JRST

What would you buy for 4k for long distance car driving, fun and must be four door and cheap to maintain. i.e. long service intervals?

Rab

BMW

Rab

Oh, 328i Sport. About an R or S plate.

xr-stu

Eclass derv if you can get em for that money?

Mike C

iTrader: (1)

Early E39 5-Series

Paddy

The later Vectras have long service intervals but they're shit. BMW's are a good idea as at least you'll get some enjoyment driving

If it was my money and those considerations I'd definitely go Jap. Accord/Mazda 626 none of them fun but cheap to run and reliable.

I have a few bits in that price range but mostly family spaz shaped wagons. There is a 2.0 ESP 5 door Focus at Ł3999 though.

kitchy

Audi A4 Tdi

Richie Russ

Get a late ish Vectra DTI Elite, have all the toys, long service intervals, comfort and good on fuel, how people say these are shite is beyond me, i have had mine 2 years and done 60k in those years and had it serviced twice which cost me 300 quid all in, 4 new tyres in that time and NOTHING else

Paddy

I can say it because I haven't had just one of them! As well as retailing quite a few of them over the years I also buy for a Vauxhall specialists who have 20+ New shape Vectras in stock at any one time.

OK, to say they are shit may be slightly unfair as I personally prefer the way they drive to the Mondeos but the refurbishment costs in order to retail them are NOT acceptable! The specialists get away with it because they're Ł1k more marked up than anyone elses

The shock absorbers are prone to collapsing, the electrics are pretty crap and the diagnostics normally show up 20 faults.

There are worse cars available but there are certainly better cars available for the same money.

Maxfield

Agreed.

Richie Russ

Must just be my car that hasnt had any faults then, but for 4k, with all the extras, reliability and fuel consumption, he could do A LOT worse

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Ive got one of these, fantastic cars, BUT he did say fun, and I really dont view that as a fun car, just purely a workhorse

JRST

What do you think of passat tdi?

PT

Rhys had one of them PM him

Rab

Thats not going to be much fun though is it?