Comfy seats and decent poke?
Comfy seats and decent poke?
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Discussion

Madness60

Original Poster:

633 posts

212 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
quotequote all
A what car thread with a new twist. I've just changed from a very long dull weekly commute, 95% motorway on a Mon and Fri to an 11 mile each way B road daily commute. I had a Jag XF for the old commute and it was a great choice but now I'm after something a bit more fun.

So got a budget of up to £22.5k

Got to be petrol and have at least 250bhp ish


No coupes/soft tops as already have 2 cars with only 2/3 doors. Not a fan of SUVs and Mrs M does not want an estate.

Annual mileage is around 8k

Not black or white, had both colours and never again.

Ideally leather seats but not too fussed but if leather then it must be heated. However seats are actually one of the biggest issue. I find a lot of car seats bad for my back and after many different cars including Saab I've realised that the only thing that works for me is thigh extenders or seats with extendable base (XF sports seats had this). I actually found my 2016 A4 lease with extending thigh support was the best for me.

Stick all that into normal places and it comes up with my current favourite option which is the Guilia Veloce but wondered what else people had found with mix of performance and the extending seats?

APontus

1,935 posts

63 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Does an M340 come into budget?

Other end of the scale, an S90/V90 with extending seat bases?

Casa1862

1,109 posts

193 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Volvo S60 T5, you get a almost new one for that, great looking cars and decent seats. I’ve got the T8 but that will be more than your budget.

Lexus IS300H is a good compromise, very smooth drive and bullet proof build quality. Forget the reviews about the gearbox and drive one, also feels quicker than what’s on paper, probably the most comfortable and reliable car I’ve driven, also if you keep up with the dealer service you get extended warranty included, they have confidence in their products.

105.4

4,214 posts

99 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Jaguar XJR.

darreni

4,501 posts

298 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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G30 530d?

Sorry, just read petrol - 530e?

Edited by darreni on Wednesday 16th June 23:59

Madness60

Original Poster:

633 posts

212 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
quotequote all
APontus said:
Does an M340 come into budget?

Other end of the scale, an S90/V90 with extending seat bases?
Prefered the look of the 4GC to the 340 and don't think you can get a M340 for the budget, but it's a great combo of the right seats and pace

The S60 was not something I'd thought about and looks better than I thought, not sure what it would be like trying to have the odd bit of fun down a B road commute but worth investigating.

Can't live with the looks of the Lexus.

No diesels and trying to stay smaller than 5 series, S90 types.

Edited by Madness60 on Thursday 17th June 00:00

Madness60

Original Poster:

633 posts

212 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Tried the Volvo and it looks great inside and comfy seats but it was just a bit too dull down a good road.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

226 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Why not buy the punchy car you want and change the seat?


Note Saab’s have the best seats.

Summit_Detailing

2,422 posts

221 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
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435i/440i BMW gran coupe m-sport.

Cheers,

Chris

Madness60

Original Poster:

633 posts

212 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Summit_Detailing said:
435i/440i BMW gran coupe m-sport.

Cheers,

Chris
Think it'll be between one of these and the Alfa!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

226 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Summit_Detailing said:
435i/440i BMW gran coupe m-sport.

Cheers,

Chris
The seats in a 5 or 6 or 7 series (if focusing on BMWs) will be MASSIvely better in every way.

Summit_Detailing

2,422 posts

221 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
The seats in a 5 or 6 or 7 series (if focusing on BMWs) will be MASSIvely better in every way.
That maybe, but the OP stated in a reply that they don't want anything 5-series size or bigger.

Original remit was for extending seat base which all m-sport derivatives offer.

Cheers,

Chris

Madness60

Original Poster:

633 posts

212 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
The seats in a 5 or 6 or 7 series (if focusing on BMWs) will be MASSIvely better in every way.
Trying to avoid the bigger cars as just come out of an XF and want to go smaller. Tried a 5 series with 'comfort seats' and it was not that good for my back prior to getting the XF. Saab seats were ok but its the thigh extension/being able to lengthen the seat base that seems to be the thing that works for me.

Stick Legs

8,893 posts

193 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
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Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

<£22.5k? Just for one you would actually want.

4 doors? Yup.

250BHP+? Oh yes.

Comfy? Oh yes, and extending seat bases plus super lumbar adjustment.

Petrol? Oh yes, lots.

Fun? Depends on how you define fun. It would be a hoot for a while, but not really a B-Road car, but for only 8k miles a year it would be a fun year and is at least very different from anything else you could buy.

Edited by Stick Legs on Sunday 4th July 18:43

Stick Legs

8,893 posts

193 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11866479

With a 2 year warranty so not even the fear of mega-bork! Good colour on budget.

itz_baseline

833 posts

249 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
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W204 C63 AMG (facelift) has the comfiest seats as I've ever sat in. When I first picked mine up I did a 5 hour journey in 1 sitting and didn't have back ache at all at the other end.

Ticks all the rest of the boxes as well.

ZX10R NIN

30,467 posts

153 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
I'll go with the alternates.

What about an XE S great ride with a good chassis with a nice punchy V6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106214...

Leftfield

3.0TT Q50 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106093...

C63 you're not doing big miles so the low depreciation will offset the higher running costs compared to something like an S4/340i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106264...

Madness60

Original Poster:

633 posts

212 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Stick Legs said:
Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

<£22.5k? Just for one you would actually want.

4 doors? Yup.

250BHP+? Oh yes.

Comfy? Oh yes, and extending seat bases plus super lumbar adjustment.

Petrol? Oh yes, lots.

Fun? Depends on how you define fun. It would be a hoot for a while, but not really a B-Road car, but for only 8k miles a year it would be a fun year and is at least very different from anything else you could buy.

Edited by Stick Legs on Sunday 4th July 18:43
Only on PH!

Casa1862

1,109 posts

193 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Madness60 said:
Tried the Volvo and it looks great inside and comfy seats but it was just a bit too dull down a good road.
Try the T8 version, I’ve got one, it’s not slow.

APontus

1,935 posts

63 months

Sunday 4th July 2021
quotequote all
Madness60 said:
Stick Legs said:
Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

<£22.5k? Just for one you would actually want.

4 doors? Yup.

250BHP+? Oh yes.

Comfy? Oh yes, and extending seat bases plus super lumbar adjustment.

Petrol? Oh yes, lots.

Fun? Depends on how you define fun. It would be a hoot for a while, but not really a B-Road car, but for only 8k miles a year it would be a fun year and is at least very different from anything else you could buy.

Edited by Stick Legs on Sunday 4th July 18:43
Only on PH!
It's a great shout! In 5 years you can sell it to a pub landlord.