000km trip.
The longest trip i made was 8000km in 5 days(Katowice(PL) - Stockholm(S) - Katowice(PL)- Marseille(F)- KAtowice(PL) and it was no problem.
Just change the oil every 10000km not like the user manual says 20000km.

[Rob 131]

An old subject I know, but worthy of an update and it also highlights some problems for those of us who spend the majority of time outside the UK. 

I increased my budget to ?13k  and was just about to close the deal on a '10' plate Audi A4 TDI 136 SE Start Stop (thats the slower and lower tax economy version) so know getting too excited Simon because I know you just love this type of version 

However, a call to my insurance company to get cover revealed that most insurers would not touch me because I am out of the country for more then 9 months of the year. Specialist Insurance would cost a fortune and would be difficult for the wife and I. Steve how do you cope with this (and your fleet of vehicles) spending most of your time in Qatar.

So its back to multiple hire cars / budget airlines and hassle this summer