Discussion
I dont want to go into my situation but its looking 80% likely that every friday night and sunday night im going to be travelling from Cheshire to Plymouth and back.
My passat PD130 isnt comfortable enough to do this trip in one sitting, and it doesnt have cruise control, however it will do a solid 50mpg at 80mph and has enough power and torque for overtaking (190hp ish, 300lb/ft).
At the moment budget is a concern and i have around £3k to spend on a car, presuming i can sell my passat for £2k min.
Im wondering what would be the best choice ? Not really bothered by performance, i simply dont need it.
728i seems on the dollar ?
Im 6ft 8 and wide, and cruise control is a NEED as is leather seats, massage seats is a bonus.
Thoughts ?
My passat PD130 isnt comfortable enough to do this trip in one sitting, and it doesnt have cruise control, however it will do a solid 50mpg at 80mph and has enough power and torque for overtaking (190hp ish, 300lb/ft).
At the moment budget is a concern and i have around £3k to spend on a car, presuming i can sell my passat for £2k min.
Im wondering what would be the best choice ? Not really bothered by performance, i simply dont need it.
728i seems on the dollar ?
Im 6ft 8 and wide, and cruise control is a NEED as is leather seats, massage seats is a bonus.
Thoughts ?
Dull voice of reason here but if budget is a concern then trading in a Passat that you know is reliable, for a probably 13 year old + 7 Series which will be an unknown quantity and be far more expensive to repair than your Passat. It will probably cost you twice as much in fuel for each trip as well, at least £270 a month more in the BMW in fuel alone.
That said if you are looking for a reliable bargain barge you really can't go wrong with the much lauded LS400. They're great.
That said if you are looking for a reliable bargain barge you really can't go wrong with the much lauded LS400. They're great.
Audi S8 /A8 - seats are even better than the 7 series IMO. Go for a quatro and the handling is great. Very well made as well but the Jag and BMW interiors are nicer and the cars are better looking.
Jag XJ - drives as good as it looks and the interior is the most special. Great on the twisties yet still manages to give a fantastic, smooth, chilled ride.
Lexus - not owned one but they are very highly thought of.
7 series - does everything well and has all the toys but I preferred my Jags, they just have more character and I think they feel a little better to drive.
S Class - had an old S500 (94 or 96 IIRC). Was not impressed frankly!
MPG on all is going to be poor compared to your Passat but all have lots of power, are lovely, relaxing places to be and can be fun to drive. All are properly built cars and as long as you buy on condition, they should be pretty reliable. Go check out the barge thread - always some great finds on there.
Jag XJ - drives as good as it looks and the interior is the most special. Great on the twisties yet still manages to give a fantastic, smooth, chilled ride.
Lexus - not owned one but they are very highly thought of.
7 series - does everything well and has all the toys but I preferred my Jags, they just have more character and I think they feel a little better to drive.
S Class - had an old S500 (94 or 96 IIRC). Was not impressed frankly!
MPG on all is going to be poor compared to your Passat but all have lots of power, are lovely, relaxing places to be and can be fun to drive. All are properly built cars and as long as you buy on condition, they should be pretty reliable. Go check out the barge thread - always some great finds on there.
For me, it would be either a 7 series (and I would go for the 750), A8 or an XJ
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2528785.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2719362.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2310468.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2528785.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2719362.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2310468.htm
For 2-3k there is only one car in the world I would trust to do that journey regularly. It also happens to be the quietest, most comfortable, most frugal on cruise and fastest* of all the barges in 'the' thread.
Mk4 LS400.
And yes, I've had all the other contenders too.
Mk4 LS400.
And yes, I've had all the other contenders too.
- excepting the XJR-8 which is frankly ridiculous on fuel so I wouldn't consider one for regular long jaunts.
Just back from Germany in the LS. Fully laden, 38psi front 42psi rear.
There - moderate traffic, no major holdups, mostly cruising @ 85-90, one lunch stop, averaged 28.5mpg
Back - heavy traffic, rerouted through Antwerp and Gent city centres, 90-100 when autoroutes clear, one lunch stop, averaged 25mpg
Few years back:
E38 740i Dundee to Sussex, fully laden, overnight clear roads, 3 stops, cruise meticulously on 70, averaged 29.9mpg
Both good on cruise imo.
There - moderate traffic, no major holdups, mostly cruising @ 85-90, one lunch stop, averaged 28.5mpg
Back - heavy traffic, rerouted through Antwerp and Gent city centres, 90-100 when autoroutes clear, one lunch stop, averaged 25mpg
Few years back:
E38 740i Dundee to Sussex, fully laden, overnight clear roads, 3 stops, cruise meticulously on 70, averaged 29.9mpg
Both good on cruise imo.
lpg LS400 or E38 for me.
