New car suggestions needed.

[chris]

I've caught myself reading the new car prices at the rear of the Top Gear magazine a few times over the last few weeks.


This normally means it's time to start thinking about another car.

This time i have decided it won't be brand new, i'm getting tight in my old age and won't be able to sleep thinking about the depreciation.

So the question is, what should i buy?

I don't drive my car very often, only really 2 or 3 times a week but it needs to be sensible (so no Atoms) and comfortable. The roads round here make having a sporty car painful and pointless. I may as well go for a diesel.

I was thinking about a Discovery, Audi A8 and err, pass!

[stijoy]

mini cooper S
we had one for 6 weeks, before we got our first sti, loved it, not as much as the subaru but very close.

[danr55]

what's the budget ?
cooper s are good fun, so is cooper s works lot's of money for a mini though

[chris]

This is the problem. Budget can be

[stijoy]

25k to 55k, can i be your friend chris.

[chris]

25k to 55k, can i be your friend chris.

It is an interesting range. I think the top figure is there as i'm still trying to talk myself out of the Masarati Quattroporte (second hand). I think the don't buy one side of the argument is winning as it does under 20 mpg. I'm fed up driving hardly anywherre yet spending my life filling the car up with petrol.

As i said i feel

[POESY]

For 25k a scoob or evo will do the job nicely.

For

[chris]

Well i've just quickly measured the garage.

The A8 WILL fit in, i'm just not sure if i'll be able to get out once it's parked...

[danr55]

how about...




















.....
















....












a WR1 ?!

[chris]

Na, been there.

[The Swede]

Low depreciation, comfort, value for money,...

I would go for a top-range car with as many toys as possible. They depreciate fast early so you can pick one up cheaply and not lose to much money on them.
Leave the modern diesels alone. They're only one thing: trouble !

Three cars come to mind:

1. Outgoing Merc S-class.
Suspension-wise it's the best thing you can ever find. Most comfortable car available plus it's very light to drive and you can throw it around very easily. Don't ever get one without the massaging seats or 18" alloys.
They're also reasonable on fuel consumption. My S320 petrol does 20mpg driven like a and 26mpg when driven in a more civilised manner.
If you want performance, I'd go for an S55 AMG (Kompressor). Otherwise, an S320 will do anything you need (0-60 in 7"1 and 150 top reached easily)

2. BMW 745i or 760i. Not pretty indeed (but who cares, you can't see the car when you're sitting inside driving it). VERY low prices though and nice pieces of technology.

3. VW Pheaton. I rented one 4 or 5 times in Germany and it's probably my preferred car here. Go for the V8. Not as comfortable as the Merc and you also cannot drive it sideways like you can with S-class. But it's really a great machine and the V8 produces a heavenly sound. Even if not interested, I'd have a go in one.
On motorways, nothing comes close for stability, except maybe the Bentley Continental, with which it shares it's underpinnings, drive-train etc.

[The Swede]

Chris,

Do a search on http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used_cars/find.

There are quite a few 6.0's available.

For 28K, you can have a 9200 miles full spec V12 of 420bhp...

Only one 4.2 available though. For less than 30K, you get a 4.2 V8 (344bhp) on a 54 plate with 4500 miles from a dealer with 12 months warranty. And I bet you can even haggle on that.

2K more even gets you a 5.0TDi. Diesel indeed. But 553lbft torque, you can tow all the caravans of the WR1oc at once !

[The Swede]

Spend 60K, get an S65L AMG and take that to a RR-day

With 612bhp and 735lbft, you'll even give Chris B a run for his money.

[POESY]

What about a nice Range Rover Sport - vehicle.

Mercs and BMs are great, but no individuality and most now are just bigger versions of cheaper cars.

Having experienced an SL 55 AMG (in fully delimited mode) i'd have to agree that this is however an exception and is indeed a pheonominal piece of kit - very jealous of my mate who has a beautiful black version.

[chris]

Interseting thoughts there.

