Best luxury saloon ever?

[Every day a journey]

Krikkit said:

kambites said:

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?

Definitely potential I'd say, although none around yet, I'd bet on an electric phantom in the next few years.

I was hoping it might be the next XJ, but Jag seem to have canned it.

electric Phantom exists...

2011 - Goodwood FOS






Potential Bugtti Royale Electric hyper Limo in 2023 apparently too.
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/bugatti/ro...

[Wheel_Turned_Out]

Every day a journey said:

electric Phantom exists...

2011 - Goodwood FOS






Potential Bugtti Royale Electric hyper Limo in 2023 apparently too.
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/spy-shots/bugatti/ro...

I know subtlety and elegance aren't exactly Bugatti bywords, but even by their standards that Royale redesign is chuffing awful.

[raspy]

white_goodman said:

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?

5 series/E classes are nice executive saloons, but aren't really luxury saloons like top of the line petrol V8/V12 7 series/S class, rolls royce etc

One of the aspects that set luxury saloons apart from ordinary saloons is the interior space (especially with LWB versions) which just like on planes, having that extra space in first class is a true luxury.

[55palfers]

No Maybach or Phaeton W12?

Both designed to be the best saloon............................................in the world.

Another vote for MB 600

[Every day a journey]

Wheel_Turned_Out said:

I know subtlety and elegance aren't exactly Bugatti bywords, but even by their standards that Royale redesign is chuffing awful.

that's being kind!!!!

[Honeywell]

The problem with many of these nominations is that many of them are not the best because they are too large for U.K. roads. I found my 7 series was a pain in the arse to squeeze into parking space, squeeze past other cars on lanes and to squeeze past oncoming lorries on B roads. I traded down to a 5 series and in all honesty it was a better car for being a bit smaller. Luxury doesn't always equate to massive size.

The current G30 5 series 530d is built like a vault, has all the performance you realistically will use and wafts like an old school Jag on the smaller world. A Roll Royce Phantom would be a bit of a nightmare as a daily so to my mind that means it can't be the best luxury saloon even though it has more luxury.


https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/clarkson/the...

Edited by Honeywell on Saturday 27th February 15:29

[sherman]

Honeywell said:

The problem with many of these nominations is that many of them are not the best because they are too large for U.K. roads. I found my 7 series was a pain in the arse to squeeze into parking space, squeeze past other cars on lanes and to squeeze past oncoming lorries on B roads. I traded down to a 5 series and in all honesty it was a better car for being a bit smaller. Luxury doesn't always equate to massive size.

The current G30 5 series 530d is built like a vault, has all the performance you realistically will use and wafts like an old school Jag on the smaller world. A Roll Royce Phantom would be a bit of a nightmare as a daily so to my mind that means it can't be the best luxury saloon even though it has more luxury.


https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/clarkson/the...

Edited by Honeywell on Saturday 27th February 15:29

What you forget is that the people that generally own these larger nominations are not parking them.
You either can afford enough space to park them of its the chauffers problem.

Edited by sherman on Saturday 27th February 16:08

[tberg]

Having owned two Merkur Scorpios in the late '80s, they were exceptionally luxurious sedans with spectacular interiors, electric reclining rear seats that would allow you to lay down, huge trunk with hatchback accessibility, and very good driving characteriestics. Certainly a forgotten, overlooked car.

https://images.app.goo.gl/Ys6WYut5B1gLtXvs9

[Every day a journey]

tberg said:

Having owned two Merkur Scorpios in the late '80s, they were exceptionally luxurious sedans with spectacular interiors, electric reclining rear seats that would allow you to lay down, huge trunk with hatchback accessibility, and very good driving characteriestics. Certainly a forgotten, overlooked car.

https://images.app.goo.gl/Ys6WYut5B1gLtXvs9

Thread title: Best Luxury Saloon ever.

Tberg: Let's post a Ford Granada

[Sway]

Best ever?

For me, I couldn't choose era - how on earth do you split hairs between a Bugatti Royale, 600 Grosser, RR Spirit or modern Phantom?

For "what lux saloon would you buy as a daily?" - w12 Phaeton, all day long. Although I'd probably also be tempted by the various top Lexus over the last decade or so.

[jet_noise]

Leins said:

Bentley Turbo R for me, as nothing says “OUT OF MY WAY OIK!” quite like it imo

Even Turbo Rs are intimidated into oikdom by this:


Some wibbling has been undertaken while reading this thread.
Royale, Monteverdi oof.

[21st Century Man]

Several mentions for Lexus, but forgetting the car that sits above it.

[cherryowen]

Personally, I think it has to be a four door saloon as per the OP with - as a minimum - 8 cylinders. Any even remotely "sporty" characteristics must not be part of the equation.

Between 2007 and 2010, I owned a RR Spirit as a weekend toy and can confirm they are deeply agreeable things. As another contributor mentioned, the floor mats are a wonder in themselves (Mrs. O used to travel barefoot in the car to get the full "mat effect").

However, despite that and the fact that a MB 600 Grosser is a great call, I suspect the correct answer is a V12 Toyota Century:-

[Every day a journey]

21st Century Man said:

Several mentions for Lexus, but forgetting the car that sits above it.

[21st Century Man]

It took four pages, but we got there in the end

https://www.autoweek.com/drives/a2135311/best-car-...

[Sway]

https://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/toyota/centur...

Want. Lots.

[Zad]

So far, I have learned that people have very different concepts of what the words best, luxury, and saloon mean!

Jay Leno is probably there or thereabouts with a Bentley Mulliner 8 litre. If the wheels are a bit gauche, there are others with exposed wire wheels.

Edited by Zad on Saturday 27th February 20:40

[colin_p]

That Toyota may be very well screwed together but it certainly isn't a looker.

Does it come with a lifetime paper bag supply?

[Genuine Barn Find]

Obviously Merc S class up to 92’ are real world contenders, but I always had a soft spot for this...


so much so that i bought the car. 93 Daimler Double Six in Saville Grey... the photo was my twin tanker. i ran a XJ40 Sovereign ‘six’ and a V8 XJR at the same time. Miss the Double and 7 mpg the most.

[Sway]

Zad said:

So far, I have learned that people have very different concepts of what the words best, luxury, and saloon mean!

Jay Leno is probably there or thereabouts with a Bentley Mulliner 8 litre. If the wheels are a bit gauche, there are others with exposed wire wheels.

Edited by Zad on Saturday 27th February 20:40

That's a landaulet isn't it?