My 2003 pug 307 HDi SE has just hit 100k miles so it's time to trade her in.

 

I have no idea what to go for, but with the value of cars tumbling all the time, I think I might go for a slightly older car, less mileage but higher spec.

 

I reckon I will get between £2.5 - £3k trade in for mine, and will put another couple of grand in - making £4.5 - 5k max. what car I get?

 

My requirements are:

proper 4 seater minimum.

Boot big enough to get a pushchair in.

average 30mpg+

RWD or 4WD only - no more FWD for me!

Hi spec (climate control/leather)

less than 60k miles

Slightly sporty - fun to drive

 

I can only think of 1999/2000 BMW 328 or Audi S4 - but there must be more

 

What do you think?

or merc ?

or merc ?

 

Which one? and aren't they all auto - so not quite so sporty/fun to drive?

lots of manuals and lots of sporty models from supercharged to AMG's

along with BIG servie bills to boot

Scooby do? End of the day they are cheap performance and are fairly good on fuel. 225bhp 0-60 in 5.9 will do 30mpg+ on the motorway

 

Also what about a 200sx, 2.0 turbo 197bhp 0-60 in 7.2 ish and 30mpg on average, would do better on the motorway.

 

Remeber most audis are wrong wheel drive, unless you get a quattro.

 

With your Beemers i think you'll struggle to get a low miler with a big engine for that budget. Or you wont have alot of choice. If you can i would go for the later M54 engined cars (basically the 325 and 330, not the 323 and 328 (which were M52's or M52TU's) Simple reason is that the M54 is a better motor, better on fuel and more powerful.

 

(be aware if you look at the older E36 shape then thats fair enough, it will only come with the m52 but might suffer fromthe nikosil lining issue)

 

With your beemers, one piece of advice i might give is that you'll get alot more car for the same money in a 5 series - if the size of them doesnt put you off i would certainly consider one.