Pics of your Fast Estate...
Discussion
otolith said:
I'm thinking of ditching the E350CDI because of the threatened ULEZ expansion. I was thinking of going petrol on the grounds that Euro6 diesels might be the next thing to come into the sights, but it looks like quick petrol estates are relatively scarce (and for some reason mostly Audis). Was initially looking to trade in the E class against something around 10k. Disappointing lack of anything interesting, so I'm thinking of trading the Z4M against something up to about 20k and WBAC'ing the Merc. Still a bit disappointing on the petrol front. Either another E class in EU6 flavour or a BMW 3 or 5 series estate in 30d or 35d form looks like the most likely option. I think I can now live with a bit less space than the E class now I no longer have a big dog, although we do have a rapidly elongating 14 year old taking up the rear legroom. Other option - XF Sportbrake, but a bit slow compared to the German suspects.
It's all a bit depressing.
Viewed one last weekend (was rough) and viewing another this weekend. I’m making the switch to diesel as I’m only getting 350 miles to £125 of VPower/Momentum in my Legacy daily. I’ll probably change my route a bit to include the motorway a bit more. It's all a bit depressing.
Never go close to the the ULEZ area so I should be ok. Manchester’s CAZ is/was exempt for private cars so I should be ok for a few years.
Whatever my next daily will be, it’ll have to be an estate, reasonably quick and a bit different.
I’ve always had the choice of petrol to be:
S4, Superb 280, R36, 850 T5R/V70R, Legacy TbSTI (just sold).
bolidemichael said:
AC43 said:
Harry Flashman said:
Diamond Detailing. Dan is great.
Thanks I'm NW so maybe out of his area.Out of interest, what's he charging for the machine polish?
And what sort of ceramic coating did you go for? The full 9 yds or a ceramic wax?
otolith said:
stevemcs said:
There are very few quick, or even brisk petrol estates about, There are even less if discount anything from the VAG stable.
Loads of S4 Avants. A few A4 3.0 TSI. A handful of RS6s. I know that the extensive load space in the RS6 is particularly useful for carrying wheelbarrow loads of £20 notes to the garage, and I'm a bit wary that they may be too nickable. I'm just not sure I want one enough to stomach the running costs, and wonder how compromised they are from a comfort point of view compared to a lesser A6.
Not sure about the S4. Quick, but not engaging - well, I don't really mind that, the E class is not engaging, but possibly hard ride and poor rear legroom? What I want is something that soothes long motorway journeys, doesn't rattle my teeth out on urban potholes and speed humps and makes A road overtakes effortless. Still, I like superchargers and V6s.
Or, if you really value ride comfort, an E500 comes with air suspension as standard. Shame there only 12 or 13 of them.
Mr E's making noises about selling his, though.
This is reserved, but maybe something like it (JDM spec, SE). Softer ride than the S line, but still has the 3.0 V6 Supercharged petrol engine.
https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...
https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...
MDMA . said:
This is reserved, but maybe something like it (JDM spec, SE). Softer ride than the S line, but still has the 3.0 V6 Supercharged petrol engine.
https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...
Nice combo. Do those come on air suspension as standard? Or just self leveling at the back?https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...
AC43 said:
Nice combo. Do those come on air suspension as standard? Or just self leveling at the back?
Not sure on the C6. I know there was an air option on the C7, but that was about £2k at the time. You can get the same car in C7 guise, but finding an air sprung one might be tricky. MDMA . said:
This is reserved, but maybe something like it (JDM spec, SE). Softer ride than the S line, but still has the 3.0 V6 Supercharged petrol engine.
https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...
Looks a nice car. I did look at an A6 before I bought the current car, but it had Blackpool illuminations on the dash and a waterfall out of the inside of the tailgate, so we skipped that one. https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...
I think the 330d/335d/530d/535d might be the way - the only fear is future restrictions. I guess it would be harsh to move beyond euro6 for diesel emissions and ULEZ zones, but they could.
MDMA . said:
AC43 said:
Nice combo. Do those come on air suspension as standard? Or just self leveling at the back?
