£30-40k Car Budget Not sure what to go for?
Discussion
Hi All
So after 4 years of running an old 2005 W211 E320 CDI luxobarge which I bought at 132k miles, it has not got to the point where the car currently sitting at 255k miles is no longer worth repairing anymore. Every other week a sensor is going, has tons of oil leaks, the shocks are now badly worn and some rust is building underneath.
Time for another car but not sure what to go for. I fully work from home now and will for the foreseeable future, before I would do 20k miles a year but run my own consultancy from home for the past 2 years so never drive for work so annual mileage is max 6k hence petrol costs ain't a big concern.
My budget is currently £30k but will push to £40k for the right model/spec, my concern is not too much the purchase price but more the depreciation/maintenance. I live in the country so insurance isn't a major problem, talking £200-300 difference between my old E class and something like an M3 Comp with declared mods.
In terms of preference I have always loved big luxury saloons, my fathers LWB 2018 S Class is always the car of choice for me to drive but in town the car can be a bit of a pain especially when trying to find a parking space and performing three-point turns on inner-city roads, finding gaps in busy traffic to merge etc. I have narrowed choices down to 640d Gran Coupe, SL63 amg, Range Rover SVR (On lease is tempting), M6 Gran Coupe (only 10-12k diff between diesel but a whole lot more car), even considered a Lexus RC F (but not a fan of the old tech and somewhat boring interior).
Not sure what to go for, I am effectively looking for something luxurious but with a bit of punch but unsure what options there are out there, not a fan of the newer mercs apart from the SL but as much as I love that car it's not very practical in terms of space and passengers. I will also be using the car as a daily and may have to meet clients in it so am avoiding anything like Astons, Porsches etc, which I have learnt from other friends that their clients/work colleagues get jealous of resulting in lost business.
Any ideas appreciated
So after 4 years of running an old 2005 W211 E320 CDI luxobarge which I bought at 132k miles, it has not got to the point where the car currently sitting at 255k miles is no longer worth repairing anymore. Every other week a sensor is going, has tons of oil leaks, the shocks are now badly worn and some rust is building underneath.
Time for another car but not sure what to go for. I fully work from home now and will for the foreseeable future, before I would do 20k miles a year but run my own consultancy from home for the past 2 years so never drive for work so annual mileage is max 6k hence petrol costs ain't a big concern.
My budget is currently £30k but will push to £40k for the right model/spec, my concern is not too much the purchase price but more the depreciation/maintenance. I live in the country so insurance isn't a major problem, talking £200-300 difference between my old E class and something like an M3 Comp with declared mods.
In terms of preference I have always loved big luxury saloons, my fathers LWB 2018 S Class is always the car of choice for me to drive but in town the car can be a bit of a pain especially when trying to find a parking space and performing three-point turns on inner-city roads, finding gaps in busy traffic to merge etc. I have narrowed choices down to 640d Gran Coupe, SL63 amg, Range Rover SVR (On lease is tempting), M6 Gran Coupe (only 10-12k diff between diesel but a whole lot more car), even considered a Lexus RC F (but not a fan of the old tech and somewhat boring interior).
Not sure what to go for, I am effectively looking for something luxurious but with a bit of punch but unsure what options there are out there, not a fan of the newer mercs apart from the SL but as much as I love that car it's not very practical in terms of space and passengers. I will also be using the car as a daily and may have to meet clients in it so am avoiding anything like Astons, Porsches etc, which I have learnt from other friends that their clients/work colleagues get jealous of resulting in lost business.
Any ideas appreciated
Fusion777 said:
Not keen on the latest CLS? I'd have said a 640d would be ideal. You could get a newer and better specced 530d though perhaps. SL63 and M6 are going to be pricey to run, a league above the earlier stuff mentioned.
A lot depends on whether you want a saloon, couple, SUV, estate, etc.
CLS I am not impressed with the interior it seems a bit outdated in comparison to the 6 series, I am prepared for the running costs for an SL or M6, I am lucky to have family members in the mechanic trade so labour costs won't be too bad and I am able to get car parts at trade prices.A lot depends on whether you want a saloon, couple, SUV, estate, etc.
I do prefer saloons, never been a fan of the way SUVs drive but have found them good to make progress in especially on country lanes with the extra visibility. Have considered a 4.2 V8 Diesel Cayenne which seem to be around the £35k mark
fflump said:
If I was your client I'd prefer you to show up in an Aston Martin to a RR SVR!
At least it would show some taste ;-)
I am the same too, when I worked in offices I would often compliment the sales reps turning in BMW M2s, Mustangs, Lexus IF S etc. Which were often worth less than the car park full of 530Ds and A6 estates, however, I do know most people don't have a clue about cars and assume if you drive anything deemed "flash" they often hate on you. I do remember turning up to meet a client in an Audi S6 worth no more than £12k at the time and them making a sly comment that I am being paid too well whilst they arrived in a new Skoda Kodiaq probably worth 2.5 times the S6 🤷, just can't win with some peopleAt least it would show some taste ;-)
rajsingh7 said:
Hi All
So after 4 years of running an old 2005 W211 E320 CDI luxobarge which I bought at 132k miles, it has not got to the point where the car currently sitting at 255k miles is no longer worth repairing anymore. Every other week a sensor is going, has tons of oil leaks, the shocks are now badly worn and some rust is building underneath.
