Estate with comfort of a 7 series / S class ?

[phib]

A guy who works for me loves my 7 series to bits and would love one but has dogs / kids usual stuff to haul about.

So whats the nearest you can get to a 7 series ( comfort wise ) in an estate.

I know the 5 series gt thing is on a 7 series platform but he cant cope with the looks !! ( neither can I for that matter)

His budget up to £30k, little more if really needed, ideally diesel ( not the end of the world if its petrol but meds to be 30mpg ish) he does about 30k a year

My only other thoughts were :

a6 estate : never driven one ?
Range rover sport : not that comfortable to do loads of miles in

We had a 535d sport estate and we all hated that one !!

Any advice welcome

Phib

[blank]

Proper Range Rover.

Lexus RX450h.

Jag XF maybe?

[anonymous-user]

+1 to full fat RR.

[Krikkit]

New RR is pretty comfy, what are the current-gen V70's like? They always used to waft nicely.

[eltax91]

Jag XF sportbrake

[phib]

New RR is ok, wouldn't want to do 30k a year in one ( we have one in the family)

And he only ... has £30k to spend, think our RR was about £100k

He would love it though

Lexus good call

Phib

[surveyor]

E class Elegance (not avantgarde).

[phib]

Thanks for suggestions so far, he's not a merc fan really. I have suggested a an audi all road but he's not really feeling that either !!

Phib

[alock]

Skoda superb estate?

Brand new, top of the range model with lots of extras for that budget.

[AmitG]

Mercedes-Benz R class.

I reckon that's as close as you can get without going the 4x4 route (although I believe some versions of the R-class are 4WD...)

[deltashad]

AmitG said:

Mercedes-Benz R class.

I reckon that's as close as you can get without going the 4x4 route (although I believe some versions of the R-class are 4WD...)

That went through my head too. Massive depreciation though.

[dfen5]

You might think I'm joking but for £30k have a look at the new 2013 MY top spec' big-engine Skoda Superb. Huuuuuuge, leg room in the back like an S-class, huge boot, all the toys.

[nobrakes]

deltashad said:

AmitG said:

Mercedes-Benz R class.

I reckon that's as close as you can get without going the 4x4 route (although I believe some versions of the R-class are 4WD...)

That went through my head too. Massive depreciation though.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201304166298621/sort/atcustom/postcode/sw194qu/radius/1500/make/MERCEDES-BENZ/model/r_class/price-to/20000/onesearchad/used/page/1

R class 500L 56 plate, 40k miles 13k maybe 12 negotiated will be effectively free motoring compared to 30k miles a year on a £30k car?

[Thankyou4calling]

How about a CLS Shooting brake? Fabulous looking and sizeable too. I think you'd get one for 30k soon.

[Bonefish Blues]

alock said:

Skoda superb estate?

Brand new, top of the range model with lots of extras for that budget.

This - or the very very best W124 Estate you can get, perhaps?

http://www.w124.co.uk/carsforsale.php?page=detail&...

[sjabrown]

Skoda Superb estates have bucketloads of rear leg room. £30k will buy one fully loaded with all the toys.

I was looking for one recently second hand and test drove a couple: very comfy cars. But have bought a cheap Passat instead.

[CYMR0]

The Mercedes E-Class is probably the waftiest estate out there, as opposed to a 4×4, though I'm not sure that it is at 7-Series levels.

Unfortunately the SE with the soft suspension only has the somewhat intrusive 4-cylinder diesel engine; the six-cylinder comes with the harsher sport suspension, so maybe not...

[Baryonyx]

Audi Allroads have always bee comfortable, capable cars. There are plenty of lower spec models out there but suitably equipped, they can be quite elegant. My last drive in an Allroad was a white 3.0TDi model, possibly an '09 plate. It had loads of toys, a smooth tiptronic box, very refined and comfortable with some nice wood trim to complete the effect. If you can ignore the dowdy plastic bumpers, they could be quite suitable. It's still smaller than the full sized model though. I can't think of one estate that is actually on the biggest car in the family.

That said, it lacked the grace and over-engineered feel of my old A8, which was a decade older. I just don't think you can get that feel of ultimate luxury in an estate, because the estate will always be a compromise, a practical dog hauler and dad wagon. They lack the event of a saloon, and the obvious "look at me in my massive Dictator's car" vibe. There is something very elegant and classy about an enclosed boot. A gamekeeper might make do with an estate, but the lord of the manor wouldn't be seen in one*.

• though I did read somewhere that Audi's most well-off customers drive Allroads.

[fourpointsixgt]

If he's not shy, a Chrysler 300 Touring, full size estate, high spec, and not bloody German. (well, apart from being based on an E class Merc).

[Baryonyx]

You can tell it's American from the lazy interior design and tatty plastics. Not that interior is the be-all and end-all of car design, but if you want the luxury of a 7 series or an S Class I doubt the 300c would impress.