I am tempted by one of the modern diesels though. If i were to get a new ish one that had 24 months warranty on it from a main dealer i should be ok, shouldn't i?

I don't know if the RR Sport says "look at me, i can't quite afford a normal RR! " In the way the Porsche Boxster does. I fear if i bought one i'd end up with a complex.

[WR1 Bro]

Interseting thoughts there.

I am tempted by one of the modern diesels though. If i were to get a new ish one that had 24 months warranty on it from a main dealer i should be ok, shouldn't i?

I don't know if the RR Sport says "look at me, i can't quite afford a normal RR! " In the way the Porsche Boxster does. I fear if i bought one i'd end up with a complex.

Leave the complex to the Friendly WR1OC family!

You get the car you fancy and we will let you know what we think afterwards!!

[The Swede]

What about a nice Range Rover Sport - vehicle.

Mercs and BMs are great, but no individuality and most now are just bigger versions of cheaper cars.

Having experienced an SL 55 AMG (in fully delimited mode) i'd have to agree that this is however an exception and is indeed a pheonominal piece of kit - very jealous of my mate who has a beautiful black version.

RR Sports doesn't really fit the bill for low depreciation, does it ? No new car does in fact, except some Aston's or Porkers.

I would strongly disagree with your statement on the bigger versions of Merc or Beemer being big versions of their small cars.

Having driven a few for quite a few years now, I would not want to get back to a Merc E-class or 5-series for any money. They look OK, look 'sophisticated' but are always half cooked dowgrades from the real thing.

That is why I voted against the 330i or S4 when we got the STi. These cars are just as 'boring' as an S-class, but the fail to be as good.

Besides, I find it personally pretty funny to drive an S-class as if I stole it. People just don't expect to see such a thing coming around a roundabout sideways. (without leaving the wheels behind).

Also don't give a rip about image. if someone thinks an S is an old man's car. That's his problem, not mine

I'd definitely give the Pheaton a try, Chris.

[POESY]

RR Sports doesn't really fit the bill for low depreciation, does it ? No new car does in fact, except some Aston's or Porkers.

If you dont want depreciation - buy a house !!!

I would strongly disagree with your statement on the bigger versions of Merc or Beemer being big versions of their small cars.

Oh well, sure i'll get over it though

[The Swede]

RR Sports doesn't really fit the bill for low depreciation, does it ? No new car does in fact, except some Aston's or Porkers.

If you dont want depreciation - buy a house !!!

That is true.

I always find it funny how people buy cars as 'investment'... Sod it, I want to have FUN in a car !

On the other hand, I can see Chris' point. Why should you pay 40K for a new car and trhow 10K away on 6 months ? I just refuse to buy a new car. If I get a new car, it's a lease via my company. If not, I'll get myself a recent second hand one.
Might not always be the perfect, latest greatest, but there are so many nice cars... We just don't live long enough (or have enough money) to drive all the cars we like.

[chris]

Well 3 months on and i'm still thinking about it.

I think i'll go test driving the S class, the 7 series and if i can find one, a VW Pheaton.

I really don't know what to go for.

[Gangsta Smurf]

Well 3 months on and i'm still thinking about it.

I think i'll go test driving the S class, the 7 series and if i can find one, a VW Pheaton.

I really don't know what to go for.

S Class merc .... huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugely overated. loads of hidden costs in the purchase which push the price up to ridiculous levels for what you are getting. looks boring too and somebody will key it

BMW 7 series - i.drive system is crap ... total total total crap. Car depreciates more than a bosnian hooker and every old man at my golf club drives one - although they complain daily about how golf clubs don't actually fit in. Rear leg room is shite too unless you buy the Li version - which won't fit anywhere

Audi A8 is marginally better but hugely underspec'd for the purchase price.

If you want an executive saloon there is only one that is worth looking at. The jaguar XJ6. My father has had two before he bought his new Daimler (which is better than any merc or bmw or alpina but is

[POESY]

Do like the jags - never thought of one of those, gotta be worth a look. And the Monaro is a very car idead.