Time for another car but not sure what to go for. I fully work from home now and will for the foreseeable future, before I would do 20k miles a year but run my own consultancy from home for the past 2 years so never drive for work so annual mileage is max 6k hence petrol costs ain't a big concern.
My budget is currently £30k but will push to £40k for the right model/spec, my concern is not too much the purchase price but more the depreciation/maintenance. I live in the country so insurance isn't a major problem, talking £200-300 difference between my old E class and something like an M3 Comp with declared mods.
In terms of preference I have always loved big luxury saloons, my fathers LWB 2018 S Class is always the car of choice for me to drive but in town the car can be a bit of a pain especially when trying to find a parking space and performing three-point turns on inner-city roads, finding gaps in busy traffic to merge etc. I have narrowed choices down to 640d Gran Coupe, SL63 amg, Range Rover SVR (On lease is tempting), M6 Gran Coupe (only 10-12k diff between diesel but a whole lot more car), even considered a Lexus RC F (but not a fan of the old tech and somewhat boring interior).
Not sure what to go for, I am effectively looking for something luxurious but with a bit of punch but unsure what options there are out there, not a fan of the newer mercs apart from the SL but as much as I love that car it's not very practical in terms of space and passengers. I will also be using the car as a daily and may have to meet clients in it so am avoiding anything like Astons, Porsches etc, which I have learnt from other friends that their clients/work colleagues get jealous of resulting in lost business.
Any ideas appreciated
I'd say that the Mercedes CL really does tick your boxes it has all the luxury you're looking for they're imo a smart looking car & practical too:So after 4 years of running an old 2005 W211 E320 CDI luxobarge which I bought at 132k miles, it has not got to the point where the car currently sitting at 255k miles is no longer worth repairing anymore. Every other week a sensor is going, has tons of oil leaks, the shocks are now badly worn and some rust is building underneath.
Time for another car but not sure what to go for. I fully work from home now and will for the foreseeable future, before I would do 20k miles a year but run my own consultancy from home for the past 2 years so never drive for work so annual mileage is max 6k hence petrol costs ain't a big concern.
My budget is currently £30k but will push to £40k for the right model/spec, my concern is not too much the purchase price but more the depreciation/maintenance. I live in the country so insurance isn't a major problem, talking £200-300 difference between my old E class and something like an M3 Comp with declared mods.
In terms of preference I have always loved big luxury saloons, my fathers LWB 2018 S Class is always the car of choice for me to drive but in town the car can be a bit of a pain especially when trying to find a parking space and performing three-point turns on inner-city roads, finding gaps in busy traffic to merge etc. I have narrowed choices down to 640d Gran Coupe, SL63 amg, Range Rover SVR (On lease is tempting), M6 Gran Coupe (only 10-12k diff between diesel but a whole lot more car), even considered a Lexus RC F (but not a fan of the old tech and somewhat boring interior).
Not sure what to go for, I am effectively looking for something luxurious but with a bit of punch but unsure what options there are out there, not a fan of the newer mercs apart from the SL but as much as I love that car it's not very practical in terms of space and passengers. I will also be using the car as a daily and may have to meet clients in it so am avoiding anything like Astons, Porsches etc, which I have learnt from other friends that their clients/work colleagues get jealous of resulting in lost business.
Any ideas appreciated
CL500 you'll get a nice high spec one with the 4.7TT V8 which has plenty of go & nigh on 500bhp with a remap it's a car that seems to be the answer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...
CL63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...
At the top of your budget there's the S Coupe 500 AMG Line Premium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...
Leftfield
CL65 not cheap to run but you won't see another:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010094...
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd say that the Mercedes CL really does tick your boxes it has all the luxury you're looking for they're imo a smart looking car & practical too:
CL500 you'll get a nice high spec one with the 4.7TT V8 which has plenty of go & nigh on 500bhp with a remap it's a car that seems to be the answer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...
CL63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...
At the top of your budget there's the S Coupe 500 AMG Line Premium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...
Leftfield
CL65 not cheap to run but you won't see another:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010094...
Only issue is my father has an S Class LWB facelift with all the options on which I drive on most weekends, a pre-facelift Coupe would feel like a stepdown in comparison CL500 you'll get a nice high spec one with the 4.7TT V8 which has plenty of go & nigh on 500bhp with a remap it's a car that seems to be the answer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...
CL63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...
At the top of your budget there's the S Coupe 500 AMG Line Premium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112070...
Leftfield
CL65 not cheap to run but you won't see another:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010094...
