What car? CLS AMG, Panamera, Continental GT etc £45,000

What car? CLS AMG, Panamera, Continental GT etc £45,000

Author
Discussion

ol

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

207 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

I'm in the market for a new (to me) car to replace the Jaguar XKR (2008 4.2) that I currently own.

I need something with a little more room in the back for occasional family outings (I have a tall wife and a 1 year old), and ideally I would like something quicker or on a par with the XKR.

Luckily, work pay for my fuel so mpg not an issue, and I like a good exhaust noise (I have a Milltek on the XKR and it sounds great).

I do about 30-50k miles per year, with a mix of motorway and country roads, and I go to the Nurburging every year and do Euro trips. I will be change car every year so will be looking to buy a car with under 50k miles and move it on before it hits 100k.

Budget is anywhere from £25 - 45,000

Currently thinking about:

- Bentley Continental GT

- Mercedes CLS AMG

- Porsche Panamera 4S (or maybe a cheaper turbo)

I've also considered Maserati Gran Turismo (back end looks a bit dated now) Aston DB9 (no bigger inside than the XKR) Jaguar XJ or XFR.

For work I need to be leaving the car in some pretty dodgy areas, (think the roughest council estates around Glasgow) so I don't want something that people will instantly dislike and want to key (ie 911) Personally I'm not a BMW / Audi fan (until the new shape RS6 comes down in price!)

I like to be quite discrete (I understand that sounds idiotic given the list of cars above) but I spend a lot of time in the car so I want something that is nice to drive and a nice place to sit). I also have a Land Rover Discovery for most of the family duties, and a bike engined kit car for weekend fun.

Any suggestions of cars I may not have thought of? Or opinions / things to look out for with the cars I've suggested?

Thanks in advance

Edited by ol on Saturday 28th February 16:55

TheBroker

90 posts

109 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Having driven the Bentley and Panamera, I would recommend the Bentley, although the Pan is good. If you want to be subtle then I guess the Merc is your best bet, but with 4wd the Bentley is capable. All down to taste tbh. Shame you don't like Audi as the rs5 could have been an option with a capristo exhaust.

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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I think a Mercedes CL63AMG BiTurbo could be the car for you to look at, I've just sold my GranTurismo it was a cracking car I'm 6'7 & felt comfortable in it as did our 9 year old when we went out, Epic exhaust(especially with the Larini system I had fitted) note great drive just loved it. My dad changed his CL63 from the 6.2 to the Biturbo & loves it.

It's the reason I sold the Maser because it's now what I'm looking to buy great comfort speed lots interior space big boot & great engine note what's not to like.

Schermerhorn

4,342 posts

188 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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An M6 V10 would do all of the above at around 1/3rd of the price.

AdeTuono

7,240 posts

226 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Schermerhorn said:
An M6 V10 would do all of the above at around 1/3rd of the price.
Why suggest a BMW when the OP expressly states that he doesn't want one? Just out of interest...

My money would go on an AMG.

Phil Dicky

7,162 posts

262 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Got to be the AMG, still wind the window down when one passes me smile

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Got to be the CLS surely? Great exhaust note and decently quick, but not as flash as the Bentley or Porsche for the places you'll leave it.

It's the best-looking I'd the three as well imo.

speedster986

251 posts

205 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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I know you don't like BMW's but a M6 Gran Coupe sounds like a car you shouldn't automatically rule out. Probably a little more 'at ease' at some of the locations you mentioned than a Bentley!

D4MJT

1,253 posts

157 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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speedster986 said:
I know you don't like BMW's but a M6 Gran Coupe sounds like a car you shouldn't automatically rule out. Probably a little more 'at ease' at some of the locations you mentioned than a Bentley!
I'll have one for £45k mind haha

GermanShepard

461 posts

128 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Jag xjr?
New mustang when it's on sale?

swisstoni

16,855 posts

278 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Could get a current shape Merc CL for this sort of money. CLS is looking a bit old IMHO.

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
XFR the most discreet I'd say - does everything and happy at the ring, see profile.........

