I am getting more depressed
I am getting more depressed
Author
Discussion

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Nothing to worry about that is life threatening!

Driving home today and saw many 'Prestige' cars going both ways. Lots of them were 'S-Line / AMG / M' styled and looked quite nice but all but 1 were powered by 4 pot dag days which just made me sad.

I know there are many reasons that these are produced and business use seems to top the list but, for private use, why not get a decent mill in it? If you are forking out that much on a new car then good on you but why not get the E350 over the E250 (same thing for the other manufacturers)?

I know everybody is on about economy now but I bought a cheap family car (ST220 estate) which loves a drink but it was significantly cheaper than the diesel equivalent and I would need to do tens of thousands of miles a year to make if worthwhile. Now I have a smooth, soulful and reasonably powerful car that is enjoyable to drive.

I do have a diesel also but not bought for economy reasons..........and yes, it is a large V6 and not the common 4 cylinder and actually cost less in the first place!

F1GTRUeno

6,512 posts

247 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Run for election and ban diesels then otherwise you can do fk all about it.

Besides, what normal people in the UK need in a car is seeminly encapsulated in a 'premium diesel in black/silver' nowadays anyway.

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Don't forget that an iPod interface is the second most important thing!

TheHeretic

73,668 posts

284 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
We are people even vaguely concerned by what other people drive, never mind it making you 'sad'? Drive what you want, and jobs jobbed.

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Quite so, drive what you want. I am just worried that in 5 years time or so there will be no desirable cars on the second hand market.

The fun seems to be removed from the driving experience these days.

TheHeretic

73,668 posts

284 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
junglie said:
Quite so, drive what you want. I am just worried that in 5 years time or so there will be no desirable cars on the second hand market.

The fun seems to be removed from the driving experience these days.
Are there desirable cars today? If so, then fear not.

Jubal

930 posts

258 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current....

The above is a bit of a guide that influences mine and many others. Lots of companies mirror these rates. I'm seriously considering a big wafty petrol next even though I do 25k p.a. It looks far easier to achieve 23mpg average in a petrol than 35mpg in a big diesel. Only resale issues hold me back as I fund my own car.

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
I think getting less and less. I get a hire car quite frequently and, although fine to get me home, they lack any sort of passion. If I spent £20k on a Ford Kuga diesel I would not know what to do with myself. Why not £12k on a BMS 550i Touring and use the rest on something fun as an example?

Chris Stott

19,577 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Once the 3% company car tax surcharge on diesels is abolished in a year or 2's time petrol company cars will become an even less frequent sight.

TangerinePool

1,393 posts

219 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Had a white ///M 520d last year for eating up the motorway.



Felt good to be in like you would in a well furnished living room. Obviously dull for being a 4 pot turbo oil burner but still liked to be chucked around the twistys. Actually the worst thing about cars like this are your paranoia at dings, chips etc. and the £££ falling off with each one. Sad but true frown

Anyway I think a lot is to do with the driver as I love throwing my mum's C1 to it's edge (from time to time) - nothing other than a 1.0l manual tin can who's only weight issue is me biggrin

J4CKO

46,836 posts

229 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
I had a BMW 120D have a go yesterday, a 944 S2 isnt that much faster, he was doing 40 mpg plus, I was doing 20 so I can see why, still dont want one, didnt depress me, I paid four grand and he probably paid 20, plus the money for some M badges to festoon it with.

I find it depressing on my bike, pedalling away and someone in a premium diesel SUV bathes me in turbo whistle and diesel stink, give me a freshly thrapped petrol every time, a smell to savour.

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
I agree with all of that. To move off topic for a minute - there is something very satisfying about having a 'cool' older car that is much cheaper and better than a newer one.

y2blade

56,318 posts

244 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
TheHeretic said:
We are people even vaguely concerned by what other people drive, never mind it making you 'sad'? Drive what you want, and jobs jobbed.
This^^^^


junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
I had a Rover 214i many years ago so fell happily into that quote.

I am not having a dig at anybody as we all have a choice and are all different. However, given the choice would you not rather have something that sounded better, was smoother and maybe a little more power than not if cost is not a factor?

vsonix

3,865 posts

192 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
TBH I find it rather difficult to fathom why private individuals would buy new cars in the first place, doubly so when it's something outright bland like a standard Mundano or Instinkya, but I suppose someone has to or there's be no used cars. But it does seem a bit silly, if you're dipping that far into your pocket for a vehicle, why settle for something uninspiring..?

Chris Stott

19,577 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
junglie said:
However, given the choice would you not rather have something that sounded better, was smoother and maybe a little more power than not if cost is not a factor?
I'd rather have a decent 2.0l diesel than a 2.0l petrol for general daily driving.

Low end torque > high end power.

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
But woul you rather have a 3.0 diesel over a 2.0 diesel for the same price?

Chris Stott

19,577 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
Maybe, but then I'd rather have a 3.0l diesel than a 2.0l diesel... but they aren't really comparable as a purchase decision are they?

junglie

Original Poster:

2,051 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
My 3.0 V6 diesel (C320) was nigh on the exact same price as a 2.2 diesel 4 pot (C220) so to me there was only one way to go.

matthias73

2,901 posts

179 months

Monday 22nd October 2012
quotequote all
At a family dinner the other day, the only people who understood why my cousin's boyfriend had a 335d and not a 320d were me and my other cousin.

The others just sat there blankly exclaiming that its a waste of money to drive too fast and it isn't safe anyway. Uncle, aunt, my mother, my grandparents, the lot. They would never buy the bigger engined car even if it was the same price. And they are germans!

But then again, why would anyone with no interest in driving fast or only considers a car as a method of transport and would much rather have a sat nav than a v8 actually care?

OP, people like you depress me.