6k, big engined, fast, classy

[Huff]

My most recent take on the OP's Q for myself ended here: Alpina B10, 3.3 manual*

A car that rewards you endlessly for attempting to wring it out on A or B roads? Yes!
Something that's a damn sight sharper than anything BMW have produced, yet has a better ride? Yes!
A glass-smooth bahnstormer that wants to romp away well past 0.9L? Er, let's ask the magistrate. Cough.
The bit that may not suit OP: A car that no one will ever notice, because it's just like yet another silver 5-series: heck yes!
Frankly, it is ridiculously-good, and completely over-lookable. Very much to my taste, then.

• Good hunting - only c. 10 3.3 manuals in the UK, I was certainly happy to land thiss'un...

Edited by Huff on Sunday 5th July 22:19

[k-ink]

I had a CLS 500 with some AMG bits. They are good in a straight line. Bear in mind on cars like this, parts do go wrong and cost a bomb. For example, just the infotainment box of tricks in the boot which runs everything is £4000 if it goes pear shaped.

[Denaris]

k-ink said:

I had a CLS 500 with some AMG bits. They are good in a straight line. Bear in mind on cars like this, parts do go wrong and cost a bomb. For example, just the infotainment box of tricks in the boot which runs everything is £4000 if it goes pear shaped.

Out of interest how was the 500 to live with? I know fuel won't be cheap but what about other running costs/servicing/reliability? did much go wrong with it?

[bennyboysvuk]

Cemesis said:

E39 M5?

I reckon it hits the performance requirements, but I'm not sure the E39 M5 looks more pricey than it is nowadays. In fact, I think people not in the know would be surprised at how much they are.

[Farmer Geddon]

Thanks for the suggestions and links guys

There's an awful lot to think about here

Still quite keen on a Mercedes of some kind, the CLK looks like a good bet!

I like the Lexus suggestions too but I reckon an LS would be a bit too cumbersome day to day

Anyone know any more about the Subaru Legacy 3.0 saloons? There's some nice ones for around half my budget so it has made me think a bit, I'm sure 280bhp would be enough for a 3k saving.

I've been having thoughts about getting something cheaper and then getting a little smart roadster or something to go with it

As you can probably tell I'm terribly indecisive but I'm sure once my heart is set on something it'll be a whole lot easier

[Yiliterate]

Not mega-fast but quick enough, grown-up, well within budget and I bet you won't see too many others on the road...VW Passat W8:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

[Denaris]

Yiliterate said:

Not mega-fast but quick enough, grown-up, well within budget and I bet you won't see too many others on the road...VW Passat W8:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Big engine - Check
Fast - Check
Classy - Hell No!

[Pablo16v]

Maybe not quite what you’re after but 6 months ago I bought a 9 year old 3.2 V6 Audi A6 Avant with 63k miles on the clock for £5k . 260bhp might not be the sort of power you’re hoping for but it does feel plenty quick when you put the boot in, loves to rev, and sounds good too. Averaging 27mpg overall with a mix of town and A & B roads.
Mine came with leather, electric and heated seats, dual climate, nav, power tailgate, front/rear park sensors, cruise, Xenons etc, so plenty of toys, and it also came with a pretty comprehensive SH. I was actually after a 530d/535d Touring but there just wasn’t any coming up for sale locally, and although the A6 was second choice it has really grown on me these past few months and it is certainly less in-yer-face than newer Audi’s.

Good luck with the search.

[Yiliterate]

Denaris said:

Yiliterate said:

Not mega-fast but quick enough, grown-up, well within budget and I bet you won't see too many others on the road...VW Passat W8:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Big engine - Check
Fast - Check
Classy - Hell No!

C'mon...an engine that's (distantly) related to that in the Bugatti Veyron, but in one of the least 'Look at me!' cars on the road; arguably the epitome of class! Besides which, until now the OP has been ragging the arse off a Type-R; he could paint that Passat in Burberry Check and put 22'' rims on it and it would still be a step forward!

[k-ink]

Denaris said:

k-ink said:

I had a CLS 500 with some AMG bits. They are good in a straight line. Bear in mind on cars like this, parts do go wrong and cost a bomb. For example, just the infotainment box of tricks in the boot which runs everything is £4000 if it goes pear shaped.

