Comfy brisk saloon/estate - 8k

[ILAFB]

Need some help deciding between two saloons and hopefully some people will have some ownership experience as well.

The brief:

- Comfortable (good NVH at 70mph)
- Brisk (I don't break the speed limit anymore due to needing a clean licence for work, but I would like an engine/gearbox combo that doesn't need working hard)
- Petrol
- Automatic
- 30mpg mixed driving
- Saloon/estate
- Cruise control
- Android car play/Bluetooth


Options so far:

Mk2.5 Octavia VRS - Seems that cruise control was an option but appears it can be retrofitted. Dated infotainment system but seems that can also be upgraded to a newer/after market system quite easily. NVH is a concern from what I've read in the past; significantly worse than a GTI. Is this generation DSG box okay or will it grenade itself out of the blue?

E60 530i M sport facelift - Does all the above except android car play/Bluetooth; can this be retrofitted easily and for a reasonable price? What's the ride like on 18's; is it worth switching down to 17's? Are running costs significantly different from the VRS; my E46 330ci seemed to cost double for any parts and labour compared to all the other workhorses I've ever had.

Any feedback/help would be greatly appreciated!

[CzechRS]

As long as it's not an n53 (2007-10 iirc). Expensive when it goes wrong.

Put me off BMW for life

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say look for the 2.0T Mondeo in Titanium X Sport/Titanium X spec they're a better steer then the Octavia as well as the NVH is slightly better too. the only thing is that at the moment they're hard to find.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-2-0T-240ps-...

Leftfield:

G37 GT Premium Saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

M35h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...

Lexus GS450h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...

You can add Android Auto etc with this unit on the Infiniti range:

https://gromaudio.co.uk/nissan-infiniti-grom-vline...

Lexus GS450h Android Auto

https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/all/lexus-gs-350...


Forgot to say the NVH in the Infiniti/Lexus will be a clear step on from the Mondeo which is better than the Skoda.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 25th March 00:43

[Daveholja]

On the E60, I've got an e63 630i so slightly different but similar vintage. You won't get anywhere near 30 mpg mixed, I have an N52 so slightly worse economy but I'd be happy with over 30 on a motorway run; around town I'm getting low 20s.

The Bluetooth can be retrofitted, I've got a dension gateway which I use an invery Bluetooth adapter for. If you were doing it yourself, you can get dension units which have BT built in and just wire into the fiber optics where the Dr changer would be. Works well but expect the Idrive system to show its age nowadays.

All things said, I think the E60 is a great platform for cruising and giving the go when you want it.

[MiniMan64]

Pains me to say it as a new Mk3 VRS owner but it’s not the quietest place at cruising speeds, plenty of tyre noise. It’s not a problem for me, only short journeys but doing hundreds of miles it might get a bit much.

I’d follow ZX’s advice.

[ILAFB]

CzechRS said:

As long as it's not an n53 (2007-10 iirc). Expensive when it goes wrong.

Put me off BMW for life

Well that's the BMW off the cards!

[ILAFB]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say look for the 2.0T Mondeo in Titanium X Sport/Titanium X spec they're a better steer then the Octavia as well as the NVH is slightly better too. the only thing is that at the moment they're hard to find.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-2-0T-240ps-...

Leftfield:

G37 GT Premium Saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

M35h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103069...

Lexus GS450h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011095...

You can add Android Auto etc with this unit on the Infiniti range:

https://gromaudio.co.uk/nissan-infiniti-grom-vline...

Lexus GS450h Android Auto

https://gromaudio.com/store/vline/all/lexus-gs-350...


Forgot to say the NVH in the Infiniti/Lexus will be a clear step on from the Mondeo which is better than the Skoda.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 25th March 00:43

Mondeo does look the best bet out of all of those but it looks very ugly.. not sure I could cope with that.

I've also being looking at Mk7 Golf GTIs if I up my budget. Come with Adaptive Cruise which is a big bonus, any thoughts in terms of NVH for a small car?

[ILAFB]

MiniMan64 said:

Pains me to say it as a new Mk3 VRS owner but it’s not the quietest place at cruising speeds, plenty of tyre noise. It’s not a problem for me, only short journeys but doing hundreds of miles it might get a bit much.

I’d follow ZX’s advice.

That's a shame to hear as I really like the Mk3 styling and would stretch if needed but unfortunately NVH is important.

[d_a_n1979]

A looked after BMW E39 530i Sport - saloon or touring

Your budget would get you a low mileage Jap import too

Miles better than an E60 IMO, although an LCI E61 530i Touring would be a great car, very thin on the ground though...

