[Closed] What car do I want? Clue: it's not the one I thought it was!

Recently got rid of an XC60 2.4 SELux and it was nice, smaller on the inside than you’d think.. but a nice car, bit bulky and I always thought “bulkier than it needed to be” but I did come down from an XC90 which was ridiculous and a barge.
I’ve owned Beemer 530ds too (2 off) and loved those, plenty of space inside, nimble enough and very comfortable too..
When changing this time around I too looked at Allroads (A4/6) and liked the A4 2.0d because it’s a bit smaller, didn’t buy one.
Didn’t look at beemers either (had them)
So chose a petrol hybrid SUV, it’s a similar footprint to the XC60 but a million times better to drive and is soooooo darn comfortable, and yet doesn’t drive like it’s an SUV size car..

But with your mileage I’d stick to diesels.

Recently got rid of an XC60 2.4 SELux and it was nice, smaller on the inside than you’d think.. but a nice car, bit bulky and I always thought “bulkier than it needed to be”

the 2.4 diesel engine sounds like a tractor though (although I guess that was going to happen coming from a 3.0 V6 diesel in the Audi).

And the turning circle of a medium-sized oil tanker too.

Or [url= https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/alfa-romeo/stelvio ]get one of these [/url]- very sexy looking.

[img] ?itok=3b286rYn[/img]

Thanks. I did look at an XC90 but after it took me 5 minutes to walk round it, decided way too big for me. Drove the Skoda Koriaq as well and felt the same way hence not being that interested in a Tiguan or the like.

I've had a couple of A4s (saloons) and I'd definitely prefer a bit more space you get in the A6. But a mate has an A4 all-road with the 3.0D in it. That's a nice engine.

I reckon the one after this might be a hybrid or even full electric the way that technology is advancing.

You want a van - t5 Kombi - mostly because you can actually sit in the back and have leg room

And because it annoys people on STW

That Alfa looks fab. Never heard of it before.

I am clearly going to have to go and drive a volvo tho. That's a sentence I never thought I'd write!

I do want a Van. I can't afford a van! And since I also need driving home from the pub on occasion, I need a car my wife can drive. And she really doesn't like vans at all. Regardless of all the effort I've put in to change her mind!

And they look amazing in the cabin too.

[img] ?itok=hzecYBE9[/img]

Buy a van - same footprint as a passat, get a pub bike...

I have a Passat Alltrack - a bit older than you'll likely be looking at (2013) - but I absolutely love it. It was a high spec model from a dealer - cost nearly £40k new with almost every add-on going - which I bought for about 40% of the new price with 60k on the clock. Loads of the things you are after - leather, adaptive cruise, panoramic sunroof etc. Cruise is the best thing ever - set it at 75mph on the motorway and you just need to steer, even in heavy traffic. Big enough inside, and easy to get a bike or two on a towbar mounted rack.

The only downside is that they are fairly rare, and high spec models are few and far between.

Merc C350e estate? I bought a C220d estate at 7 months old very high spec over 25% off list, there seem to be some pretty good bargains available - herself wanted a GT Coupe, but you can't put a bike in one of those.

Looking at a couple of Merc estates in the next week or so. I didn't even know about the alltrack until I saw one at a dealers a while ago. As you say, pretty rare, not seen one since!

Best hit Autotrader again...

Yip, I looked a Merc C220 estates too.. very nice.. was in my top 3 choice list. I also looked at the GLA220 and [i]almost[/i] bought one.. but they’re darn expensive for what they are.. but nice.. small inside though and the two front seats in the AMG are thick and tall and absure rear passengers view.. nice though, really nice, didn’t buy it though.

I like the look of the new XC40, if it had been available when I ordered my new car then I may have considered it, the D2 engine is frugal and has more than enough punch for me.. but it wasn’t available and I preferred the hybrid..

