Peter Maxwell owns a Jaguar S-Type Sport, which he likes, but wonders what the alternatives are for £12,000.

A car for the head

I know that Peter loves his S-Type and maybe he should stick with that rather than changing just for the sake of it. However, if he wants a reliable and prestigious saloon, one option that will really appeal to the head is the Lexus IS 200. This model can rack up huge mileages without major breakdowns, comes with all the expected extras and has a subtle styling; £12,000 will buy a 2009 11,000 mile IS250 SR from a dealer. It's a petrol but Peter only covers a modest mileage.

A car for the heart

Then again, Peter enjoys driving and perhaps would appreciate the more dynamic, sporty handling of the BMW 5 Series. This model has been the market-leading executive saloon for some years now. Peter would be able to buy a 2008 523i M Sport with full BMW history and all the exciting trimmings, including Nappa leather, media package plus gloss-black interior trim. The media pack includes all the sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity you would need. The mileage would be 70,000 miles and the dealer would include a warranty.

Looking to buy?

Email James Ruppert at onefortheroad@independent.co.uk, giving your age, address and phone number, details of the type of vehicle in which you are interested, and your budget