What's the most 'soothing' car you've had..?
Discussion
After various, loud, low, JDM performance cars, I bought an N15 Almera for a few hundred.
Soothing is exactly the word. Super light steering, tiny 13" wheels with balloon tyres, wallowy suspension with tonnes of travel. Even the gear change was perfectly weighted and positive feeling. Goes without saying absolutely everything worked like it was brand new 20+ years on. The engine was smooth and practically silent on tick over.
It was terrible in the bends and would tyre squeel like a 70s cop show on roundabouts and motorway speeds felt like a stretch, but for just driving around town and to the shops, it was the most soothing and carefree I ever felt with a car.
Sold it a year later for the same money I bought it for. Never spent a penny on it in maintenance.
Soothing is exactly the word. Super light steering, tiny 13" wheels with balloon tyres, wallowy suspension with tonnes of travel. Even the gear change was perfectly weighted and positive feeling. Goes without saying absolutely everything worked like it was brand new 20+ years on. The engine was smooth and practically silent on tick over.
It was terrible in the bends and would tyre squeel like a 70s cop show on roundabouts and motorway speeds felt like a stretch, but for just driving around town and to the shops, it was the most soothing and carefree I ever felt with a car.
Sold it a year later for the same money I bought it for. Never spent a penny on it in maintenance.
Welcome to the best smoker barges 1-5 thread!!!!
Buy a £100k (inflation adjusted) car for less than 5k and smoke about in a marvel of engineering, hoping the thing doesn't implode with a 10k bill.
But when it works, it's sublime.
I smoke about in a volvo xc90 (above barge thread limit, but the previous xc90 was in thread) and its a lovely place to be. Volvo seats are just the benchmark of what a car seat should be
The premium stereo system is great, the heated seats can scorch flesh and its so insulated from the outside world you could be at home watching TV. Perfect.
Oh and the Lexus ls400 is the ultimate benchmark and on my list of scratches to itch - along with a jag x350 and a mid 90's Merc e class
Buy a £100k (inflation adjusted) car for less than 5k and smoke about in a marvel of engineering, hoping the thing doesn't implode with a 10k bill.
But when it works, it's sublime.
I smoke about in a volvo xc90 (above barge thread limit, but the previous xc90 was in thread) and its a lovely place to be. Volvo seats are just the benchmark of what a car seat should be
The premium stereo system is great, the heated seats can scorch flesh and its so insulated from the outside world you could be at home watching TV. Perfect.
Oh and the Lexus ls400 is the ultimate benchmark and on my list of scratches to itch - along with a jag x350 and a mid 90's Merc e class
Slight tangent question, are there any truly luxurious estate cars other than one off coach built stuff? I can't think of any. I'd love a Lexus LS but the dog would not appreciate the boot and frankly I've come to love having an estate as the family run around. All sorts of SUV options but my conclusion is that there probably isn't anything around that would be a big step up in comfort over our ageing but loveable 5 series.
To be honest, the one I have now. After a load of hot hatches I decided I wanted a wafty barge for a bit and I'm pleased to report the 840i Gran Coupé both wafts and barges rather well. Quiet, comfortable with a 'solid feeling', it's a great place to chew through the miles.
It's completely changed the way I drive too, I'm far more chilled than I used to be. If I could change one thing it'd be to make the 'Comfort' setting on the suspension even more 'comfortier' as it can still border a little on firm but it's minor really.
It's completely changed the way I drive too, I'm far more chilled than I used to be. If I could change one thing it'd be to make the 'Comfort' setting on the suspension even more 'comfortier' as it can still border a little on firm but it's minor really.
Between 2007 - 2009 we ran a RR Silver Spirit as an occasional driver, which - obvs - was as "soothing" as it gets.
The surprising one was a 2002 Golf 130TDi SE Estate.
Velour-type chairs, soft suspension, 15" steelie wheels with bubblegum tyres, it was so comfortable.
Not keen on corners, but did a trip to Verona and back with ease.
The current Saab 9-3 Aero is, I must admit, eerily quiet at motorway speeds.
The surprising one was a 2002 Golf 130TDi SE Estate.
Velour-type chairs, soft suspension, 15" steelie wheels with bubblegum tyres, it was so comfortable.
Not keen on corners, but did a trip to Verona and back with ease.
The current Saab 9-3 Aero is, I must admit, eerily quiet at motorway speeds.
Ran an '88 plate Citroen CX GTi for a while in the mid nineties.
Seats had similar comfort to a Ligne Roset Togo sofa + that magic carpet ride.
Current Jaguar X308 XJR is actually really good given the adaptive suspension is old technology now.
Even more comfortable since I swapped out the 18" Penta wheels for 17" X300 XJR wheels.
Great seats and it's so quiet for a V8; supercharger aside.
Also need to post my Z4MC in the 'worst riding car' sister thread on here.
S
Seats had similar comfort to a Ligne Roset Togo sofa + that magic carpet ride.
Current Jaguar X308 XJR is actually really good given the adaptive suspension is old technology now.
Even more comfortable since I swapped out the 18" Penta wheels for 17" X300 XJR wheels.
Great seats and it's so quiet for a V8; supercharger aside.
Also need to post my Z4MC in the 'worst riding car' sister thread on here.
S
Edited by ess on Thursday 6th May 00:29
99t said:
Probably my Saab 9000 Griffin - all £350 quid's worth!
