£10k refined/quiet saloon or estate?

[Not Invented Here]

Want something quiet and refined for a) long distance road trips on weekends away for a family of three, and b) taking me to the shops.

Not too bothered about economy as do very few miles.

Have largely given up on handling as round here I spend all my time stuck in traffic anyway, but can’t imagine getting back into a car that isn’t the right side of 8s 0-60.

Had a IS250 a few years ago and liked the NVH levels even if it was a bit too small on the inside.

At a loss on what to get next? Done hot and warm hatches… advice?

[Kinky]

What about a Lexus RX-450h?

That's kinda where I'm going at the moment!

[Mo28]

Lexus GS or LS

[stevemcs]

Jaguar XJ or E Class if you want space.

[Trailhead]

C or E Class Merc….

[Jag_NE]

To be honest, for motorway cruising one of the higher output Mondeo or Insignias will fit the bill, with the added benefits of getting a newer car and low bork factor.

[Baldchap]

If it's quiet, refined and fairly well priced, it's a Lexus.

Mondeo and Insignia aren't even in the same arena for low NVH waftiness.

[eein]

I've had a couple of BMW 7 series for almost exactly what you have described. Big, comfy, practical, fast enough (ok the last one was the V12...), handling ok but not a sports car, etc.

~£10k will get you a F01 LCI (facelift from 2013 onwards). Most are fairly high miles (80-150k), but that'll be long distance motorway miles, so a FSH and it'll be ok.

If you can find one with 4 wheel steering (they call it "active steering") and the all round parking cameras then the 'about town' becomes easy despite it's size. Long journeys are a given. And the look of the F01 is fairly plain, so you dont get people thikning your some big exec knob.

A petrol one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...

A smart looking deisel one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...

[stevemcs]

You could always go full fat

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106234...

Or an XF with the 3.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106143...

Or the slightly larger XJ

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105263...


or a slightly newer XJ

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

[ZX10R NIN]

Low NVH nice ride well spec'd decent fuel economy & a decent amount of go, I think these four tick the boxes:

Q70 35H

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...

G37 Saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011166...

GS250 SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...

Luxury

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105243...

[eleveneleven]

I agree with the majority, a luxury barge is only the way to go coming from a IS250. Comfortable, refined and you'll still get good fuel economy if you pick a diesel version.

- S Class Merc, BMW 7 Series, JAG XJ or a Honda Legend/ VW Phaeton if you're looking for something slightly more unique.

Edited by eleveneleven on Thursday 24th June 13:12

[Volvolover]

The best 520d se you can get for that budget imo

[Kayess5]

eein said:

I've had a couple of BMW 7 series for almost exactly what you have described. Big, comfy, practical, fast enough (ok the last one was the V12...), handling ok but not a sports car, etc.

~£10k will get you a F01 LCI (facelift from 2013 onwards). Most are fairly high miles (80-150k), but that'll be long distance motorway miles, so a FSH and it'll be ok.

If you can find one with 4 wheel steering (they call it "active steering") and the all round parking cameras then the 'about town' becomes easy despite it's size. Long journeys are a given. And the look of the F01 is fairly plain, so you dont get people thikning your some big exec knob.

A petrol one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...

A smart looking deisel one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...

Wow I didn't realise the 7 series was such good value. That petrol one for £10,500 looks particularly good though the seller hasn't taken any time at all to write a good description so you would need to do any checks thoroughly. Also when he says "full service history", is that BMW or independent or just DIY oil changes.

[ZX10R NIN]

eleveneleven said:

I agree with the majority, a luxury barge is only the way to go coming from a IS250. Comfortable, refined and you'll still get good fuel economy if you pick a diesel version.

- S Class Merc, BMW 7 Series, JAG XJ or a Honda Legend/ VW Phaeton if you're looking for something slightly more unique.

Edited by eleveneleven on Thursday 24th June 13:12

OP does low miles so I'd say a petrol is the pick.

[eein]

Kayess5 said:

eein said:

I've had a couple of BMW 7 series for almost exactly what you have described. Big, comfy, practical, fast enough (ok the last one was the V12...), handling ok but not a sports car, etc.

~£10k will get you a F01 LCI (facelift from 2013 onwards). Most are fairly high miles (80-150k), but that'll be long distance motorway miles, so a FSH and it'll be ok.

If you can find one with 4 wheel steering (they call it "active steering") and the all round parking cameras then the 'about town' becomes easy despite it's size. Long journeys are a given. And the look of the F01 is fairly plain, so you dont get people thikning your some big exec knob.

A petrol one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...

A smart looking deisel one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...

Wow I didn't realise the 7 series was such good value. That petrol one for £10,500 looks particularly good though the seller hasn't taken any time at all to write a good description so you would need to do any checks thoroughly. Also when he says "full service history", is that BMW or independent or just DIY oil changes.

I've currently got no car having sold my 760. I'm not planning to get anything yet, but have been looking around so I have an idea of what to get when I need another car. I'll consider anything... but every time I look and apply the criteria I'm looking for and bang for buck in real world situations, I always end up back at 7 series. When I bought my original E65 730d I found that you could get the equivalent engine, trim and mileage level 7 series for the same price as a 1 year newer 5 series or 2 year newer 3 series, but that the depreciation from each is far in favour of the (already tanked in value) 7 series.

[williamp]

good choices. Can I add an XF on smaller tyres- a lot of noise and roughness comes from big wheels and thin tyres/ sports suspension.

Roll the dice on an old Range Rover. Like this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105072...

[DSLiverpool]

GS450h - battery silent for a mile or so

[nobrakes]

Kayess5 said:

eein said:

I've had a couple of BMW 7 series for almost exactly what you have described. Big, comfy, practical, fast enough (ok the last one was the V12...), handling ok but not a sports car, etc.

~£10k will get you a F01 LCI (facelift from 2013 onwards). Most are fairly high miles (80-150k), but that'll be long distance motorway miles, so a FSH and it'll be ok.

If you can find one with 4 wheel steering (they call it "active steering") and the all round parking cameras then the 'about town' becomes easy despite it's size. Long journeys are a given. And the look of the F01 is fairly plain, so you dont get people thikning your some big exec knob.

A petrol one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105232...

A smart looking deisel one:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...

Wow I didn't realise the 7 series was such good value. That petrol one for £10,500 looks particularly good though the seller hasn't taken any time at all to write a good description so you would need to do any checks thoroughly. Also when he says "full service history", is that BMW or independent or just DIY oil changes.

That 6yr old 740L looked good for £10k, but it’s on 150k miles, so in a couple of years, anything north of 150k will have a very limited resale market.

Great if your likely to keep it for about 6 or 7 years though.