Out of interest how was the 500 to live with? I know fuel won't be cheap but what about other running costs/servicing/reliability? did much go wrong with it?

Mine looked and drove like a mint example. However there were hidden issues, which will catch someone out sooner or later.

The ariel was replaced at some point, but not put back properly. This apparently caused water ingress and made its way into the boot, where it made the main box of electrics rusty. Hence why I discovered the replacement cost of £4000. The main dealer also found another £4000 worth of additional issues. Some may have been a dealer blag. Some may well have been a real issue in the waiting. But if they all needed doing the car would be a financial write off.

Tyres are a grand a set. Servicing was not cheap, but what do you expect.

They are effortlessly swift, but not that fast. A Fiesta ST could almost keep up into triple digits. It may well have a big V8, but you are lugging a couple of tons of fat around. Small turbo hatches are not that easy to leave behind, unless you are well into instant ban speeds. They are good in a straight line, but terrible on back country roads. As soon as a bend appears any half decent hatch would disappear into the horizon.

Personally I'd never get another large car. The maximum size I'd go for in the future would be M3.

[Denaris]

k-ink said:

Mine looked and drove like a mint example. However there were hidden issues, which will catch someone out sooner or later.

The ariel was replaced at some point, but not put back properly. This apparently caused water ingress and made its way into the boot, where it made the main box of electrics rusty. Hence why I discovered the replacement cost of £4000. The main dealer also found another £4000 worth of additional issues. Some may have been a dealer blag. Some may well have been a real issue in the waiting. But if they all needed doing the car would be a financial write off.

Tyres are a grand a set. Servicing was not cheap, but what do you expect.

They are effortlessly swift, but not that fast. A Fiesta ST could almost keep up into triple digits. It may well have a big V8, but you are lugging a couple of tons of fat around. Small turbo hatches are not that easy to leave behind, unless you are well into instant ban speeds. They are good in a straight line, but terrible on back country roads. As soon as a bend appears any half decent hatch would disappear into the horizon.

Personally I'd never get another large car. The maximum size I'd go for in the future would be M3.

Hmmm, thanks for the insight, I would have thought they would leave your average hot hatch for dead! And with all the potential issues, I guess there is a reason they are cheap. My wife has a CLS 320CDI and I find it has enough oomph when needed, in fact, in the real world and around town it's mighty fast in the mid range. I was considering the 500 for myself but I'm not sure if it makes economical sense over the diesel considering it's probably not that much faster - unless it's the AMG of course!

[Denaris]

Yiliterate said:

C'mon...an engine that's (distantly) related to that in the Bugatti Veyron, but in one of the least 'Look at me!' cars on the road; arguably the epitome of class! Besides which, until now the OP has been ragging the arse off a Type-R; he could paint that Passat in Burberry Check and put 22'' rims on it and it would still be a step forward!

Maybe it's just me but I intensely dislike Passats. Probably helped by the fact that my neighbor has one and I hate him because he's a tw@t! The thought did come into my head once that if I had spare cash to throw around would buy one the exact same colour and trim as his (+ baby on board sticker) just to wind him up because I would do something stupid like that.

[Farmer Geddon]

I kind of like that Passat! Very under stated.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. After some test driving I ended up impulse buying a 540! I'm very happy so far, it sounds very grumbly and certainly put a smile on my face on the drive home. It wasn't anywhere near the budget price so I'm going to refresh a few bits, bushes and the like.

I'll try and post pics soon

[k-ink]

For the record the Passat W8 is a pile of unreliable crap. They have known engine issues. The VW techs who rebuilt mine said they all fall apart sooner or later. Mine was a heap at 45k miles. Avoid!

OP, good luck with the BMW. Pics!

[TheAngryDog]

E39 or E60, OP?

[No Bend]

Riley Blue said:

Topic been running for years here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Phoar, that thread just consumed quite a few hours of my life.

[goneape]

I'd rule the Alfas out on pace. I have nothing against them at all but I think you want more than 240 bhp for the overtaking, if you're to break the following barry boy or thwart the blocked overtake brigade. I'd be after 300 minimum and at least 8 cylinders, unless it came in M3 or AJP6 form.