Alternatives to the obvious?
Discussion
OK so I need some suggestions.
Just moving in to new offices and this is going to mean a 70 mile round trip each day (or most days anyway).
Pretty much all motorway - dull - but there it is.
I currently have a three cars. A 2016 RS Megane Cup-S, and ancient land cruiser for dog duties and a leased L200 pickup, because it seemed like a good idea at the time, and which is going back soon unless I decide to extend.
The thing is that I'm not over excited about hammering up and down the motorway in the Megane because the Cup chassis is very stiff and I'd prefer more comfort.
However I also want something with a decent amount of poke but clearly with 70 miles a day and the lunatic fuel prices it needs to have decentish economy.
All of which has inevitably led me to the 535d or 335d BMWs. They look like very competent cars, have serious torque, will deliver impressive mpg and are probably very nice places to be.
The problem is that this is probably exactly what everyone else ends up going for (because it makes perfect sense) and if at all possible I'd like to have something a little more individual.
So what is the collective PH thinking? My head (and heat to a certain extent) says grunty BMW diesel but I have always has something a little different on the driveway and this would end that 20 year run. (Lotus Elise, TVR, Fast Audi, M3, etc)
If fuel was not so expensive I'd just take the hit and go for a petrol but at £15 a day it does start to add up considerably.
I'll be buying SH and don't want to spend much more than say £25k as it is just going to evaporate in depreciation.
Or electric? Is it worth it? What would that cost? Had a shot in a friends Tesla 3 (the fast one what ever that is) and it was very rapid but I wonder if it would be as good all round as the BMW diesel options.
Thought?
Just moving in to new offices and this is going to mean a 70 mile round trip each day (or most days anyway).
Pretty much all motorway - dull - but there it is.
I currently have a three cars. A 2016 RS Megane Cup-S, and ancient land cruiser for dog duties and a leased L200 pickup, because it seemed like a good idea at the time, and which is going back soon unless I decide to extend.
The thing is that I'm not over excited about hammering up and down the motorway in the Megane because the Cup chassis is very stiff and I'd prefer more comfort.
However I also want something with a decent amount of poke but clearly with 70 miles a day and the lunatic fuel prices it needs to have decentish economy.
All of which has inevitably led me to the 535d or 335d BMWs. They look like very competent cars, have serious torque, will deliver impressive mpg and are probably very nice places to be.
The problem is that this is probably exactly what everyone else ends up going for (because it makes perfect sense) and if at all possible I'd like to have something a little more individual.
So what is the collective PH thinking? My head (and heat to a certain extent) says grunty BMW diesel but I have always has something a little different on the driveway and this would end that 20 year run. (Lotus Elise, TVR, Fast Audi, M3, etc)
If fuel was not so expensive I'd just take the hit and go for a petrol but at £15 a day it does start to add up considerably.
I'll be buying SH and don't want to spend much more than say £25k as it is just going to evaporate in depreciation.
Or electric? Is it worth it? What would that cost? Had a shot in a friends Tesla 3 (the fast one what ever that is) and it was very rapid but I wonder if it would be as good all round as the BMW diesel options.
Thought?
I'd buy a 2nd gen Leaf:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...
Will easily do that range, quick enough, save yourself £250/month in fuel, zero VED. Should be cheap to insure and run as well.
Very, very comfortable and quiet.
I have a 1st Gen Leaf, done 64k miles in it. Love the thing, it is just so refined.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...
Will easily do that range, quick enough, save yourself £250/month in fuel, zero VED. Should be cheap to insure and run as well.
Very, very comfortable and quiet.
I have a 1st Gen Leaf, done 64k miles in it. Love the thing, it is just so refined.
I have a 180 mile round trip to the office and bought a Tesla 3LR for the job. I did need a new car anyway, so the choice was easier.
It does it with comfort, no trouble at all. The perfect commuter car - and I've had a few, from Astons to Range Rovers, to Jags....
I didn't buy it save money or newts, but it is comically cheap to run. I tend to use it for everything now as it's just so easy.
