New Used car - Which one

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 16:31
New Used car - Which one - lddex

Hello all. I am in search of a new used car. I have a wish list and a top budget of 20K if needed. I am torn between Hatchback and Saloon. My wish would be an A5 or A6, or C class.

I was wondering if you kind people in the know could offer advice at what make and model I should be looking at to get all my toys and gadets in one car. The list of wants and wishes are below. I currently drive a Golf Match 2012 Blue Motion - so would like all the stuff that has plus...

Auto

Shift Paddles

Electric/auto parking brake

Parking senors front and rear

Adaptive Braking

Lane Assist

Electric adjusted seats

Xeon/ LED lights and Day time running

Parking assit

DAB Radio

Keyless Go

Stop Start

Auto Climate control

Speed limiter and cruise control

Sat nav is poss

Quite like the idea of all wheel drive

Hill assist

tyre pressure and run on flat warning

headligh bulbs not working warning (if that is even a thing)

The ones Ive been looking at are Mercendes A200 2015 model that seems to tick some of the boxes but not all. BMW series 5 and Mercedes C class. But there are some many different trims and upgrade packages it is hard to tell what you are getting as the showrooms dont always list the entire features as some stuff comes as standard obviously.

I would be very grateful if people could put me in the right direction of which specific models and trims and years I need to be looking at and if my budget is realistic...

Thanks in advance.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 16:34
New Used car - Which one - RT

Only you can decide whether a hatchback or a saloon meets your needs best.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 16:44
New Used car - Which one - lddex

I know. Its more the features. Im finding it hard to find a hatchback that has all the bling of the saloons. Its more the features than weather its Hatchback or Saloon. But on what I've been looking at - then some older saloons seem to have most of my wish list as they were aimed at the business man market...

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 17:11
New Used car - Which one - RobJP

Personally, I would not touch an Audi with an autobox. Too many DSG variants, lots of them have had lots of problems. Same for an Audi with a diesel engine. Lots of reported problems from the diesel 'fix'.

The 'old' BMW 5 series just went out of production at the end of 2016. As such, the old model has now depreciated like it's fallen off a cliff. Lots of nicely specced cars too.

For example :

usedcars.bmw.co.uk/5-Series/3.0TD-530d-M-Sport-258..._

The BMW approved used site has some decent search tools. Or a BMW dealer can go into real specifics for individual options.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 18:02
New Used car - Which one - badbusdriver

All the toys you are after are available on the golf, if you are lucky and look hard enough, you may well find a golf R with all that on.

I'm not about to spend hours and hours and hours on autotrader looking for a car which ticks all your boxes. But taking a slightly different approach, i thought about what smallish car would come loaded with kit. The car i thought of is the lexus is250. There is a 2015 example in the top of the range premier trim on autotrader, it has 25k miles and the dealer (lexus dealer that is) is asking £18950. Sorry, i'm not up with the tech, i dont know how to post links.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 18:35
New Used car - Which one - Terry W

Rather than create a lengthy list of needs and wants,, you may be better to identify the 6-8 critical items and relegate the rest to a nice to have list.

For instance:

- auto box may be an essential but with auto paddle shift is definitely marginal

- parking sensors essential but keyless go is a gimmick

- electric adjust seats pointless unless regularly driven by different drivers

- stop start pointless - you would not spend £20 on a car if you are truly green

You may of course have your own view of priorities!!

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 19:07
New Used car - Which one - pd

Not sure why hill assist and an electronic parkting brake should be essentials on an auto. You're not going to be using either in anger very often....

Parking sensors, climate, DAB and cruise with limiter should be on most of the cars you are looking at an xenons pretty common too.

