What's the most 'soothing' car you've had..?
Discussion
Inspectorclueso said:
Hey,
Merc E class - I agree, we actually have an E350 estate (though diesel) as the wifes / family trip car, which is pretty good apart from always seeming to need the tracking done. Though it may be the collisions with kerbs that 'jump' out into the road when my wife is driving....
When I replaced my Alfa 159 in 2013 with an E Class, I liked the Alfa so much and couldn’t stand to part with it. I gave it to my wife who had grown to like it (hated it when I first bought it) and she used it for a few months. Merc E class - I agree, we actually have an E350 estate (though diesel) as the wifes / family trip car, which is pretty good apart from always seeming to need the tracking done. Though it may be the collisions with kerbs that 'jump' out into the road when my wife is driving....
In addition to the high running costs as a 2nd town bound car, kerbs also had a tendency to jump out requiring expensive 4 wheel tracking and repairs to the diamond cut alloys. In the end I gave up and sold it. Never had any such problems with the Mito.
Current shape Volvo V60 with the D4 engine and 8spd Auto. Pilot assist is great and the ride & seats are pretty amazing if you go Inscription spec.
If you want even more of a bargain and don't need an estate then there are some pretty mega spec S90s around for not much money.
Don't be tempted to go D5 / T5 (much less smooth), the D4 is the real gem. Sequential Twin turbo arrangement means you have the low down torque to tickle around at no revs for 99% of the time and the 8spd box in eco mode keeps it there. You never need know what fuel it's running on, except the mpg readout showing 50+mpg.
I am no longer doing those journeys that often, so mine's up for sale at the lower end of your price range if you're tempted....
If you want even more of a bargain and don't need an estate then there are some pretty mega spec S90s around for not much money.
Don't be tempted to go D5 / T5 (much less smooth), the D4 is the real gem. Sequential Twin turbo arrangement means you have the low down torque to tickle around at no revs for 99% of the time and the 8spd box in eco mode keeps it there. You never need know what fuel it's running on, except the mpg readout showing 50+mpg.
I am no longer doing those journeys that often, so mine's up for sale at the lower end of your price range if you're tempted....
It was a Vauxhall.
Specifically, it was a Vectra 2.8T Elite. Who actually stumped up the cash to buy fully-loaded Vauxhall Vectras new I don't know, but I'm glad they did. The seats were plump but supportive, the NVH was low and the suspension had enough waft without being wallowy. There was so much space and it had a light-coloured interior. The latter seems to divide people as many wouldn't consider a non-black interior but I found it more "uplifting" to have a nice light interior. My living room and sofas aren't black, either
The E-class that replaced it is a better car in almost every way but it isn't as soothing when you have had a crap day and just want to try and chill out a little.
Specifically, it was a Vectra 2.8T Elite. Who actually stumped up the cash to buy fully-loaded Vauxhall Vectras new I don't know, but I'm glad they did. The seats were plump but supportive, the NVH was low and the suspension had enough waft without being wallowy. There was so much space and it had a light-coloured interior. The latter seems to divide people as many wouldn't consider a non-black interior but I found it more "uplifting" to have a nice light interior. My living room and sofas aren't black, either
The E-class that replaced it is a better car in almost every way but it isn't as soothing when you have had a crap day and just want to try and chill out a little.
Q7 4.2 v10 ... wafted across Europe and back effortlessly a couple of times and it just ate the miles with zero fuss or hassle. Very comfy, great visibility, good presence and just felt a nice place to be (air suspension set to comfort constantly)
Edited by alorotom on Friday 30th April 09:21
Strange answer.....as it might not be an ultimately soothing car in the scheme of things, but MUCH more soothing than my last car.
Last car was a 2007 Golf 1.9 TDI. Very capable for the day to day stuff and reasonable on long journeys (into France).
Current car is a Hyundai i40 estate 1.7TD.
yes....I know.......but....
as a comparison, it's worlds apart, more room, quieter, smoother, more gadgets, better on faster roads.