The Jag is lovely, but I'd think both the Lexus and BMW will beat it for reliability and fuel consumption. The Mercedes too heavy on fuel, and the Audi a bit too risky.
Another option is the Honda Legend. Britain's worst (best?) depreciator? You can get a surprisingly new and untainted one for £3k, and it'll do 95% of the job of the others.
Or an E39 - a high-spec SE on 15" wheels is very comfortable indeed, has nearly the same waftiness as an E38, but opens up useful diesel possiblities.
The Jag is lovely, but I'd think both the Lexus and BMW will beat it for reliability and fuel consumption. The Mercedes too heavy on fuel, and the Audi a bit too risky.
Another option is the Honda Legend. Britain's worst (best?) depreciator? You can get a surprisingly new and untainted one for £3k, and it'll do 95% of the job of the others.
Or an E39 - a high-spec SE on 15" wheels is very comfortable indeed, has nearly the same waftiness as an E38, but opens up useful diesel possiblities.
BarnatosGhost said:
Another option is the Honda Legend. Britain's worst (best?) depreciator? You can get a surprisingly new and untainted one for £3k, and it'll do 95% of the job of the others.
Good call on the Honda Legend. An excellent bargain to be had, despite it's unorthodox front wheel drive and underpowered V6 engine.Other than that the obvious answer is the LS400
Why has nobody pointed the OP to this topic :-
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Been going ages and when we're not talking about Chuppa Chups it contains a wealth of advice of the sort you're after.
HTH
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Been going ages and when we're not talking about Chuppa Chups it contains a wealth of advice of the sort you're after.
HTH
All wrong
Why not have the comfort you want and the same 50mpg of the passat?
MK1 Skoda Superb in Comfort or Elegance trim.
I had one and I loved it to death. 135k miles, I paid £3k for it and it got me a proper 50mpg day in day out on the M1. The suspension is squishy so it rides like a magic carpet, the seats are big and comfy, there is cruise control, auto wipers and in the elegance models sat nav, heated leather seating all round and HID lamps up front. Parking sensors, puddle lights under the wing mirrors, interior lighting all over the shop. Its just a really good car and you can get them with the same 1.9 PD TDI engine.
Its much longer than the passat on which its based too so that helps ride the M-ways in a much more stable manner.
Only thing I didnt like about mine was that it had a 5 speed gearbox.
Why not have the comfort you want and the same 50mpg of the passat?
MK1 Skoda Superb in Comfort or Elegance trim.
I had one and I loved it to death. 135k miles, I paid £3k for it and it got me a proper 50mpg day in day out on the M1. The suspension is squishy so it rides like a magic carpet, the seats are big and comfy, there is cruise control, auto wipers and in the elegance models sat nav, heated leather seating all round and HID lamps up front. Parking sensors, puddle lights under the wing mirrors, interior lighting all over the shop. Its just a really good car and you can get them with the same 1.9 PD TDI engine.
Its much longer than the passat on which its based too so that helps ride the M-ways in a much more stable manner.
Only thing I didnt like about mine was that it had a 5 speed gearbox.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Monday 9th May 14:02
chriscoates said:
For me, it would be either a 7 series (and I would go for the 750), A8 or an XJ
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2528785.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2719362.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2310468.htm
The 740 with the later 4.4 engine would be the better choice surely? The V12 doesn't offer much in terms of performance, is far worse on fuel and more of a pig to work on.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2528785.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2719362.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2310468.htm
I've seen many reports of people getting 30mpg and over with the 4.4
On late night motorway runs I have managed to crack 30 in all of them other than the Merc (and the Lexus as I never owned one!).
A8 is perceived as risky but having had one for almost 3 months she seems to be really well built and has done a massive milage yet still feels fresh.
IMO;
7 series best all rounder and low risk
A/S8 - quattro is a good thing, drives really well, massive boot, great seats and best MPG of the lot
Jag - worst spec, best looks inside and out, generally terrific car.
They all do a very similar job very well. Go try them and see! Same for Lexus. I can't see you going too far wrong on any of them so try each and see what you think.
A8 is perceived as risky but having had one for almost 3 months she seems to be really well built and has done a massive milage yet still feels fresh.
IMO;
7 series best all rounder and low risk
A/S8 - quattro is a good thing, drives really well, massive boot, great seats and best MPG of the lot
Jag - worst spec, best looks inside and out, generally terrific car.
They all do a very similar job very well. Go try them and see! Same for Lexus. I can't see you going too far wrong on any of them so try each and see what you think.
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