Range Rover Vs BMW 750i Vs BMW 550i

[trooperiziz]

Afternoon.

Unfortunately my XJR has a faulty diff, so it is time to move on. My current front runners are:

L322 Range Rover Vogue (petrol variant)
E65 BMW 745i or 750i depending on year and cost.
E60 BMW 550i

Budget is around £8k, MPG isn't an issue, nor is maintenance and running costs (as long as it isn't too ludicrous, but this is coming from someone who used to a run a Cerbera as his daily driver for 3 years! ) We have another car in the family, so while reliability is obviously important, it isn't the end of the world if it breaks occasionally.

I'm basically after something interesting to potter around in locally, and do the occasional 250 mile drive. I get the train to work so don't need it during the week.
Has to be petrol, has to be luxurious.

What would you go for out of that list? Is there something else I should be looking at?
Is the 7 series that much better than the 5 series? I could get the 5 in estate version which would add a level of practicality into the picture.
Is the Rangie that much better than the both of them?

[crostonian]

Was your XJR an X300 or X350? I'd have an X350 XJR to either of those BMWs and the Rangey has the biggest potential to be a money pit. How about a Merc CLS500, they are much better built than the E500 and more exclusive than a 5 series.

[HemiCommander]

I would look at a 5.7 Hemi Jeep, either the Commander or Grand Cherokee. They do everything that a Range Rover does but go faster and don't have the certainty of wallet destroying financial doom attached. The BMWs could be horrifyingly expensive when they go wrong too and parts and servicing will be very pricy. The 5.7 Hemi is a fantastic engine, a pleasing mix of old school American big displacement with modern electronics and cylinder deactivation for better fuel economy.

[Thankyou4calling]

At 8k it'll be very much entry level Range Rovers. CLS is a good shout but again they'll be high mileage, stylish though.

[crostonian]

Plenty of CLS500s around the £8k mark with well around 70-80k miles, pre March '06 and save £200+ a year on VED.

[BMRuss]

For 8k I wouldn't get a 550, you'll probably end up with a base spec pre LCI one with higher miles.

However servicing is not expensive and mine returns 28mpgs with mixed driving.

[HemiCommander]

For £8k you will only get the dodgiest of L322 Range Rovers and you won't get any 550i that hasn't done properly intergalactic miles. A 745i or 750i is a possibility at that price but honestly if the budget is limited it probably isn't a brilliant plan. High end Mercs at that price point could also deal some truly horrifying bills and will be from a bad era of Merc reliability and rust protection.

£8k would get you a really nice Jeep though which is newer, lower mileage, simpler, cheaper to run in every way, just as nice should be extremely reliable with a petrol V8.

[Impasse]

I've owned my Range Rover for almost ten years and is now only worth about £8k once the petrol tank is brimmed and it's had a good valet. It's not "dodgy" in any way. It's done around 93k miles and I've no reason to think it won't do at least another 93k in its lifetime.

[trooperiziz]

Aye £8k will get you a reasonable range rover, especially if I wait till spring...

Running costs aren't an issue for what I'm looking at, I know what I'm getting myself into

Hadn't thought about jeeps, I'll have a look. Not a huge fan of Mercs of that era though.

[Dr Imran T]

Audi A8 is worth a look. 4.2 v8 version should fit the bill nicely.

[jfbrin]

If you are feeling brave, this could be a serious contender leaving a decent warranty fund?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-51-PLATE-MERCEDES-S...

[jfbrin]

Less courage required with ths one orso it seems. If genuine, sounds well cared for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-S55-AMG-68...

[trooperiziz]

jfbrin said:

Less courage required with ths one orso it seems. If genuine, sounds well cared for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-S55-AMG-68...

Hmm... Cheers that is interesting! I could get over my meh for mercy for that, maybe.

[h0b0]

This is from an older post and it has gone. But, this is mighty tempting in concept.

h0b0 said:

BMW 760 7 SERIES 760I V12 AUTO

Engine power (BHP): 438
Torque (lbs/ft): 443

[bennyboydurham]

E65 is a much nicer car than the E60. After the 7, you're acutely aware in the 5 you're driving something built to a price. Petrol E65s are rare but you might find something. £8k is a reasonable budget for a facelift with a reasonable provenance. Definitely where my money would go.

Ben.
E65 owner of 6 years.

[HemiCommander]

Dr Imran T said:

Audi A8 is worth a look. 4.2 v8 version should fit the bill nicely.

Of the luxury car options this is what I'd pick. I would have the most faith in the mechanical bits and I like the design.

For a luxury 4x4, Shameless plug link.

[trooperiziz]

trooperiziz said:

jfbrin said:

Less courage required with ths one orso it seems. If genuine, sounds well cared for.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-BENZ-S55-AMG-68...

Hmm... Cheers that is interesting! I could get over my meh for mercs for that, maybe.

Well, this really is an interesting car. Can't be found on the DVLA website, is identified as an unspecified Mercedes on the autotrader site, and has a 1999 registration when the first S55 AMG wasn't produced till 2001...

[trooperiziz]

Looking at the Jeeps, they aren't for me, but thanks for the suggestion Not really in the super luxury class i'm looking for

[trooperiziz]

Done a fair amount of reading around and I'm pretty certain i'm going to go for a 745i or 750i, now just to find one in the right spec at the right price!

[Bargenosenti]

Would the OP consider a W12?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...