Have booked a test drive for a M6 Gran Coupe Competiton to see how I get on with it, have only driven an M3 Comp which I found had too much road noise and wasn't very comfortable on a long journey. Hoping the M6 is more softer in comparison but will wait and see
Had a test drive of a 2016 M6 GC, had all the options (360 camera, heated rear seats, heads up display, Bang & Olufsen etc), was impressed with how well it rode in comparison to an M3 comp. For reference I had driven their in an late model S Class and by comparison at not point felt uncomfortable within the M6.
Was impressed by the power of the car but damp roads and having Falkens rather than P4S tyres meant I couldn't get the power down very well. However this is where after the initial excitement for the car wore off and I began inspecting the car properly, list was as follows:
- Front tyres had around 3-4mm around but on closer inspection were worn on the inside to the point of being almost bald
- Windscreen surrounding rubbers had multiple screwdriver marks as if someone had tried to pry it open and gave up
- Vin Sticker within the B pillar driver side had multiple screwdriver marks as if someone attempted to remove it
- Some parts of the car (sills, covers, trim etc) were immaculate whilst others worse for wear as if some parts had been replaced
- Car didn't feel as fast as I thought it should, perhaps it could be that I did drive with TC on as understandably the dealer did not want me to turn it off incase I spin the car out
- Carbon roof had a slight white milky colour to it as if the laquer had been penetrated at some point (Possibly due to cheap car washes that use acid/non-compatible chemicals)
- Rear tyres were Falkens rather than P4s or Supersports (again hints its been run on a budget)
- Car computer only had service history till 18k miles within the cars ICE, car had 38k miles on it at the time, dealer did say he had paperwork for the dealership services but had it been done by a dealer it seems very unlikely they would not have programmed it into the car too
- Seats were worn on the fronts, bolsters where yellow instead of white, leather around stitching in some parks was worn grey and the stitching stretched at some points, steering had multiple marks from what looks like drivers wearing rings
- 2 of the rear wheels had some light kurbing of which turned the diamond cut cloudy and the centre caps were peeling away
- Tracking was out slightly, not a lot but was somewhat noticeable
- final nail in the coffin was that it had 3 prev owners but was advertised as having only 2
Did point this out to the dealer who said its a personal preference not everybody wants new tyres on a car, marks are in line with age etc. I didn't buy that and felt the dealer knew something about the car's history he wasn't telling me. Again this was a so-called performance car dealer with 4.8 star google ratings claiming their clientele to be performance car enthusiasts who are definitely not the type to be accepting cars in such condition, especially low mileage examples.
Overall I think it was just a bad example but now have a reference point as to what to look for in an M6, back on the search again but was overall impressed with the car as a whole just not the example I saw.
Was impressed by the power of the car but damp roads and having Falkens rather than P4S tyres meant I couldn't get the power down very well. However this is where after the initial excitement for the car wore off and I began inspecting the car properly, list was as follows:
- Front tyres had around 3-4mm around but on closer inspection were worn on the inside to the point of being almost bald
- Windscreen surrounding rubbers had multiple screwdriver marks as if someone had tried to pry it open and gave up
- Vin Sticker within the B pillar driver side had multiple screwdriver marks as if someone attempted to remove it
- Some parts of the car (sills, covers, trim etc) were immaculate whilst others worse for wear as if some parts had been replaced
- Car didn't feel as fast as I thought it should, perhaps it could be that I did drive with TC on as understandably the dealer did not want me to turn it off incase I spin the car out
- Carbon roof had a slight white milky colour to it as if the laquer had been penetrated at some point (Possibly due to cheap car washes that use acid/non-compatible chemicals)
- Rear tyres were Falkens rather than P4s or Supersports (again hints its been run on a budget)
- Car computer only had service history till 18k miles within the cars ICE, car had 38k miles on it at the time, dealer did say he had paperwork for the dealership services but had it been done by a dealer it seems very unlikely they would not have programmed it into the car too
- Seats were worn on the fronts, bolsters where yellow instead of white, leather around stitching in some parks was worn grey and the stitching stretched at some points, steering had multiple marks from what looks like drivers wearing rings
- 2 of the rear wheels had some light kurbing of which turned the diamond cut cloudy and the centre caps were peeling away
- Tracking was out slightly, not a lot but was somewhat noticeable
- final nail in the coffin was that it had 3 prev owners but was advertised as having only 2
Did point this out to the dealer who said its a personal preference not everybody wants new tyres on a car, marks are in line with age etc. I didn't buy that and felt the dealer knew something about the car's history he wasn't telling me. Again this was a so-called performance car dealer with 4.8 star google ratings claiming their clientele to be performance car enthusiasts who are definitely not the type to be accepting cars in such condition, especially low mileage examples.
Overall I think it was just a bad example but now have a reference point as to what to look for in an M6, back on the search again but was overall impressed with the car as a whole just not the example I saw.
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