Help choosing new car
Discussion
I’m looking to buy an Approved Used Car with upto 30k miles for roughly £19,000 and I am torn between the 2015/16 Jaguar XE 20d (180) R Sport and the equivalent Mercedes C220d and to sum up, which is better?
I plan on keeping the car a very long time So reliability is important, I’m guessing the Mercedes will fair better here but by how much? Is the XE an “unreliable” car??vWhat are common issues to look for on both the XE and C Class and what are servicing costs like?
Also just how much better is the AWD XE in the snow compared to the rear wheel drive version. I can justify the extra fuel and tax costs to gain the extra grip but just wondered how bad a rear wheel drive would be in bad weather? Is a RWD XE better than say a RWD 3 Series in the snow? Also what’s the Merc like in bad weather?
Thanks in advance,
Derric
I plan on keeping the car a very long time So reliability is important, I’m guessing the Mercedes will fair better here but by how much? Is the XE an “unreliable” car??vWhat are common issues to look for on both the XE and C Class and what are servicing costs like?
Also just how much better is the AWD XE in the snow compared to the rear wheel drive version. I can justify the extra fuel and tax costs to gain the extra grip but just wondered how bad a rear wheel drive would be in bad weather? Is a RWD XE better than say a RWD 3 Series in the snow? Also what’s the Merc like in bad weather?
Thanks in advance,
Derric
Edited by DerricStanton54 on Monday 20th August 09:49
Hi the biggest factor in snow is good tyres be it FWD/4WD/RWD & turning your traction control off.
Neither car is significantly more reliable than the other so it'll come down to which one you prefer more, I'd actually go a size up & get some thing more refined but that still fits your criteria:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
If you can live with a few more miles then an S Portfolio is well within reach (this is where my cash would go) & it's a better car than both the XE & C Class.
Neither car is significantly more reliable than the other so it'll come down to which one you prefer more, I'd actually go a size up & get some thing more refined but that still fits your criteria:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
If you can live with a few more miles then an S Portfolio is well within reach (this is where my cash would go) & it's a better car than both the XE & C Class.
I do really like the XF, however i want to spend less on tax than my current car - Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDI. That’s £155 a year on road tax. I understand that the 3.0 V6 engines are extremely smooth etc but I am still set on a 4 cylinder diesel just due to running costs and tax.
Finally being retired I want to settle down in something a bit more luxurious than my Kia but that’s still cheap to tax/fuel.
I would be willing to pay the extra for AWD if the RWD XE was as bad as something like a 3 Series in the snow.
So which is the better overall car, XE or C Class?
What are common issues on both?
Thanks, Derric
Finally being retired I want to settle down in something a bit more luxurious than my Kia but that’s still cheap to tax/fuel.
I would be willing to pay the extra for AWD if the RWD XE was as bad as something like a 3 Series in the snow.
So which is the better overall car, XE or C Class?
What are common issues on both?
Thanks, Derric
The 3 Series/C Class/XF aren't bad in the snow the main issue is people not turning off their traction control & the car grinding to a halt as I said in the first post good tyres sees to that issue, or a set of winter wheels & tyres.
If you want a luxurious car then get the XF with the 4 pot diesel with more power & better spec you'll be happier with this than the XE 180.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yes there's a £110 difference in the road tax but there's more than a £110 in the fit & finish of the XF to the XE the fuel difference is negligible.
If you're retiring do you need a diesel if you're going to be doing less than 12k a year the lack of good usage could result in large bills for turbo's DPF etc so factor that in too before pulling the trigger.
I'd buy the XF.
If you want a luxurious car then get the XF with the 4 pot diesel with more power & better spec you'll be happier with this than the XE 180.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Yes there's a £110 difference in the road tax but there's more than a £110 in the fit & finish of the XF to the XE the fuel difference is negligible.
If you're retiring do you need a diesel if you're going to be doing less than 12k a year the lack of good usage could result in large bills for turbo's DPF etc so factor that in too before pulling the trigger.
I'd buy the XF.
Hi, thanks for your help.
