Rolls Royce of small cars
Discussion
I know its not exactly a small car, but a Lexus IS220d (premium luxury model upwards) would fit the bill perfectly IMO. It has one of the comfiest leather seats i have been in, where you feel like your sitting in the seat instead of on the seat.
Also to add, they come with heated/ventilated seats and the Mark Levingston? stereo system is fantastic.
mehdi
Also to add, they come with heated/ventilated seats and the Mark Levingston? stereo system is fantastic.
mehdi
braddo said:
For a bit of refinement you have to rule out pretty much any diesel.
Does the OP have a particular reason for looking at W124 Mercs but not the 190E/W201?
The 190E would be dwarfed by that DS4 Citroen! The only issue with the older Mercs might be that very few came with air conditioning. Having the windows open on the motoway rather ruins the refinement experience.
If you don't care about the Grandad image perhaps an early W202 C Class might be an option? A C280 Elegance will be dirt cheap, likely to have aircon and proper refinement/ride. The early ones, say pre-1997, pre-date the infamous build quality nadir of late 90s/early 2000s.
No-one could call the VW 1.9PD engine refined, but the OP is cruising at speed when the noise of the diesel engine will be drowned out by wind and road noise.Does the OP have a particular reason for looking at W124 Mercs but not the 190E/W201?
The 190E would be dwarfed by that DS4 Citroen! The only issue with the older Mercs might be that very few came with air conditioning. Having the windows open on the motoway rather ruins the refinement experience.
If you don't care about the Grandad image perhaps an early W202 C Class might be an option? A C280 Elegance will be dirt cheap, likely to have aircon and proper refinement/ride. The early ones, say pre-1997, pre-date the infamous build quality nadir of late 90s/early 2000s.
The W202 C-class makes a nice cruiser, especially with the 5-speed auto and is available with cruise and AC but isn't economical or particularly small. The interior also looks and feel plasticky and cheap IMO.
The 190E has a smoother ride than the W202 and is smaller but the 2.0 auto is too low geared for relaxed high-speed cruising (3500rpm at 70mph in top) and the car lacks grunt for overtaking. As for the 2.6, low- to mid-20s mpg mean it is not remotely economical, as required by the OP.
A cheap, high-spec. Mk 4 Golf, Bora or even a Mk 5 / 5.5 Passat with the PD engine and maybe an automatic gearbox, with some cash spent sorting any problems, meets more of the OPs needs for ride quality, overtaking power, economy and (except the Passat) size while leaving loads of money in the kitty for repairs, etc.
HereBeMonsters said:
Hmmm, interesting. I wonder if Renault have an equivalent of the 5 Monaco?
Clio Initiale ParisYou have one wish remaining.
HereBeMonsters said:
TheInternet said:
HereBeMonsters said:
I'd venture something French...is there a modern equivalent of the 205 Gentry?
208 XYThough not available in UK anymore...
Edited to say ignore me, see post about Clio above
Some good nominations here! Especially the actual Rolls Royce
See I just don't buy the argument that the wheelbase is THE defining factor in waftiness - of course I'm no engineer so have ZERO knowledge one way or the other here. The current Golf has, as near as damn it, the same wheelbase as the previous gen Mercedes E-Class.
If you said the manufacturers don't/won't make one because the tooling and costs to make a small car vs a large car aren't that different but the profit returned on a large car is huge in comparison so no incentive to make one - I could believe that. Just irks me there doesn't seem to be one.
That Mini Goodwood is close to perfect and what I'm after. Give me that with double glazing, loads of sound proofing and a smooth engine I cannot hear along with Citroen suspension to float me along the motorway and I'll be a happy man.
That Alfa 147 has had me looking at 159s.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
See I just don't buy the argument that the wheelbase is THE defining factor in waftiness - of course I'm no engineer so have ZERO knowledge one way or the other here. The current Golf has, as near as damn it, the same wheelbase as the previous gen Mercedes E-Class.
If you said the manufacturers don't/won't make one because the tooling and costs to make a small car vs a large car aren't that different but the profit returned on a large car is huge in comparison so no incentive to make one - I could believe that. Just irks me there doesn't seem to be one.
That Mini Goodwood is close to perfect and what I'm after. Give me that with double glazing, loads of sound proofing and a smooth engine I cannot hear along with Citroen suspension to float me along the motorway and I'll be a happy man.
That Alfa 147 has had me looking at 159s.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
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