You'll find lots of expert helpers here. What annual milage, and are your journeys mainly suburban and shortish?

Also resale value is something i look at my car dosent owe me anything and i will get £2000 for it, I intend to keep this next car for around 5 year maybe 6 so thought the merc b class would keep for good resale value ? Im very confussed never had trouble picking a car before, Past at 17 brought a 4 year old corsa had for 4 years then brought a focus 5 years old had for 4 years then my VW ..... Looking at nothing newer than a 08 plate to buy this time with no more than 11000miles and only ever buy diesel.

Becky - if you're happy with your Bora, the 1.9 diesel is a good engine so I'd suggest you find something bigger with the same engine. The Skoda Octavia had that engine in the price range you're looking at (avoid pre-2009 2-litre diesels), and you can have it as a very roomy hatchback as well as an estate (although personally I think the estate looks better).

There's also the bigger Skoda Superb and the VW Touran with that same 1,9 TDI engine. The Audi A3 is no good to you as it has less room than the Bora. You could have an A4 Avant whuch doesn't look too much like a esate, but you pay more for the Audi badge.

Yu would also pay more for a Mercedes. As GB says I had a B-class - a B200CDI, similar to the 180 - and the main reasons why I was unimpressed were the sluggish performance and especially the engine noise which sounded just like a London taxi.

Also remember that you pay more for a diesel of the same age as the eqjuivalent petrol, and high-mileage diesels can be very expensive when they go wrong. The suggestion of a Japanese petrol car like a Mazda 6 or Toyota Avensis is a good one.

Finally don't ignore Fords - the C-Max, Mondeo and S-max (in ascending order of size) could all suit your needs. And there are lots around to choose from.

I hope that helps!

Edited by Avant on 21/03/2014 at 21:45