New daily, £6k budget, what to get?

[TheAngryDog]

I need a new daily and I can't really think what to get.

My requirements are:

DAB Radio
4/5 seats
Automatic
30mpg would be nice
£6k budget

I've been looking at Audi A8s, Merc S classes and the like, but just unsure about what I want and how reliable buying at that end of the market will be.

Anyone have any suggestions please?

[ZX10R NIN]

What's your usage?
Are you okay with adding Carplay/Android Auto?

Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507315...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506183...

CLS350cdi but you'll have to add DAB/Android Auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...

CAT S 3.0d XF Portfolio:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503210...

2.0d Insignia (I know these may not be your favourite but they make a good daily) good rep mobile, it ticks all the boxes.

[TheAngryDog]

ZX10R NIN said:

What's your usage?
Are you okay with adding Carplay/Android Auto?

Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507315...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506183...

CLS350cdi but you'll have to add DAB/Android Auto:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501238...

CAT S 3.0d XF Portfolio:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503210...

2.0d Insignia (I know these may not be your favourite but they make a good daily) good rep mobile, it ticks all the boxes.

Thanks for the options. I'd considered a CLS but messing with the standard audio isn't something I know much about.

I aren't allowed a Jag

Usage is 30 mile round trip to work on my office days, general around town, travelling around on longer distances.

The Insignia is a good call, but I just don't know if I want a small engine with an autobox.

[A500leroy]

Lexus CT ?

[Ry.Clarke]

I’m trying to figure out how someone presumably on quite a tight budget has any chance at all of maintaining what was once a complex £100k car.

Buy a Lexus.

[Evanivitch]

Ry.Clarke said:

I’m trying to figure out how someone presumably on quite a tight budget has any chance at all of maintaining what was once a complex £100k car.

Buy a Lexus.

Perhaps they really hate deprecation but happy to pay running costs?

[Ry.Clarke]

Evanivitch said:

Ry.Clarke said:

I’m trying to figure out how someone presumably on quite a tight budget has any chance at all of maintaining what was once a complex £100k car.

Buy a Lexus.

Perhaps they really hate deprecation but happy to pay running costs?

That would be a wild strategy but I could see it being true for somebody 😂

[Evanivitch]

Ry.Clarke said:

Evanivitch said:

Ry.Clarke said:

I’m trying to figure out how someone presumably on quite a tight budget has any chance at all of maintaining what was once a complex £100k car.

Buy a Lexus.

Perhaps they really hate deprecation but happy to pay running costs?

That would be a wild strategy but I could see it being true for somebody ?

Check some of the projects on channels like Top Dead Centre.

[TheAngryDog]

Ry.Clarke said:

I’m trying to figure out how someone presumably on quite a tight budget has any chance at all of maintaining what was once a complex £100k car.

Buy a Lexus.

I comfortably run a supercharged E60 M5, I just don't want to spend £15k on a car that is going to sit in my work car park a few days a week and most of the rest of the time on my driveway.

The daily will be bought with cash, no finance; I've never financed a car before and don't want to be saddled with monthly payments.

[ZX10R NIN]

TheAngryDog said:

Thanks for the options. I'd considered a CLS but messing with the standard audio isn't something I know much about.

I aren't allowed a Jag

Usage is 30 mile round trip to work on my office days, general around town, travelling around on longer distances.

The Insignia is a good call, but I just don't know if I want a small engine with an autobox.

I get what you mean I ran a remapped Mondeo Vignale for a few years & it was faultless & in reality perfect for my usage BUT I missed the extra grunt a 3.0d produces which is why I now have an E400d

It's actually pretty simple the hard part is if you want a good DAB (most of these have an aerial that sticks to the front windscreen which is okay but can be patchy) signal.

Windscreen:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185300165242?_skw=dab%2...

Roof will give you the best signal but you'll have to get it painted (depending on the colour of the car you buy) & then fitted:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365049926017?_skw=dab%2...

The carplay bit is simple it's around £160-280:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185940689937?fits=Car+M...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127293447558?fits=Car+M...


Find an audio specialist near you & they'll fit it with ease.

[TheAngryDog]

Having been looking around, I actually think a w212 E350CDi fits the bill for me.

It'll also tell me if I like the w212 generation enough to consider an E63 AMG next year.

[confused_buyer]

Not sure I'd go for the Cat S but a Jaguar XF should be on the list. It's a better car to drive in terms of ride and handling than anything Mercedes or BMW produced from the same era, in fact probably a better car all round.

In many ways the 2.2 is the pick and is reliable as well.

[confused_buyer]

TheAngryDog said:

I've been looking at Audi A8s, Merc S classes and the like, but just unsure about what I want and how reliable buying at that end of the market will be.

The answer to that is "not very". A sub £6k S Class has been known to reduce many a stoic person to tears.

[georgeyboy12345]

I wouldn't get a diesel for that kind of usage, you'll run into issues fairly quickly.

What about a hybrid?

This Lexus GS450h, while leggy, has had a recent new hybrid battery so will be good for at least another 120k, or 15 years at the kinds of mileages you do. Full of luxury, runs fine on E10 petrol and looks to have an honest seller - an old boy who is having to get rid due to poor health and acquiring a motability car. Would make a great daily.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507164...


An oddball hybrid, and maybe a nice pairing with your E60 M5 is this F10 535i ActiveHybrid in SE spec. It's no slouch either

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508205...

[confused_buyer]

The only hybrid I'd touch at this price range is a Toyota or Lexus.

The German stuff is an absolute nightmare and basically worthless in the trade as no one will touch them as they are such a liability.

Any 330e, 530e, C300e or approximate equivalent is just one hiccup away from the breakers yard.

[ScoobyChris]

Given you didn’t explicitly mention performance (and you hinted it was just for commuting and would be sat in the work car park) but you did mention reliability, a wild card suggestion would be an EV - maybe a Nissan Leaf or i3. Pennies to run and very low servicing costs … with the savings being put towards the wallet buster

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

TheAngryDog said:

Having been looking around, I actually think a w212 E350CDi fits the bill for me.

It'll also tell me if I like the w212 generation enough to consider an E63 AMG next year.

Great choice, although I might be a bit bias

[TheAngryDog]

I've been looking for a w212 E350CDi but seem to be struggling to find one in the spec I want, but I am also learning that they have rear subframe issues also.

It seems that the w212 only has DAB rather than DAB+, which may make it all moot anyway.

My Mini with DAB+ has spoiled me!