Horrendous motorway commute car

[jakesmith]

Hi
Might be starting a job soon that will involve up to 75 mins of start-stop motorway commute over 35 miles each way
Currently drive a 997 C4S but the new milage is too high.
Must have heated leather seats & automatic. Desire is something quiet and comfortable to sooth me. Not interested in driver involvement whatsoever
Currently thinking will keep the 997 & buy something like a 520d SE or A6 2.0 TDi SE for about £12k but am also tempted to chop the 997 for an R8 & buy a £5k 320d auto (much older).
THoughts on what I should buy for £5k and £12k please?

[wemorgan]

spend a fraction of the budget on a Saab 9-5.

[daemon]

jakesmith said:

Hi
Might be starting a job soon that will involve up to 75 mins of start-stop motorway commute over 35 miles each way
Currently drive a 997 C4S but the new milage is too high.
Must have heated leather seats & automatic. Desire is something quiet and comfortable to sooth me. Not interested in driver involvement whatsoever
Currently thinking will keep the 997 & buy something like a 520d SE or A6 2.0 TDi SE for about £12k but am also tempted to chop the 997 for an R8 & buy a £5k 320d auto (much older).
THoughts on what I should buy for £5k and £12k please?

Are you overly concerned about MPG?

If not, then i'd go for an E320CDI Merc.

If you are, then a 520d SE Auto if you prefer comfort over style, or the M Sport if you dont mind a firm suspension.

At £5K you're heading into the middle age "problem zone" where diesels tend to take turbos, pumps, injectors, etc.

[pottman]

Welcome to my world.

I too decided that my 997 C4S was also not the most appropriate car car for a 35 mile, 75 min commute so I stumbled across a Passat 2.0 TDI. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but cheap to run and perfectly fine for a commuting shed

There's a reason you see so many of them on the motorway after all.

It still doesn't stop me using the 997 to commute very so often though ...

[Bennet]

If you're after comfort - Lexus, rather than anything German. Every German car I've been in always seem to ride hard.

The IS diesel would probably suit.

[daemon]

Bennet said:

If you're after comfort - Lexus, rather than anything German. Every German car I've been in always seem to ride hard.

The IS diesel would probably suit.

I dont think they do a diesel auto IS - or if they do theres none at all for sale on autotrader.

[jakesmith]

Lexus sadly they don't sem to doa diesel
Definitely want an SE not an M SPort - won't be looking to a 5 series or A6 for driving excitement
Saab is intreresting, what are they like for parts / reliability?

[jakesmith]

I am concerned with MPG and also reliability - don't want to buy a car and then spen a fortune fixing expensive diesel parts

[HumbleJim]

Avoid an A6 2.0 TDI in that price bracket (multitronic problems) BMW or Merc

[daemon]

jakesmith said:

I am concerned with MPG and also reliability - don't want to buy a car and then spen a fortune fixing expensive diesel parts

Then spend £12K on a decent Approved Used E60 520d and maintain the warranty.

Or a Merc C220CDI or E220CDI.

[Vaud]

Get an IS250 Lexus with all the bells and whistles - I think it's an IS250SE-L.

Amazing engine, 35+MPG from what I have seen and heated (and cooled) seats.

[daemon]

Vaud said:

Get an IS250 Lexus with all the bells and whistles - I think it's an IS250SE-L.

Amazing engine, 35+MPG from what I have seen and heated (and cooled) seats.

Whats the obsession with Lexus's on this thread, given (a) he wants and diesel not a petrol and (b) he wants an auto.

Something Lexus cant do in an IS.

Is nobody reading the criteria at all?

[CYMR0]

Skoda Superb, just so you can have a 'my other car's a Skoda' sticker on your Porsche.

[anonymous-user]

Haven't read the thread but has anyone suggested a Lexus? They really are very good.

[Vaud]

daemon said:

Whats the obsession with Lexus's on this thread, given (a) he wants and diesel not a petrol and (b) he wants an auto.

Something Lexus cant do in an IS.

Is nobody reading the criteria at all?

PH is amazing and full of helpful people. I was merely widening horizons and throwing in an idea based on my usage of one:

1) the assumption that petrol is low mpg is fair. I run an Audi diesel and was very surprised how economical the Lexus 250 petrol engine is, it is close to the diesel manual in real usage.

2) it is an auto.

Here's a hint for posts that are helpful but annoy you. Ignore them.

[Deerfoot]

I'd be looking for a Volvo S60 D5 in your position.

[daemon]

Vaud said:

1) the assumption that petrol is low mpg is fair. I run an Audi diesel and was very surprised how economical the Lexus 250 petrol engine is, it is close to the diesel manual in real usage.

I would say to consider 35mpg as good is more a statement of the poor MPG you must be getting in your Audi.

Vaud said:

2) it is an auto.

Your not getting this are you? He wants a diesel AND an auto, not a diesel OR an auto.

Vaud said:

Here's a hint for posts that are helpful but annoy you. Ignore them.

Heres a hint for you - have a read at the post first BEFORE commenting - then you'll already see that the O/P wants an economical diesel AND an auto, not as the previous poster suggested a diesel manual Lexus and not as you suggested a petrol automatic Lexus.

Its quite distracting when people are trying to throw in relevant useful suggestions when others arent bothering to read the requirements.

[budfox]

Exeo

[Vaud]

daemon said:

Heres a hint for you - have a read at the post first BEFORE commenting - then you'll already see that the O/P wants an economical diesel AND an auto, not as the previous poster suggested a diesel manual Lexus and not as you suggested a petrol automatic Lexus.

Its quite distracting when people are trying to throw in relevant useful suggestions when others arent bothering to read the requirements.

Life, my friend, is too short. Chill out and have a beer/wine/etc. PH is full of people making helpful suggestions.

Sometimes people post a new idea and the OP says, "You know what, I hadn't thought of that"

I will continue to post left field and helpful suggestions regardless if you think I am wrong. Have a fun evening and cheer up.

[JakeT]

A VW Passat (B5) with the 1.9 TDi won't inspire but won't go wrong...
Top examples can be had for under £5k. This one's top of the range with heated leather and an auto.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Or going at the top end a 3 series, like you said...

There's one here and looks pretty good. Heated Seats, Sat Nav and paddleshift!


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Edited by JakeT on Wednesday 28th May 19:52