Feedback on car options

Trojan

I'm looking for feedback on some car options. I'm looking for something decent to drive for 12-18 months, sell or write-off and go again - very much in the 'nomics territory

Although I don't need a "driver's car", it's important that whatever I'm driving looks respectable when showing up to meetings. Must be clean & straight, no boy racer widgets, etc. Tow-hitch would be quite nice to have - alternatively an estate could fit the bill - for mountain bike transport.

I won't be driving every day, but travel coast-to-coast once a fortnight or so. I'm thinking 1.8-2.0L petrol, or up to ~2.3L diesel is in the right range. I'll even consider some of the smaller engined luxobarge options - don't mind the tax so much as the mileage costs, if the car itself was a steal as many are. Diesel vs petrol: how much more expensive are diesel repairs in this territory of 9-14 year old cars? If I'm buying a 1.5-2k car I'm going to consider writing the car off completely if repairs cost as much as a replacement.

Not going for any of these specific cars but they are some of the specific models I've been considering:

02 BMW 520 Touring I've heard that E39 based models are pretty reliable - any exceptions?
01 Saab 9-5 (Is there an oil issue with the 9-5, 9-3, or both?)
01 Mercedes CLK 2.0 Kompressor but not crazy about the front lights & grill
01 Mercedes E200 Estate - not really as clean as I'd be looking for)
I also like the look of the 406 Coupe, haven't a good one to link.

Any suggestions or feedback on these? Anything I absolutely need to avoid, or look out for?

Foxhole Norman

I've been looking at E39's myself and will definitely be picking one up soon. I think of the cars there I'd be having either the 9-5 or the E39 Touring, I'm a bit biased towards E39's though :pac:

One thing to be aware of with that Touring is that it's not an M-Sport, unlike what the Ad says. While it has the Emblem and Steering Wheel it does not appear to have the interior and it certainly didn't have the Sport wheels as standard, the spare is a regular SE wheel and the body kit is also that of an SE.

With regards engines in the E39s the 2.5 is the one to go for, it's the best power/tax ratio here. It's 1080 to tax but it's a fair bit nippier than the 2.2. 166Man recently got a 525i M-Sport Manual and on a long trip he managed 40MPG while cruising according to the trip so about 30-35 or so in reality, good going for a heavy 2.5.

What about something like this:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-e39-525i-manual-nct-4-15-tax-08-14/7307754

Pretty much all the proper options bar Memory/Heated Seats and Dual Zone Climate.

Trojan

Thanks for that

Regarding BMW auto vs manual, what kind of issues are there to be aware of? I've heard the "sealed for life" autoboxes may actually need to be user-serviced after a certain mileage - anything on that? What about mpg of auto vs manual?

Toyotafanboi

out of those, has to be the BMW imo, timelessly good looking car and that's from someone who hates BMW's. the Saab is sold now, the c-class coupe is a ladies car imo and the e-class estate looks absolutely ancient at this stage.

that e39 still looks a modern car. it's very well presented in the advert too, looks like it could have been well maintained.

colm_mcm

I'd have a Volvo S60

Foxhole Norman

SuperGurrier said that too :pac:

Supergurrier

*Sob*

bazz26

Hard to beat the E39 but the 520i is a bit sluggish especially in auto form. If you could stretch to a 523i/525i.

Foxhole Norman

bazz26 wrote: »

Hard to beat the E39 but the 520i is a bit sluggish especially in auto form. If you could stretch to a 523i/525i.

I wouldn't be arsed with a 523i, 2.5 tax for roughly the same performance of the faclifted model with a 2.2. 525i would be the one to get but the 2.2 is perfectly fine for cruising/overtaking, even in auto form.

Trojan

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'd have a Volvo S60

I saw a couple of nice S60s, very clean but with serious mileage, 187,000+.

What kind of mileage is too much? Is how it's been treated & driven more significant? Does it vary by car model?

Moneymaker

Condition, service history, engine type(i.e a diesel with high mileage wouldn't be a major concern provided it's been serviced) and of course the type of car matter too.

I'd find it hard to look past an E39 BMW. Got a 525i for my dads 60th in March. 01, 117,000 on the clock, years NCT, new tyres, 1 months tax, FSH. 1400 quid.

The car has ran flawlessly and is a joy to own and drive.

25ish MPG around town, 35-40 on motorways. It's a manual.

Trojan

This is the s60 I mentioned above:



To me, it looks very clean and well kept, but it's hard to ignore the 187k mileage. Does the condition outweigh mileage here?

Moneymaker

There's no way to know until you test drive it and have it inspected.

It looks alright in the photos.

colm_mcm

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/04-volvo-s60-2-0t-auto-leather-new-nct/7216454

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-s60-2003-sale-swap/7136773

Or an s80, basically a longer s60
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car/7133483

Trojan

Based on the advice here, I'm looking at E39 touring & saloon models, and S60/S80's. A 2002-03 E39 2.0-2.2L manual touring in good condition with tow-hitch would be my ideal.

Looking outside of that small group, would something like a Sonata be comparable, or is that a completely different build quality? Here's a 2006 for sale for €1750 (without NCT though).

Foxhole Norman

Here's two Tourings with Tow Bars:

2.5 Auto
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-5-series-2-5-litre-petrol/7261454

2.2 Manual
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-520-touring-m-sport/7260143

Of the two I'd be having the 2.5.

Trojan

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

Here's two Tourings with Tow Bars:

2.5 Auto
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-5-series-2-5-litre-petrol/7261454

2.2 Manual
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-520-touring-m-sport/7260143

Of the two I'd be having the 2.5.

Yeah, I've looked at both of these (online, not in person). I'm concerned about fuel costs of an auto 2.5L, but it does come from a dealer.

If the 2.2L was from a dealer I'd be more interested, but he's blanked out the reg and there's no interior shots apart from the boot. Looks like cloth interior & a head-rest missing.

I did also look at this one, has a broken rear window, that'd cost quite a bit to fix - wondering if it'd be worth while.

Foxhole Norman

Trojan wrote: »

Yeah, I've looked at both of these (online, not in person). I'm concerned about fuel costs of an auto 2.5L, but it does come from a dealer.

If the 2.2L was from a dealer I'd be more interested, but he's blanked out the reg and there's no interior shots apart from the boot. Looks like cloth interior & a head-rest missing.

I did also look at this one, has a broken rear window, that'd cost quite a bit to fix - wondering if it'd be worth while.

Regarding the 2.5, it should be in and about the same as the 520 if not maybe a bit better as the engine has to struggle less to move the brick around. Another member on here has a 525i Manual and got 40mpg on a trip from Dublin to Cork.

That silver one caught my eye too but the bodywork looks rough enough too.