Best luxury saloon ever?

Best luxury saloon ever?

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white_goodman

Original Poster:

4,042 posts

190 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Obviously a purely subjective answer but what in your opinion is the best luxury saloon ever all things considered? I've always been more of a hot hatch/estate fan, as I love the practicality of a tailgate and have only ever owned two saloons, a mk3 Cavalier briefly and a Civic, neither of which I would consider to be "luxury". However, a friend's dad used to pick us up from secondary school on a Friday afternoon in the early 90s in his dark grey Rover Sterling and I always loved that car and fancied something similarly luxurious one day. Despite the practical limitations of the saloons that I have owned, I did consider a Jetta when I got my current Golf Estate and did note that it felt tighter, quieter and more refined than the Golf, presumably due to the stiffer bodyshell. A larger saloon with a bigger boot would certainly mitigate the practical compromise.

So, 5-Series or bigger, V6/I6/V8, automatic, what would you recommend? I wouldn't be averse to a V6/I6 diesel but I don't really understand the new ULEZ regulations and that would be my concern with a diesel. I'm assuming that the answer is probably BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Jaguar but I guess something more leftfield like a Lexus, Volvo or Porsche could equally qualify or a Bentley/Rolls at the higher end. I haven't had any significant seat time in a 5-Series but a lot of people seem to love the E39 5-Series on here or do the newer 5-Series offer a better package? I have spent some time in W211 E-Classes and really quite liked them and a W220 S320, which I was less keen on. I wasn't keen on the C5 A6 and I drove the C6 A6 briefly and found the steering a bit overlight. I always thought the D2 A8s were cool though. I drive what I like and am not bothered about driving a 20 year old car if that's what I like. So from your experience, what do you believe to be the best luxury saloon ever?

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Best luxury saloon has to have a V12, preferably with turbos, double-glazed windows.

I'd shortlist the W220 S600TT, W221 S600, W222 S600, 760 in E65/F01/G01 flavour, Continental Flying Spur, Rolls Phantom VII

sherman

13,071 posts

214 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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If its good enough for Idi amin its good enough gor me

TheInternet

4,703 posts

162 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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white_goodman said:
a mk3 Cavalier briefly and a Civic, neither of which I would consider to be "luxury".
Astonished by this suggestion. Someone clearly hasn't experienced the Diplomat.

Wheel_Turned_Out

572 posts

37 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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My first thoughts, as above, would be the Mercedes 600, what a formidable creature.

Though they're so much more primitive, I have to admit ultimately for me it would be the Silver Cloud.



Such a beautiful vehicle.

Edit- If buying a car to live with now, for not unreasonable money, I would be compelled by the Lexus LS 460 above most other things.

Edited by Wheel_Turned_Out on Friday 26th February 14:50

swisstoni

16,850 posts

278 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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In terms of value, the Jag XJs punched well above their weight and in fact were probably the best , full stop, for a while there.

daveco

4,122 posts

206 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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seabod91

593 posts

61 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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All depends on budget. But I’d love one of these to waft about in. Probably because it’s likely I could afford one some day.

white_goodman

Original Poster:

4,042 posts

190 months

Friday 26th February 2021
quotequote all
TheInternet said:
white_goodman said:
a mk3 Cavalier briefly and a Civic, neither of which I would consider to be "luxury".
Astonished by this suggestion. Someone clearly hasn't experienced the Diplomat.
Lol. It was not a bad-looking car. Some kind of "special". Dark green on BMW-style cross-spokes wheels, velour seats I think. Maybe a Cavalier Expression?

miken2k8

362 posts

82 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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seabod91 said:
All depends on budget. But I’d love one of these to waft about in. Probably because it’s likely I could afford one some day.
Someday? they're 3k lol, hardly expensive

lukeharding

2,930 posts

88 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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S1/2/3 Jaguar XJ12, also one of the most comfortable saloons ever.

Dracoro

8,661 posts

244 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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seabod91 said:
All depends on budget. But I’d love one of these to waft about in. Probably because it’s likely I could afford one some day.
Great cars, however I would NOT be having one that's lowered, bad wheels and barried up - so probably loses things that make a luxury car (comfy/smooth ride etc.). That is the anthesis of what these cars are.

seabod91

593 posts

61 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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miken2k8 said:
seabod91 said:
All depends on budget. But I’d love one of these to waft about in. Probably because it’s likely I could afford one some day.
Someday? they're 3k lol, hardly expensive
Going trough a bad time the last few years. 3k to spend on a car might as well be 30k at the minute.

seabod91

593 posts

61 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Dracoro said:
seabod91 said:
All depends on budget. But I’d love one of these to waft about in. Probably because it’s likely I could afford one some day.
Great cars, however I would NOT be having one that's lowered, bad wheels and barried up - so probably loses things that make a luxury car (comfy/smooth ride etc.). That is the anthesis of what these cars are.
I agree. Was just the best angle of the car I could find.

ant427

141 posts

138 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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I owned a Vauxhall Carlton, 2.0GL, this was my luxury saloon. Absolutely brilliant. Metal wheel trims as well!

AC43

11,435 posts

207 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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I like my E500's (211 and 212). Or you could try a CLS500.

I also really like the last two gens of XJ.

V8 + 400hp + air suspension.

I'd avoid the diesels, unless you do big miles. The emissions stuff will bork and cost $$'s

Magnum 475

3,507 posts

131 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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I'd nominate the Rolls Royce Spirit. Effortless wafting, near silence from the engine and beautifully appointed interior. Incredibly comfortable - I've driven them some very long distances a few times and been staggered by the level of comfort (my dad worked for Rolls Royce motors, I've never actually owned one).

Sadly Rolls Royce have lost their way in spectacular style and now produce vulgar bling.

I still find myself contemplating buying a Spirit and having it fully restored to use as a semi-daily car.


Prinny

1,669 posts

98 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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To be seen in, and to get out of the back when arriving somewhere, nothing makes a bigger statement than the Grösser 600 (as per Idi Amin above).

To drive, the current BMW M760iL takes some beating. (When they lose another few k, I’ll be getting one to replace the current 760)

Looks are obviously subjective - in that regard, the Quattroporte (pretty much any version!) wins for me.

Wheel_Turned_Out

572 posts

37 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Magnum 475 said:
I'd nominate the Rolls Royce Spirit. Effortless wafting, near silence from the engine and beautifully appointed interior. Incredibly comfortable - I've driven them some very long distances a few times and been staggered by the level of comfort (my dad worked for Rolls Royce motors, I've never actually owned one).

Sadly Rolls Royce have lost their way in spectacular style and now produce vulgar bling.

I still find myself contemplating buying a Spirit and having it fully restored to use as a semi-daily car.
I've a lot of love for the Spirit. Admittedly not a "beautiful" car as such, but in the sea of odd shaped crossovers at the moment there's something hugely pleasing about that squared off shape, and a big old-fashioned saloon car.

I'd be inclined towards an earlier one, a MK 1, before active ride and all that, when it was basically a rebodied Shadow II.

Deep pockets for fuel and bork-fund accepted, I think it'd be the best all rounder for a sort-of daily Roller.


kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Krikkit said:
Best luxury saloon has to have a V12
I thin there's a strong argument these days that a perfect luxury saloon should have an electric motor. Not that anyone has really dont an ultra-luxury EV yet, as far as I know?