Back to the XC60 for a second.. lovely thing, very comfortable and composed.. but don’t go for the 2.4d engine because it’s a bulky heavy thing and drinks fuel (aves 42, and I drive like a grandpa) you can get the smaller d3 or if lucky the d2.. can’t comment on what they’re like though. Mine was an auto, nice simple shifts and you rarely new what gear you were in it was that smooth.. the shape of the 60 is pleasant enough, I just never liked the inside pinned in feeling.. the new one is boxier and I think suits the car better, the older one has the cabin pinned in because of the rear pillars and it does make the inside feel small.. especially when you choose black on black with a bit more black thrown in for good measure... and it’s an odd shape IMO.. it’s quite rounded boxy wings mean it’s a bit odd parking and if you don’t have the rear camera it must be a proper PITA to rear park.. anyway don’t discount it.. take a look first.

But I’ve chosen well this time, for mileage and comfort I want my new ones a cracker and it’s soooo nice to drive.

If you are looking in shooting brake territory, it would be rude to ignore the Jag

[img] [/img]

I really like the new big volvos though

[img] [/img]

Check out Motorpoint, prices for low mile newish models were the cheapest I could get from a large franchise/dealer. I've just bought an SE Tech Octavia estate with the new Amundsen info thingy and adaptive cruise, 5mths old, 10k and 60% of retail. The Superb is only slightly bigger but more refined and the SEL has all the spec you need and is only a few thousand more. Best large estate in many people's eyes, great vfm. I would have bought an SUV if I could have found a 7 seater where the rearmost seats weren't for children only.

I did drive an f-pace. It was a bit harsh round town but superb on the motorway. So much cash tho and once I'd added just a couple of options, outside the budget. Even the 2nd hand ones are really commanding high prices. And it felt a bit small inside. It was great but not as great as I expected it to be. And the whole Jag experience just left me wanting to set fire to the building.

I do have a search on for an XF tho. Mighty fine looking car. I've found a local volvo dealer. I shall dig out some beige trousers and some form of hat 😉

Don’t forget to dribble on your M&S shirt when walking into the Jag dealer.

Motorpoint does have some good deals. Nearest one isn't that far from me. And it's on the way to CwmCarn so that could work.

@BB- dribbling isn't even optional nowadays 🙂

We test drove the old xc60, loved it but couldn’t afford a good one. Would definitely have one if I could get one I liked for the right price.

Would love a 530d too, but I think might be too low for Mrs P also I’ve not looked at the numbers but felt loads longer than the XC60 too for no real gain in interior space. Better to drive though...

Ended up with a nearly new 2 series active tourer, it’s great but doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for.

Actually another option would be a 3 Series GT, the leg room in the back is huge but the car it’s self isn’t that big.

I had a 520d manual estate for 4 years - really liked it. Replaced it this march with an A6 avant 2.0d, Stronic and quattro. It is a much nicer place to be IMO.

Definitely not so good on twisty country roads at speed, but that's not really an issue for me. Effortless driving, comfy, reasonable economy.

Skoda Octavia Est. About 10 years old, £500, what more do you want?

Definitely not so good on twisty country roads at speed, but that's not really an issue for me. Effortless driving, comfy, reasonable economy.

Yeah, that's me as well. Useful info on the XC60. BMW is quite low. My Bro has the M sport one, same engine In think but after the Yeti it was like sitting on the ground!

You could always buy a 320d and stick an M badge on it .. or an x-drive sticker...

I don't want the M.. harsher ride, silly wheels, annoying graphics!

For similar money to a new Seat Ateca or similar of the above you cond have one of these.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bentley-Continental-GT-GT-w12-6-0-plate-stays-with-car-PETROL-AUTOMATIC-2005-M-/253224610701?hash=item3af55ceb8d:g:X4UAAOSw0exZ73ZC
I know its quite a bit older and might cost a bit more to run but you'd feel a but special in it.

