Top spec 'normal' car vs. entry level 'premium'

[A900ss]

Willy Nilly said:

A900ss said:

For 25k a year, this question shouldn't even be asked. Go for a long drive in a 5 series and you will very quickly get your answer.

A 520d isn't meant to be exciting, neither is the Mazda, but it is a fantastic place to spend some time. It is incredibly relaxing to cover distance; very quiet, big seats and low NVH.

Go for BMW but I might be biased as I am a 25k a year driver of an Auto 520d. (PS- if you were choosing between a 3 series and the Mazda, I woudnt be so gushing for the BM because the 3 is not as refined/relaxing as a 5er but it is more fun).

Good luck either way.

Edited by A900ss on Wednesday 4th March 19:31

25,000/yr is nothing in a modern car, I'd be quite happy doing that in my Jazz, I've done 250 miles in it today and have done 400 in a day before.

I don't doubt the cars can do it but when doing it regularly it's the driver that feels the fatigue. I stand by my 520d being more refined/relaxing than a Mazda (or a Jazz ) when regularly doing big miles.

I'm down to only 25k miles a year but over the past 10 years have driven half a million miles so I would always take the refined car for mileage.

(I have a TVR for fun)

Edited by A900ss on Thursday 5th March 21:03

[JackReacher]

andrewparker said:

va1o said:

I'm convinced that a new Golf GTD with a few options does everything you could want from an everyday car for covering big mileage.

You're absolutely right, and it will even come in estate form soon.

It's here already, just wears a Seat badge. £19,600 for the Leon ST with 184bhp GTD engine, and loads of kit. Bigger boot than the 5 series as well.

[Sheepshanks]

romeogolf said:

I'm in a similar situation. I've been given access to the BMW staff lease scheme through a family member and I'm choosing between a Mini Cooper SD with Chili, Media and a bunch of other goodies for the same £400/month as a 530D M-Sport with nothing added.

It's only for 6mths, isn't it? So choose one, and then the other!

[Sheepshanks]

northwest monkey said:

A couple of my mates did exactly this a few (quite a few now I think about it!) years ago. One had a BMW 316i in a spec that made an Easyjet flight look posh (windy windows, scratchy seats, radio cassette, no aircon etc) , and the other one had a Mondeo Ghia 2.5 V6 with all the toys, alloys, leather etc.

Not quite as extreme but in company cars we could choose BMW318i and A4's or we could have Mondeo Ghia and Peugeot 406 Exec's. I took the Peugeot and liked it so much I kept it for an extra year and took it to 120K miles. 2.0L turbo petrol engine made it pretty effortless to drive and I have fond memories of that car.

However I jumped at the chance to opt out when it was offered and now my own money was at stake I bought a Merc.

[pmanson]

A900ss said:

I don't doubt the cars can do it but when doing it regularly it's the driver that feels the fatigue. I stand by my 520d being more refined/relaxing than a Mazda (or a Jazz ) when regularly doing big miles.

I'm down to only 25k miles a year but over the past 10 years have driven half a million miles so I would always take the refined car for mileage.

(I have a TVR for fun)

Edited by A900ss on Thursday 5th March 21:03

That's the thing. All cars can do it, i've done long commutes in my wife's Juke if she's needed to borrow mine. It's underpowered on the motorway, feels top heavy etc etc and I certainly don't get out of it feeling relaxed. I find having a bigger car on the motorway much better.

I've also done the 2nd car thing (also a TVR) but recently got rid as it just wasn't getting used at the weekends (either poor weather or mainly family duties - football practise /swim school / dog walking etc). I'll have another one at some point but only once the kid(s) (we have no2 on the way) are a little older.

Edited to add - I have a car allowance which will be part funding this (as it currently does with the Mazda - well it's covering the mazda and some but you know what I mean)

[andrewparker]

JackReacher said:

andrewparker said:

va1o said:

I'm convinced that a new Golf GTD with a few options does everything you could want from an everyday car for covering big mileage.

You're absolutely right, and it will even come in estate form soon.

It's here already, just wears a Seat badge. £19,600 for the Leon ST with 184bhp GTD engine, and loads of kit. Bigger boot than the 5 series as well.

Yeah, think I'll have the VW!

[Sheepshanks]

Willy Nilly said:

25,000/yr is nothing in a modern car, I'd be quite happy doing that in my Jazz, I've done 250 miles in it today and have done 400 in a day before.

My missus has a Jazz and I drive it quite a bit locally, but I really wouldn't fancy doing a long journey in it - it's just too "bouncy". Having said that, you do see a lot of them on the motorways, although perhaps I notice them more as we have one.

[MattHall91]

The new 6 is a big step from yours OP.

Very good car, although my 2010 model Ts2 has been in the garage 3 times in 6 months...

Looked at anything else? Volvo? New Passat, new Mondeo?

[Willy Nilly]

Sheepshanks said:

Willy Nilly said:

25,000/yr is nothing in a modern car, I'd be quite happy doing that in my Jazz, I've done 250 miles in it today and have done 400 in a day before.

My missus has a Jazz and I drive it quite a bit locally, but I really wouldn't fancy doing a long journey in it - it's just too "bouncy". Having said that, you do see a lot of them on the motorways, although perhaps I notice them more as we have one.

