Hello all,
I'm here seeking your advice/suggestions as to what car to get if we're willing to spend about 30-35L for it.
I currently own a Baleno RS (2018) and I’ve been looking for an upgrade. The RS was a wedding gift, so this car would really be our first car. This is a big deal for us!
I’ve never been interested in crossovers and CSUVs, which is unfortunate as I see the market majorly shift in that direction in recent years. I love sedans, and I want to live that experience while I still can.
In terms of requirements:
- Has to be a
fun-to-drive sedan. I’m a huge fan of BMW 3 series especially their Li versions. Ideally, if I had the money, I’d pick the new 330Li, no questions asked. That car made us feel great when we sat in it, without even driving it. And it's much more practical than the 330i. But it’s just way too expensive for us at close to 60L on-the-road here in Bangalore. I’m looking for a car that can compare with the 330i in terms of power and driving dynamics, or at least come close to it.
- Decent
legroom. One of the things the Baleno RS is really good at is legroom. My folks and in-laws are in their late sixties, and while I understand that ingress/egress is hard with low-slung sedans, I’m willing to work with that but legroom and the seating comfort need to be decent once they get in. We only do occasional long trips or city commutes with them, so it’s not a daily affair.
- Good
build quality and safety features. Reliability too, needless to say.
- The car won’t be a daily driver as we both mostly work from home. It’ll be for all long trips and short city trips. We barely do 10,000 km in a year.
- I’m willing to compromise on certain features such as a sunroof, ventilated seats, wireless charging, etc. But we need at least wired Apple CarPlay if not AndroidAuto as well.
- We plan to keep this car for as long as it lasts (hopefully at least 10 years if not longer).
- I’m open to picking up a used car.
With these in mind, and based on considerable research, I feel I’m limited to either the new Skoda Octavia (with the more reliable gearbox), or a used BMW 3 or 5 series. A used Audi A4 seems tempting too. I love Volvo as a brand too, but I don’t see great used options.
The new Skoda Octavia seems like a great choice as it gives one so much in terms of driveability, practicality, safety and tech inside (refer to GTO's quick
take (Skoda Octavia 2.0 TSI DSG Review) of it). We can wait for some discounts or go for it outright.
There’s only one 2020 330i GT on our classifieds here but priced at 40L and it’s been there for a while now. On OLX, I see
- 2015 320d Luxury Plus, 51,000 km, 21.5L.
- 2017 320d Sport, 15,000 km, 31L.
- 2017 Audi A4 35 TDi, 17,800 km, 30L.
There’s also a Volvo S60 D4 Momentum, 23,000 km, 30L. But the 20in wheels on it scare me!
I'm not looking for pre-owned cars with too many miles as we'd like to keep this car for long.
All these cars on OLX seem to be dealer cars, and deciphering the user car space has become quite a nightmare.
Not to confuse anyone, but in terms of hatchbacks, if there was a new Polo that was also practical, I’d have seriously considered it as the better half would surely be more comfortable driving a smaller, “less-fancy” car. But the Polo actually seems like a downgrade from the RS except for driving pleasure and build/safety.
The 2021 Octavia is doable, even if it seems a bit pricey. Not too many other cars would beat the practicality or features. And there's no hassle of dealing with a user car.
I’m looking for other ideas from the community. I know this specific topic has been beaten to death, but it’s a little frustrating that we’re willing to plonk that much on a car and yet seem limited to just one new sedan given my requirements! Or what am I missing? Our budget is set at max 35L, ideally lesser is better.
No offence to anyone, but I just don’t find crossovers or SUVs exciting, or not at this point in life. I'd appreciate it if the suggestions are limited to sedans unless you feel I'm clearly missing out on your point.
P.S: We won't be selling the RS, so no exchange discounts, if any, apply.
Any input is appreciated,
Karthik