After_Shock

8,751 posts

219 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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GermanShepard said:
New mustang when it's on sale?
That will be about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face parked in bad parts of Glasgow!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
TIGA84 said:
XFR the most discreet I'd say - does everything and happy at the ring, see profile.........
Not a bad shout, very comfy, not many people will see a Jag as too flash either.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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30-50k a year in a Bentley or a Maser? Sounds like a recipe for a lot of loan car miles...

Schermerhorn

4,342 posts

188 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
AdeTuono said:
Schermerhorn said:
An M6 V10 would do all of the above at around 1/3rd of the price.
Why suggest a BMW when the OP expressly states that he doesn't want one? Just out of interest...

My money would go on an AMG.
'Just out of interest.....'

He said he is not a BMW/ Audi fan (though would get a RS6 when prices come down) so the same can apply to a high end BMW that is at the end of its depreciation curve.

Don't be a rude prat on internet land forums.

ol

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for all the input.

I considered an M6 when I bought the Jaguar. Its a fantastic engine, but personally I think it's just not 'me' - plus I like to be let out at junctions occasionally wink

The Jaguar XFR is a great car. I have never actually driven one, but was a passenger recently in a modified car running around 600bhp. It was fast, but felt a bit 'numb' to be honest, and didn't excite me as much as I had expected it would. I'm also considering the XJ V8 (probably couldn't stretch to an XJR) but it's a massive car for my needs really. It's just me in the car 99% of the time, so seems a bit excessive.

swisstoni said:
Could get a current shape Merc CL for this sort of money. CLS is looking a bit old IMHO.
ZX10R NIN said:
I think a Mercedes CL63AMG BiTurbo could be the car for you to look at, I've just sold my GranTurismo it was a cracking car I'm 6'7 & felt comfortable in it as did our 9 year old when we went out, Epic exhaust(especially with the Larini system I had fitted) note great drive just loved it. My dad changed his CL63 from the 6.2 to the Biturbo & loves it.

It's the reason I sold the Maser because it's now what I'm looking to buy great comfort speed lots interior space big boot & great engine note what's not to like.
I dont really know the difference between the CL and the CLS to be honest, except for the fact I thought the CLS looked more modern than the CL. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong shape CL but they seem very dated, especially the steering wheel... I'm new to the Mercedes range never having looked at them before, so I'm still trying to compare their models to the BMW equivalents of which I am more familiar.

TheBroker said:
Having driven the Bentley and Panamera, I would recommend the Bentley, although the Pan is good. If you want to be subtle then I guess the Merc is your best bet, but with 4wd the Bentley is capable. All down to taste tbh. Shame you don't like Audi as the rs5 could have been an option with a capristo exhaust.
Yes I drove the Continental and love the power delivery. The Panamera appeals as it's more modern, and de-badged I don't think most people (who aren't petrolheads) would know what it was, but I think it will depreciate a lot over the next 12 months compared to the Bentley. Also the Bentley is a bit ostentatious - I live in a little village in the middle of nowhere and can already imagine what people would say. (I know i shouldn't care what other people think when picking a car, but I don't like the idea of everybody automatically thinking I'm a bellend or footballer). The RS5 is a good shout, but in a similar vain to the M6, it just doesn't 'do it' for me.


djc206

12,247 posts

124 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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As the former owner of an RS5 I would strongly advise against that sort of mileage in one. The ride is not great and it would be worth nothing within a couple of years.

swisstoni

16,855 posts

278 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Especially if parked on the hardest council estates in Glasgow. I really think the OP needs to get an economical comfortable barge and forget the exotics for this task.

ol

Original Poster:

2,380 posts

207 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
swisstoni said:
Especially if parked on the hardest council estates in Glasgow. I really think the OP needs to get an economical comfortable barge and forget the exotics for this task.
Not at all! I'm going in with my eyes open. I used to have a Golf R32, I've had the Jaguar XKR for the last year or so with no problems. My colleagues who do the same job drive things like new M5, New Range Rover Sport, C63 AMG etc. I'd hardly call a Panamera or CLS an 'exotic'!!! Why would I get an economical barge when I get my fuel paid for me and I love driving? I spend most of my day in the car.