RE: Back seat driver: PH Blog
Sunday 9th October 2016
I'll spare you the gruesome details but the return Eurostar from the Paris show last week was seriously delayed, meaning I wasn't going to make my connecting train home. Some heroic work on the phones from the JLR PR on the train sorted out some alternative transport though, this taking the shape of a LWB Jaguar XJ. Living the life and all that.
Anyway. Given the length of the journey ahead of us I struck up conversation with my driver, the topic - somewhat predictably - turning to cars. Jaguar often uses XJs as shuttle vehicles at shows and other events and I've been lucky enough to be driven in them on occasion. And I have to say I rather like them. That Riva-inspired swoop to the dashboard and the blue-lit vents and switchgear have a nice blend of traditional luxury and modern design and it feels like a very stylish place to spend time. I make no claims of living up to that but at least tinted windows mean onlookers can't see the scruffbag sat in the back.
My man was curious about the Lexus LS600, clearly a fan of the design and suitably impressed by the brand image and reputation for build quality and reliability. Range Rovers are growing in popularity among clients too, luxury SUVs clearly now an acceptable image for the wealthy and driven. Little wonder JLR is exploring the options for making the full fat Range Rover longer, more expensive and more luxurious. That comes at a cost to operators and clients alike though, money appearing to be more of an object than you might expect.
Wherever the conversation meandered though we kept coming back to one car. S-Class. To my mind the S-Class isn't just a Mercedes, it's the Mercedes. No matter how much the passenger car range expands to fill new niches or cater to latest fashions, no matter whether that star is also seen on trucks, taxis or vans the S-Class remains the boss. In all its long history I don't think there's been one that didn't perfectly fit with the times and yet remain timeless as the years pass, burly W140 included. And from company directors to dictators and despots an S-Class provides the perfect means to be whisked from one engagement to another, oddly classy and yet classless with an understated authority equally appropriate for the red carpet as it is the global political summit.
Back seat driver: PH Blog
Limo limo on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?
What did our man make of the XJ as a chauffeur's 'office' though? This was his third and he was a fan, liking the style and the refinement but commenting the space in the back - even in LWB form - perhaps wasn't as generous as some of the other cars he had used. His firm had previously employed 7 Series BMWs and he was a fan of those too, though he said more than one colleague had suffered from wheel damage hitting potholes on London streets. Much as I love a BMW myself I've never quite seen the 7er as 'core' for the brand either - sure, there are some great bargain barges from the back catalogue but, were I in the market for being driven about, it still wouldn't be my choice.
Between us we then pondered the other options in the market, from Audi A8s to whether - given a blank cheque - it'd be a Rolls-Royce Phantom or Bentley Mulsanne. He said Roller, I'd have a Mulsanne.
And it seems the same as far as the drivers go too. No matter how diverse the limo market becomes, no matter how luxurious and high-tech the rivals and no matter how much the competition invest in their equivalent product I reckon the S-Class remains the absolute boss.
That'd be my pick then. But, given the choice, what car would you choose to be chauffeured in? Answers below please!
Dan
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Discussion
My old 2004 745li had seats that were adjustable for/aft, angle of backrest, heated, cooled, electric side screens and one on the rear window, central, side and overhead vents, cup holders, individual ac temp control side to side and a fridge behind the central arm rest (the arm rest also had a phone in it).
Despite being in plenty of newer cars, ive never been in anything as comfy.
Despite being in plenty of newer cars, ive never been in anything as comfy.
I've been thinking about an LWB XJ for my next car, secondhand of course, but the current shape are still over £10k so not much chance. Previous shape might work, but they are either petrol or diesel with interstellar miles. I'd worry that there was a LOT of potentially expensive things to go wrong.
The thinking behind this is my son is 6 foot 5, and every summer we drive to Italy, about 2,500 miles covered in three weeks. We have an Octavia hatch at the moment, which in terms of space and comfort is fine up front, and although it is quite big in the back, it isn't big enough for him, and the back seat isn't that comfy. The previous generation Mercedes CLS would be ideal I think if he wasn't that tall, the roof line would leave him hunched up I suspect. Maybe an estate would give the back seat passengers more of a feeling of space? Or would a more upright 4x4 be even better? We're talking two or three days in the car, 20+ hours total. And my wife doesn't drive, which isn't great...
The thinking behind this is my son is 6 foot 5, and every summer we drive to Italy, about 2,500 miles covered in three weeks. We have an Octavia hatch at the moment, which in terms of space and comfort is fine up front, and although it is quite big in the back, it isn't big enough for him, and the back seat isn't that comfy. The previous generation Mercedes CLS would be ideal I think if he wasn't that tall, the roof line would leave him hunched up I suspect. Maybe an estate would give the back seat passengers more of a feeling of space? Or would a more upright 4x4 be even better? We're talking two or three days in the car, 20+ hours total. And my wife doesn't drive, which isn't great...