Other than that it is really down to personal choice as to which cars you prefer but I'd avoid any of the AMG badged (not the proper AMG) versions of the A Series as the ride is horrible.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 21:35
New Used car - Which one - lddex

Thanks for that. I would never dream of asking people to trawl auto trader. But my knowledge of cars and what I can get without spending loads is what I'm looking for. Never thought of lexus.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 21:37
New Used car - Which one - lddex

I had a chance a couple of years ago to get a golf with DSG but steered away (no pun) because if the reviews and issues. I take it audi and golf is the same tech. If I'm understanding your post you are saying to get a 5 series as it will have most of my tech at a good price...? Thanks.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 21:41
New Used car - Which one - lddex

Personally, I would not touch an Audi with an autobox. Too many DSG variants, lots of them have had lots of problems. Same for an Audi with a diesel engine. Lots of reported problems from the diesel 'fix'.

The 'old' BMW 5 series just went out of production at the end of 2016. As such, the old model has now depreciated like it's fallen off a cliff. Lots of nicely specced cars too.

For example :

usedcars.bmw.co.uk/5-Series/3.0TD-530d-M-Sport-258..._

The BMW approved used site has some decent search tools. Or a BMW dealer can go into real specifics for individual options.

I had a chance a couple of years ago to get a golf with DSG but steered away (no pun) because if the reviews and issues. I take it audi and golf is the same tech. If I'm understanding your post you are saying to get a 5 series as it will have most of my tech at a good price...? Thanks.

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 23:02
New Used car - Which one - badbusdriver

You might also want to look at a jaguar xe, or (and this is really a bit of a left field choice) an infiniti q50. Motoring press don't seem to like them, but owners do (I've just been reading owners reviews of the q50 on autotrader).

You are right to be wary of dsg gearboxes, and yes, Audi, as well as all the other VAG brands, use them. But, going by what I have read on this forum, the problems seem to centre on the 'dry clutch' versions which are fitted to smaller engined cars (I would still steer clear, but just so you know!).

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Sat 22 Jul 2017 23:14
New Used car - Which one - RT

You might also want to look at a jaguar xe, or (and this is really a bit of a left field choice) an infiniti q50. Motoring press don't seem to like them, but owners do (I've just been reading owners reviews of the q50 on autotrader).

You are right to be wary of dsg gearboxes, and yes, Audi, as well as all the other VAG brands, use them. But, going by what I have read on this forum, the problems seem to centre on the 'dry clutch' versions which are fitted to smaller engined cars (I would still steer clear, but just so you know!).

VW Group use DCT/DSG on many models but not exclusively - higher torque models generally.

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 00:44
New Used car - Which one - Avant

I'd agree with the Lexus suggestion - lots of equipment and they don't go wrong.

If you fancy an Audi, go for one with the 3.0 TDI engine: these don't have DSG.

But do make sure you get something with a full service history, and ideally with a moderate mileage - not too high and not too low.

Edited by Avant on 23/07/2017 at 00:45

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 20:55
New Used car - Which one - Manatee

I'd agree with the Lexus suggestion - lots of equipment and they don't go wrong.

If you fancy an Audi, go for one with the 3.0 TDI engine: these don't have DSG.

Not a safe assumption.

Daughter and husband have an A6 Avant 3.0 TDI Quattro S-tronic.

S-tronic is Audi speak for DSG, Their term for TC autos is 'Tiptronic'.

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Mon 24 Jul 2017 00:03
New Used car - Which one - Avant

Thanks Manatee - didn't realise that.

I would imagine that their A6 has the wet-clutch transmission: these give far fewer problems than the dry-clutch version. I hope theirs has been reliable.

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Mon 24 Jul 2017 00:47
New Used car - Which one - Manatee

Yes, it's a 7 speed wet one. It does a better job of simulating a TC when manoeuvring than the dry one in our Roomster does too.

So far, so good - but they don't do many miles, living in Cambridge. It's my daughter who uses it for commuting to Duxford way, but she's on a year's eternity leave at the moment. The short trips around Cambridge don't seem to bother it.

Edited by Manatee on 24/07/2017 at 00:47

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