Something fun but big enough for 3 kids in the back
Discussion
I need some opinions at the 11th hour. For a while I've needed a bigger car, I've known it and my wife has suggested it.
I've always had petrol cars, favouring lightweight fairly quick cars, favourite being an e46 m3. After I broke ranks with a 335d coupe which I did actually like, it made sense for my mileage and commute but it didn't light me up on the back roads as much as I would have liked. I like lightweight powerful cars.
I need a 3rd rear seat and the same size if not bigger boot. Has to be petrol, powerful with a good chassis. My top end budget is 30k.
It needs to take 3 kids and wife in comfort but also excite me driving through mid Wales. Now I know this has e90 m3 written all over it but I want a change from BMW and I just don't like audis (although I would like to own a b7 rs4 at some stage). Rs6 is defiantly out and here is the 11th hour dilemma.
It was suggested to me to drive an xfr, yes an old mans jag. 2 tonnes of British engineering and I must admit spectacular engineering. So I jump in and think, this can doesn't feel like a jag. No mahogany wood, no putrid beige leather with contrasting stitching. It was a nice place to be, plenty of gadgets. So I started it, sounds quite nice. Took it out and thought this thing isn't going to like corners, it felt so soft and verging on clumsy at slow speeds, wafting. Push it and the v8 gargles and the thing changes direction nothing like a 2 tonne car I've ever driven. It was honestly remarkable. I did actually love it, more than the c63 that as originally my number 1. I thought the merc is a little less old man than the jag. I'm 29 btw.
So last week I tired to do a deal on thr xfr but it didn't work out, I like a good price, I didn't get it. Was that a sign, I thought about it, is a 2 tonne saloon me, no not really. Have a got to face facts that I need space for 3 kids yes but a jag, a jag? Really. I'm not convinced on the image at all, but it drives better on the road than the m5, I really like the c63 but the jag just feels a tad better. Faster, it's ballistic and IMO has a better diff and chassis.
I've considered 2 cars, another e46 m3 and a boring diesel estate but ideally just one car but what?
I've always had petrol cars, favouring lightweight fairly quick cars, favourite being an e46 m3. After I broke ranks with a 335d coupe which I did actually like, it made sense for my mileage and commute but it didn't light me up on the back roads as much as I would have liked. I like lightweight powerful cars.
I need a 3rd rear seat and the same size if not bigger boot. Has to be petrol, powerful with a good chassis. My top end budget is 30k.
It needs to take 3 kids and wife in comfort but also excite me driving through mid Wales. Now I know this has e90 m3 written all over it but I want a change from BMW and I just don't like audis (although I would like to own a b7 rs4 at some stage). Rs6 is defiantly out and here is the 11th hour dilemma.
It was suggested to me to drive an xfr, yes an old mans jag. 2 tonnes of British engineering and I must admit spectacular engineering. So I jump in and think, this can doesn't feel like a jag. No mahogany wood, no putrid beige leather with contrasting stitching. It was a nice place to be, plenty of gadgets. So I started it, sounds quite nice. Took it out and thought this thing isn't going to like corners, it felt so soft and verging on clumsy at slow speeds, wafting. Push it and the v8 gargles and the thing changes direction nothing like a 2 tonne car I've ever driven. It was honestly remarkable. I did actually love it, more than the c63 that as originally my number 1. I thought the merc is a little less old man than the jag. I'm 29 btw.
So last week I tired to do a deal on thr xfr but it didn't work out, I like a good price, I didn't get it. Was that a sign, I thought about it, is a 2 tonne saloon me, no not really. Have a got to face facts that I need space for 3 kids yes but a jag, a jag? Really. I'm not convinced on the image at all, but it drives better on the road than the m5, I really like the c63 but the jag just feels a tad better. Faster, it's ballistic and IMO has a better diff and chassis.
I've considered 2 cars, another e46 m3 and a boring diesel estate but ideally just one car but what?
what about
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use... - I know this one is a diesel but I couldn't find the W12 engine one for sale
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use... - I know this one is a diesel but I couldn't find the W12 engine one for sale
Edited by james280779 on Monday 14th January 05:02
If you have three kids than that is much more of an advertisement that you are no longer in your first flush of youth.
Buy the Jag. If you're used to the finish and refinement of a BMW then a Vauxhall will disappoint. I own an XKR at 33 with 1 kid - though I could get two car seats in the back if need be - it's just a matter of choosing the right ones - so three should be fine in a normal saloon car. Ignore also those who counsel doom in the form of an S-Max or similar too - such vehicles are entirely unnecessary; kids' crap expands to fill the space provided, so just provide less space and you'll have less crap in your life.