Panoramic sunroof

I've had Pano roofs in the last two Yeti's. Every time I drive a car without one, it feels really dark! If it was just for the back seat passengers, I'd not bother 😉

For ages I've been looking at 10 year old luxury barges - really wanted an 840i for reasons I can't quite fathom! But a) I just know something like that would go wrong and cost me thousands and b) I just don't thinkI could turn up at work/mates with something like that. Not without a cravat anyway!

Well I thought I'd update my own thread. As expected the whole car buying process left me cold. It's like dealing with double glazing salesmen only with slightly less ethical integrity 😉 I drove the A4, A6, (didn't get to try an all road), 520, 530, XC60 and maybe a couple of others. It's all a blur now.

Lots of dealers with loads of stock. Ended up with a massive horse-trading session between about 3. Ended up with a new 520D (2.0) SE Touring with a couple of options. UK stock so basically 0% APR and a ridiculous discount that made me walk away from a couple of 2nd hand deals on year old cars.

It's taken too much time and I've not enjoyed it at all. I cannot believe how complicated the spreadsheet I built ended up. It's basically a half decent financial modelling tool now!

I signed for it tonight. Pick it up Weds. Don't intend to step inside another car dealers until it's due a service.

The only fun bit was the look on the face of a couple of the salesmen when I insisted on checking if a MTB would fit in the back 🙂

good work. Aye, like moving houses it's not something I'd like to do on a regular basis. I can't comprehend those who try to do either frequently. This is only my third flat/house in 33 years. And number of cars -- on my 8th in same period...

oh, and current car will take a decent sized MTB in back, wheels on. Just (if plus, no bother if 29r).

Wheels on is good. It's quite nice in there tho. I'd best buy a boot liner!

Good cars the 520d, think you’ll really enjoy it.

Nice motor - I really like the new model 5 series.

I drove the old one and the new one. I couldn't tell that much difference from a driving point of view. One was the m-sport and the other one was on the 19inch wheels so not a direct comparison. The inside is quite different. That virtual dash is quite funky but the new 10inch infotainment (really!) screen is very good indeed and the software easy to use.

It'll stay mostly parked for a month or so until my Yeti goes back. I was just happy to get it done at below my budget and wasn't expecting a new one for that. Buyers market out there esp for Diesel.

until my Yeti goes back

I'd be interested in your review of the Yeti, I've a choice of Skoda motoring on a lease or keeping my 120d soon - cheap Salesman/Biker motoring while the money goes on the family car...

The only fun bit was the look on the face of a couple of the salesmen when I insisted on checking if a MTB would fit in the back

I know the feeling. I usually ask them to put the seats down and stick a windsurfer in to check.

You chose the right wheels and spec for that 520 I reckon. My two were the Sport Tourings (I was going through a ponce phase) and whilst comfortable and driving pleasure, I do wish I’d gone for the SE and Boggo 17 or 18 wheels for added comfort .. (I put 170k on the first and 240k on the second, both pulled 24/30ft yachts around Europe)

Enjoy.

I've had two Yeti's. A 2.0D and this 1.2 Petrol. Both were brilliant. The DSG in this one was the gearbox that made me never want a manual again! They aren't that big inside in terms of boot space even with the seats down (bike with one wheel off fine tho).

Driving position - fab. Engines. Fine. Servicing. Cheap. Tyres. Cheap-ish. Insurance. Cheap-ish. See where I'n going with this? They handle as you'd expect but are still fun to drive if you're not looking for a sporty experience. Had a couple of reliability niggles with this one but sorted by Skoda without any fuss.

If they still made them, I'd have another one with a slighter more powerful engine. I didn't have time to wait for the Koraq (and it looked very expensive compared to the Yeti) and I didn't like the Kodiaq much.

There are some good deals going on Yeti's. Lots about. the 1.2 TSI is fine for such a small engine in a heavy car. Mine is the elegance spec and I added the Pano roof. Really going to miss it.

@BB - yeah I'm not a fan of the big wheels or the M-Sport suspension. This apparently puts me in the minority although I'm not quite sure why!