Not sure on the C6. I know there was an air option on the C7, but that was about £2k at the time. You can get the same car in C7 guise, but finding an air sprung one might be tricky. Apart from other E Classes, (hydraulically-sprung) S Classes and old Citroens I can't say I've been in many other non-steel cars but I did recently have a go in a mate's V60. For a wobble box on ginormously heavy wheels, it seemed to have really good primary and secondary ride with good body control - it turned to have air suspension. I think for cars (or 4x4's) like that it makes even more sense as you can have a supple ride whilst controlling all that high mass.
Anyway, back to estates, it just means you can load them right up and pitch them into fast sweepers and they just feel rock solid. Just makes them even more usable.
Edited by AC43 on Thursday 16th June 17:13
AC43 said:
MDMA . said:
AC43 said:
Nice combo. Do those come on air suspension as standard? Or just self leveling at the back?
Not sure on the C6. I know there was an air option on the C7, but that was about £2k at the time. You can get the same car in C7 guise, but finding an air sprung one might be tricky. Apart from other E Classes, (hydraulically-sprung) S Classes and old Citroens I can't say I've been in many other non-steel cars but I did recently have a go in a mate's V60. For a wobble box on ginormously heavy wheels, it seemed to have really good primary and secondary ride with good body control - it turned to have air suspension. I think for cars (or 4x4's) like that it makes even more sense as you can have a supple ride whilst controlling all that high mass.
bolidemichael said:
AC43 said:
MDMA . said:
AC43 said:
Nice combo. Do those come on air suspension as standard? Or just self leveling at the back?
Not sure on the C6. I know there was an air option on the C7, but that was about £2k at the time. You can get the same car in C7 guise, but finding an air sprung one might be tricky. Apart from other E Classes, (hydraulically-sprung) S Classes and old Citroens I can't say I've been in many other non-steel cars but I did recently have a go in a mate's V60. For a wobble box on ginormously heavy wheels, it seemed to have really good primary and secondary ride with good body control - it turned to have air suspension. I think for cars (or 4x4's) like that it makes even more sense as you can have a supple ride whilst controlling all that high mass.
At the other end of the spectrum I was given a Volvo XC something as a hire car 5 or 6 years ago. It was on steel and the primary ride at low speed was very good indeed. As was it's composure at speed. On smooth tarmac, anyway,
As soon it hit broken tarmac, though, it suddenly rode like a Cortina with Parkinsons trying to shag a Marina. Bucking and banging and lurching all over the shop. Clearly, the primary ride came from the balloon tyres. The so-called body "control" came from having concrete springs. And, when the dampers were asked to come to the party, it was far too late and they were completely overwhelmed.
An air- or hydraulics-based system is clearly the way to square that particular circle.
otolith said:
My E class is still in the garage until tomorrow thanks to a holed pipe serving the rear air suspension.
It's annoying when it goes wrong, sure.In my case it's been pretty reliable and not something I worry about.
In twelve years I've had one compressor fail and have had one leaky spring. Happy with that, tbh.
The cars have more than made up for it when they've been loaded to the gunwales and have shrugged it off.
AC43 said:
It's annoying when it goes wrong, sure.
In my case it's been pretty reliable and not something I worry about.
In twelve years I've had one compressor fail and have had one leaky spring. Happy with that, tbh.
My old one once decided to deflate on one side overnight, but never did it again. This one has been gradually getting worse for a while, from making me wait while it pumped itself up in the morning, to doing it every time it was parked, to giving malfunction warnings on the dash while moving. Bit irritating, but looks like a relatively cheap fix (Mercedes didn't supply the right fixing kit, though, which is why the garage needs it another day).In my case it's been pretty reliable and not something I worry about.
In twelve years I've had one compressor fail and have had one leaky spring. Happy with that, tbh.
otolith said:
matchmaker said:
Skoda Superb with the 280bhp engine?
That's the two litre four pot from the Golf, isn't it? Hmmm. Not sure I'd like that. There is the 3.6 V6 as well, I suppose. Lots of leg room. Not really inspiring me though.The 3.6 V6 is in the previous version of the Superb. Nice engine, but less powerful and more thirsty than the four pot. The four pot is also very tuneable...it's similar to comparing the R32 Golf to the Golf R.
otolith said:
AC43 said:
It's annoying when it goes wrong, sure.
