I'm 75, able and fit. Present car Shogun. What I need is some advice on what's the best car for me under £25000 new or second-hand, running costs not an issue.
I live in rural North Norfolk and do about 12000 miles a year - occasional trips to South of France and Portugal, but mostly the longest journey is 65 mile round-trip to Norwich. General idea is to find something that will see me out!!
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Give us some guidelines. Tell us what is important to you:
* badge
* comfort
* economy
* number of doors
* ruggedness
* similar to your present vehicle
* space
* speed
* style
* etc.
For what it's worth, my bro-in-law is your age and he bought a new top-of-the-range diesel Mondeo a couple of years ago, couldn't be happier with it, and has done several long continental trips in it.
My first thought for you is a used VW Phaeton, running costs not being an issue.
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Thanks for the reply
I'm not too worried about badge, but comfort is important. I quite like the 4x4, because in Norfolk you need all the view you can get. I guess 5 doors so I get my old chums into the back when we go to the football (they're all creaking a bit now rather like Norwich City)
Speed not particularly important - but these days EVERTHING seems to go like my one-time Morgan Plus 8, you know 0-60 in 6 secs! Ruggedness quite important because I don't think I'll be buying again!! And visits to the tip with garden waste are fairly frequent so space helps.
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At your time of life and if money for running costs isn't a concern I'd be looking at treating myself on something with a bit of poke but also some luxury - a Jag with a 4.0/4.2 supercharged V8 would be fun!
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Hi
Yes, I thought about that but the memsahib is a little bit dubious. She coped with my Morgan Plus 8, but where do you put the shopping?
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The 4.2 supercharged V8 is available in the S type and the XJ series - plenty of room for shopping in those! I probably wouldn't choose the XK8, I wasn't too impressed when I drove one.
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Sounds like you are looking for something like the Shogun, but that you are not convinced that you want another Shogun?
If you are patriotic, and not too worried about reliability, a new Disco or a 2nd hand Range Rover.
Otherwise, probably a Land Cruiser (possibly even a 2nd hand Amazon . . . ).
A 2nd hand Lexus RX should be very comfortable and reliable, but it might not be the car you'd want to use for trips to the skip.
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Yes I thought about another Shogun but the servicing around here is dubious and I had big problems with the track rod ends on the one I've got and the air-con keeps breaking down so I'm a bit anti now.
The Amazon looks promising - does anyone know anything about the KIA Sorento?
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I have parents a similar age to you and my father loves his Subaru Forester. Its high enough to get a better view and not too high to have to clamber in, which may be an issue as you get more 'creaky'.
The other one to look at is the Subaru Outback which is bigger and more luxurious/faster/smoother than the Forester. Far superior to any quasi off road 4x4 for motorway and fast A road work.
Reliability is exemplary.
I too have looked at the Sorento, but was put off by the plastic wood dash (since changed I understand) and a comment from Aprilia (I think) that the chassis had been strengthed by lots of small metal bars under the car.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Hmmm, I was going to suggest a Sorrento , but someone beat me to it. If you want a 4x4 then they are excellent, my girlfriends dad has just bought one in Spain (for use there) and loves it.
If you fancy a Luxo-barge, how about a Lexus LS430? Whisper quiet, will never go wrong, comfy...... the list goes on! Not sure you would get a new Jaguar XJ for £25
Other options;
Audi A8
Volvo XC70
BMW 535d (touring?)
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New solution, bearing in mind the needs:
RHD Sorento TDI for the UK, 1 year old, 15k
LHD luxo-barge for the south of france/portugal runs. 10k will get you a very nice 528i estate with leather etc etc- in Germany anyway.
Just a thought,
Barchettaman
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Forgot to mention im from Ipswich, so as your a NCFC fan, you may feel it is appropriate to ignore my input :-)
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I think I've recovered from Sunday's humiliation so I won't hold it against you; but we can't seem to get rid of N Worthington.
Just back from a trip to Norwich - the Sorento looks fine. The walnut has gone and the ladder-chassis is sorted - apparently it used to bend when towing but that's been fixed. I like the diesel engine and the general specification is incredible for the money. There's a HUGE blindspot at the rear nearside corner, so constant attention to the side mirror is the thing. But at the price it's a clear favourite. The only problem is a lack of pick-and-mix - it's either leather seats or a lower car spec with the fabric kind. But the leather seat is heated. How they do it for the money I can't imagine. I go back to the time when a heater on my first Mini was an optional extra and still didn't work, so I'm constantly amazed at what you can get for your money.
I looked at the Subaru, but they aren't quite high enough off the ground - oherwise very good indeed.
I think I'm sorted. Next thing is to polish the Shogun and offload it.
THANKS EVERYBODY
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As someone who has faffed about for about a year dithering over what car to buy, I applaud your decisiveness! I hope you enjoy your new wheels.
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Espada beat me to it recomending The forester/ legacy. The sorento ought to be a safe bet.
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BRC, polish and offload the Shogun, then come back on here for advice about pushing for the best deal on the Sorento before you hit the showroom. I´m sure the contributors to the site will have some salient advice about the buying side too!
Good choice though - a mate has one in Stockholm and loves it, drives all over Europe in it, no probs so far.
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Unless I've missed it, no-one has yet suggested a Honda CRV. If you like a 4x4 for ease of entry and the view out, it has a lot going for it, including reliability.
The latest issue of Test Drive magazine has it well ahead of Toyota, Nissan and Suzuki equivalents.
The Honda 2.2 diesel is probably a better bet than the petrol, not so much on financial grounds as for the slug of torque you get when you need it most - at lower revs. You also get a much better range between tankfuls on the long trips to France and Portugal.
You can get one for £18,800 list - well inside your budget.
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If suggesting the Honda, try the Nissan X-trail. I love mine and preferred driving it to the Kia when in 4x4 and it cruises nicely on the motorway.
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I have driven in Norfolk over many years (where my mother came from and where my brother lives now). I have never understood why this county demands that you have to have a high vehicle.
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Have you considered a modern taxi? Takes all your pals, access perfect, good driving position, pokey motors: www.cabdirect.com/products_services/m8/
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Well up here in North Norfolk it's really a problem of high hedges, narrow winding lanes, sugar-beat lorries, tractors and white vans coming from nowhere, no gritting on the roads which are the muddiest in the UK (farm traffic) and a surprising amount of hills which in wintry weather are not easy. We have no buses either so it really does help to have a reliable 4wd with a view to get about in.
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Forester won't have enough ground clearance - it's only a car, really.
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Forester won't have enough ground clearance - it's only a car, really.
Oh come on MM. It's ground clearance is 200mm. At least 50mm higher than a Focus and very useful, especially if not going off-road for anything other than a grass verge or a a slightly muddy field.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Well up here in North Norfolk it's really a problem of high hedges, narrow winding lanes, sugar-beat lorries, tractors and white vans coming from nowhere, no gritting on the roads which are the muddiest in the UK (farm traffic) and a surprising amount of hills which in wintry weather are not easy. We have no buses either so it really does help to have a reliable 4wd with a view to get about in.
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If you want to find hills and narrow winding lanes, try rural Derbyshire. Most of the roads in Norfolk are a doddle compared to some around here. Plenty of tractors and white vans too, not to mention all of the HGVs.
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