|
white_goodman
Original Poster
630 posts
60 months
|
Understandably, we tend to be quite driver-focussed on here but what car(s) are the comfiest to travel in as a passenger? I've always wanted to own my own business and have considered starting a private chauffeur hire company, specialising in airport transfers and possibly branching out into wedding car hire. I could then also justify owning a nice fleet of cars! I got the idea when my wife and I were going to visit her family in Canada last year. We had a really early morning flight and rather than get up before we went to bed, we booked a room at the Radisson Edwardian hotel and went for the VIP service which included 14 nights parking and a chauffeur service to the airport. I was pleasantly surprised when a man in a suit turned up promptly at reception to take us to the airport in a rather than E-Class Mercedes. This seemed like quite a nice touch compared to the usual Galaxy/Alhambra airport taxi and the whole package was no more expensive than just paying for 14 nights parking or getting a taxi from home.
Anyway, I would be looking at something prestigious and diesel with plenty of passenger space and a decent-sized boot. Reliability and running costs would also be important. If busy was going well, I would probably upgrade over time but would be looking at spending up to £10k on a vehicle initially.
I'm thinking along the lines of an Audi A8 (Transporter-shape), 535d (although the standard car looks underwheeled and the MSport probably too firm), Mercedes E-Class/S-Class, Jaguar or VW Phaeton. Saab/Volvo not really prestigious enough. Bentley/Roller too thirsty! I guess 7-seats may be desirable. My best man borrowed a Discovery 4 to drive me to the wedding on the day which was pretty comfy but I gather that bootspace is minimal when all 7 seats are in use. Would a high-spec Caravelle be suitable or do its van origins let it down. A Chrysler Voyager is quite posh but they're a bit rubbish aren't they? Of the cars mentioned above, I have only driven the E-Class and S-Class and as a driver, I found the S-Class pretty uncomfortable to be honest! So what car ticks the most boxes whilst offering the ultimate in comfort and luxury?
|
|
|
pthelazyjourno
1,252 posts
38 months
|
white_goodman said: Understandably, we tend to be quite driver-focussed on here but what car(s) are the comfiest to travel in as a passenger? I've always wanted to own my own business and have considered starting a private chauffeur hire company, specialising in airport transfers and possibly branching out into wedding car hire. I could then also justify owning a nice fleet of cars! I got the idea when my wife and I were going to visit her family in Canada last year. We had a really early morning flight and rather than get up before we went to bed, we booked a room at the Radisson Edwardian hotel and went for the VIP service which included 14 nights parking and a chauffeur service to the airport. I was pleasantly surprised when a man in a suit turned up promptly at reception to take us to the airport in a rather than E-Class Mercedes. This seemed like quite a nice touch compared to the usual Galaxy/Alhambra airport taxi and the whole package was no more expensive than just paying for 14 nights parking or getting a taxi from home.
Anyway, I would be looking at something prestigious and diesel with plenty of passenger space and a decent-sized boot. Reliability and running costs would also be important. If busy was going well, I would probably upgrade over time but would be looking at spending up to £10k on a vehicle initially.
I'm thinking along the lines of an Audi A8 (Transporter-shape), 535d (although the standard car looks underwheeled and the MSport probably too firm), Mercedes E-Class/S-Class, Jaguar or VW Phaeton. Saab/Volvo not really prestigious enough. Bentley/Roller too thirsty! I guess 7-seats may be desirable. My best man borrowed a Discovery 4 to drive me to the wedding on the day which was pretty comfy but I gather that bootspace is minimal when all 7 seats are in use. Would a high-spec Caravelle be suitable or do its van origins let it down. A Chrysler Voyager is quite posh but they're a bit rubbish aren't they? Of the cars mentioned above, I have only driven the E-Class and S-Class and as a driver, I found the S-Class pretty uncomfortable to be honest! So what car ticks the most boxes whilst offering the ultimate in comfort and luxury?
