Car query

[Tophatorangebear]

Struggling to find a "motoring" section - so think this is best place (apologies if not!)

Would really like folks' impressions re car (model) and choices on our shortlist - can be any view really (so for example reliability, buyer-beware warnings or "reputation" of car owners)

We have short-list for second-hand cars (our current car is 15 year old Peugeot - so no glamour there!)

We have a good amount to pay for a replacement and are so far looking at (no particular order):

Volvo
BMW
Volkswagen
Audi
Skoda
Mercedes
Citroen
Renault

Looking for a family car - possibly an estate but still not decided. Aim is less than 4 years old.

So can I ask what make/models would you say yes to and which ones would put you off?

To start - I always associate Volvos with pensioners and Audis with middle-management wannabes (both unfounded and unfair!)

TIA

BMW service costs high. Skoda’s great reputation. I have a Citigo as my car for town and it’s great. That said we’re waiting for a new Toyota RAV 4 self charging hybrid to arrive. Great space, loads of safety features, toyotas fantastic reliability and now all toyotas up to 10 years old benefit from a 10 year warranty provided you have an annual dealer service. If a hybrid 15 years on battery. My 2006 Rav I had for 13 years and loved it!

Thanks bouncydog - adds Toyota to list!

Our Audi A6 has been a superb family car - good cabin space, absolutely enormous boot, extremely reliable and feels very solid. We bought it in 2015 when it was three years old. It's needed next to nothing spending on it, bar the usual maintenance, running costs and a few new tyres. It will run and run - could probably get 100,000 miles reliable service from it although we'll be swapping it next year for the same model in an estate (to accommodate the dog). From your list, I'd steer clear of Renault and Citroen - according to my mechanic brother, you're only likely to get 60,000 reliable miles from them before the bills start rolling in. I'd say all of the other brands on your list would be a good, safe buy.

BMWs have reputations for not being good in snow/ice (rear wheel drive)..
Audi, I've heard that it's expensive for parts..
Volvos are meant to be good.
Skodas are popular at the moment. Apparently they are great and basically just volkswagens without paying for the vw name.
Mercs.. Hmm.. Old man car..
Citroen, hmm nah..
Renault. I would have said no before but apparently they are decent now.

Thanks both @privateparty and @germainebeer - I definitely don't want an old man's car!

I so wish I had a reliable relative who was a mechanic too (very much surrounded by folks who buy based on their "kudos" not what's under the bonnet!)

Veering (no pun intended) to Volvo, Skoda, BMW, Toyota and maybe Renault

Cor who would have thought it was this hard!

I would add Honda and Mazda to your list

Or what about a suzuki?

Honda, Mazda and Suzuki now on the list!

The higher end cars are more expensive for spares but you need to replace them less often.
I loved my bmw. My sister loved her Audi.
I think the best bits of advice for anybody are...
Check the insurance cost too.
Test drive. Get a feel for the car. Someone on here might adore a car, but you might find the clutch too heavy. And if you drive in town/traffic a lot this will be an issue. But for me; the heavy clutch makes no difference on the motorway.
I could say it's easy to get my buggy in/out.
My buggy is a quinny that is the size of a shoebox....l

In recent years I’ve always leased cars as I want hassle free motoring
So from your list

I currently have an BMW X1 2 litre Sports Auto
It’s just coming up to three years old in Dec never been in the garage at all
DH had a Volvo XC60 untill June 2020 which was huge had it 4 years from new and only had a problem with it in the last year something to do with the suspension which would have cost 1500 to fix but it was still in warranty
He also had a VW Tiguan from new and never had a problem with it and even the basic standard models had lots of extras like parking assist

On the other hand I’ve had 3 Audis in 15 years and they were a nightmare
One I had was three years old and a week after buying it the clutch went 🥵
Expensive to insure and repair - the computer always said no
I had an 8month old TT convertible a few years ago and it leaked - the seals were rotting around the roof and it was letting In water cost 6k fix under warranty as the hous needed replacing and the carpets and electrics were fucked
Every Audi I had was an absolute horror I honestly expected to get in one day and for the door to lock on me and set fire to itself like in the film Christine 😂😂
Also check any new laws in your city with regards to potential congestion charges for diesel - petrol cars
My DH has a new 20 plate Mercedes CLA coupe and it’s been in the garage 3time in less than a year
A problem with the stop - start - it won’t start straight away and you have to open the door to reset it 😂 it’s been fixed 3 times so far - so they say

No good as a getaway car if you were robbing a bank 😂