Anyway, I love the thing, it just does everything I need and want from a car, its sensibly economical, pleasant to drive, and just generally fits my brief. In fact its the second one of these I've had in a row and combined they've given me 360,000 grief free miles.

This says it all for me. Why change when you have a (reliable) car you love and will do everything you want it to?.

As John hints at, you may be a bit reluctant to get a new version of the same car covered in mud, presumably scratching of the paintwork from overgrown bushes and the like getting to your mountain biking location.

Sounds like we have a similar approach mcintosh, I make sure all my cars are kept serviced and maintained properly (just don’t wash them very much !) I suppose my car is a bit like my old dog, a bit tatty, but still functioning and cleans up ok, and I’m fond of him. ;-) Edit- dunno why the filter did that.

[Someone in the past has put tosh in the swear filter. Mods can add words but can't remove them. Anyway I've corrected it :-) ]

Edited by Xileno on 10/01/2022 at 16:08

Useful advice as always, SLO, and good point about about the driver’s ability to tackle breakdowns. Sadly, I don’t think my skills are anywhere near yours so I tend to stick to more expensive used cars rather than seeking out the real bargains.

""" That’s the reason why I fund a decent car for swmbo, I fear a fast lane breakdown on the motorway with her panicked response and 6yr old son in the back. If it was just me driving all the time I’d d just use my old Toyota as I know how I’d deal with a breakdown"""

Very sound reasoning. Also a very modern car has all the up to date crash systems including multiple AIR BAGs which tend to get overlooked when one is choosing a car.

As to a replacement car for the OP then a 5series touring or even a 3 would be ideal

Thanks again for all the responses, seems pretty much a unanimous vote in favour of "stick".

@Sammy and Trilogy, a weekend fun car for us is one that has the ability/capacity to cope with 3-4 mountain bikers and their kit/bikes so the current car is, I suppose, perfect in that respect. A little sporty thing wouldn't do, however much fun it provided.

A 3 series Touring would be too small, both for work and leisure for me, but a 5 touring might just work. Haven't had a BMW for more than 30 years come to think. Maybe it is time to return the dark side eh? ;-)