Good to hear about the new 5 Tourer. I loved mine (13 plate) but couldn’t hang off for the new version so ended up with an A6 Avant.

I love our 2010 new shape 520d auto estate.

Comfy, fun, economic, quick, effortless, large enough but not barge like.

Drove it full up to Italy and back, twice this year. Once filled with mates and Dh bikes on it, once with family and bikes on it. 😀

It never put a foot wrong. When we got back, if I'd have had to turn around and go back, I would have. Without even a moan.

I really wanted a v90. The interior is amazing. It was roo expensive so ended up with an e class estate. Its truly huge. 5cm short of 5m long so too big for some spaces. It has an underboot area the size of a small hatch and the boot is simply huge. Seats folded 2 road bikes fit in wheels on (or nearly 1 mtb, need a wheel off) It comes with loads of toys and with amg pack huge wheels so actually handles. An e was the same price as a c class/a4 estate to lease so why not go huge? Oh amd fancy retractable tow bar is a real treat too.

What kind of deal did you get for the 520 if you don't mind me asking?

Alex - Member

Ended up with a new 520D (2.0) SE Touring with a couple of options. UK stock so basically 0% APR and a ridiculous discount that made me walk away from a couple of 2nd hand deals on year old cars.

I had a second hand M5.
Ran it for a year, sold it at a profit.
Sorry. 🙂

Good to hear about the new 5 Tourer. I loved mine (13 plate) but couldn’t hang off for the new version so ended up with an A6 Avant.

I tried the A6. Felt a bit dated inside after the new 520. Nice car tho. I'm hoping to drive mine on a monster road trip. It feels like it'd just eat it up and come back for more. Getting back in the Yeti, it still feels like a great car bit it's a bit noisy and roll-y.

In terms of PCP, I'm going to be a bit oblique but basically the list on the car was over 42k. We agreed on around £29k. I put £5K down on a 36 month / 17,000 miles per year contract and my monthly was below £370. The original quote at the std APR and a far higher list price was £490.

The deal on the other one was even better (as it had a couple of options I wanted) - so it's a good time to buy right now.

520 is nice, good choice. I had a D5 xc60, hateful thing but it was cheap, drove like a barge and wasn't exactly frugal. Did the spreadsheet thing and then bought an rs4 before we're all made to drive electric pencil cases. Bike goes in the back, plenty of room for 3 of us and makes a grand noise. I'm shallow.

the passat is starting to annoy the shit out of me. Its turning into £1,000 a year on maintenance/problems. Not really surprising on a 160k 10 plate but it's getting beyond bangernomics. Fortunately it isnt doing the miles that it used to so we are toying with a lease car, potentially even an electric one. Has anyone looked at these? Small family hatchback, 150 miles range, all in lease cost?

Small family hatchback, 150 miles range, all in lease cost?

FWIW, my VW (Touran) cost way more than the current Ford (Galaxy) to keep going in maintenance over 100k miles. I am now at the Galaxy being worth not a hill of beans, and if a massive new set of bills comes in I may just scrap it...That said it cost £7k nearly 4 years and 85k miles ago, so owes us not a lot. If I can eek out another couple of years / get to 200k it really will be bonus time.

looks similar maths to the pashat.

£7.5k, 3.5 yrs ago. Have put 60k on top of the 100k it came with.
Unfortunately in that time it has lunched a gear box and some front arm bushings. Ive just splashed out on new disc and pads all round and a new set of tyres. Next major hiccup and it's toast. Probably worth about £2.5k now. So £5k + £4k over 3.5yrs to own. Not much less than a 6x35 £250pm lease deal.

We are on similar - likely £5.5k depreciation and £4k maintenance = £9.5k over 42 months = £226 a month. BUT a Galaxy or similar on a 25k a year lease is twice that, and I would still have done tyres, brakes etc in that four years.

and I would still have done tyres, brakes etc in that four years.

I thought the point of a lease was that was all covered in the rent?

thought the point of a lease was that was all covered in the rent?

