New car required - comfort, auto, petrol - advice please! - Page 1 - Car Buying

markirl

Original Poster

336 posts

157 months

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[news]

Saturday 9th June 2018

Hi folks,

My father has had his 2005 3.0 S-type since it was nearly new and loves it but it's starting to get pretty tired and rust is starting to creep in underneath. He's been talking about changing it for a few years now and the time is finally coming.

He has a pretty particular list of requirements:
- Seat comfort is top priority due to a medical condition
- Suspension comfort is a close second
- Petrol, will not entertain a diesel at all
- Auto
- Saloon only (definitely no SUVs)

Recommendations I've made:
- XJ6 3.0 (starting to get a bit old also)
- Mercedes CLS 350/500
- Mercedes S350/S500
- Mercedes E250
- F10 528i/530i with comfort seats
- Audi A8

The budget isn't set in stone but I imagine he'd be comfortable with £10-15k. Any other suggestions?

jamei303

3,043 posts

176 months

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[news]

Saturday 9th June 2018

S90?

Mo28

907 posts

120 months

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Saturday 9th June 2018

A Lexus GS or IS should fit the criteria and come in hybrid form as well

MYOB

5,078 posts

158 months

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Saturday 9th June 2018

jamei303 said:

S90?

Not for £10 - £15K! Unless you meant the S80?

But yeah, Lexus would get my vote.

S54Love

155 posts

104 months

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Saturday 9th June 2018

Can comfortably get a luxury spec petrol GS for this budget, although not sure if you can get the hybrid?

A 550i GT is a bit of a left field option, but still in budget: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

With the list above, I'd be surprised if you can get a CLS for the budget. Last time I looked, diesels were in that price range but definitely not the petrol unless you were looking at the first gen.

A900ss

3,297 posts

172 months

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Saturday 9th June 2018

I did 80k over 3 years in an F10 (without comfort seats though) and whilst the car was good, I found comfort only so so. An E class is far more comfortable due to the more supple suspension. Good luck either way.

ZX10R NIN

29,768 posts

145 months

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Saturday 9th June 2018

markirl

Original Poster

336 posts

157 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 9th June 2018

Thanks for the suggestions folks!
I should have mentioned, the car will be run in Ireland so anything 2008-on and over 225g/km of co2 attracts €2300/year road tax which is a no-go I'm afraid. a 3.0 pre-08 attracts €1500/year and anything less than 225g/km post -08 is a max of €1200, so that pretty much sets the limit at 3.0 for a pre-08 car and 225g/km for a post-08 car!

The Audi A7 3.0 TFSI is a great suggestion however, how do these rank for comfort? Air suspension?

The Lexus GS was my go-to choice for him, in hybrid form but he doesn't feel that they have "soul". I think I need to get him to drive one, he'd definitely only be interested in the newest generation.

The CLS I was referring to were 08 & 09 models that are currently available here at reasonable prices.

Shiv_P

2,981 posts

125 months

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[news]

Saturday 9th June 2018

markirl said:

Thanks for the suggestions folks!
I should have mentioned, the car will be run in Ireland so anything 2008-on and over 225g/km of co2 attracts €2300/year road tax which is a no-go I'm afraid. a 3.0 pre-08 attracts €1500/year and anything less than 225g/km post -08 is a max of €1200, so that pretty much sets the limit at 3.0 for a pre-08 car and 225g/km for a post-08 car!

The Audi A7 3.0 TFSI is a great suggestion however, how do these rank for comfort? Air suspension?

The Lexus GS was my go-to choice for him, in hybrid form but he doesn't feel that they have "soul". I think I need to get him to drive one, he'd definitely only be interested in the newest generation.

The CLS I was referring to were 08 & 09 models that are currently available here at reasonable prices.

The A7 doesn't come as standard with air suspension - the SE ZX linked will have the standard comfort suspension unless it says otherwise (it doesn't have the "raise" option on drive select so I don't think it comes with it)

wilwak

759 posts

190 months

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[news]

Saturday 9th June 2018

I too have a condition that means I suffer badly with car seats.

I had an S Type for 10 years.

I now own an XJ Portfolio 2011. The most comfy seats of any modern car.

The XJ is wonderful. Fast, nimble and very roomy. I’d 100% recommend it especially if you like Jags.

ZX10R NIN

29,768 posts

145 months

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[news]

Sunday 10th June 2018

markirl said:

Thanks for the suggestions folks!
I should have mentioned, the car will be run in Ireland so anything 2008-on and over 225g/km of co2 attracts €2300/year road tax which is a no-go I'm afraid. a 3.0 pre-08 attracts €1500/year and anything less than 225g/km post -08 is a max of €1200, so that pretty much sets the limit at 3.0 for a pre-08 car and 225g/km for a post-08 car!

The Audi A7 3.0 TFSI is a great suggestion however, how do these rank for comfort? Air suspension?

The Lexus GS was my go-to choice for him, in hybrid form but he doesn't feel that they have "soul". I think I need to get him to drive one, he'd definitely only be interested in the newest generation.

The CLS I was referring to were 08 & 09 models that are currently available here at reasonable prices.

The comfort on the SE A7 will be great but only you dad will know if the seats are upto par.

Or there's the 2.0T 528i 5 series that should see you alright tax wise:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes E350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

E250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'd go for the A7 personally given your circumstances.