I'd still be tempted by a RR Sport though, or maybe even one of those Porsche 4x4s (Cayenne I think) if you can put up with the looks.

My old man has a Nissan 4x4 - Marano I think its called, got a 350z engine apparantly, got loads of good kit in it and looks a bit retro which I quite like - hoping to buy it off him when my clio has had it, although that could be a while - it just keeps on running

BMW/Merc - no,no,no - just no!!!

VW - still a VW - wants to be a BMW/Merc, but just isnt.

[Gangsta Smurf]

I think the problem is that too many people thing that the BMW and Mercs are the benchmark cars. and just buy one assuming it will be awesome. they SHOULD be the benchmark but now seem to be the benchmark of what not to do - companies like Jaguar and others are just pissing all over them now in terms of what you get.

All I know is that I had my dad's previous XJ6 for the weekend with the WR1 was being fixed and I didn't want to give it back. Car was fecking awesome in everyway. Thought it couldn't be beaten until I drove his new fangled Daimler!

With your budget though I'd seriousely look at a monaro. loads of fun, not at all dangerous, good looks, good performance, good residual values and will fit in your garage.

Plus I can then come and drive it!

[chris]

Hmmm, Morano, not one that i had thought of. I have been told this evening that "we" need a family car.

So i'll add a Morano onto the test drive list, although i'm not too sure i'd want a Vauxhall, even if it is a Holden in drag.

I do like the Jags, i've driven both the X and the S types but i don't feel "old" enough to own one.

[The Swede]

Well 3 months on and i'm still thinking about it.

I think i'll go test driving the S class, the 7 series and if i can find one, a VW Pheaton.

I really don't know what to go for.

As Paul Horrell said in current issue of Top Gear: what car you like is a subjective thing.

Go drive as many as you like. I tested porbably 15 totally different cars before I ordered the RS4.

Make sure you try the Pheaton. It really is a nice car to drive.

[chris]

Well 3 months on and i'm still thinking about it.

I think i'll go test driving the S class, the 7 series and if i can find one, a VW Pheaton.

I really don't know what to go for.

As Paul Horrell said in current issue of Top Gear: what car you like is a subjective thing.

Go drive as many as you like. I tested porbably 15 totally different cars before I ordered the RS4.

Make sure you try the Pheaton. It really is a nice car to drive.

I've got but not read this months Top Gear. It's going on the Honeymoon so i've got something to read during those "inbetween times!"

Just for you i'm going to try the Pheaton.

[WR 1mposter]

Have to say with the choices you have

Range Rover wins it for me
but then again the Jag XJ do a 4.0 diesel

[Houdini]

Chris,

What a star, mate. You log on to a site full of high performance nuts and ask for advice on your next car purchase . If I didn't know otherwise, I'd say you had already talked yourself into another high-performance rollerskate, but you're welching on the cost.

Good for you!

I saw that you were earmarking for a business venture. In which case, save your cash and get a beat-up old Mondeo till you know how the cashflow is going.

Alternatively, if I'm to put the petrol head back on, then only one car fits the bill - an Audi RS6 Avant. High depreciation, which is in a steady plateau right now. It will drop again, but hopefully not as steeply. You should be able to pick a lovely one up well within your price range, it has all the toys, a cavernous boot, some ride height, and 450BHP

If I had the cash I'd buy one right now! In fact, I'm getting envious just talking about one, and you don't even own one just yet

That aside, do the biz first, then buy the car. Honest. I'm looking at doing the same thing myself, and if it happens then the WR1 will probably be the first casualty. Sounds daft, but that's actually one of the reasons that's stopping me 'going for it'

[The Swede]

Well, looking at the budget, 55k WILL fit a new RS4 in fact...

The RS6 starts to look a bit dated I think plus, from what I recall, it was neither as nimble, neither as comfortable as the new RS4.

Chris ?

[chris]

I'm pulling the budget in a little for the possible new business venture. I'll go up to