Have to agree with Mercedes, but Dan missed off the key contender - the latest Mercedes-Maybach S600. Looks just different enough from a regular S-class without standing out; oozes presence in a quiet way. Inside it is a lovely place to stretch out in, I've spent time in the back (and front) of a few 'long' cars, including Range Rover SVAutobiography, Bentley, Rolls, and prefer the Maybach, RR SVA second (funninly enough the seat back doesn't come upright enough in the Range Rover).
A Phantom is lovely but a bit too vulgar/ostentatious (although I love the Wraith). Mulsanne lacks features in the rear; can't truly recline. The Merc-Maybach is genuine understated luxury (if you avoid the chrome wheels), perhaps too Teutonic for some (Bentley fans definitely need not apply), but for being driven, I've yet to experience better.
A Phantom is lovely but a bit too vulgar/ostentatious (although I love the Wraith). Mulsanne lacks features in the rear; can't truly recline. The Merc-Maybach is genuine understated luxury (if you avoid the chrome wheels), perhaps too Teutonic for some (Bentley fans definitely need not apply), but for being driven, I've yet to experience better.
We currently have one of these as a courtesy car from JLR in L spec supercharged petrol 3.0.
The quality is appalling. Car is only a couple of years old with 25k miles on the clock, but already the plastic below the cluster is sticky and peeling. It rained the other day and the a-pillar was soaked to the point water was dripping onto my legs (note: not from window...from a-pillar!). The steering wheel radio four-way switch doesn't work. All these from just 2 days with the car.
In addition there are also a number of design flaws. For example the centre armrest console area is chrome, and while driving it reflects the sun directly into your face. This is because the front windscreen is raked quite a bit with the glass coming quite far into the cabin... So the sun hits the chrome and reflects.
It is certainly a car with more character than the establishment, and handles well for the size (even if the steering lacks feel). But I would be hard pressed to put personal money into such a poorly built car, even by JLR standards (I would know... Our Discovery Sport has spent a total of nine weeks having a multitude of issues fixed unsuccessfully).
There is a good reason the S class has always outsold the XJ. Following my experience above, my money would go into an S Class too.
The quality is appalling. Car is only a couple of years old with 25k miles on the clock, but already the plastic below the cluster is sticky and peeling. It rained the other day and the a-pillar was soaked to the point water was dripping onto my legs (note: not from window...from a-pillar!). The steering wheel radio four-way switch doesn't work. All these from just 2 days with the car.
In addition there are also a number of design flaws. For example the centre armrest console area is chrome, and while driving it reflects the sun directly into your face. This is because the front windscreen is raked quite a bit with the glass coming quite far into the cabin... So the sun hits the chrome and reflects.
It is certainly a car with more character than the establishment, and handles well for the size (even if the steering lacks feel). But I would be hard pressed to put personal money into such a poorly built car, even by JLR standards (I would know... Our Discovery Sport has spent a total of nine weeks having a multitude of issues fixed unsuccessfully).
There is a good reason the S class has always outsold the XJ. Following my experience above, my money would go into an S Class too.
Edited by Oliie on Friday 7th October 15:01
Oliie said:
We currently have one of these as a courtesy car from JLR in L spec supercharged petrol 3.0.
The quality is appalling. Car is only a couple of years old with 25k miles on the clock, but already the plastic below the cluster is sticky and peeling. It rained the other day and the a-pillar was soaked to the point water was dripping onto my legs (note: not from window...from a-pillar!). The steering wheel radio four-way switch doesn't work. All these from just 2 days with the car.
In addition there are also a number of design flaws. For example the centre armrest console area is chrome, and while driving it reflects the sun directly into your face. This is because the front windscreen is raked quite a bit with the glass coming quite far into the cabin... So the sun hits the chrome and reflects.
It is certainly a car with more character than the establishment, and handles well for the size (even if the steering lacks feel). But I would be hard pressed to put personal money into such a poorly built car, even by JLR standards (I would know... Our Discovery Sport has spent a total of nine weeks having a multitude of issues fixed unsuccessfully).
There is a good reason the S class has always outsold the XJ. Following my experience above, my money would go into an S Class too.
Don't think that Mercs are solid like they were pre mid 90's...they're not. The quality is appalling. Car is only a couple of years old with 25k miles on the clock, but already the plastic below the cluster is sticky and peeling. It rained the other day and the a-pillar was soaked to the point water was dripping onto my legs (note: not from window...from a-pillar!). The steering wheel radio four-way switch doesn't work. All these from just 2 days with the car.
In addition there are also a number of design flaws. For example the centre armrest console area is chrome, and while driving it reflects the sun directly into your face. This is because the front windscreen is raked quite a bit with the glass coming quite far into the cabin... So the sun hits the chrome and reflects.
It is certainly a car with more character than the establishment, and handles well for the size (even if the steering lacks feel). But I would be hard pressed to put personal money into such a poorly built car, even by JLR standards (I would know... Our Discovery Sport has spent a total of nine weeks having a multitude of issues fixed unsuccessfully).
There is a good reason the S class has always outsold the XJ. Following my experience above, my money would go into an S Class too.
Edited by Oliie on Friday 7th October 15:01
I was thinking of a swap to an XJ...making a mental note to only test drive any in the rain!
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