Last car was a 2007 Golf 1.9 TDI. Very capable for the day to day stuff and reasonable on long journeys (into France).
Current car is a Hyundai i40 estate 1.7TD.
yes....I know.......but....
as a comparison, it's worlds apart, more room, quieter, smoother, more gadgets, better on faster roads.
E class. Almost Silent engine unless being worked, air suspension. I’d happily drive it to Stuttgart this afternoon if needed.
Edit to add; most soothing I’ve ever driven was a well worn LS400. Silent. Effortless. Everything worked. And the added joy of “it wasn’t mine” and the owner didn’t much care if you scraped it.
Edit to add; most soothing I’ve ever driven was a well worn LS400. Silent. Effortless. Everything worked. And the added joy of “it wasn’t mine” and the owner didn’t much care if you scraped it.
Edited by Mr E on Friday 30th April 09:37
Mercedes CLS V8, Air Suspension and effortless performance.
Special mention, bear with me on this, my mother in laws old MK4 Golf diesel estate auto, lowest power 100 is bhp engine, nice velour seats and high profile tyres.
No performance beyond the perfectly adequate shove you got at half throttle, holding it any longer didnt seem to make any appreciable distance but it got to speed limits and beyond easily enough. The ride was excellent and like the performance there was no point in exploring the handling as if you did it lolloped about like an overweight Labrador that has something stuck to its bottom. The seats were supremely comfortable.
I think having too much performance tends to remove some of the soothing aspect as you like going "Wheeeeeeee" and though having plenty and not calling on it can be restful, I cant help myself.
A lot of luxury cars tend to not be that soothing, I remember a ride in an X5 when they first came out, it just seemed stiff, with unyielding leather pews, didnt help that the owner had the aircon set to -273.15 Kelvin. Dont get me started on smaller S line Audis, remember an A3 that was purgatorial.
Also, anything too big isnt soothing when you have to berth the bloody thing in normal sized car spaces.
Special mention, bear with me on this, my mother in laws old MK4 Golf diesel estate auto, lowest power 100 is bhp engine, nice velour seats and high profile tyres.
No performance beyond the perfectly adequate shove you got at half throttle, holding it any longer didnt seem to make any appreciable distance but it got to speed limits and beyond easily enough. The ride was excellent and like the performance there was no point in exploring the handling as if you did it lolloped about like an overweight Labrador that has something stuck to its bottom. The seats were supremely comfortable.
I think having too much performance tends to remove some of the soothing aspect as you like going "Wheeeeeeee" and though having plenty and not calling on it can be restful, I cant help myself.
A lot of luxury cars tend to not be that soothing, I remember a ride in an X5 when they first came out, it just seemed stiff, with unyielding leather pews, didnt help that the owner had the aircon set to -273.15 Kelvin. Dont get me started on smaller S line Audis, remember an A3 that was purgatorial.
Also, anything too big isnt soothing when you have to berth the bloody thing in normal sized car spaces.
I have kept my P38 Range Rover Vogue as a holiday and winter wagon for this very purpose. Air suspension, V8, incredibly comfortable seats, automatic, four wheel drive, spacious airy and light cabin, powerful dual zone climate control, great sounding ICE (although the existing tape player is a source of amusement to most but the system easily converted to interface an MP3 player), cruise control, and leather clad from top to bottom. It has every conceivable ‘luxury’ item albeit in old tech form but they still do the job. They also don’t rust!
It is not fast, but can pick up its skirts reasonably well when required, and can cruise at illegal motorway speeds all day if you so wish. It is incredibly quiet and soothing to drive with a lofty driving position giving great visibility. So soothing in fact that it changes the driving mood to being happy not to want/have to press on.
The downside is that it needs a lot of TLC to keep it going but fixing its various foibles is pretty simple for anyone handy with spanner’s. It’s cheap to insure and service but it has a mighty thirst!