Effortlessly wafty 2.3 turbo auto, soft suspension, extremely comfortable seats as really only Saab used to do, good cold air con and could park it anywhere without a care!
It wasn't so soothing if you tried to corner aggressively, it really wasn't set up for that! But under all other circumstances it was relaxation on wheels!
Would probably still have it if some muppet hadn't parked a Transit in the boot...
Out of curiosity, what was the Saab’s performance like compared to the M5 you had (appreciate thread is not about performance). Effortlessly wafty 2.3 turbo auto, soft suspension, extremely comfortable seats as really only Saab used to do, good cold air con and could park it anywhere without a care!
It wasn't so soothing if you tried to corner aggressively, it really wasn't set up for that! But under all other circumstances it was relaxation on wheels!
Would probably still have it if some muppet hadn't parked a Transit in the boot...
My idea of soothing is a car with <Quentin Wilson Mode> bank vault build quality </Quentin Wilson Mode> , where the door closes with a solid thunk and there are literally no noises as you drive. No engine noise, no rattles, no squeaks so you are as insulated from the outside world as possible. As wafty as possible, Automatic but with enough power when need be.
It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 6th May 09:14
Fat hippo said:
99t said:
Probably my Saab 9000 Griffin - all £350 quid's worth!
Effortlessly wafty 2.3 turbo auto, soft suspension, extremely comfortable seats as really only Saab used to do, good cold air con and could park it anywhere without a care!
It wasn't so soothing if you tried to corner aggressively, it really wasn't set up for that! But under all other circumstances it was relaxation on wheels!
Would probably still have it if some muppet hadn't parked a Transit in the boot...
Out of curiosity, what was the Saab’s performance like compared to the M5 you had (appreciate thread is not about performance). Effortlessly wafty 2.3 turbo auto, soft suspension, extremely comfortable seats as really only Saab used to do, good cold air con and could park it anywhere without a care!
It wasn't so soothing if you tried to corner aggressively, it really wasn't set up for that! But under all other circumstances it was relaxation on wheels!
Would probably still have it if some muppet hadn't parked a Transit in the boot...
That said, provided they were both driven in their power bands, both could provide a similar level of "kick in the back" - the difference being that the BMW was much taller geared and could produce that kick for longer in each gear.
Bring in FWD traction (and narrower tyres) versus fat-tyred RWD and off the line the Saab wouldn't see where the M5 went.
More impressively, anywhere above a ton, the M5 would have disappeared into the distance since it was (and still is) the most impressively accelerative car I have owned at highly illegal speeds.
The middle ground, rolling acceleration, legal speeds, the Saab would have pushed the BMW pretty hard.
Joey Deacon said:
My idea of soothing is a car with <Quentin Wilson Mode> bank vault build quality </Quentin Wilson Mode> , where the door closes with a solid thunk and there are literally no noises as you drive. No engine noise, no rattles, no squeaks so you are as insulated from the outside world as possible. As wafty as possible, Automatic but with enough power when need be.
It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
Pretty much. If you want a hair-raising experience, they generally aren’t the car for that.It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
Edited by Joey Deacon on Thursday 6th May 09:14
Joey Deacon said:
My idea of soothing is a car with <Quentin Wilson Mode> bank vault build quality </Quentin Wilson Mode> , where the door closes with a solid thunk and there are literally no noises as you drive. No engine noise, no rattles, no squeaks so you are as insulated from the outside world as possible. As wafty as possible, Automatic but with enough power when need be.
It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
That will fit the bill nicely and never go wrong however the LS does come with twin pane glass which reduces noise greatly. Not sure if the GS did. It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
Edited by Joey Deacon on Thursday 6th May 09:14
CDB1983 said:
Joey Deacon said:
My idea of soothing is a car with <Quentin Wilson Mode> bank vault build quality </Quentin Wilson Mode> , where the door closes with a solid thunk and there are literally no noises as you drive. No engine noise, no rattles, no squeaks so you are as insulated from the outside world as possible. As wafty as possible, Automatic but with enough power when need be.
It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
That will fit the bill nicely and never go wrong however the LS does come with twin pane glass which reduces noise greatly. Not sure if the GS did. It has to have depreciated massively, but be as reliable and solid as the day it was built. Everything must work, every button must feel like it is going to last forever.
I know very little about Lexus, but I am assuming this would fit the bill pretty well?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274767100075?hash=item3...
Edited by Joey Deacon on Thursday 6th May 09:14
I used to really like the Mondeo V6 Ghia X I had and that was comfortable and relaxing to drive. I think my favourite though is the current Mercedes GLC350d that I have. It is just so relaxing to drive for me, auto and plenty of effortless torque and it just does the comfort/relaxing thing so well.
I can imagine an E or S Class Mercedes being absolutely superb at the soothing/comfort and relaxing thing for sure. Merc do the comfort/relaxing thing really well I reckon.
I can imagine an E or S Class Mercedes being absolutely superb at the soothing/comfort and relaxing thing for sure. Merc do the comfort/relaxing thing really well I reckon.
Of the cars I have owned it would be:
- My A6 SE 4.2 FSI Quattro. Lovely thing, smooth, fast, delightful noise, big comfy heated chairs.
- My current Octavia 4x4 tdi estate. You wouldn't think it would be relaxing and over 60mph it is too noisy but at lower speeds the super comfy suspension, 16" wheels and high torque/weight ratio make it really rather pleasant.
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