Need a second car to replace the wife's 3 y.o. Fiesta 1.4 Zetec. Need something a bit bigger, refined with good ride and performance, but still reasonable handling, economy, insurance. It would be the long distance cruiser rather than the Scooby.

406 3.0 V6 saloon - ace engine, great ride/handling, good stereo £14k dealer 6 month old 5000 miles even before negotiation. Then tried an HDI remembering this was supposed to be a sensible economical second car and hoping for excellent torque, but bitterly disappointed with terrible throttle response, very reluctant generally - preferred the wife's 1.4 Zetec Fiesta!

325Ci/320/330d - expensive+++ - maybe a Scoob alternative if I ever "grow up" - but I doubt it - could spend the money, but don't think could really justify it!

Mondeo V6 Zetec-S - only tried 2.0 as no V6 yet, very nice ride/handling/build, but high depreciation, not refined engine at cruise

Very impressed by 180bhp 2.5V6 Audi TD in new A4, felt like Scoob without turbo lag, but the fun stops at 4500rpm.

Rover 75 2.5V6 - deeply impressive ride and refinement (really quite incredibly good) not bad handling, but very large and really no performance whatsoever despite a rather powerful engine! - for all that cost it didn't feel that special in terms of performance - the Audi TD was much better.

Other options - Clio 172, Puma - wife would like because small and cuddly esp the latter - I think slow and a bit unrefined.

I have to say the ideal would seem to be a Mondeo with a more refined and better performing engine - but the the V6 is so much more costly to insure/fuel for only 25bhp more than the 2.0 petrol. However, Motorpoint say they will do the V6 for 16k with all the toys, leather etc, with is >20% saving (imported of course like the Scoob). Even then I'm sure depreciation would bite.

Any thoughts appreciated - and no I'm not considering a New Age Impreza - the Clio 172 although a bit smaller would be the preferred choice after seeing it beat the Impreza on Evo's lat. g (dry only though) and TED testing.

 

Go back and try the TD A4 with the switchtronic (CVT auto) box, it makes all the difference to the car, 6 pre- set "gears" if you want to play, but if you want to go just press the loud pedal, revs go to max torque and stays there, car accelerates towards far horizon!

 

Forget the A4 unless its the new 2.5 180. Either way, pay the little extra for the 330d. I did 2 months ago, and never looked back.

Fun may stop at 4500 - but you'll never notice Faster 50-70 than a 355 and 40mpg+