Wouldn't have anything VW group in there (Bentley and **maybe** Phaeton possibly excepted) - in comparison to rivals they tend to be bobbins when it comes to ride quality. Huge wheels, low profile tyres, stiff suspension, especially VW and Audi. XJR?
|
|
|
village idiot
2,628 posts
136 months
|
any old citroen with air-suspension... job done!
|
|
|
PHmember
1,775 posts
40 months
|
I LOVED my old E38 7 Series, amazingly waftable & exceedingly comfortable, but only up to four passengers. It'll seat 5, but it's not comfortable for 5. Massive boot as well, enough room for 3 dead prostitutes - apparently.
|
|
|
kambites
32,864 posts
90 months
|
For me it'd be a Citroen C6. Much better ride than the S-class/7-series/A8s of this world.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
HustleRussell
4,132 posts
29 months
|
Citroen C5 with the smallest wheels going. Brilliant ride quality.
|
|
|
Shaw Tarse
19,184 posts
72 months
|
I'd say no to the Voyager!
|
|
|
Bluebarge
2,125 posts
47 months
|
It's not exactly a new idea. Most of the airport taxis round our way are big Mercs and the drivers don't look like they are raking it in tbh. Plus you will have horribly unsociable hours and be on call most of the time.
Before you get too carried away I'd look in your phone book to see how much competition you will have first.
|
|
|
Albert Bridge
840 posts
62 months
|
Range Rover 
|
|
|
Pontoneer
2,568 posts
55 months
|
People always comment on how comfortable they are in my 1957 Ponton Mercedes ( five generations back from the earliest so called E Class ) , but for a bit of prestige you might want to look at a 300 Adenauer .
Modern cars don't compare for comfort and ride quality - this from someone who also has 2x W126 S Class , a W124 and a W123 .
|
|
|
325Ti
222 posts
15 months
|
|
|
wackojacko
8,462 posts
59 months
|
Bentley Arnage.
Surprisingly a very comfortable car for me was an Ariel Atom.
|
|
|
lgw
305 posts
79 months
|
|
|
scotty_d
5,652 posts
63 months
|
|
|
RammyMP
201 posts
22 months
|
|
|
Jimbo.
2,025 posts
58 months
|
Volvo S80. Jaguar XJ. Lexus GS. All beautifully barge-like. The Volvo particularly so 
|
|
|
Shaw Tarse
19,184 posts
72 months
|
lgw said: Has to be a Range Rover As pax I'd say no!
|
|
|
4keymonsta
3,952 posts
17 months
|
The only car that I have managed to sleep in is an e39 5 series, not the roomiest or softest car that I have ever owned but by far the most all round comftable. More than enough room in the front combined with being able to get the seats into the perfect position was just a winner and you actually sink into the seats rather than perch ontop like I seem to be finding in most of the other high end cars that I've sat in, which to be honest isnt a broad spectrum.
|
|
|
Mastodon2
5,747 posts
34 months
|
I'd say a Volvo S60; great seats, excellent air conditioning, great sound system, huge footwells so plenty of space to move around and stay comfortable, the ride was soft and comfortable. Couple that up with a brilliant 5 cylinder engine that was so, so smooth and extremely quiet and it was a great car to be driven around in, but no slouch either and quick enough to make decent progress down straighter roads.
On the flipside of the coin, the E39 M5 I had a ride in was also extremely comfortable and quiet, though less spacious inside than the Volvo, but once past 4000rpm it became another car. Whereas the Volvo stayed quiet and refined up to the redline, the M5 was a bit of an animal once it was shifting. Induction noise flooding out of the vents into the cabin, immense torque that could shove you back in your seat anywhere in the rev range etc.
Either car I could happily do some very long trips in.
|
|
|
deltashad
2,743 posts
66 months
|
The most comfortable car I have travelled in is my old ML500 riding on standard suspension, but 18" AMG wheels (and body kit). It was very nice indeed.
I would like to try a ride in the back of a new CL. It looks really comfortable.
|
|
