Old Fast German Daily - Least Ruinous

[fastgerman]

Hi All,

It feels like forever that i’ve been driving this C250d around. A little bit of my Pistonheadness dies every time that 4 cylinder diesel disappointment clatters to life.

The 2 year lease has cost £9k and nothing to show for it, so while there are other things I can drive for fun, I still need a fairly exciting daily.

Sometimes I do a 100 mile trip, others include dropping the boys at school or a 2 mile drive over speed bumps and to be left at the train station. Overall this car has covered around 12k miles in 2 years.

So, tell me, what will cost the most in stuff breaking (not fussed on service/mpg/tyres and i’m Not fixing it myself) if all things are equal - let’s say full dealer service history and around 80k mileage, budget under £10k:

Audi - 2003 ish RS6 avant, D2 S8
BMW - E39 M5, Alpina B10
Mercedes - 2004 ish E55 supercharged saloon
Volkswagen - MK5 Golf R32 5 door
Other - ?

Thanks!

Edited by fastgerman on Wednesday 30th May 09:00

[ManOpener]

None of them are going to be exactly cheap, but the RS6 will doubtlessly be the most ruinous given their reputation for disintegrating drivetrain components and suspension related electrical gubbins.

The R32 seems a very "different" choice from the others and might feel a bit lackluster given your current car. All of the others have the prospect of throwing some pretty epic hills, though. What are you really looking for out of the replacement?

[BevR]

Its not in the same league as your choices and I only have experience of the W8 but have you looked into the R36 passat?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[john_1983]

I don't think I'd rely on any ageing RS/M as a daily - what about a 540, E500 or 330? 90% of the real world pace, and less of the bills/worry

[Resolutionary]

Of your bunch I'd pick the D2 S8, hands down.

Don't get me wrong, the C5 RS6 is up there in my fantasy garage along with the Merc and BMW choices, but they have inherent flaws, some of which are well documented.

I have a D2, a lowly one though - BUT they are fantastically handsome, very comfortable, and with the right engine a hoot to drive. Not a speed demon, but rather something that picks up it's tweeds and gets going at a surprising rate (for a big beast). No traditional rust issues to worry about, no forced induction to go wrong, a relatively unstressed engine and drivetrain although any auto box from this generation can be prone.

They're definitely at the bottom of their curve now too. With the Recaro interior you will be able to munch 100 or 1000 miles with ease.

[lufbramatt]

john_1983 said:

I don't think I'd rely on any ageing RS/M as a daily - what about a 540, E500 or 330? 90% of the real world pace, and less of the bills/worry

Yep, second from top of the tree spec often offers best VFM. Take the e39- water pumps for example. 540i pump £80, M5 pump £275. Front discs- 540i-£90, M5- £385. the list goes on.

[AC43]

You could get a newer E500 or CLS 500 with the 5.5 V8.

380 bhp/390 lb ft.

[fastgerman]

Thanks for the replies and will review all.
Particularly interested in the E55 at 140k miles averaging 2k a year in costs. I think that’s reasonable on a performance car not depreciating.

An old e46 m3 of mine averaged 3k a year for 3 years just on service + repairs.

Will try and find an E500 with the later engine, can’t see any on the usual sites. S500 looks quite nice also.

Currently leaning towards the D2 S8 after watching Ronin again.

[fastgerman]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That’s exactly what i’m looking for after my tractor/taxi experience :-)

[fastgerman]

Resolutionary said:

Of your bunch I'd pick the D2 S8, hands down.

Don't get me wrong, the C5 RS6 is up there in my fantasy garage along with the Merc and BMW choices, but they have inherent flaws, some of which are well documented.

I have a D2, a lowly one though - BUT they are fantastically handsome, very comfortable, and with the right engine a hoot to drive. Not a speed demon, but rather something that picks up it's tweeds and gets going at a surprising rate (for a big beast). No traditional rust issues to worry about, no forced induction to go wrong, a relatively unstressed engine and drivetrain although any auto box from this generation can be prone.

They're definitely at the bottom of their curve now too. With the Recaro interior you will be able to munch 100 or 1000 miles with ease.

This is wonderful - https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[rsbmw]

You could consider a Jag XF SV8, 4.2 Supercharged and fairly bulletproof

[Resolutionary]

fastgerman said:

This is wonderful - https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Isn't it just! I bet that was a pretty penny too - I know I'm slightly biased but they really have aged gracefully. Unfortunately I think the examples with less than 100k on the clocks will be very few, very far between, and almost eye-wateringly expensive nowadays.

Possibly not an obvious contender but what about a C5 S6? Bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing and the same sort of lump as the S8.

[AC43]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

As an E500 owner (5.5 version) that sounds about right.

[anonymous-user]

How 'bork' averse are you?

I've had a long hankering for a V10 S6. I'm in the process of researching the longevity of these for use as a low mileage daily....

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[RSTurboPaul]

V10 diesel / W12 petrol Phaeton?

[nobrakes]

The chaps in the bargain barge thread will keep you right.

[nobrakes]

There tends to be more large capacity petrol 5 or 7 series than mercs. They won’t be slow.

Petrols are less likely to have been taxid, too, as would anything in colour.

[akirk]

I wouldn't touch an e39 M5 at that price - too much risk of expensive bits to fix - however I did buy a top end price one a year and 12,000 miles ago and other than tyres / rear brake pads / oil service - haven't had a single cost for mechanical failure etc. just did 900 miles in it this last bank holiday weekend - superb car... but for any of these cars the same rule applies - buy the best condition / most looked after version you can find...

[Ahbefive]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Really? I'd suggest that that is a very odd.

OP, most of those cars have the capacity for ruinous running costs, the R32 is the safe but perhaps slightly boring bet.

[Shiv_P]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

A6 vs A8 is a completely different experience