No, it is with some but there's obviously a premium to pay for that over a lease where you have to get maintenance done yourself.

ah. not the slam dunk genius financial plan I had hoped then.

Nope.

IMO, leasing/pcp etc works if you do low miles, in a small/medium car OR employer pays.

Otherwise, it just costs more financially.

hmmm. might have a look at a cheap leaf then...

Just to finish this off

Here's the car.

[img] [/img]

And here's my very sweary rant on the car buying experience 🙂 http://pickled-hedgehog.com/?p=4010

In terms of PCP, I'm going to be a bit oblique but basically the list on the car was over 42k. [b]We agreed on around £29k. [/b]I put £5K down on a 36 month / 17,000 miles per year contract and my monthly was below £370. The original quote at the std APR and a far higher list price was £490.

The deal on the other one was even better (as it had a couple of options I wanted) - so it's a good time to buy right now.

Jesus. I need you to come and negotiate for me.

Not me. What you need is my wife who is perpetually unmoved by any sales technique. If it was left to me I'd pay list price and give the sales bloke a tip 😉

With your deposit over 3 years your forking out about £18.5 K in total. Does your PCP include servicing and breakdown? 17k a year is quite generous mileage wise but that is a fair chunk of cash every month. I wouldn’t feel too sorry for the dealer. Nice car though!

Yeah that's the whole package. I do a 1000 business miles a month which I charge back so it pretty much covers that. It'd been sat on the dealer forecourt for nearly 3 months and they were desperate to shift it. I've seen other very similar models for £500 less but they are 300 miles away. So it's a decent deal rather than a spectacular one.

I was paying something similar contract hire (billed directly to the company but obviously quite a lot of BIK for me) for my Yeti. So that number was pretty much the budget figure in my head. I actually slightly misread the finance agreement which put another £12 back in my pocket a month 🙂

Entertaining blog. Nice car; I don't think the wheels are stupid.

Thank BigJohn. I have another post lined up journaling my trip through the bonkers technology in the thing. It's been quite the education 😉

My view (based on research) was the run flat tyres were pretty jiggly esp on bad roads (of which we have all of them here). The ride is actually fine, brilliant on the motorway and not the spine jarring experience I was expecting elsewhere. I had also been a bit prejudiced after driving the Audi S-Line variant. Jeez, that thing was harsh. This is really quite lovely.

I filled it up with juice earlier. After 3 years of running a petrol car I was chanting 'Diesel Diesel Diesel' to myself at the pump 😉

Proper car.

Enjoy it.

Go over to PistonHeads and read the “ask a car salesman anything” thread and it will portably enlighten you to the world of car sale people and the rubbish that they also have to put up from the general public. It’s seems that car buying is a two way street of unhappy buyers and sellers

Bit late to the party but I was looking for a new bike swallowing comfy estate that would be good for work trips and holidays earlier in the year. Ended up with an E250 (twin turbo version of the 2.1 in the E220). AMG kit, 7 speed, pano roof, real leather, black alcantara roof, adaptive headlights etc, 0-60 in 7.5s and will do 50-60mpg on a run.

It's a fantastic car but I am starting to look around again as having such a nice car and racking up 2k a month and having to go between our fields to check the sheep just seems like I am going to ruin it 🙁

Did 2k miles around France in October, in the boot we had our luggage, an inflatable sup, picnic hamper, lots of wine we picked up as we went, dog stuff, a 29er mtb (both wheels off and in wheel bags) and I could still see out of the back window! We drove some friends over to Bordeaux and had their hold suitcase and one of the cabin bags in the boot as well and it still wasn't up to the roof. Averaged 50mpg for the whole trip without any attempt of driving economically!

I think anything else is going to feel like a downgrade but looking at maybe a Leaf or i3 and a cheap 4x4.

oh and yes, the underfloor storage on the E class is great. I have a space saver in there but still have room to keep my bike helmet, cycling shoes and clothes, changing towel, wet suit, surf boots. In the underfloor tray I have a tool kit, ratchet straps, bulbs etc. All I then have to do is thrown in either the sup, bike or both if I fancy stopping off somewhere on the way home.

