Most relaxing car you've owned?
Discussion
I'm onto my second Lexus LS. Bought for the express purposes of wafting la famiglia around.
The only reason its the second, is that we moved continents and sold the first one (big mistake, should have kept it).
So, when we came back, we bought another one.
And guess what will replace it when the time comes for another waft-mobile? Another LS.
We did loads of trips, but to give you maybe the best example; drove from London to Lake Garda. Various stops, but basically got a best range 525 miles from the 84 litre tank before I decided to stop. Still a few litres left in it.
We left around 6:30pm, had a brief stopover for a sleep in the car (2hrs), then continued into Switzerland for brekkie. Rolled into the hotel carpark around lunchtime, and felt pretty good. Including the ferry + sleep, total door-to-door time was 18 hours.
The A/C was the only thing we could hear, as the engine noise is zero, regardless of what your right foot does. Cruise control 99% of the way, the wife and kids nodding off after 15 minutes of driving. Bliss.
The way back was much quicker due to getting better connections with the ferry, but no real difference. Felt great physically, and despite worrying about the typical "are we there yet, are we there yet", the kids later said they loved the trip, and wanted to do it all over again.
When you consider just how much s
t gets spouted on here, sometimes the brutal truth spoken by children is all we need to hear.
2007 LS. Worlds best car. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS
Now available for about 1/3 of a new rep mobile. Crazy.
The only reason its the second, is that we moved continents and sold the first one (big mistake, should have kept it).
So, when we came back, we bought another one.
And guess what will replace it when the time comes for another waft-mobile? Another LS.
We did loads of trips, but to give you maybe the best example; drove from London to Lake Garda. Various stops, but basically got a best range 525 miles from the 84 litre tank before I decided to stop. Still a few litres left in it.
We left around 6:30pm, had a brief stopover for a sleep in the car (2hrs), then continued into Switzerland for brekkie. Rolled into the hotel carpark around lunchtime, and felt pretty good. Including the ferry + sleep, total door-to-door time was 18 hours.
The A/C was the only thing we could hear, as the engine noise is zero, regardless of what your right foot does. Cruise control 99% of the way, the wife and kids nodding off after 15 minutes of driving. Bliss.
The way back was much quicker due to getting better connections with the ferry, but no real difference. Felt great physically, and despite worrying about the typical "are we there yet, are we there yet", the kids later said they loved the trip, and wanted to do it all over again.
When you consider just how much s
t gets spouted on here, sometimes the brutal truth spoken by children is all we need to hear.2007 LS. Worlds best car. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS
Now available for about 1/3 of a new rep mobile. Crazy.
Edited by big_rob_sydney on Thursday 30th July 14:36
My VW T5 camper van.
Big sofa-esque captains chairs up front, huge windows letting you see everything, even with a map, its still a big old girl to prevent you from even thinking about "pressing on"...
I've never felt more relaxed driving on motorways. Gone are the days of wanting to get to your destination at 80mph all the way. 65mph in the inside lane, overtaking lorries and not much else - such a relaxed way to drive.
Big sofa-esque captains chairs up front, huge windows letting you see everything, even with a map, its still a big old girl to prevent you from even thinking about "pressing on"...
I've never felt more relaxed driving on motorways. Gone are the days of wanting to get to your destination at 80mph all the way. 65mph in the inside lane, overtaking lorries and not much else - such a relaxed way to drive.
Having moved to USA (NY) a while back decided to Ski in Wyoming - a simple 2200 miles each way. Chevy Suburban took all six of us and ski gear effortlessly through blizzard and ice, very restful.. silent V8, six individual seats etc... About 34 hours each way. How many cars can do that?
Not yet mentioned amongst all the Jags - my XJS 4.0 Celebration. One particular early summer Saturday morning run to the South coast at something approaching warp speed is a very happy memory.
Ditto the Saabs, my 9000 and 9-5 Aero (but not the 9000CSE, which was a dog - should have known, too generous a p/ex deal).
Ditto the Saabs, my 9000 and 9-5 Aero (but not the 9000CSE, which was a dog - should have known, too generous a p/ex deal).
big_rob_sydney said:
2007 LS. Worlds best car. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_LS
You win.Drove a lot of miles in LS400s back in the day, both here and in US and they just feel overwhelmingly solid, spacious, serene and relaxing.
Mr E said:
zebra said:
Under gentle acceleration and driver with three passengers, used to average 12mpg in the A8. Would not have got rid of it but for the £130 fuel fill followed by just over 200 miles on the road before the next fill.
Christ, that's bad. I'm averaging ~21 ish. A gentle run in traffic on the motorway returns 27.
I have genuinely drive 200+ miles at 'normal' pace without seeing more than 2200rpm.
I'm aware I probably should have bought the diesel.
I spent most of my time wafting but do wring it out from time to time. Slip roads, overtakes, French toll booths, etc
M1C said:
Mine would be my 1998 Merc C180 Elegance Auto.
Not remotely fast...and I think that's the thing. As many others have mentioned...it's not going to go quickly, so enjoy it wafting slowly.
Nice comfy cloth seats (didn't look much but were comfy), smooth ride and the luuuurvely smooth auto box + cruise control, etc.
Just...good, cheap waftage.
My 9-5 Aero was probably as or more refined than the C180 (and a lot quicker!)...but...the overall whole 'aura' of the C180 was smoooooth and relaxing, understated.
With the 3 pointed star at the end of the bonnet...it did feel stately and serene.
Shame about the rust.
I've just bought a 53 plate C180 kompressor estate,wouldn't normally of bought a 4 cylinder cloth seat Merc or indeed a C class but habing sriven itI agree with everything you said.Not remotely fast...and I think that's the thing. As many others have mentioned...it's not going to go quickly, so enjoy it wafting slowly.
Nice comfy cloth seats (didn't look much but were comfy), smooth ride and the luuuurvely smooth auto box + cruise control, etc.
Just...good, cheap waftage.
My 9-5 Aero was probably as or more refined than the C180 (and a lot quicker!)...but...the overall whole 'aura' of the C180 was smoooooth and relaxing, understated.
With the 3 pointed star at the end of the bonnet...it did feel stately and serene.
Shame about the rust.
Edited by M1C on Thursday 30th July 13:56
I've had cheap 7 Series, Lexi,Jag Xj and a Honda Legend and for comfort and smoothness surprisingly this is up with any of them
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