Despite being retired I will still do at least 12,000 miles a year. I go all over England, Scotland, Wales and will even take the car on the Euro Tunnel and ferries into Europe. As well as trips to lots of golf courses throughout the United Kingdom and the obvious daily usage to the shops and also going and visiting family in North Yorkshire and Coventry.
I understand the XF will be better built than the XE however I do not need a car that big and prefer the compact size of the XE - it will still fit golf clubs and suitcases well enough for me as I saw one in person at a Jaguar dealer. The XE is still a step up from the KIA as well in terms of quality. Plus the £30 road tax on the rwd XE 180 is very appealing.
Do you know any common faults with the XE/XF and also the C Class?
And is the XE a better car than the C Class? - I am guessing so as you didnt really comment on the Merc.
Despite being retired I will still do at least 12,000 miles a year. I go all over England, Scotland, Wales and will even take the car on the Euro Tunnel and ferries into Europe. As well as trips to lots of golf courses throughout the United Kingdom and the obvious daily usage to the shops and also going and visiting family in North Yorkshire and Coventry.
I understand the XF will be better built than the XE however I do not need a car that big and prefer the compact size of the XE - it will still fit golf clubs and suitcases well enough for me as I saw one in person at a Jaguar dealer. The XE is still a step up from the KIA as well in terms of quality. Plus the £30 road tax on the rwd XE 180 is very appealing.
Do you know any common faults with the XE/XF and also the C Class?
And is the XE a better car than the C Class? - I am guessing so as you didnt really comment on the Merc.
Edited by DerricStanton54 on Monday 20th August 15:56
No problem you may be surprised to know that the XF is only 20cm longer & 15cm wider.
I'd take the C Class (dependent on spec) over XE as it's a better car, I was intimating that as a long term purchase the XF was better than both.
C250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
220
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'd take the C Class (dependent on spec) over XE as it's a better car, I was intimating that as a long term purchase the XF was better than both.
C250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
220
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I think I prefer the styling of the XE and have heard it is more fun to drive. Just wondering if it will be reliable and what common issues/stuff to look out for not just now but in the future? I’m guessing it may have some similar issues/faults to the XF.
From reading Honest John so far the biggest issue appears to be either gearbox software or the touchscreen system.
Also, would the 3-Series be a good choice as well? Driven a 5-Series before and it was lovely and my son has had a few BMWs in his time and rates them highly, having kept some to near the 200,000 mile mark with just general maintenance, not too many faults only suspension components and a crankshaft needing replacement at about 180,000. Only thing is that’s put me off buying one is the styling. Where a Jaguar or Mercedes looks classy yet sporty, the BMW seems a bit overly sporty and aggressive - nice but seems more targeted toward a younger market than me and it lacks the charm and class of the Mercedes and Jaguar in that respect.
From reading Honest John so far the biggest issue appears to be either gearbox software or the touchscreen system.
Also, would the 3-Series be a good choice as well? Driven a 5-Series before and it was lovely and my son has had a few BMWs in his time and rates them highly, having kept some to near the 200,000 mile mark with just general maintenance, not too many faults only suspension components and a crankshaft needing replacement at about 180,000. Only thing is that’s put me off buying one is the styling. Where a Jaguar or Mercedes looks classy yet sporty, the BMW seems a bit overly sporty and aggressive - nice but seems more targeted toward a younger market than me and it lacks the charm and class of the Mercedes and Jaguar in that respect.
Edited by DerricStanton54 on Monday 20th August 17:29
DerricStanton54 said:
however i want to spend less on tax than my current car
I never really get this mentality, ~£100 a year is such a small portion of the ownership proposition when you're driving a £20k car that's depreciating like a stone that it's simply not worth worrying about.rsbmw said:
DerricStanton54 said:
however i want to spend less on tax than my current car
I never really get this mentality, ~£100 a year is such a small portion of the ownership proposition when you're driving a £20k car that's depreciating like a stone that it's simply not worth worrying about.Edited by DerricStanton54 on Tuesday 21st August 09:31
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