one man band executive drivers car

[IceBoy]

Hi All,

I user to be in the chauffeur business about 7 years ago, I then sold the business to my partner.

I want to start a one man band executive travel business, to fit in with my life style. So will probably only have 2-3 customers.

These customers will require me to travel in to London and perhaps the odd long distance trip.

I'm on a tight budget! £7k max.

My cars of choice are

2007 E class
2005 S class

They are both previous generation and my customers will be happy enough as I know them personally and the car will be mint.

So no....the cars are too old to cut it.

Over to you, which would you prefer to be driven in??

Or have I missed something obvious?

Iceboy

Edited by IceBoy on Wednesday 3rd October 16:28

[Dave Hedgehog]

s class on a private plate to try and hide the fact its an old banger

[Monkeylegend]

Got to be the E Class. The S class has potential for much bigger bills and generally higher running costs, and most customers won't tell the difference.

I know because I do the same and can talk from experience.

PM me if you want any more info.

Edited by Monkeylegend on Wednesday 3rd October 16:33

[tr7v8]

Neither mine would be Jaguar shaped.

[OdramaSwimLaden]

Monkeylegend said:

Got to be the E Class. The S class has potential for much bigger bills and most customers won't tell the difference.

This.

The S-Class is just a bit old.

[AC43]

In terms of bills I'd expect the E to be a better prospect.

And as a passenger the E is surely almost as good an S - I guess the S would have a little more leg room but other than that would be very similar.

Just don't get a 4 pot diesel - the noise grates.

[Monkeylegend]

tr7v8 said:

Neither mine would be Jaguar shaped.

The vast majority of Chauffeur drivers at the London airports would not agree, they mostly drive the E Class.

[Monkeylegend]

AC43 said:

Just don't get a 4 pot diesel - the noise grates.

It really doesn't.

[Targarama]

Monkeylegend said:

It really doesn't.

It really does. I"m being collected at 5:10am tomorrow for a 35 mile trip to LHR. I hope its not the 520D again. The 4 pot wakes up the neighbours too - rattle rattle. I much prefer the 730D, Phaeton 3.0D, A8 and so on. And its not the size of the car - it's the rattly engine. S classes are the best though.

One thing to consider for a business prop is the lease cost and servicing costs. BMWs were dirt cheap lately.

Oh, I'd avoid the big Jag (forget the name) - one of my drivers had one on test. Nice looking, sporty, but really uncomfy in the back - which is the top priority in this business.

[IceBoy]

I think the s-class would be a face lift which I think is interior mainly. I'm also thinking the e-class would also be a face lift??

Iceboy

[hman]

would rather be driven in an S-Class.

or an A8L

[Dusty964]

LWB 7 series if possible.

If not, the S class

[Dracoro]

You could get a very good Lexus LS430 for that money, quiet, comfy, reliable etc.

[2.5pi]

Maybe an old 7 series E65 would be slightly less old fashioned looking than an old shape S class? I'd say an E class tho' if you're stuck on Mercs , 320 CDi is a smooth chauffeur car

Good Luck in your new business

[Steve vRS]

E Class. Mostly cheaper to run. Mostly.

Steve

[Monkeylegend]

Dracoro said:

You could get a very good Lexus LS430 for that money, quiet, comfy, reliable etc.

Probably won't do 45 plus to the gallon though.

The Lexus, S class 320Cdi etc are fine if you can justify London prices, if not you need to optimise running costs to make it financially viable.

You need to check out insurance costs as well. If you are starting with zero no claims, which is likely, that will have a major bearing on the car you go for.


The 2007 E class will be the facelift model, don't think the 2005 S class will be.

Edited by Monkeylegend on Wednesday 3rd October 17:50

[J4CKO]

Targarama said:

Monkeylegend said:

It really doesn't.

It really does. I"m being collected at 5:10am tomorrow for a 35 mile trip to LHR. I hope its not the 520D again. The 4 pot wakes up the neighbours too - rattle rattle. I much prefer the 730D, Phaeton 3.0D, A8 and so on. And its not the size of the car - it's the rattly engine. S classes are the best though.

One thing to consider for a business prop is the lease cost and servicing costs. BMWs were dirt cheap lately.

Oh, I'd avoid the big Jag (forget the name) - one of my drivers had one on test. Nice looking, sporty, but really uncomfy in the back - which is the top priority in this business.

Jesus, dont get in an FX4 then, the perfect combination of a bone jarring ride, asthmatic diesel and comedy handling, good turning circle though...


I drive to Atlanta Airport in a couple of hours, in a V8 Mustang, now that is the way to get to the airport, if I can only tone down the smell of burnt rubber then we are good

[V6Alfisti]

or



For me the E Class (pictures found on google, sorry if the wrong era!)

[sealtt]

E class still looks modern, S class does not. So I would go for E class at that budget for image, though S class (old or new) is certainly superior for comfort inside.

When I used to date a girl who tried to use all my money she would use the driver with the S class (new one) when we would go out and I really liked that, especially at night, lovely interior. Since then I was driven a few times in E class and its sufficiently nice, though not in same league as S for being driven in.

[Dracoro]

Monkeylegend said:

Dracoro said:

You could get a very good Lexus LS430 for that money, quiet, comfy, reliable etc.

Probably won't do 45 plus to the gallon though.

Of course but the OP made no mention of fuel costs. Anyway, it won't be *that* bad, mid/ate 20s if longer journeys etc.

Insurance I doubt will be that much difference between the lot of them unless the OP is young and/or chequered driving history or lives in a crap area.

As an aside, I looked into E-classes recently and the general consensus is be v careful with the pre-facelifts (same goes for the S class to be fair, moreso at that age). The post facelifts 2007 E-Classes are all nigh on £9/10k+ anyway unless you get higher mileage ones (which may or may not be an issue?) or the small engined diesels.

Edited by Dracoro on Wednesday 3rd October 18:26