All car now are very well appointed, reliable, easy to drive, have loads of power, quiet, etc and small cars are no exception. I don't doubt that a big car will ride a bit nicer and a German car probably feel plusher ( at least a Japanese car will actually work properly) but when small car are so good, big, expensive cars are going to be going some to make the extra expense worth it, the only advantage the definitely have is size, which also has it's drawbacks.

I'm not sure what you are calling a long journey, but I've been in my little car for 6 hours today.

[Targarama]

I do 20k miles a year in my 530i. It is perfect for me. Very relaxing and comfy too. Minimal deprecation and costs have been around £600 a year for servicing and repairs.

My wife has a 2010 Fiesta Titanium which she does 20k miles a year in. It is loaded, heated screen, voice control etc. the only thing I'd add to it would be heated seats. Lower spec car but higher spec interior.

Would I swap? No. The bigger car is far better at soaking up the journey and 'loping' along or a bit of faster driving when called for. Of course the Fiesta is a great car and shoots well above its weight, but I guess the BMW should be compared to a Mondeo for a fair fight.

[Sheepshanks]

Willy Nilly said:

I'm not sure what you are calling a long journey, but I've been in my little car for 6 hours today.

I sometimes drive a 40 mile round trip in the Jazz and feel exhausted! It's just all too frenetic. Much as I think Jazz is brilliant (it's our second and I bought another for my daughter) you have to adapt your driving to its lack of punch at motorway speeds.

OTOH I've done 500+ miles over the last 2 days in my old C Class and it was effortless.

[Northernchimp]

£18k bags a 14 plate Mazda 6 estate 2.2 SE-L. If you go for the Mazda it's hard to ignore the huge saving at 6-12 months old.

[dazwalsh]

For that mileage I would be in a nice volvo, amazing seats in the xc60 that we have as a family hack. Pretty Sure the v60/70 would be just as comfy.

I would also be passing by the ford garage to Check out the latest mondeo as it looks rather nice.

You should be able to load these up with toys before you hit 520D money

[pmanson]

MattHall91 said:

Looked at anything else? Volvo? New Passat, new Mondeo?

Still early days. New Mondeo looks very nice I have to say. Jag XF may be another one to consider.

Looked at an octavia vrs the other week and although the seats were great the interior felt and looked much cheaper than the facelift (just about to be releaes) mazda 6 that I sat in last week.

id quite like a RR sport or discovery but my wife isn't keen.

New merc c class estate looks nice as well but id be sacrificing boot space when we actually need more

[Hitch78]

I honestly don't get this obsession with 'toys'. Pick the best driving car, with perhaps a consideration of music sound quality and get on with it.

What mOre do you need? Being bothered about 'keyless entry' is a mystery to me!

[hornetrider]

Hitch78 said:

I honestly don't get this obsession with 'toys'. Pick the best driving car, with perhaps a consideration of music sound quality and get on with it.

What mOre do you need? Being bothered about 'keyless entry' is a mystery to me!

Well, there's certain creature comforts that make a car you spend a lot of time/miles in a much nicer place to be. Heated seats, lumbar adjustment, upgraded audio, cohesive phone/media connectivity, adaptive cruise, upgraded lights etc.

[romeogolf]

Sheepshanks said:

romeogolf said:

I'm in a similar situation. I've been given access to the BMW staff lease scheme through a family member and I'm choosing between a Mini Cooper SD with Chili, Media and a bunch of other goodies for the same £400/month as a 530D M-Sport with nothing added.

It's only for 6mths, isn't it? So choose one, and then the other!

I wish! 18-months. Just enough time to really get sick of something

[GSP]

My dad has a top spec 14 mazda 6 estate and hates German cars with a passion for no reason other than they are expensive and typically driven by aholes.

He borrowed my 5 series for 4 weeks while I was on holiday. It's an Msport with quite a few options and toys, but still not as many as his mazda.

At the end of the 4 weeks I believe he was converted.

I've been tempted by a top spec normal car next, either the mazda 6 estate, Octavia VRS estate or volvo estate of some kind. The interiors and quality is generally pretty shocking and rattly plastic though which is putting me off :-(

[Aids0G]

[quote=P1H]

This hits the nail on the head. People can advise, but ultimately it is a personal choice.

For me, the difference is huge. I've driven reasonable distances in a Hyundai i40, Vauxhall insignia, Jaguar XF and my BMW e92 330i recently. I can honestly say the Hyundai and Vauxhall were awful to drive. The Insignia was especially deplorable.



Out of interest, dad has just chopped in an Hyundai i40 tourer and i must admit that I found it pretty good on a long journey comfortable quick enough quiet etc good Nav, it wasn't the best in corners but I really am interested as to what in your opinion makes it awful?

Ag

[csampo]

Hitch78 said:

I honestly don't get this obsession with 'toys'. Pick the best driving car, with perhaps a consideration of music sound quality and get on with it.

What mOre do you need? Being bothered about 'keyless entry' is a mystery to me!

Exactly - and the new 6 is widely regarded as the best driving in class, and comes with an excellent BOSE sound system in Sport Nav form at ~£22-23k. At that price it isn't really competing against the Germans, where a preference for RWD may hold sway. If you are leasing then the cost is closer and perhaps a BMW or Merc wins through. The facelift interior is seriously impressive for the money, and the twin turbo diesel is excellent and certainly not underpowered for this type of car.