[Lee540]

Have Mk3, can't say it is too noisy. Have decent tyres and easily sit at 70mph on a hands free phone call without shouting.

[BUG4LIFE]

Subaru Legacy Spec B.

[MiniMan64]

ILAFB said:

MiniMan64 said:

Pains me to say it as a new Mk3 VRS owner but it’s not the quietest place at cruising speeds, plenty of tyre noise. It’s not a problem for me, only short journeys but doing hundreds of miles it might get a bit much.

I’d follow ZX’s advice.

That's a shame to hear as I really like the Mk3 styling and would stretch if needed but unfortunately NVH is important.

It’s not awful or unbearable or anything, it’s just there. The rest of the car is fantastic though! Drive one and see what you think.

[ZX10R NIN]

Lee540 said:

Have Mk3, can't say it is too noisy. Have decent tyres and easily sit at 70mph on a hands free phone call without shouting.

It's not bad but the Mondeo is better with the Infiniti & Lexus being another step on from that.

[Summit_Detailing]

ILAFB said:

That's a shame to hear as I really like the Mk3 styling and would stretch if needed but unfortunately NVH is important.

If nvh and comfort is a priority an Octavia VRS is not for you. Road and tyre noise was one of the main reasons for swapping out of a 2015 VRS estate a few years ago, after only a couple of months of ownership.
I even swapped the tyres from the OE Conti's which did improve things a little but not enough to make me keep the car.

Cheers,

Chris

[ILAFB]

d_a_n1979 said:

A looked after BMW E39 530i Sport - saloon or touring

Your budget would get you a low mileage Jap import too

Miles better than an E60 IMO, although an LCI E61 530i Touring would be a great car, very thin on the ground though...

I really like the E39 but they feel really long in the tooth. I would take the M5 version but I couldn't afford the running costs let alone the initial buying price!

I'd be happy to up the budget to 12k if it got my into a decent F10 M Sport. I imagine they have a good blend of NVH and driving engagement.

[ILAFB]

MiniMan64 said:

ILAFB said:

MiniMan64 said:

Pains me to say it as a new Mk3 VRS owner but it’s not the quietest place at cruising speeds, plenty of tyre noise. It’s not a problem for me, only short journeys but doing hundreds of miles it might get a bit much.

I’d follow ZX’s advice.

That's a shame to hear as I really like the Mk3 styling and would stretch if needed but unfortunately NVH is important.

It’s not awful or unbearable or anything, it’s just there. The rest of the car is fantastic though! Drive one and see what you think.

A cheap MK2.5 seems like a solid budget option but I know the lack of NVH would get to me.

[ILAFB]

ZX10R NIN said:

Lee540 said:

Have Mk3, can't say it is too noisy. Have decent tyres and easily sit at 70mph on a hands free phone call without shouting.

It's not bad but the Mondeo is better with the Infiniti & Lexus being another step on from that.

Unfortunately all those cars look rather ugly which is a real shame

[ILAFB]

Summit_Detailing said:

ILAFB said:

That's a shame to hear as I really like the Mk3 styling and would stretch if needed but unfortunately NVH is important.

If nvh and comfort is a priority an Octavia VRS is not for you. Road and tyre noise was one of the main reasons for swapping out of a 2015 VRS estate a few years ago, after only a couple of months of ownership.
I even swapped the tyres from the OE Conti's which did improve things a little but not enough to make me keep the car.

Cheers,

Chris

Thanks for the feedback, it's really helpful

[Baldchap]

ILAFB said:

Mondeo does look the best bet out of all of those but it looks very ugly.. not sure I could cope with that.

I've also being looking at Mk7 Golf GTIs if I up my budget. Come with Adaptive Cruise which is a big bonus, any thoughts in terms of NVH for a small car?

As a complete package, the Mk7 GTI/R is in my opinion the best car that was for sale at that time. Absolute pleasure to own. I had a 7 GTI PP and a 7.5 R.

[ChrisH72]

I love the mk7 GTi but it seems to stray a long way from your original brief.

For one thing they start around £12k. Also, it's a small hatchback which doesn't offer you the comfort or space you were wanting.

If you're going to jump the budget that much I'd say there would be quite a few other options available to you.

Volvo S60 T4 geartronic. You can get a 2018 with less than 40k miles.

Skoda Superb 2.0 tfsi.

With the original budget I think where you might struggle is the Apple car play since most cars you'll be looking at will be 10 years old. There are options that offer all the rest though.

Merc c250

Audi A4 Avant 2.0