Are you selling it andyl or is it going back?

One of these types of cars would be perfect for me but I'm hung up on not being able to swallow a £300 payment every month. Just feels a lot.

Will be selling, but not sure when. Was going to try and sell while it's still under warranty. Need to find the time to find a suitable replacement first as it's going to be hard 🙁

Merc E220/320’s are awesome cars, bit large but awesome.

Why not look at C220 next?

On my 3rd e class here. Great car, especially living moving the tech in the new one

I looked at the E estates when getting rid of my 5 Tourer. Lovely cars, but they didn’t stack up on the PCP deals. I smugly await the snow in the west of Scotland to go play in my A6 😀

Just to resurrect for some info...

How are you getting on Alex, is the SE suspension really that much better?  And people in general, with that length of PCP don’t you get nervous as to what'll happen if you find yourself unemployed or is that just me worrying unecessarily?  Has that happend to anyone and whats the score?

Kryton - in 2006 we bought an A4 outright and worked out after 2 years that a brand new A6 would be cheaper once you'd taken into account depreciation and any issues. Loved the A6, it ate miles when travelling to the Alps. It was our first PCP/lease/lease hire and it took some persuading, but once you'd put the numbers into a spreadsheet, it made sense.

Once the lease was up, my father in laws car came up, (C240 V6 petrol), which we bought cheaply and it got written off. Then we went back to PCP and got an A3 as we'd dropped the need for pushchairs etc and didn't need the space. We put a roof box on it when required and we also have a Discovery3 should the need arise. That was much cheaper and we haggled a really good deal and the A3 worked out well for us financially.

It's worth shopping around for those that are being discounted and as long as you're not set on a particular brand or model, there's bargains to be had.

We're now on the Father-in-laws latest hand-me-down, which is an E220 CDi. Not what we wanted ideally, but we paid the trade in price which made it cheap(ish) and it should last forever (think Stuttgart Taxi). It eats miles and lugs huge amounts of stuff around, plus we have an asset.

What will I do when this one finally dies? It's hard to say. The up front costs of a 6 year old Panzer-Wagon are still quite high. However if you haven't got £10 000+, then PCP with an initial payment can make sense. Although the Direct Debit sucks, you've got no surprises as everything is covered under the agreement - you just have to know that you can cover the £200-£300 every month.

I'd prefer not to go down the lease/hire route as you have to be too careful with the car. If you buy something to shift stuff (ie an estate car) it's hard not to damage the car, with general usage. Paving slabs, rubble sacks, garden rubbish, mountain bikes, dogs, puking children etc all take their toll. I use roof racks a lot for SUP boards and windsurf kit and inevitably things get scratched or chipped. If the car belongs to me, who cares? If it belongs to a hire company, they go over it with a fine tooth comb when you hadn't it back and everything gets picked up, no matter how dirty you leave it or if the arrive in the rain...

You pays yer money...

How are you getting on Alex, is the SE suspension really that much better?

I’ve no idea really. I never drove the M sport for that long. It is very good though, a bit choppy in town but the roads here are terrible and the ride is definitely better than the Yeti. On the motorway it’s brilliant, I drove to Durham - which is 250 miles door to door and it was effortless and comfortable. I

It’s a fun car to drive as well. Currently averaging about 45mpg. It’s not great round town, but 50+ on the motorway is easily achievable. It still feels big compared to the Yeti but some of that was just new car stuff. Now it’s got 3000 miles on the clock, I’m a lot less precious 🙂

So very happy with it. In terms of lease cars, my Skoda had seen a lot of MTB dirt on the inside but it cleaned up well and I didn’t pay the lease company a penny for damage. This one has a boot buddy so it’s well protected. I’m not really worried about being stuck with it. If I didn’t think I’d be in a position to afford to run it for three years, I wouldn’t have bought it!