If you have £30k burning a hole in your pocket, then I can think of no good reason why you wouldn't go for an XFR. Except maybe a Quattroporte...
Buy the Jag. If you're used to the finish and refinement of a BMW then a Vauxhall will disappoint. I own an XKR at 33 with 1 kid - though I could get two car seats in the back if need be - it's just a matter of choosing the right ones - so three should be fine in a normal saloon car. Ignore also those who counsel doom in the form of an S-Max or similar too - such vehicles are entirely unnecessary; kids' crap expands to fill the space provided, so just provide less space and you'll have less crap in your life.
If you have £30k burning a hole in your pocket, then I can think of no good reason why you wouldn't go for an XFR. Except maybe a Quattroporte...
Sorry, should have clarified, i only need space for 1 car seat, the other 2 dont need those big seats.
The guy with the xkr and 1 kid, well done! I stood in the showroom for 10 mins trying to convince the mrs it would work until i realised i hadnt even convinced myself.
I would love to own one of those Dodge Challengers at some point but it would have to be if i had a spare few million as i dont like it enough for it to be an every day car.
The C63 is a great call, it would have to have PP / LSD. It felt more edgy than the jag, sounded a bit nicer, ruder but the jag impressed just that bit more. Ballistic pace, proper slam into the seat, can be hustled with very precise accuracy apposed to an edgy c63 (although the one i drove didnt have an LSD!!) and yet the jag was very soft and comfortable around town even on 20's.
I dont see any reason why i shouldn't. Apart from it will be worth f-all in 2 or 3 years. I dont think they will hold their value as well as a c63. who knows, but a 29k XFR i can see it loosing 3k per year easy, plus the 2k i would loose almost immediately if i buy from a dealer.
Ironically 17mpg - 20mpg doesnt bother me. On a 250 mile trip it's about another £20 compared to my 335d. I currently do 4k - 6k miles per year. If i started doing over about 12k i would consider selling it.
The guy with the xkr and 1 kid, well done! I stood in the showroom for 10 mins trying to convince the mrs it would work until i realised i hadnt even convinced myself.
I would love to own one of those Dodge Challengers at some point but it would have to be if i had a spare few million as i dont like it enough for it to be an every day car.
The C63 is a great call, it would have to have PP / LSD. It felt more edgy than the jag, sounded a bit nicer, ruder but the jag impressed just that bit more. Ballistic pace, proper slam into the seat, can be hustled with very precise accuracy apposed to an edgy c63 (although the one i drove didnt have an LSD!!) and yet the jag was very soft and comfortable around town even on 20's.
I dont see any reason why i shouldn't. Apart from it will be worth f-all in 2 or 3 years. I dont think they will hold their value as well as a c63. who knows, but a 29k XFR i can see it loosing 3k per year easy, plus the 2k i would loose almost immediately if i buy from a dealer.
Ironically 17mpg - 20mpg doesnt bother me. On a 250 mile trip it's about another £20 compared to my 335d. I currently do 4k - 6k miles per year. If i started doing over about 12k i would consider selling it.
AlexKing said:
Thanks. To be fair, I have two things in my favour - a very understanding wife and short legs...
The salesman even put me off saying you need a special seat to fit those bucket seats. I hope with the new f-type coming they will turn the xkr into a better 2+2 with the next iteration. The current shape looks stunning! So i hope they dont mess too much.
Nearly new Audi S8 D3 - what's not to like about a V10?! You'll fit 3 across the back all day long and it sounds the b
ks with a decent exhaust. Values will continue to plummet now a V8T motor is available in the D4 version so may not be financially a good plan bought at less than 3 years old.....
ks with a decent exhaust. Values will continue to plummet now a V8T motor is available in the D4 version so may not be financially a good plan bought at less than 3 years old.....
bp1000 said:
The salesman even put me off saying you need a special seat to fit those bucket seats.
I hope with the new f-type coming they will turn the xkr into a better 2+2 with the next iteration. The current shape looks stunning! So i hope they dont mess too much.
Anything isofix will go in, pretty much, but the salesman tried to shove me in the direction of an XF instead, saying "you'll be back in a few months when you find it impractical". I'll have had it for two years in April. It's not ideal, but the three of us have been on a two week camping holiday in it. I gather the next XK will be bigger, now that it doesn't have to try and be the sports car AND the GT in the range, and I'll try and get away with that when the time comes too, probably...I hope with the new f-type coming they will turn the xkr into a better 2+2 with the next iteration. The current shape looks stunning! So i hope they dont mess too much.
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