It does it with comfort, no trouble at all. The perfect commuter car - and I've had a few, from Astons to Range Rovers, to Jags....
I didn't buy it save money or newts, but it is comically cheap to run. I tend to use it for everything now as it's just so easy.
I'd personally say if you want a saloon that's different from the usual German stuff then this would be a good shout -
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204224...
It will also mean going down to a less smooth and slower 4 pot, but I think you get quite a bit back in terms of looks and economy.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204224...
It will also mean going down to a less smooth and slower 4 pot, but I think you get quite a bit back in terms of looks and economy.
Al U said:
I'd personally say if you want a saloon that's different from the usual German stuff then this would be a good shout -
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204224...
It will also mean going down to a less smooth and slower 4 pot, but I think you get quite a bit back in terms of looks and economy.
Just what I was going to say. Apparently they handle very well, but for a quality interior you’d need a mid 2019 on.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204224...
It will also mean going down to a less smooth and slower 4 pot, but I think you get quite a bit back in terms of looks and economy.
This betrays both my idiosyncrasy and my somewhat bullish confidence in Gallic products but personally, I'd go for something older, French and squashy. Renault Vel Satis, Citroen C6, DS 5.
Or maybe a decent diesel Alfa 159 or Brera.
ETA: unless you need to consider the ULEZ or any other clean-air zone, in which case none of these will fly
Or maybe a decent diesel Alfa 159 or Brera.
ETA: unless you need to consider the ULEZ or any other clean-air zone, in which case none of these will fly
Edited by ChattingWham on Wednesday 11th May 10:05
Another vote for some sort of EV. If it's just comfort and costs as the main concerns then an EV should do that no worries for you. As above, quiet, refined, no VED, low insurance, minimal fuel costs even with the recent hike in electric prices. Who knows, you might even be able to wangle some free electricity if you work near a window pointing to the car park.
Alpina D3 / D4?
It's a bit different, fast and economical.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13131727
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12537173
It's a bit different, fast and economical.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13131727
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12537173
Edited by samjlevy on Wednesday 11th May 12:00
Jaguar XJ LWB is quite rare, good economy and performance, excellent transmission, glides over our crap roads with ease, excellent insulation against noise and a fantastic sound system.
One owner, low mileage and fully loaded.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112040...
One owner, low mileage and fully loaded.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112040...
samjlevy said:
Alpina D3 / D4?
It's a bit different, fast and economical.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13131727
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12537173
Great shout! These are frigging epic! (For a diesel)It's a bit different, fast and economical.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13131727
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12537173
Edited by samjlevy on Wednesday 11th May 12:00
Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Wednesday 11th May 15:32
I'd second the Alpina D3 my OH has one & it's just superb:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...
D4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204014...
XD3 Hybrid:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204054...
Or spend a lot less & get a Q70d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204305...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...
35h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203013...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204234...
D4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204014...
XD3 Hybrid:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204054...
Or spend a lot less & get a Q70d:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204305...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...
35h
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203013...
Thanks guys,
Lots of interesting suggestions here which I'll ponder over.
The electric option is certainly tempting - but the cost of getting in to something interesting will be pretty steep. Not sure I'd buy anything electric so it would be a lease deal. The cost to run will clearly be less but the monthly payments (£650 ish for the Tesla 3 LR) will massively wipe out the fuel savings sadly, particularly since the Megane owes me nothing having bought it for cash brand new back in 2016. We shall see.
The Alpinas also look great - but boy do they command a premium over their equivalent BMW stablemates!
Lots of interesting suggestions here which I'll ponder over.
The electric option is certainly tempting - but the cost of getting in to something interesting will be pretty steep. Not sure I'd buy anything electric so it would be a lease deal. The cost to run will clearly be less but the monthly payments (£650 ish for the Tesla 3 LR) will massively wipe out the fuel savings sadly, particularly since the Megane owes me nothing having bought it for cash brand new back in 2016. We shall see.
The Alpinas also look great - but boy do they command a premium over their equivalent BMW stablemates!
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