It is not fast, but can pick up its skirts reasonably well when required, and can cruise at illegal motorway speeds all day if you so wish. It is incredibly quiet and soothing to drive with a lofty driving position giving great visibility. So soothing in fact that it changes the driving mood to being happy not to want/have to press on.
The downside is that it needs a lot of TLC to keep it going but fixing its various foibles is pretty simple for anyone handy with spanner’s. It’s cheap to insure and service but it has a mighty thirst!
I like that fact that many of the responses are for older, high milleage stuff.
I think for me, my first 2002 Saab 9-5 Aero Hot Auto, which I bought after seeing one in SOTW here.
Bought for shed money, maintained as a shed.
Brilliant for lazy wafting around in, although still capable of lifting up it's skirt and making a run for it when needed.
The later one we had, a 2006 model, never felt as nice - the interiors on the later model weren't as nice.
I think for me, my first 2002 Saab 9-5 Aero Hot Auto, which I bought after seeing one in SOTW here.
Bought for shed money, maintained as a shed.
Brilliant for lazy wafting around in, although still capable of lifting up it's skirt and making a run for it when needed.
The later one we had, a 2006 model, never felt as nice - the interiors on the later model weren't as nice.
J4CKO said:
Special mention, bear with me on this, my mother in laws old MK4 Golf diesel estate auto, lowest power 100 is bhp engine, nice velour seats and high profile tyres.
No performance beyond the perfectly adequate shove you got at half throttle, holding it any longer didnt seem to make any appreciable distance but it got to speed limits and beyond easily enough. The ride was excellent and like the performance there was no point in exploring the handling as if you did it lolloped about like an overweight Labrador that has something stuck to its bottom. The seats were supremely comfortable.
Was just thinking the same. A friend had a MK4 1.4 S when they were current. This was the most basic model, but this works in your favour when it comes to ride comfort. I swear the wheels were only 14" steel, though some places seems to say 15". Donut tyres, soft suspension and seats. Really comfortable when just cruising around.No performance beyond the perfectly adequate shove you got at half throttle, holding it any longer didnt seem to make any appreciable distance but it got to speed limits and beyond easily enough. The ride was excellent and like the performance there was no point in exploring the handling as if you did it lolloped about like an overweight Labrador that has something stuck to its bottom. The seats were supremely comfortable.
B8 Passat GT is a very solid and quiet car especially given the price tag. Not especially cosseting on 18"s, but comfortable enough with decent seats. Remember the original XC60 being very quiet but with quite a firm ride in R-Design spec.
I had an E320cdi which was a W211 model and it was excellent for the motorway cruise, I had it nearly four years, did about 40k and it was never any trouble. Comfortable, quiet, great on fuel and plenty of torque.
I then replaced it with an S320cdi which although newer than the E is still an older car but it's the most relaxing, comfortable car I've ever been in. It still has 'modern' features which must have been pretty far out when it was launched. The seats are bigger and more supportive and for the long drives I do I can't think of much else that cruises better on a motorway.
The downsides are that it's a big car and suddenly feels it when you have to drive down a smaller road or round town. Not unmanageable by any means but not it's comfort zone. Also, it's expensive to run. Good on fuel but complex and the known issues that can occur aren't cheap fixes.
But when it's all good and you have a long drive ahead, even a year later it impresses me with it's refinement.
I then replaced it with an S320cdi which although newer than the E is still an older car but it's the most relaxing, comfortable car I've ever been in. It still has 'modern' features which must have been pretty far out when it was launched. The seats are bigger and more supportive and for the long drives I do I can't think of much else that cruises better on a motorway.
The downsides are that it's a big car and suddenly feels it when you have to drive down a smaller road or round town. Not unmanageable by any means but not it's comfort zone. Also, it's expensive to run. Good on fuel but complex and the known issues that can occur aren't cheap fixes.
But when it's all good and you have a long drive ahead, even a year later it impresses me with it's refinement.
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