Rolls Royce of small cars

Rolls Royce of small cars

Author
Discussion

Mehdi

141 posts

175 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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I know its not exactly a small car, but a Lexus IS220d (premium luxury model upwards) would fit the bill perfectly IMO. It has one of the comfiest leather seats i have been in, where you feel like your sitting in the seat instead of on the seat.
Also to add, they come with heated/ventilated seats and the Mark Levingston? stereo system is fantastic.
mehdi

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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citroen xantia activa - more mid size than small, but definitely smooth.

blueg33

35,589 posts

223 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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I have the answer

If the op can tolerate something only 40cm longer and 20cm narrower than a 2014 VW Jetta he could have a Rolls Royce




HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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I'd venture something French...is there a modern equivalent of the 205 Gentry?

TheInternet

4,703 posts

162 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
I'd venture something French...is there a modern equivalent of the 205 Gentry?
208 XY

BGarside

1,564 posts

136 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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braddo said:
For a bit of refinement you have to rule out pretty much any diesel.

Does the OP have a particular reason for looking at W124 Mercs but not the 190E/W201?

The 190E would be dwarfed by that DS4 Citroen! hehe The only issue with the older Mercs might be that very few came with air conditioning. Having the windows open on the motoway rather ruins the refinement experience.

If you don't care about the Grandad image perhaps an early W202 C Class might be an option? A C280 Elegance will be dirt cheap, likely to have aircon and proper refinement/ride. The early ones, say pre-1997, pre-date the infamous build quality nadir of late 90s/early 2000s.
No-one could call the VW 1.9PD engine refined, but the OP is cruising at speed when the noise of the diesel engine will be drowned out by wind and road noise.

The W202 C-class makes a nice cruiser, especially with the 5-speed auto and is available with cruise and AC but isn't economical or particularly small. The interior also looks and feel plasticky and cheap IMO.

The 190E has a smoother ride than the W202 and is smaller but the 2.0 auto is too low geared for relaxed high-speed cruising (3500rpm at 70mph in top) and the car lacks grunt for overtaking. As for the 2.6, low- to mid-20s mpg mean it is not remotely economical, as required by the OP.

A cheap, high-spec. Mk 4 Golf, Bora or even a Mk 5 / 5.5 Passat with the PD engine and maybe an automatic gearbox, with some cash spent sorting any problems, meets more of the OPs needs for ride quality, overtaking power, economy and (except the Passat) size while leaving loads of money in the kitty for repairs, etc.

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
TheInternet said:
HereBeMonsters said:
I'd venture something French...is there a modern equivalent of the 205 Gentry?
208 XY
Hmmm, interesting. I wonder if Renault have an equivalent of the 5 Monaco?

TheInternet

4,703 posts

162 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
Hmmm, interesting. I wonder if Renault have an equivalent of the 5 Monaco?
Clio Initiale Paris

You have one wish remaining.

gleeman

55 posts

122 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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I've just ordered a Fiesta 1.0 125 Ecoboost Titanium as a business lease.

Great stereo, very refined engine with enough poke. Nice ride, but good handling.

Plenty nice enough interior and cruise control.

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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Lexus ls400 LPG.

Small car wise thee isnt much,

165gt

332 posts

162 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
TheInternet said:
HereBeMonsters said:
I'd venture something French...is there a modern equivalent of the 205 Gentry?
208 XY
Hmmm, interesting. I wonder if Renault have an equivalent of the 5 Monaco?
Was mentioned earlier in the thread...Renault Modus Initiale

Though not available in UK anymore...

Edited to say ignore me, see post about Clio abovegetmecoat

hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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VdP Princess 1.1/1.3? They ride pretty well and definitely waft. hehe

Agent Orange

Original Poster:

2,194 posts

245 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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Some good nominations here! laugh Especially the actual Rolls Royce wink

See I just don't buy the argument that the wheelbase is THE defining factor in waftiness - of course I'm no engineer so have ZERO knowledge one way or the other here. The current Golf has, as near as damn it, the same wheelbase as the previous gen Mercedes E-Class.

If you said the manufacturers don't/won't make one because the tooling and costs to make a small car vs a large car aren't that different but the profit returned on a large car is huge in comparison so no incentive to make one - I could believe that. Just irks me there doesn't seem to be one.

That Mini Goodwood is close to perfect and what I'm after. Give me that with double glazing, loads of sound proofing and a smooth engine I cannot hear along with Citroen suspension to float me along the motorway and I'll be a happy man.

That Alfa 147 has had me looking at 159s.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...







williamp

19,216 posts

272 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
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blueg33 said:
I have the answer

If the op can tolerate something only 40cm longer and 20cm narrower than a 2014 VW Jetta he could have a Rolls Royce

Worth thinking about. These days, almost a sensible size...