In my case it's been pretty reliable and not something I worry about.
In twelve years I've had one compressor fail and have had one leaky spring. Happy with that, tbh.
My old one once decided to deflate on one side overnight, but never did it again. This one has been gradually getting worse for a while, from making me wait while it pumped itself up in the morning, to doing it every time it was parked, to giving malfunction warnings on the dash while moving. Bit irritating, but looks like a relatively cheap fix (Mercedes didn't supply the right fixing kit, though, which is why the garage needs it another day).In my case it's been pretty reliable and not something I worry about.
In twelve years I've had one compressor fail and have had one leaky spring. Happy with that, tbh.
Nice garage, btw - that Elise looks fantastic.
AC43 said:
Nice combo. Do those come on air suspension as standard? Or just self leveling at the back?
I had a 2006 A6 Avant 4.2 V8 on air suspension and it wasn’t the best. My current Passat R36 is much smoother and more compliant. A6 was surprisingly firmly damped, handled well but didn’t have a very good ride around town - clattered over bumps a bit, though was very planted and comfy on smooth roads.Test drove an unloved 2010 C6 3.0 TFSI (non-air suspension, I think) and the engine and drive were pretty non-descript. I drove a 2009 S4 Avant with the same engine that I found both more comfortable and far nicer to drive. Boot is much smaller, though…
matchmaker said:
otolith said:
matchmaker said:
Skoda Superb with the 280bhp engine?
That's the two litre four pot from the Golf, isn't it? Hmmm. Not sure I'd like that. There is the 3.6 V6 as well, I suppose. Lots of leg room. Not really inspiring me though.The 3.6 V6 is in the previous version of the Superb. Nice engine, but less powerful and more thirsty than the four pot. The four pot is also very tuneable...it's similar to comparing the R32 Golf to the Golf R.
Skoda Superb 280 L&K by Alex D, on FlickrBut... You've got to know what you're getting. It's horrifically, cripplingly boring. I can't wait to get rid and get something, anything with more personality, and even though whatever I get will be worse at load lugging I just don't care.
otolith said:
Loads of S4 Avants. A few A4 3.0 TSI. A handful of RS6s.
I know that the extensive load space in the RS6 is particularly useful for carrying wheelbarrow loads of £20 notes to the garage, and I'm a bit wary that they may be too nickable. I'm just not sure I want one enough to stomach the running costs, and wonder how compromised they are from a comfort point of view compared to a lesser A6.
Not sure about the S4. Quick, but not engaging - well, I don't really mind that, the E class is not engaging, but possibly hard ride and poor rear legroom? What I want is something that soothes long motorway journeys, doesn't rattle my teeth out on urban potholes and speed humps and makes A road overtakes effortless. Still, I like superchargers and V6s.
I wouldn't touch anything from VAG, even though the S6 is a great car.I know that the extensive load space in the RS6 is particularly useful for carrying wheelbarrow loads of £20 notes to the garage, and I'm a bit wary that they may be too nickable. I'm just not sure I want one enough to stomach the running costs, and wonder how compromised they are from a comfort point of view compared to a lesser A6.
Not sure about the S4. Quick, but not engaging - well, I don't really mind that, the E class is not engaging, but possibly hard ride and poor rear legroom? What I want is something that soothes long motorway journeys, doesn't rattle my teeth out on urban potholes and speed humps and makes A road overtakes effortless. Still, I like superchargers and V6s.
matchmaker said:
otolith said:
matchmaker said:
Skoda Superb with the 280bhp engine?
That's the two litre four pot from the Golf, isn't it? Hmmm. Not sure I'd like that. There is the 3.6 V6 as well, I suppose. Lots of leg room. Not really inspiring me though.The 3.6 V6 is in the previous version of the Superb. Nice engine, but less powerful and more thirsty than the four pot. The four pot is also very tuneable...it's similar to comparing the R32 Golf to the Golf R.
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